Cadalyst - January 2008 - (Page 33)

cadlabsreview Tool X BIM-ier than Tool Y?” The real question should be, as it always has been for design software, “how will this tool improve our process, and what are the tradeoffs for achieving those improvements?” In that regard, VectorWorks 2008 offers a different set of tradeoffs than its BIM-authoring competition. VectorWorks 2008 may not provide the ultimate in “Look Ma, no hands!” drawing revision (a questionable benefit anyway, in the opinion Figure 4. Space planning in VectorWorks 2008 is capable of many practitioners), of supporting the IFC and GSA Space Object requirements but it also doesn’t for BIM and interoperability. require a radically different production work(NBIMS), to supersede and incorpoflow that precludes ever going back rate the National CAD Standard (NCS). to non-BIM production. The dollars The U.S. General Services Administrathat will buy one seat of most compettion (GSA), the world’s largest proping BIM-capable tools will buy roughly erty owner/manager, now requires IFC three seats of VectorWorks Architect certification and support for the IFC/ (although I’ve referred generically to GSA Space Object in all federal design the product as VectorWorks, my real projects (figure 4). In Singapore, supfocus as a former practicing architect port for the IFC Code-Checking view has been on VectorWorks Architect; is now required for building permit the all-in VectorWorks Designer packapplications. There may be many paths age that includes the very powerful to BIM-ness, some of which need not LandMark site/landscape design tool, pass through IFC certification, but among other goodies, adds only $400 surely it is the case that any tool which to the per seat pricing). VectorWorks is IFC-certified (as supplemented by offers quantity discounts for multiple local requirements such as NBIMS and/ seats, and free student versions are or the GSA Space Object) is indeed available at www.student.vectorworks.net. BIM-olicious. In other words, IFC certiThe bottom line? VectorWorks fication is a sufficient, but not a neces2008 combines true reference files, sary, condition of being BIM. robust CAD management, producAt this writing, VectorWorks 2008 tive usability enhancements, and has achieved IFC2x3 (level 1) certifireal-world BIM capability. For many cation and supports a GSA-complidesign firms, those features will add ant Space Object, which currently is up to a winning combination. Highly undergoing review by the GSA for Recommended. c acceptance. Nemetschek maintains an active presence and full participaIndustry analyst and consultant Jerry tion in the NBIMS effort. By the time Laiserin helps AEC/O businesses — and this appears in print, those qualifying the technology providers who serve them tasks should be concluded. Then, as I — build smarter through the integration of have written before, the question any technology strategy and business process. design firm must ask is not “how is E-mail him at jerry@laiserin.com. Not all PDF and DWF Files are Created Equal higher quality and smaller size PDF files. AutoCAD 2000 - 2008 Compatible Batch Creation of PDF, DWF, or Images Automatic Bookmark Creation Custom File Naming Options Create a PDF from any Windows Application Try it free for 30 days. http://www.student.vectorworks.net http://www.cadzation.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cadalyst - January 2008

Cadalyst - January 2008 Contents Editor's Window Cad Central Chasing the Dolphins CAD that Won’t Break the Bank AliasStudio 2008 — Design and Visualization Software VectorWorks 2008 — CAD/BIM Authoring Software Dell Precision M4300 — Mobile Workstation What’s in Store for 2008? Low- or No-Cost CAD Goliath Reinvented Doin’ the DEED Cad Cartoon Issue Indexes The Return of Hot Tip Harry

Cadalyst - January 2008

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