GREEN BUILDING STUDIO

Achieve more efficient, even carbon-neutral, building designs using the powerful analysis tools in the Autodesk® Green Building Studio® web-based service. Leverage building information modeling (BIM) to explore options and gain better design insights through immediate whole-building energy, water, and carbon-emission analysis. In just minutes, learn how to design a carbon-neutral building.

ECOTECT

Simulate and analyze environmental factors, such as solar, thermal, shading, and daylighting, with Autodesk® Ecotect™ conceptual building performance analysis software. Interact with your data in real time and easily interpret results to better inform decision making for more sustainable designs. Learn how with a free trial.

Standarizing Project Management

Primavera, a project management software company, is offering a free white paper download, "Winning the Battle for Performance: Standardizing Best Practices with Technology." The paper discusses how to maintain a strong competitive position in the volatile construction market by increasing efficiency through implementing standardized business processes and operating procedures based upon organization-wide technology. The white paper is also a guide for choosing the right technology to best promote standardization within engineering and construction firms.

Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Extended

Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Extended includes all the functions of Acrobat 9 Pro, plus a range of additional features for business and technical professionals. Acrobat 9 Pro Extended includes PDF Portfolio for unifying a wide range of content, Adobe Presenter for creating interactive presentations, and the new Adobe 3D Reviewer for expanded 3D capabilities. It also provides the ability to convert 2D and 3D designs to PDF, convert and share video in PDF, and create PDF maps. Download a free 30-day trial for Windows users:

Revit Global Light Utility for 3ds Max

IMAGINiT Technologies, a RAND Worldwide® Company, has developed the Revit Global Light Utility for Max, a utility for Autodesk® 3ds Max®. With a single click, it turns on/ off multiple lights coming from the Autodesk Revit® and other CAD applications, as well as native 3ds Max lights. In addition to "all on/ all off," the utility allows you to separate each specific kind of light (such as daylight and photometric) or selected lights. The combination of Revit Architecture and 3ds Max Design enables designers to extend the BIM process. Revit Global Light Utility for Max is expected to be the first in a series of tools developed by the IMAGINiT design visualization team. Free download for a limited time.

Sustainable Product Design Guidelines

"The Designer's Field Guide to Sustainability" is an overview of key considerations for sustainable product development and the product life cycle. Four recommendations for the product design process are: 1) examine the premise of the design, 2) choose materials to increase recycling options and decrease manufacturing energy, 3) consider the importance of durable, multi-use products, and 4) make products modular for easy repair, and maximize renewable and biodegradable materials. Concepts useful for interior, architectural, graphic, and engineering designers. Read more at the "Lunar Elements" blog from industrial design company Lunar Design. Download a PDF with examples of sustainable solutions to product design challenges.

Insulated Metal Panel Performance

Insulated Metal Panels (IMPs) typically consist of an insulated core, exterior and interior metal skins, double tongue-and-groove joinery, and concealed clips and fasteners. Installed outside the metal stud cavity, IMPs are suitable for exterior walls or roof systems, and can also be used in conjunction with other panels for multi-component solutions. They can increase the thermal efficiency of the building envelope to 95 percent. The panels incorporate a water, air, and vapor barrier in a single-unit wall assembly with R-values that range between R-14 and R-48. Available in a wide range of color and styles. Download a white paper on IMPs from the Metal Construction Association.

Explore, Validate and Convey Your Design Concepts with 3ds Max® Design 2009

Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design 2009 software enables architects, designers, and visualization specialists to fully explore, validate, and communicate their creative ideas — from initial concept models to final, cinema-quality presentations. This comprehensive 3D modeling, animation, and rendering solution includes Exposure™ lighting simulation and analysis technology which provides invaluable assistance in attaining LEED® 8.1 certification for creating more sustainable designs. Additionally, 3ds Max Design 2009 offers tightly integrated workflows and a higher level of data interoperability with AutoCAD® and Revit® — based products for projects involving building information modeling (BIM) and Digital Prototyping so you and your clients can experience your designs before they're real — helping to win more projects. Download a free trial today.

LEED "Innovation in Design" Credit Catalog from USGBC

The U.S. Green Building Council issued this document about projects that have received points for "innovative performance." Currently, projects pursuing LEED Certification have the opportunity to earn up to four points for two types of credits in the Innovation & Design Process (ID) category: exemplary performance related to existing LEED credits and innovative performance.

This document pertains to innovative performance, and is a catalog of ID credits submitted by projects before the summer of 2007. It is a work in progress and is meant as a brainstorming tool to assist project teams in the development of new ID credits. It does not set any precedent to be upheld during a LEED Certification Review. The information found here is a staff summary of information provided by review teams and should not be considered a detailed or comprehensive portrayal of the original credit submittal.

Mitigating Risk in AEC Project Execution

Spar Point Research of Danvers, Massachusetts, surveyed leading AEC principals, counsel, and professional liability insurers on the topic of risk management in architecture, engineering, and construction projects. There was a consensus that many of the industry's current practices, despite being designed to shield firms from risk exposure, are, in fact, increasing the likelihood of project failure. The participating executives agreed that more frequent and deeper sharing of information across the entire project team can improve the team's clarity of understanding, reduce the likelihood and severity of problems, and increase control over a project's outcome. Download the white paper commissioned by Newforma, Inc., a developer of project information management software.

QuickARC 3D

QuickARC 3D is a free 3D CAD model-viewing software developed by QuickArc. QuickARC 3D reads 3D files in the .STL format, and now in Google Sketchup format (.SKP). It allows the user to view their model, check it for quality, and then get an instant quote for 3D printing. QuickARC 3D now reads Sketchup model files, and converts them to a 3D printable format. The free downloadable software provides the user the ability to: find thin walls, read Sketchup files, and do automatic architectural scaling, multiple model viewing, and instant quoting.

VectorWorks Architect 2008 — Flexible to Fit Your Workflow

VectorWorks' approach to Building Information Modeling (BIM) lets you improve your design process instead of trying to replace it. Work faster while reducing drawing errors. Cutting-edge capabilities link plans, elevations, sections, perspectives, reports and even rendered views, so a change to one updates the others. Query the model for information at any time and, using the IFC standard, move your BIM projects through the project lifecycle with a growing selection of validation, analysis, and construction programs. Request a free trial:

Sustaining Infrastructure White Paper from Bentley Systems

In "Sustaining Infrastructure," Bentley Senior Vice President Buddy Cleveland explains that the world's infrastructure assets (including buildings) — and the professionals charged with designing, building, and operating them — have critical roles to play in meeting global challenges, ranging from CO₂ emissions to chronic hunger, unsafe bridges, severe weather, the depletion of nonrenewable resources, and others. For Bentley, these challenges fall under the broad umbrella of sustainability. For a free copy visit:

Policy Assessment on High-Performance Buildings

This policy recommendations report was prepared by the High-Performance Building Council, with the SBIC serving as its Secretariat, in response to Section 914 of the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005, to address defining "high-performance buildings" based on comprehensive and measurable criteria. The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) advocates formation of a building industry coalition to assess current consensus standards and rating systems. View report in PDF format:

Google Sketchup Pro 6

Google SketchUp Pro 6 is software that you can use to create, share and present 3D models. SketchUp Pro provides extra functionality for people who need to export their work into CAD, rendering and other professional software applications. SketchUp Pro 6 also includes LayOut, a new program that lets you create professional presentations — paper and digital — from your SketchUp models. Download a free trial....

Design Tools News Headlines

Search previous architecture news in the ArchitectureWeek Library

Design Tools Last Week

Design Tools Department Archive