By Michelle Rasmussen
As Autodesk continues to add more engineering functionality to the Autodesk InfraWorks software, the Autodesk InfraWorks Fundamentals training guide continues to grow in length. This, combined with the fact that not everyone requires all of the engineering tools that Autodesk InfraWorks offers, are the main reasons I decided to split the content into two individual, more compact training guides.
The first training guide, Autodesk® InfraWorks® 2018 Fundamentals for Conceptual Design & Visualization, is now available for purchase from the ASCENT store and Amazon . This one is great for all individuals that want to learn how to use the Autodesk InfraWorks software. This can include anyone in the architectural or civil industries who want to take advantage of the photo-realistic models and communication tools (like storyboards shown below) that InfraWorks has to offer.
The training guide includes the following topics:
- Navigating the Autodesk InfraWorks user interface
- Creating new models from scratch
- Incorporating existing data sources into the model
- Adding essential design elements to the model
- Displaying features according to data behind the model
- Creating new styles according to project requirements
- Analyzing a model to ensure that project constraints are met
- Collaborating with other project team members
- Creating high-impact visualizations of the project for better communication
- Generating videos by using storyboards
The second training guide, Autodesk® InfraWorks® 2018 for Engineering Design, should be available by the end of July. This one teaches you about the civil engineering design tools inside the Autodesk InfraWorks software. These tools help you lay out design roads, round-abouts, bridges, and drainage systems. Once laid out, you use analysis tools, such as Bridge Line Girder Analysis tool shown below, to make sure design parameters are met. In addition, it introduces the newest reality capture tools inside Autodesk InfraWorks. These tools help you create features from point clouds.
This training guide includes the following topics:
Road Design:
- Creating property boundaries for parcels, easements, and right-of-ways
- Creating and modify design roads with precise parameters
- Designing a road using component roads
- Adjusting roadside grading
- Applying and review superelevations in component roads
- Modifying how design roads intersect using a standard intersection or roundabout
- Optimizing the vertical design of a roadway
- Creating gradient maps based on selected feature sets to identify areas with low impact for site or corridor optimization
- Finding an optimal horizontal design of the roadway which yields a cost effective and environmentally-friendly solution
- Running traffic simulation to analyze and animate design traffic
Bridge Design:
- Adding bridges to a design roadway
- Creating a parametric bridge component
- Workomg with bridge deck and girder cross sections
- Performing analysis and design checks on all the pre-stressed girders of your bridge
Drainage Design:
- Running a watershed analysis
- Creating or modify culverts
- Creating a pavement drainage network
- Analyzing the pavement drainage network
Point Cloud Modeling
- Importing point clouds
- Modeling from point clouds
Whether you are new to the Autodesk InfraWorks software and need to learn it all, or if you just need to learn how to use the engineering tools, we have a training guide for you. Of course, if you just want a crash course on the fundamentals in 60 minutes, check out my class at Autodesk University 2017 in Las Vegas coming this fall called Designing the Smart Way... Fun, Fast, and Easy With InfraWorks! I'll be putting the FUN back into FUNdamentals.
Until then, I would love to get your feedback on what you think of our new packaging. Feel free to contact me at feedback@ascented.com.
