Daylight Simulation in 3ds Max Whitepapers

Learn how to take models that were created in Revit® or AutoCAD® and import them into Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design to create accurate and compelling daylight simulations with the Exposure™ feature. This white paper is for the daylight simulation novice.

Daylight Simulation in 3ds Max Design 2009: Getting Started (pdf - 6698Kb) Download pdf for instructions.

Learn about advanced concepts in daylight simulation using the Exposure™ feature in Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design. This white paper is for architects, designers, engineers, and visualization specialists who are familiar with daylight simulation and want to take it to the next level.

Daylight Simulation in 3ds Max Design 2009: Advanced (pdf - 3342Kb) Download pdf for instructions.

Via cgarchitect

Introducing SketchUp 7

Google has finally released Sketchup 7 and can now be downloaded from its website.Both pro and the free version are out.

Below is a video showing whats new:



You can find an exhaustive list of what's new in 7 on the What's New in SketchUp 7 page from Google.

Read More

Via Google Skecthup Blog

Gmail brings Voice and Video Chat

Google has introduced voice and video chat from gmail. All yo need is a plugin which can be installed from within Gmail.

You can view the videos in the small fly-out panel or pop-em out to a large PIP view. You can even blow them up to full screen and have a smooth chatting experience at the same time.

Below is a video tutorial highlighting some of the features of this new service along with instructions on how to use them.

Voice and Video Plugin Direct Download

Via Sizlopedia

The Sketchup Show:Energy Analysis Plugins in SketchUp

This Episode by the sketchup show, shows you how to use the Virtual Environment -
Energy Analysis Plugin from Integrated Environmental Systems (aka: IES
VE). You can download this free plugin for SketchUp from the IES
Website: www.iesve.com. The Plugin allows SketchUp users to conduct
energy analysis simulations of their SketchUp models at the earliest
stages of design, which will hopefully help us all to design buildings
that will be more energy efficient, reduce energy consumption and
ultimately keep Earth from melting.

Video can be viewed and downloaded here.

Import Satellite Imagery and Terrain from Google Earth IN COLOR!

The Google Earth plugin  imports a black and
white satellite imagery into skecthup. This episode (#52) by the skecthup show shows how to import sattelite imagery and terrain from google earth in COLOUR. The Episode is a continuation of Episode #51.

Video can be viewed or downloaded from here.

Search for it in youtube..it could be uploaded. Last time I checked it wasn't available yet.

Browse the 3D Warehouse in Google Earth

You can browse 3D Warehouse models in Google Earth! Clicking this 3D Warehouse Community network link launches Google Earth and shows icons wherever geo-located models have been placed in the 3D Warehouse.

Read More



Via Google Sketchup blog

Synchro: Your model in 4D

Synchro is a 4D (3D +
scheduling) application that allows you to create and see the
construction schedule of your project -- all at the same time. They've
created a plugin
for SketchUp and have full support for the SKP file format. The plugin
allows you to bring geometry from SketchUp into Synchro with a unique
ID attached to each component. This gives users the ability to make
changes in their SketchUp models and port those changes back to Synchro
while iterating on designs.

Below is a video representing the product in action provided by Construction Software Advice:

Via Sketchup Blog

15 Free Tools for Web-based Collaboration

In this article, you’ll find 15 free tools to help you facilitate remote/web-based collaboration.
Whether you need basic whiteboarding/brainstorming tools or
fully-featured project management applications – you should be able to
find a tool or two that’s worth checking out.

Read More

3D Warehouse - now with 3D maps

You can now view 3dmodels in google 3d model maps using the Google Earth Plugin.

To see this in action, first find a geo-referenced model in the Google 3D Warehouse. Then, click on the Map tab and choose the Earth
map type (this plugin is currently only available on Windows). You'll
see the model load and the view change to focus on the 3D model - all
within the 3D Warehouse.

Read More

Mixing Physical and Virtual Models: Augmented Reality

The movie above details 'MxR Architecture' - a mix of physical and virtual models together in a single interface.

Using Mixed Reality, virtual models can be superimposed over real
models in real-time, allowing the designer/user/client to make changes,
simulate sun angles, run agents studies, add components as well as
transition to a fully-immersive VR view at any time.

Produced by Daniel Belcher of the Design Machine Group at College of Architecture and Urban Planning.
University of Washington.

Read More

Via Digital Urban

The Making of Photosynth

The video above looks at the making of Photosynth, its informative and provides a glimpse of where Photosynth is going.

Click here to Read More.

3D Printing from SketchUp

CADspan just released a plugin that allows for the generation of solid, 3D printable files directly from a Google SketchUp model. This software re-creates a model by "shrink-wrapping" it with one continuous mesh. The result is a single object, in STL file format, that is completely solid and ready-to-print.

Video Below shows how to use the plugin:

Via Sketchup Blog

Synth of Taj Mahal using photosynth

Just trying out the new photosynth application which is a great tool for architectural visualization.

Below is a synth created of taj mahal which can be viewed from every angle and in detail. Please note that you have to install a plugin to view this:

Revit 64-Bit Released

Autodesk has released the 64-Bit version of Revit and can be downloaded on the subscription website.

Benchmark results have also been made to show the improvement and what would be best for Revit users.

Below are the results which you need to download to view:




Via ARCHin3d

Augmented Space: Projecting onto Architecture

Pablo Valbuena's work featured above is taken from the TodaysArt Festival in The Hague.

Projected onto the side of City Hall the installation was entitled ‘Augmented Space’

Via Digital Urban

Photosynth A tool for Urban Visualisation

Photosynth is an application by Microsoft which can be used to for the visualization of architecture. Hidenori Watanave and students from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used it in such a way to create a 'synth' of the Nakagin Capsule Tower" by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa:

Via Digital Urban

Google 3dwarehouse update

Google 3D Warehouse is used by a lot of people and has grown over time. It's new features has just been updated which includes a new sharing feature for communal collaboration of models.

You control who edits, views, or even downloads your model. If your
intentions are to collaborate, this feature provides that option. Privacy is also covered as well.


If you're itching to get started but not sure where to begin, try this out:

1. Visit one of your models in the 3D Warehouse, and click the "Share" link.
2. Invite a friend as a collaborator and select the option, "The owner must approve all changes to this model."
3. When your collaborator proposes a change you'll receive an email. Select the "History" link to see the "pending edit."
   
4. 
   If you like the changes, click on "Accept" and the model will be
   updated for everyone. Otherwise, click on "Reject" and hurt your
   collaborator's feelings.

Working with a collaborator is just one of the many unique features of the 3D Warehouse.






Via Google Sketchup Blog

Rapidshare Premium Link Generators

Rapidshare is the biggest online file sharing service used by almost everyone on the Internet.

Using the huge list of Rapidshare Premium Link Generators you will be able to use Rapidshare as a premium user. These sites generate premium download links which can be used without any limitations, even with a download manager.

1. RS Generator
2. RapidCheat
3. HelloRapid
4. Rapid Unblock
5. RS Dln
6. Rapid Lizard
7. RS Premium
8. Very Rapidshare
9. Rapid File
10. Rapid Loader
11. RS Fox
12. RS Findr
13. Mega DL
14. Premify RS
15. Rapidshare Pre
16. RapitShare

Read More

See your building's energy performance on sketchup

Google SketchUp users now have greater access to free building performance simulation tools. IES (Integrated Environmental Solutions) has just released a free plugin, the IES VE SketchUp plugin (available for Windows only) that determines your building's energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. The plugin works within Google SketchUp 6 and connects with IES's analysis tools: VE-Ware (free), VE-Toolkits and the full Virtual Environment.

Read More

Below is an overview of the plugin in use:

Via SketchUp Blog

Photosynth: View and Create 3D Panoramas

Recently Microsoft released the final version of its long-in-beta web application called Photosynth.

The application gives users the ability
to view and create 3D Panoramas and virtual tours. It takes a
collection of regular photographs and reconstructs the scene
in a 3-D environment.

Read More





Via Sizlopedia

Google Lively: 3D Interactive Virtual World

Google just launched a 3D interactive online virtual world called Lively.

Google Lively basically allows users to interact socially in a much
more realistic manner than just leaving comments or text blurbs.

Lively is more likely build on the concept of Second Life which is the world’s most populated online 3D virtual world. However, Lively has some unique features which make it more fun.

Some of the most interesting features of Lively are:

• A Lively room can be embedded to any webpage/blog using an iFrame.
• No registration required. Just use Google account.
• There are multiple worlds e.g. super heroes, islands, fantasy etc.
• Runs right inside from the browser.
• Users can watch YouTube videos on Televisions inside rooms.
• Users can hug, shake hands, play games, chat and much more!

Do not Use Firefox 3 to Make Secure Payments Online

Firefox 3 is no doubt the most secure state-of-the-art browser that has some amazing security features.

But if you use Firefox 3 to make secure payments online using your credit card then you might want to consider switching to Internet Explorer and here is why!

Read More

Herzog and de Meuron’s Spectacular Portsmouth Stadium

Some stunning pictures recently surfaced of Herzog and De Meuron’s latest oeuvre, a £600 million soccer stadium to be constructed in Portsmouth, England. In keeping with their Beijing Bird’s Nest, the venerable Swiss architects have created a striking 36,000 seat stadium that will include an exhibition center, housing, and a park. Envisioned as a shining waterfront beacon, the development will revitalize Horsea Island (a former landfill site) via an abundance of green spaces, a sustainable energy program, and a low-carbon emission scheme.

Read More






Via Inhabitat

next gene 20 promotion by squint opera

Below is a promotional video for a housing exposition in Taiwan by Squint Opera. 20 progressive modern houses will be built and open for touring, and an exhibition of the designs will tour the world. It's a great video presentation created by using a theme of an action movie.



Further info visit link below:
next gene 20 by squint opera

Via materialicious

Charlie Rose + Daniel Libeskind

Daniel Libeskind speaking to Charlie Rose:

Autodesk gives away FREE Video Camera!

The AutoCAD team wants to see and hear your stories! They’re giving away FREE Flip Video Cameras to selected people that have an AutoCAD story to tell. In return, they are just asking you to send them a couple of minutes of video (using your new camera) showing them your AutoCAD story. What kind of story? That’s up to you. Mostly, they want to hear how AutoCAD has changed your life, see some cool projects you designed with AutoCAD…that sort of thing. Be funny, be creative, or be inspiring. But mostly, just be you.

To request a camera, just send a note to autocad.video@autodesk.com. Be sure to include an overview of who you are, what you do, and a description of what you’d show in your video.

To read more click here and here.

Via Cad-a-blog

Dynamic Architecture to begin construction in Dubai

Dubai has garnered much attention in recent years with a never-ending supply of architectural wonders being built, or proposed, at a head spinning pace. Mostly these towering structures are grand and tall, but some are also green. We’ve covered many an ambitious Dubai skyscraper scheme here at Inhabitat, including David Fisher’s Rotating Tower, but there is new news from Fisher’s Dynamic Architecture firm. This self-sufficient, sun and wind powered design is making headlines once again as the Italian-Israeli architect has just unveiled the latest design for his twirling tower, and construction is set to begin this month!

Read More





Via Inhabitat

7 Modern Wonders of Green Technology: Conceptual and Actual Ecological Designs of the Future

Green architecture comes in many forms though lately it seems like these forms are stranger than ever. Urban skyscraper farms, Floating eco-cities, Glowing solar towers, Turbine-driven skyscrapers, Magnetically levitated wind collectors, Where does it end?! With all of these emerging green technologies it seemed an appropriate time to take a look at seven of the most amazing real and conceptual designs currently at the forefront of ecological innovation. These examples push the limits of ecological architecture and contemporary urban design discourse.

Read More

Via CGArchitect

Have you Seen CADoogle?

You can search and view DWF files on the web all without installing a single application. 2D or 3D does not matter as CADoogle uses Autodesk Freewheel to display the views of DWF files in any Java supporting browser.

http://www.cadoogle.com/

Revit Technology Conference in Sydney

There is an upcoming Revit Technology Conference in Sydney in June. The schedule covers just about every conceivable functional aspect of Revit. It is similar to the Autodesk University however, a much closer venue and much cheaper.

SketchUp Web Exporter

A web exporter is in development by Google.

The video below demonstrates the web exporter plugin. How it works is by exporting a series of images; each pointed at the model from a different angle and Javascript is then, used to animate the images in a web browser to give the illusion of rotating in 3d.



Via SketchUp Plugins

Creating Waterfalls Tutorial

Click here to view a new tutorial from 3DAllusions about using a particle system in 3ds max to create an animated waterfall.

Via CGArchitect post.

Google Earth Extension for AutoCAD 2007, AutoCAD 2008, and AutoCAD 2009

The very popular Google Earth Extension for AutoCAD has been updated for AutoCAD 2009 so that it now runs on three AutoCAD versions. There have also been a few updates by the developer Thomas Inzinga:

• Support for the new AutoCAD 2009 Geographic Location object
• Numerous bug fixes.

The Google Earth Extension is a great way to get your designs into Google Earth or reference Google Earth in AutoCAD.

AutoCAD 2009 Tutorial Videos Published on YouTube

There are 13 new AutoCAD 2009 video tutorials published on YouTube.

Below are the links:

1. AutoCAD 2009 Demo Introduction
2. AutoCAD 2009 Demo - part 2- Quick Access Toolbar
3. AutoCAD 2009 Demo - part 3 - Menu Browser
4. AutoCAD 2009 Demo - Part 4 - Ribbon
5. AutoCAD 2009 Demo - part 5 - Status Bar
6. AutoCAD 2009 Demo - part 6 - Quick Properties
7. AutoCAD 2009 - part 7 - QuickView layout
8. AutoCAD 2009 - part 8 - QuickView Drawings
9. AutoCAD 2009 - part 9 - ToolTips
10. AutoCAD 2009 - part 10 - Action Recorder
11. AutoCAD 2009 - part 11 - Working with Layers
12. AutoCAD 2009 - part 12 - ShowMotion
13. AutoCAD 2009 - part 13 - Navigation in 3D

Via Between The Lines post.

The new Google Earth has landed

The new Google Earth 4.3 (beta) for Windows and Mac has arrived with new features, including some ported over from other Google products.

New features

- One of the more exciting additions to Google Earth 4.3 is the capability to switch on day and night views.

- News that Street View, which you may remember from Google Maps, will be woven into the version update, complete with the familiar photo viewer.

- Speed is someting which is improved on. 3D buildings will render faster and Google Earth 4.3 accelerates the switch between Earth and Sky modes.

- Images will be getting time stamps for easily seeing when they were created. Since so many photo sources populate Google Earth, not every image will bear a born-on date, but those that do will add another layer of information.

- Finally, Google is updating the look of the application's navigational controls to make mouse and keyboard scrolling easier.

Making models with Google SketchUp is a good way to populate Google Earth, or to create your personal version of it. If you prefer to create your own 3D landscapes, Bryce is the freeware application to use. DAZ Studio, is another software that offers the same extensive range of modeling freedom.

Via Mashable and Webware

How to Embed Flash Panoramas in Blogger and WordPress

Test of embedding Flash based panoramas into Blogger Flash Panorama Player.

Click here for full details via Digital Urban post.

Download YouTube Videos as MP4

Click here for further infomation posted on Sizlopedia.

Sydney Airport's New 3D Interactive Tour

Produced in association with 3D specialist Ivolve Studios, the production features Captivaction's own Flythrough Interactive Tour (Fi Tour) technology. It's the largest Fi Tour ever built, consisting of 17 panoramas and 31 linking animations. In total it covers a massive 88,000 square metres of space - all 100% computer simulated.

Click here to view the airports's 3D interactive tour.

Post via CG Architect.

EnergyPlus Energy Simulation Software for SketchUp

The Energy Design Plugin is a free plugin for the Google SketchUp 3D drawing program. The plugin makes it easy to create and edit the building geometry in your EnergyPlus input files. The plugin also allows you to launch EnergyPlus simulations and view the results without leaving SketchUp.

Read More

5 Incredible Design Proposals for 3D Urban Farms

Imagine the world in 2050 with almost 80% of the planet's population living in urban centers and our fruit, vegetables and even animals are grown in ... skyscrapers? This somewhat strange concept has sparked an amazing series of designs leading closer and closer to what will soon be the first real built example - in Las Vegas, Nevada of all places.

read more |

Charlie Rose - RENZO PIANO

Architect Renzo Piano talking to Charlie Rose:

Building on the green agenda: Sir Norman Foster on TED.com

Architect Norman Foster discusses his own work to show how computers can help architects design buildings that are green, beautiful and "basically pollution-free." He shares projects from throughout his career, from the pioneering roof-gardened Willis Building (1975) to the London Gherkin (2004). He also comments on two upcoming megaprojects: a pipe to bring water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, and Beijing airport's brand-new and groundbreaking Terminal 3, which becomes fully operational this week, March 26.

the future in dubai - dubai architecture: new buildings in the united arab emirates

Checkout this post by CGArchitect on facts about Dubai and its upcoming architecture.

Charlie Rose - FRANK GEHRY

Frank Gehry talking to Charlie Rose about his work..

The Most Beautiful Stairs or a Dizzying Experience?

This beautiful merging of art and architecture is a 9 meter-high walk-double spiral of steel in the entrance of the KPMG ( a global accounting firm ) office building in Munich, Germany. A really amazing piece of architecture designed by Olafur Eliasson





Via freshome

Eiffel Tower's Massive New Observation Deck to be Made of Kevlar Webbing

The Eiffel Tower is possibly getting a new extension. Builders will be attaching a temporary, carbon Kevlar observation deck. French architecture firm Serero will help Paris celebrate the 120th birthday of the tower by more than doubling the floor space at its top. The observation deck will simply be bolted in place.







Click here to read more

Via i09 Also read the post on dwell for further details

To view the Eiffel Tower Process click here. This includes collection of images - both the construction drawings for the tower, and photos of it being erected in 1889.

Autodesk University - Screencasts

Click here to watch screen casts of the Autodesk Unversity 2007 conference in Las Vegas. It's just like attending AU, only you can stop it to take a break!! You can watch it again and again. Download the class handouts and watch the screen cast! I recommend checking out the site. You will have to register first to view the screen casts.

There are over 500 hours of training available to watch with over 1000 classes!!

Modelling using the Greeble plugin in 3dsMAX

Great tutorial by Digital Urban on constructing a cityscape and a skyscraper using a plugin called Greeble.

According to wikipedia: A greeble is a small piece of detailing added to break up the surface of an object to add visual interest to a surface or object, particularly in movie special effects. They serve no real purpose other than to add complexity to the object, and cause the flow of the eye over the surface of the object to be interrupted, usually giving the impression of increased size. It is essentially the small detailed technical part of a larger object. The detail can be made from geometric primitives, including cylinders, cubes, and rectangles, combined to create intricate, but meaningless, surface detail. Greebles are commonly found on models or drawings of fictional spacecraft in science fiction.

Stunning Futuristic Design for Madrid Civil Court Unveiled

Bold, brave, often controversial - her ambitious experiments in form always seem to stir discourse and debate. Hadid’s design for the new civil courts building in Madrid is no exception. Planned as part of the new Campus de la Justicia at Valdebebas in Madrid, the Civil Court is expected to become a focal point in the city.
read more

ADrive Adds Interactivity to Free File Storage

ADrive, a file storage provides 50GB of free data storage for its users, and is hoping to further entice users. ADrive is hoping to provide a few peripheral features that enable users to better interact with the files stored through it, as well as offering a solution for collaborative file-sharing processes.

Further info visit post on Mashable

Using Blogging as a Research Tool

Check out this great post on Stress Free on using blogging as a research tool. It shows how to get started and other various web 2.0 services which could be useful for research purposes.

View Google Sky Through Your Web Browser!

Google unveiled a browser version of its Google Sky application for people who don't want to download the Google Earth software. The browser version allows you to zoom in and out and pan around the celestial bodies, search for planets and galaxies and view the sky!