As is typical, the big four CAD/BIM vendors all had the largest booths available in the software section of the show. These included Autodesk, Bentley, Graphisoft and Nemetschek Vectorworks. This year Autodesk’s booth was the same size as the others, where sometimes in the past it has twice as large. This may have been because many vendors said New Orleans last year was a big disappointment.

Getting Started

What we are going to do in this report series is run through the companies we have something to report about and post some show floor photos. Unfortunately, we made the mistake of waiting too long in the show to take photos and, as a consequence, the booths are not as busy as they were earlier in the show–a lost opportunity for us to comment visually about what many vendors were reporting was a better year than last year in New Orleans.

Graphisoft

We’ll start with Graphisoft. The Hungarian-based BIM leader was showing its brand new ArchiCAD 16 (which Architosh has a fairly large feature in the wings on) and especially touting its new Morph modeling tool and its EcoDesigner integration. The company was also showing BIMx, its iOS based BIM viewing tool. (see news report: BIMx gets updated for iPad’s Retina Display).

01 - Graphisoft was showing its new Morph Tool, the new direct-modeling technology offers architects powerful conceptual and final modeling capabilities beyond parametrics.

Autodesk

Autodesk was using a booth design we’ve seen a few times with its mini classroom setup directly on the aisle. (see image). The company had a good array of presentations for busy professionals to learn mostly about Revit and BIM process technology. Autodesk had just recently announced its 2013 products suites and so the company had no real new announcements at the AIA.

02 - Autodesk's booth was featuring various product demonstrations all day and as is typical was quite busy.

We did speak directly to Angi Izzi, Senior Industry Strategy Manager for Architecture at Autodesk who told us the company was showcasing its 2013 product suite for AEC and that there had been some additions made, such as adding Inventor to the Autodesk Building Design Suite Ultimate edition, which retails for 11.495.USD.

When we asked about Revit for the Mac Angi Izzi did admit it is the most asked about product customers seem interested in. Furthermore, the lead Revit product manager is now a Mac guy, she said, and Autodesk–from the inside–looks like a different company now. The presence of Macs and Apple gear is everywhere now. What was clearly communicated in response to the Mac question was that the company is very much focused on mobile and the cloud and taking Revit to the cloud is a higher priority. Does this mean the CAD giant will only provide a cloud-based version of Revit for Mac users? Angi Izzi wasn’t giving anything away to us. Right now the company is very focused on mobile and cloud trends.

Angi Izzi also noted that Autodesk customers are very interested in software services delivered to them on-demand from the cloud for things they may not want to purchase software suites on because they use them infrequently. One can think of cloud-based photorealistic rendering or energy calculations and verification for example.

Vectorworks Architect

The Nemetschek Vectorworks folks also had a busy booth and some excellent presentations in their booth theater space, including showcasing a brand new product named SimTread. The CADFaster folks were also showing CADFaster for Vectorworks at the show in the Vectorworks booth as well. (more on that later).

03 - The Vectorworks booth was showing the new SimTread app plus CADFaster for Vectorworks in addition to its flagship line of CAD/BIM software.

We had an in-depth conversation with Tuomas Holma of CADFaster, which is based in Finland, about the company, its products and the latest addition which is the support of Vectorworks. The company’s solutions work on desktop, iOS (iPhone and iPad) and on the web.

Currently CADFaster’s desktop solution–which is the most robust solution–is for Windows only but a Mac version is also planned. Tuomas Holma however could not comment on a time-line for that release. We have much more to say about CADFaster for Vectorworks so look for another report devoted just to that soon.

Unfortunately this year, due to so many requests from companies to speak to Architosh, including the AIA’s Documents software division, we didn’t get a chance to truly visit the Bentley booth. This marks the end of our BIM group for this first report on the show floor. Look for Report 2 for more pics and info.

The CadFaster plugins enable the export of highly efficient geometry models from various tool and upload to the CadFaster cloud service, which then enables collaboration between participants featuring annotation, co-viewing and distribution.

” Unlike traditional viewers that are often very slow on mobile applications and require a large amount of internal memory to open a stored file, the CadFaster mobile app allows users to easily and almost instantly view models that are exported from CAD programs using the CadFaster|Collaborate plug-in,” said Raimo Kuismin, chairman, CadFaster. “It’s also much more than a viewer. This application provides a free resource at anyone’s fingertips for accessing, sharing, marking up and co-viewing diverse, 3D CAD designs.”

01 - CadFaster for iPad is a new CAD solution for mobile professionals with iPads. It enables the viewing and collaboration with others with connected CAD assets hosted in the cloud.

CadFaster Collaborate is the company’s main product. Thus far their only versions are for Windows-only CAD systems with the exception of the iPad solution. The iPad solution is absolutely free and you can test it out with demo 3D models up in the CadFaster cloud. Go here.

What We Think

You heard it from our experts in our 2011 State of Apple in CAD series this summer. CAD in the cloud is a reality and we think CadFaster is offering a valuable set of tools to the market. We encourage them to widen their support of CAD systems and platforms. In the future we might expect support for other 3D file formats and for Android tablets as well.

To learn more visit them here.

During the event we tweeted key comments during both of their talks on our Architosh Twitter feed. You can revisit that now here.

Huw Roberts

Huw Roberts AIA is an architect who has been with Bentley for many years now. He has a deep understanding of practice and its many forms and orientations. He also understands the many challenges all AEC firms face in a global economy where practice is increasingly complex and often geographically dispersed.

01 - Huw Roberts AIA of Bentley, speaking at Smartgeometry 2011 Copenhagen.

During his talk he mentioned that Bentley is the world’s largest software company dedicated to all of the AEC market. Bentley has a diverse product portfolio that goes far beyond building design and engineering to civil and plant design, facilities and more. They are the world’s number one software company for structural engineering solutions. And the company’s annual revenue is now at half billion US dollars.

One of the more interesting things Huw said was that Bentley spends up to 20 percent of its annual revenue on research and development. And Generative Components is not actually apart of that figure. Generative Components, he said, is actually free software and therefore is placed outside those figures. Certainly there is ongoing R&D for GC as well but there was no mention of a dollar figure.

Why GC? Why Smartgeometry Conference?

Huw explained that the company is invested in advancing Generative Components because as a product it aligns with the company’s overall visions for innovation. And Bentley is interested in “open information…sharing data.” And the types of projects and problems firms around the world are facing and using GC to solve critically inform Bentley’s full line of software solutions. Generative Components dovetails with Bentley’s software for architects and engineers and Huw noted that going forward it will continue to inform and impact the development of other products.

Huw said the company is doing “syndicated development” projects, whereby Bentley works in a co-op way with major firms or institutions in addressing new challenges through software. Today the company is working on a $24 billion ultimate integration project. And this summer the company will be introducing something they call Model Documentation.

Generative Components is advanced 3D software for design that goes beyond just complex geometry creation or solving. It enables designers to capture and define relationships, set up rules and algorithms, and iterate using numerical methods and rule-based interdependencies.

In a slide Huw showed a building with a complex steel frame holding up a skylight system. Bentley created an algorithm that addressed two inter-related issues and setup a relationship. One issue was that of energy loss (heat gain/loss) through the skylight, while the other issue was that of steel weight. The last issue affects cost directly for the structure. The first issue affects operations costs. How do architects design so that they can solve both sets of problems simultaneously? (see image 01)

02 - Makai Smith, who heads up Generative Components at Bentley gave an engaging talk. In this slide he shows an architecture from form say 1970 and compares it to one today. Not much has changed, he contends. The future of practice will need to change the formation of firms.

Huw said these are the types of problems the technology in Bentley’s product suites address, and will continue to address in more complexity.

Finally, Smartgeometry is something Bentley has been very proud to be involved in and sponsoring for many years. The conference frames and addresses many of the most technically challenging AEC problems in the world, using the latest computational research and practice methodologies. GC is a key component tool for those participating in Smartgeometry.

Next page > Makai’s Talk, Future of GC

Andy, who is dressed in a white shirt and jeans, is all smiles and positive energy. Visually excited about the conference and the work of his cluster he explains how they built the sensorized black floor that sits on the ground (in the Hall) in front of a large projected screen. “The sensors can detect not just force but movement data also,” says Andy. I’m walking on the floor myself, pushing my feet down to deflect the floor. It’s interactive–it’s fun! My eyes are clearly forward, looking at a 3D visualization of the floor as a parametric mesh of vertices. (see image 01) I’m not sure if I’m looking at GC or Grasshopper but it doesn’t matter all that much for what is happening in this cluster.

Andy Payne is a licensed architect who is currently pursuing his doctoral degree at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. His work explores embedded computation and parametric design, which in essence is what all the work at this conference this year is mostly related to. His doctoral research is studying how advancements in technology can help architects create spaces and systems that have a “capacity” to meet changing individual, social and environmental demands.

01 - This parametric model is interactively wired to a mock floor surface which detects force and movement.

“All buildings will have sensors and talk to other buildings some day.” Andy remarks. I ask him what kinds of things will buildings say to each other, half creating a joke out of the question. He laughs…understanding the humor embedded in my skepticism. “It’s not that they will talk so much as share data,” Andy says, “like environmental and occupant data, for example.”  For instance, in the future buildings filled with sensors like the kind explored in this Smartgeometry conference will be able to constantly monitor their internal and external environment, including agents and microclimatic information.

In an urban environment, one building may want to anticipate and respond to a seasonal temperature, combined with an afternoon shading by a nearby building, combined with a sudden but planned occupancy change, to affect internal environmental changes in preparation for those inter-related data.

02 - This polyhedron model is wired-up to an Arduino board. The board has a light which lights up in reaction to tension forces in a wire connecting two joints.

Andy is now pressing down on a joint on a physical model (called “analog” at this conference) of a space-frame. (see image 02 above) The construction of this analog model consists of flexible clear plastic tubes connected with multi-faceted metal joints which enable the polyhedron to transform and adapt in reaction to forces. A wire is spanning between two joints and because of Andy’s pressure on another joint the wire gets put into tension. This tension is then detected and measured and sent to an Arduino board that is sitting next to the analog model and wired up to it. A USB port from the Arduino board sends a signal to a computer and to Andy’s software Firefly.

It’s a little test model and its useful to the types of processes his cluster is developing and experimenting with here in Denmark this year. Andy presses down again as I take a picture. “See the light?” he says, smiling. “Yes,” I respond. The light glows more in response to his hand’s pressure, a symbol of this group’s energy, hard work, innovation and brilliance.

• The SmartGeometry Workshop — We will be writing an overview of this important component of the conference, what took place this year, things we saw and so forth. The workshop takes place for four days and culminates with an exhibit.
• A Cluster Focus — We will be talking about one particular cluster and the work involved by one particular person.
• Thoughts at TalkShop — TalkShop was a new format this year and this all-day session at the conference offered us some engaging things to think about. We want to share the best of those with you.
• Notes from the Symposium — There were several excellent presentations from the symposium and we’ll be reviewing those with all of you also.
• The Bentley Talk — Bentley did a keynote and we’ll be writing an overview on their software presentation
• New Software and Technologies — We saw several pieces of new software we’ve never heard of before so we’ll be bring that to your attention also

So those are the articles lined up for you and we have several dozen photographs and images to share with you as well. Bentley is the primary sponsor of SmartGeometry and this year, like in other years, they invited a healthy amount of press to the conference. Needless to say, it is always enjoyable to get together with one’s peers within this type of context and enjoy the environment, good food and drink, and stimulating conversations.

Just one last tidbit. We covered quite a bit of the conference with our Architosh Twitter account live during the event. If you are on Twitter you can find us at: http://twitter.com/architosh

Bentley’s motto, if you will, at the show was “software for high performance buildings” and the company was showing, in particular, its Bentley Energy Performance Series tools. 

Bentley’s Energy Performance Series software uses the US Department of Energy (DOE) EnergyPlus simulation engine and the software is compliant with LEED Energy and Atmosphere Credit 1 (Option 1) whole building simulation analysis. 

01 - Bentley's booth is always a visual treat.

The ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 compliant software can determine energy savings percentages over a baseline building performance, helping architects, engineers and energy assessors in the United States and Canada determine how many LEED credit points they can obtain in the single largest points category under the LEED certified building system. 

02 - Bentley's energy simulation and analysis tools are ASHRAE 90.1 complaint for LEED Energy and Atmosphere Credit 1 (option 1 - whole building simulation). In the United States this one LEED credit path can provide 1 - 10 points alone.

There are two product suites in this energy series and both tools come originally from the United Kingdom via acquisitions. I met with Noah Eckhouse, Vice President of the Global Building Performance Group, who told me that the UK market is the world’s most demanding green design market. These new software tools are mature, advanced, and well-used worldwide. The two key energy analysis tools are Bentley Tas Simulator V8i and the Hevacomp Simulator V8i. Both tools are compliant with ASHRAE 90.1 for LEED in the United States. And both tools can calculate both running costs and CO2 emissions. We will cover these two new tools in more detail in a further report. 

Oh, and one more thing. Noah Eckhouse, VP for Bentley, expressed interest in the Mac market in regards to these tools. The company has the chance to deliver the first native Mac software tool that is ASHRAE 90.1 compliant. We will talk more about how Mac-based architects can get their building designs into these Windows-based tools in our upcoming article. 

03 - The organic designs being executed with Bentley's design software. It is always interesting to see the projects on display at Bentley's booth. Typically they are large and complex projects that are tackling advanced form making issues in design.

Bentley’s Generative Components was the big news at last year’s AIA show. The booth this year was also showcasing this advanced generative modeling technology, in addition to Bentley’s Architecture V8i platform. To learn more visit Bentley’s website here.

The formZ folks have sent out an email to all Bonzai 3D beta users and testers notifying them of several items. Firstly, the response to Bonzai 3D has been “inspiring” writes the Bonzai 3d team. Secondly, the beta build has been advanced and there is a new beta version to download. It comes with another 30-day expiration so you have another month to play with this latest build. 

The formZ folks are working hard to improve stability and respond to feedback. They have also released new introductory videos that demonstrate how key features of Bonzai 3D operate. Such videos are accessible via the program itself by clicking on the Help menu item. They are also here on the Web. To download the latest Bonzai 3D beta go here.

Apple Beats Everyone to Nehalem

As we noted in our report this week on Architosh Apple has new Mac Pros with Intel’s next generation (Nehalem) Xeon processors. And as a blog post over at DEVELOP3D notes, how Apple got this out so early when even Intel hasn’t announced this chips is anybody’s guess. Clearly Apple and Intel have some secrets in the works that allowed Apple to get at least a minimum of one month advantage on shipping Nehalem-class workstations. 

Economy Hits Bentley Conference

This report on TenLinks notes that Bentley has cancelled its annual user confab, citing restricted budgets that prevent users from traveling and “an unprecedented economic environment.” The company now looks to be planning a virtual Web-based presentation of some sort, similar to what Autodesk just held for the press.

“Collaborating with Bentley Systems significantly expands 3Dconnexion support for solutions in the AEC community,” said Dieter Neujahr, president of 3Dconnexion. “Our 3D mice deliver dramatic productivity gains to V8i users by streamlining workflow and increasing design performance. In long-term infrastructure projects that can take years to complete, our 3D mice can accelerate the design, visualization and review process, ultimately decreasing time to market.”

The new Mice are now not confined to motion on one flat plane, but a three dimensional world, that probably echos the fluid motion of navigation in the Sims 2 game. Using six degrees of freedom and space, 3Dconnexions’ 3D mice make the modeling process more dynamic and effortless.

“3Dconnexion 3D mice complement the V8i portfolio, which is aimed to bring significant workflow enhancements for intuitive design modeling, streamlined interaction and project design performance,” said Joe Croser, global marketing director, Bentley Systems, Incorporated.

3Dconnexion provides advanced and affordable 3D mice that are supported by more than 130 of today’s leading and powerful 3D applications, including Adobe® Photoshop® CS3 Extended and Acrobat® 3D, CATIA, Google Earth™ and SketchUp®, Microsoft® Virtual Earth™, NX™, Pro/ENGINEER®, Second Life Grid® Platform, SolidWorks®, and all of the top-tier 3D CAD applications.

For a complete list of applications supported by 3Dconnexion,
visit: www.3dconnexion.com/solutions/cad/all_sup_app.php.

This program includes a one-year subscription to GC, plus online learning and support services to help users accelerate their use of the software. The GC Discovery Subscription is available to new users for 250.USD in the United States. Pricing outside the US varies and folks must contact Bentley directly for this information.

GenerativeComponents – What It Is

Bentley’s GenerativeComponents software is a distinct software program that interoperates with other BIM and CAD software as well as Bentley’s own. Naturally it works most intimately with Bentley’s own software tools for architects and engineers, but if you use Revit, ArchiCAD or other BIM solutions there is absolutely no reason technically that you cannot integrate Bentley GenerativeComponents into your design workflow.

GenerativeComponents is designed for creative output by designers in architecture or engineering firms. It is most like an advanced parametric modeling system but it goes much further than that. It is the first parametric system to apply the power of symbolic math. Sophisticated form-making is possible using advanced mathematics, yet designers do not need to start from a mathematical starting point.

Rapid iterative design using fine or rough numerical or formulaic input can be invaluable in many complex building designs and GenerativeComponents allows architects and engineers to define the relationship between each component in a GC design. As these parametric-based relationships scale out across an entire design an architect can make small input changes that cascade throughout the design allowing one to freely explore design alternatives without having to manually remodel the entire building.

Bentley makes a point in their literature that GenerativeComponents is “not like SketchUp, where your seven-year old could pick it up and model a dog kennel in an afternoon” GenerativeComponents does require some training in order to maximize your abilities with the software.

Thus far GenerativeComponents is being utilized by some of the brightest and creative firms in the world, including Foster & Partners, Arup, KPF, and by leading universities such as MIT, Cambridge and Bath University.

GenerativeComponents on the Mac

GenerativeComponents’ software code is a typical C+ based application but it does have .Net hooks in it and a Windows-based interface. Built around Microsoft’s development platform Huw Roberts, AIA, of Bentley informed me that a native Mac version of this software isn’t likely in the foreseeable future. However, Bentley GenerativeComponents does run fine under Apple’s Boot Camp (dual boot Windows/Mac) software arrangement with Intel-based Macs. He was unsure of how it would work in a “virtual machine” on a Mac using VMware or Parallels. Architosh will be evaluating that scenario soon.

You can learn more about GenerativeComponents at Bentley’s website.