Autodesk Inc. has announced upgrades to software tools developed by its Geographical Systems (GIS) Division. The new products are said to include capabilities for automating business processes, collaboration, and data integration.
Davis
Autodesk director Kim Davis believes “The business climate and competitive requirements have clearly changed for our GIS. It’s no longer about the incremental gain of performing a single task faster or more efficiently. It’s about technology that meets customer needs throughout the workflow. From managing projects, to sharing information, to collaborating across company lines and in the field, software must be a facilitator.”
Utilities
Autodesk’s GIS strategy for the electric utility and communications markets centers on turning GIS data to GIS information. The new software lets a broad base of users visualize and edit mapping and design data in their day-to-day business operations and processes. The key to this strategy is the Autodesk GIS Design Server, which delivers digital design and location data to the point of work on the engineering and business user’s desktop, or in the field. The server augments the design and mapping capabilities of other Autodesk products to include web and mobile access.
Oracle 8i
The Design Server leverages the Oracle8i database into a ‘mainstream business support system.’ Autodesk has also integrated its land development suite into its GIS products, giving companies a complete mapping and land development solution.
Map 5
New features in Autodesk Map 5 include a direct connection to an Oracle 8i Spatial database, wizards for thematic mapping, improved user interface, enhanced import/export engine and wavelet support for Mr. SID and ECW.
LandXML
The new Land Desktop 3 introduces support for Autodesk’s LandXML data exchange format. LandXML facilitates the exchange of data created during the Land Planning, Civil Engineering and Land Survey process. Project data is independent of the authoring software and is said to overcome the interoperability problems. LandXML also facilitates project migration, software upgrades and long-term data archival.
XSL
LandXML leverages the Extensible Style sheet Language (XSL) through the application of web templates. XSL style sheets can for instance format raw point data into point tables, or format data to match an organization’s internal standards, such as legal descriptions for parcel reports. More from www.landxml.org.