CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
22 August 2013
Acquisitions
Autodesk Unveils New Autodesk Point Layout Software to Boost Accuracy and Productivity at Construction Sites
Autodesk, Inc. has completed the acquisition of technology assets from Colorado-based Get The Point, LLC and today introduced Autodesk Point Layout, new software for layout at construction sites. The move strengthens Autodesk’s construction solutions portfolio and extends Building Information Modeling (BIM) further into the field. The acquisition and product release underscore the company’s efforts to transform the construction industry using BIM from the earliest stages of design all the way through project delivery and building operations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Autodesk Point Layout automatically creates points from BIM and CAD models within Autodesk Revit, Autodesk AutoCAD and Autodesk Navisworks software. The point data drives robotic total station hardware, such as Topcon’s line of positioning systems and related hand-held devices or tablets, to give contractors and sub-contractors laser-guided pinpoint accuracy for the placement and verification of building elements.
By removing error-prone manual layout techniques, Autodesk Point Layout improves field accuracy and productivity, as building designs are more accurately and quickly brought to life at the construction site. The result is faster construction, which helps building projects get completed on-time and on-budget. With fewer people on site for less time, Autodesk Point Layout also helps improve construction site safety.
In combination with the cloud-based Autodesk BIM 360 portfolio for field management and coordination, Autodesk Point Layout adds another vital element in improving construction industry productivity.
“BIM continues to transform the building industry in new and important ways. Connecting the digital model to the physical site is a key step in achieving efficiency and accuracy on the job site and across all aspects of the project,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, Information Modeling and Platform Products Group, Autodesk. “Autodesk Point Layout is a big step in advancing that effort. More broadly, it’s part of Autodesk’s expansive arsenal of tools to extend BIM and its productivity gains into all parts of the workflow, including construction.”
Customers using the technology on which Autodesk Point Layout is based have reported significant savings in layout time and cost. Beyond cost and time savings, the increased accuracy of Autodesk Point Layout means higher quality work, less manpower required and a smoother, safer project environment for contractors.
“On a recent project, PCL achieved a 27 percent reduction in waste, directly attributed to using the technology found in Autodesk Point Layout on concrete foundations,” said Nick Kurth, Virtual Construction Manager, PCL Construction. “This is a powerful way to extend our BIM workflow to the construction site, and we expect we can see similar – or better – savings as we use the new Autodesk software on future jobs.”
Total stations use a combination of GPS, laser-powered optics, wireless communications and now BIM to verify field placements to precise points on the jobsite for construction elements such as foundation corners and concrete-to-steel framing interfaces. Autodesk Point Layout can also quickly and accurately locate hangers used to support complex, pre-assembled duct work and piping in a concrete slab. General contractors can use the software to back-check work from subcontractors as part of their quality control process. Data can also be relayed from the total station back into the model to capture and maintain real-world conditions.
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