Asbuilt Industry News

July 22, 2009
Leica Geosystems Announces the Release of Leica CloudWorx 1.0 for SmartPlant 3D
Leica Geosystems announces the immediate availability of Leica CloudWorx™ 1.0 for SmartPlant 3D. This powerful and easy-to-learn point cloud solution is designed for Intergraph SmartPlant 3D users who want to take full advantage of accurate, laser scan as-built data directly in SmartPlant 3D. Leica CloudWorx™ 1.0 for SmartPlant 3D is the latest addition to the Leica CloudWorx suite of products that enable professionals to use rich, as-built point cloud data directly in their native desktop design and visualization platform. SmartPlant 3D is Intergraph's next generation plant design platform.

July 09, 2009
BIM and Laser Scanning for As-built and Adaptive Reuse Projects: The Opportunity for Surveyors
The process of adapting old structures for new purposes or "adaptive reuse" as it is called, represents quite a paradigm shift in the construction industry. Given the focus on adaptive reuse of buildings, especially in light of the current economic climate and sustainability efforts, the spotlight on this trend will become increasingly hot. We're witnessing a change in consumer perception. People want to live in an urban community where old buildings are kept and reused, some of historical value (like the textile mill buildings in the northeast), rather than bulldozed. This in turn has caused a challenge to the AEC industry, where the core focus in recent years has been on new construction. New skills and new approaches are now being rapidly adopted to meet this emerging challenge to modernize older structures--and laser scanning and BIM are the powerful tools for success that you need to understand and leverage.

July 27, 2009
Autodesk 2010 Certification Now Available for Design Professionals
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., July 27 -- Autodesk, Inc., (NASDAQ: ADSK) , today announced that design and engineering professionals can become Autodesk Certified in AutoCAD 2010, Autodesk Inventor 2010, Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010, and AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 software. Becoming Autodesk Certified allows professionals, and companies boasting Autodesk Certified employees, to validate their industry skills and knowledge, demonstrate expertise and gain credibility. Customer demand has contributed to the huge growth of Autodesk Certification over the past year, increasing the number of Autodesk Certified professionals to more than 100,000.


June 15, 2007
BOMA Q and A
Discussion as it relates to BOMA/ANSI Standard for Measuing Office Spaces

February 15, 2007
3D Laser Mapping Supports Kumba Iron Ore Extraction
Nottingham, UK – 3D Laser Mapping, the UK based specialists in laser measurement technology and software, is helping Kumba Iron Ore to improve the safety of iron ore extraction in South Africa. 3D Laser Mapping has supplied and installed a Riegl LMS Z420i laser scanner, the first scanner of its type in South Africa, which is being used to monitor slope deformation in order to reduce the levels of risk to personnel and equipment that occur as a result of potential slope failure. The system uses the latest laser technology to capture highly accurate slope measurements that are then analysed to identify areas of movement and therefore potential failure.

February 12, 2007
Certifying As-built or Record Drawings
Architects should use caution when giving record drawings to clients and when creating “as-built” drawings. Examples of provisional language that might be used to mitigate the risk involved with “as- built” drawings are included.

January 17, 2007
Measuring Floor Area for Commercial Leases
Identifies six steps to take when measuring a building for lease agreements. When commercial lease rates are scheduled per square foot, it is important that the square-footage measurement is accurate and that the person who measures has the necessary protection in case the measurement is questioned.

January 15, 2007
3D Laser Mapping Launches Telecom Mapping System
3D Laser Mapping has launched a mobile mapping system designed to capture asbuilt 3D measurements of overhead telecom networks. The vehicle-mounted WireFinder system uses laser technology and specially designed software to measure the position of telecom network assets, such as poles and wires.

January 10, 2007
Bentley OnSite Connects Worlds of Civil Engineering Design and Construction Speeds Project Construction, Decreases Project Risk and Costly Rework
EXTON, PA., January 4 /CNW/ - Bentley Systems, Incorporated today announced Bentley OnSite, breakthrough software that connects the worlds of civil engineering design and construction. This new offering automates and streamlines tasks for stakeout, inspection, and measurement in the field, facilitating project management and helping ensure unprecedented levels of accuracy during construction.

January 9, 2007
GiveMePower Launches PowerCAD SiteMaster Turn-On-and-Go

GiveMePower Corporation (OTCBB: GMPW), today launched two new ultra-mobile computing solutions for building surveying and inspection, construction area estimating and reporting, and facilities asset and information management - featuring hardware from mobility market leaders Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) and Tablet Kiosk.

November 29, 2006
3D Laser Mapping Launches StreetMapper 2
3D Laser Mapping has launched StreetMapper 2, a new modular vehicle-mounted system for rapid 3D mapping on and off road. The portable system uses lasers to 3D map assets and the landscape to millimeter accuracy at speeds of up to 70 km an hour.

November 8, 2006
Autodesk Supports Visual Studio, .NET Framework, MS SQL
Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced support for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, the .NET Framework 2.0 and Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Autodesk and Microsoft work together across many technology areas. Autodesk's data management products, built using SQL Server, enable teams to gain greater insight and maximize efficiency by always having instant access to design information. The Microsoft products combined with AutoCAD-based products from Autodesk provide an optimal platform for application developers to realize their ideas in designing and creating a wide range of software applications, from shipbuilding to facilities management, plant design to urban planning, architecture to emergency response.

November 6, 2006
BIM benefits facilities management
Editorial article focuses on methods for facility managers and FM applications to take advantage of the consistent, coordinated building information that comes from a BIM.

November 2, 2006
Prime Edge Asbuilt Services proposes a new method for building field data verifications
Prime Edge Asbuilt Services today announced that it is underway to develop a full set of business applications for use by of professionals within construction, property management and design industries. Software applications include estimating software interface is called PrimeCue. EdgeCue is a CAD based software package and PlanCue is a facility plan management interface. Beta versions of these packages have been used by the company for the last two years and the updated version of the products will allow users to take advantage of a patent pending method for building data collection for estimating, drafting and management purposes, making it easier than ever to prepare asbuilt floor plans, estimate amount of work to be performed or provide a detailed information with regard to the occupied space for facility planning purposes. In an effort to make this technology available to the industry professionals Prime Edge had launched AsbuiltEdge Technologies which will be responsible for the software and business development associated with the system.

October 21, 2006
Building for Boomers
Born between 1946 and 1964, baby boomers total 82 million and represent nearly a quarter of the U.S. population. Because the 50-and-over crowd controls more than 40 percent of the nation's disposable income, contractors and developers are increasingly focused on winning their business. And that means rethinking everything from floor plans to amenities to locations.

October 12, 2006
Asbuilts: Avoid Potential Change Order Disputes
This article is written with homeowner in mind as a guideline for a very interesting and education experience of remodeling your house which waits ahead of you.

October 10, 2006
Autodesk Releases FMDesktop 7.0 Product Suite
Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK)today announced the launch of the Autodesk FMDesktop Product Suite, a powerful, easy-to-use software solution for facilities management. Developed by and for experienced facility managers, the Autodesk FMDesktop 7.0 suite of products, including Facility Manager, Facility Link, Facility Web and Facility Request, helps deliver the power of digital facility management through intuitive and easy-to-use features. The scalable computer-aided facility management (CAFM) suite of products was built on Autodesk's DWF platform, and, by incorporating the latest DWF viewing technologies, provides facilities managers with a simple, accurate method to create, manage and share building operating data throughout the enterprise. This is the first full version of FMDesktop launched by Autodesk, who acquired the application in January 2006 as part of the acquisition of Applied Spatial Technologies.

October 9, 2006
Ranal Launches CAMeLEAN/PM Project Management Suite
Ranal Software Solutions – one of the leading PLM products and service providers, and part of the Ranal Group – has launched CAMeLEAN®/PM, in India. CAMeLEAN®/PM is a complete project management suite that guides organizations through the entire project management lifecycle.

September 15, 2006
Your As-Builts Are Your Blueprint for Success
Most contractors know that next to the finished product, the as-builts documentation is essential part of a construction project. As-builts are the final blueprint drawings which reflect changes made in the field during the construction of a new structure or an addition to an existing. As-built drawings consist of a full set of construction documents and detail built structure in every detail. Electrical and Mechanical drawings are especially important part of the documentation due to the much higher cost associated with field changes. Most commercial property owners and property managers keep a set of current as-builts handy at all times to access essential information on daily basis. In fact, some entities consider as-built documentation such important part of the construction process, they require drawings to be completed prior to issuing final occupancy.

August 21, 2006
FeaturePics.com and Prime Edge As-Built Services to Combine Forces to Create a New Field in Stock Photography
Prime Edge As-built Services plans to set up a special account with FeaturePics, an emerging stock photography web site, which would allow service companies to upload their digital images on-line.

April 3, 2006
Autodesk Completes Acquisition of Constructware
Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), today announced it has completed the acquisition of Constructware, a privately held company based in Alpharetta, Georgia that provides on-demand communication and collaboration solutions that streamline design, construction and facility management. The acquisition, announced on February 7, 2006, closed for cash consideration of US $46 million (see press release). This acquisition enables Autodesk to rapidly expand its Autodesk Buzzsaw collaborative project management solution with Constructware software’s industry leading cost, bid and risk management capabilities. The acquisition allows Autodesk to more completely meet the needs of its customers as they realize their ideas through the use of on-demand collaborative project management solutions.

March 24, 2006
Autodesk Updates Building Solutions Complete Portfolio
Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today updated its entire portfolio of software solutions for the building industry, making it even easier for architects, structural engineers and building systems engineers to realize their ideas. With the immediate availability of Autodesk Revit Building 9, Autodesk Revit Structure 3, Autodesk Architectural Desktop 2007, Autodesk Building Systems 2007 and Autodesk VIZ 2007 software products, building design and engineering professionals can create, manage and share design information more effectively, contributing to increased profitability, reduced risk and fewer inefficiencies in building design, construction and management.

April 5, 2005
As-builts - Problems and Proposed Solutions
Over the course of any construction project, the work scope changes. Change is a normal and expected part of the construction process. Changes can be the result of necessary design modifications, differing site conditions, material availability, contractor-requested changes, value engineering and impacts from third parties, to name a few. Beyond executing the change in the field, the change normally needs to be documented to show what was actually constructed. Hence, the owner usually requires a final record to show all changes or, more specifically, any change that modifies the tangible portions of the finished work. The record is made on the contract documents – usually, but not necessarily limited to, the design drawings. The end product of this effort is what the industry terms as-built drawings, or more simply, “asbuilts.” The requirement for providing them is a norm in construction contracts

May 28, 2004

Boston Business Journal - May 28, 2004 by Richard Fanelli

Measuring square footage is not always an exact science. There are a number of rentable square footage measurement standards commonly used in the commercial real estate market. Each method, if used on the same space, would result in a different rentable square foot number.

January 31, 1997

The American National Standard for measuring floor area in office buildings is changing. The new version (officially labeled ANSI/BOMA Z65.1-1996) is an improved method designed to meet the current and future needs of the many industry professionals concerned with the measurement of office buildings.