Trimble Navigation has agreed to buy the Sketchup 3D modeling platform from Google, Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Trimble, which makes surveying, mapping, 3D BIM software Tekla and marine navigation equipment, said SketchUp will enhance the integration of its field presence with the wider enterprise.

Dell released a new line of Precision tower workstations today, featuring redesigned cases, patented Reliable Memory Testing (RMT) memory that automatically corrects and reports memory errors, Intel Sandybridge architecture and up to 600 watts of graphics power. The tower workstations were engineered to enable engineering, product design, animation, and other graphics and compute intensive professionals increased productivity and minimized downtime.

I have been beta-testing Adobe Photoshop CS6 for the past few weeks. This is the most significant overhaul of the program since Photoshop CS4 and a must have for BIM/CAD managers, architectural rendering experts and other Photoshop-using design professionals.

Bentley Systems has released Bentley Descartes V8i (SELECTseries 3) –  a 3D modeling software that combines point clouds, raster imagery, and geometry. The resulting models expand the utility of point clouds by supporting hybrid design workflows that deliver “as-operated” 3D models to serve the operations and maintenance needs of owner-operators. By uniquely enabling hypermodeling – the intuitive navigation of as-operated models in 3D context that includes engineering information in any form – Bentley is committed to enhancing infrastructure safety and resilience while increasing owner-operators’ returns on their engineering investments.

Trimble has introduced version 2.4 of VisionLink software. The new software version integrates site productivity data, fleet and asset management, and materials and volumes movement information using 2D Project Monitoring. With the added benefit of 2D Project Monitoring, VisionLink is pioneering the ability to present a collective view of all machines and their contribution to overall productivity across the organization and across sites. In addition, VisionLink Mobile takes the power of VisionLink to the field, giving contractors the ability to view productivity data on mobile devices. The announcement was made at Intermat 2012, the international exhibition of equipment, machinery and techniques for the construction and materials industries.
 

Beginning today, professional and student designers can submit entries to the 2012 Inspired Visions Global Rendering Competition. This annual competition, which is sponsored by Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. and MAXON Computer GmbH, recognizes today’s top architects and designers from around the world, and their abilities to visually render Vectorworks models with Renderworks or CINEMA 4D. Submissions will be accepted from April 18 to August 16, 2012.

The focus of the Spring BIM Forum, April 24th, 25 and 26th in San Antonio, Texas, will be virtual design and construction deliverables. The presentations over the two day conference will show ways that deliverables were used to solve specific problems including, how that deliverable saved the project time or money, enabled better decisions, enhanced quality, improved the project schedule, eliminated information drop-off between parties, enhanced communication or collaboration, or had any other meaningful impact to the design, construction or operation of the eventual building.

IMAGINiT Technologies  is unveiling the latest enhancements in the 2013 portfolio of Autodesk design, engineering and entertainment software, including the latest design and creation suites with in-depth, ‘Know It. All. Virtual Events’ scheduled for May 1 – May 4, 2012. Each of these industry-focused, full-day online events, includes sessions on new Autodesk product tips and tricks, successful implementation strategies, complementary software applications, peer networking in the virtual lounge and more

Two weeks ago I attended the 9th annual SmartGeometry conference at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. SG is an annual conference and symposium on the use of digital technologies in architecture and design. Founded in 2001, SmartGeometry is a loose confederation of architects, designers, planners and materials scientists founded in 2001 as a partnership between “Practice, Research and Academia” (their words).

Lenovo recently released its next generation of 30 Series ThinkStation Workstations – the ThinkStation S30, C30 and D30. Equipped with Intel Xeon E5 processors, these powerful workstations deliver speed and performance necessaryto meet the computing demands of specialized professionals in computer-aided design and building information modeling. With an enhanced energy efficient design, the workstations are optimized for productivity. They will be available for purchase from lenovo.com/thinkstation and qualified parters April 9th.