The value of paper maps

My good friend Gordon posted about a paper map saving his day: https://mapguide.wordpress.com/2016/08/01/a-paper-map-saved-my-day/.

How refreshing! I had a similar experience this summer as well. We did a two week vacation to visit family in CA. Our trip meandered through CO, NM, AZ, UT, NV and lots of CA. A week before we left I went to WalMart and bought a map of the Western US. Not to knock anyone, but none of the workers had any idea where to find a map in the store, also got a few strange looks at the words "paper map"! Alas, they were tucked away with the magazines, a good selection of maps as well. My kids were intrigued by my purchase. I highlighted our route and everyone was hooked. I think the ability to see the scope of our trip really got them going and the tangibility of the map hooked them!

Along the way everyone wanted to help find the next turn or determine how many miles until the next bathroom, but it was my 11 year old who really lived the map, he navigated the bulk of our trip!

As a side, we only pulled out the trusty Google twice along the way.

Jeremiah

Using Block Attributes to Automatically Label AUD Features

This post describes how to set up and use attributes to automatically label AUD features. For example when you place a transformer in AUD it is automatically labeled with the kVa rating: 

The process is very simple and uses standard AutoCAD block attributes. In this post we will add and attribute for NAME_NUMBER  to the standard AUD Pole block.

Open AUD

Open the standard AUD pole block from C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\AutoCAD Utility Design 2014\R19.1\enu\Configurations\RUS\Style\.

Select the pole.dwg drawing.

Zoom into the pole and type ATTDEF at the command line, this will open the attribute definition dialog box. A block attribute is a text value that can be part of a block, visible or hidden, and can be driven by user input or existing values in a drawing.

In the Attribute Definition dialog box populate the Tag, Prompt and Justification values as seen here.

Click OK and you will be prompted to place the text, place it anywhere on the screen for now.

Once placed select the attribute to activate the grips, select the grip in the middle of the attribute (this is like the MOVE command).

Move the Attribute to the center of the Pole. This will show the pole name in the middle of the pole, you can set this anywhere to suit your annotation needs.

The finished drawing will look like this:

“Save as” a pole_att.dwg in the same folder and close the drawing.

Start a new AUD drawing (preferably the AUD template you use).

In the Configuration tab open the Industry Model dialog:

Select the Pole feature class and switch to the Styles tab:

Double-click the Default style to open the Style Editor dialog box:

In the Block field click the browse button, this opens the block selection window:

Click the green Add icon and browse to and open the pole_att.dwg file you just created:

Double-click the pole_att icon in the selection box to set it as the block to use:

In the Style Editor the Block field now says pole_att and just above that we see the NAME_NUMBER has been added:

Drop down the NAME_NUMBER value box and you will see the list of available AUD Pole attributes appear. Select “Name Number” from the list. This pushes the AUD Name Number value into the NAME_NUMBER attribute in the drawing.

Click OK and you will see the Default Style icon has been updated to show the attribute. Click Apply and OK to accept the changes.

Now place a new pole using the AUD Place Pole command from the ribbon.

Once the pole is placed select it and view its Feature Info (or Quick Info). In the Name Number field type in the pole name and press the Enter key.

The data is refreshed and the pole block now contains the Name Number as a label.

There are an infinite number of possibilities for labeling in AUD. Using attributes on objects automates the process. You can add as many attributes as you need to any block and they can use a combination of AUD driven values and user updated values. The AutoCAD help file has details on using Attributes. AUD Callouts (Industry Model Callout tab) work in the same way, they just do not have a graphical component like the circle for the pole. You can create custom callouts by starting with the LIN-CALL.dwg and STR-CALL.dwg found in:

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\AutoCAD Utility Design 2014\R19.1\enu\Configurations\RUS\Annotations.

Jeremiah 

DWConnector for AutoCAD® Utility Design

DWConnector will make your life easier!

Here is a new video on DWConnector, a tool built by Spatial Business Systems (www.spatialbiz.com) for AutoCAD Utility Design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E4MGyASkpk

DWConnector connects AutoCAD Utility Design to your finance and work order management systems. This allows your designers and engineers to do two tasks that typically are done in two other software's!

1. Manage their piece of the work order process in their native design environment.
2. Automatically generate material lists as they design with the current finance information and submit the final material list to the warehouse system for ordering.

This tool eliminates a lot of extra clicks and screens while removing the need to duplicate information.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Jeremiah

SBS DWConnector - SEDC for AUD

SBS DWConnector allows you to get real time costing and Work Order data from you financial system in AUD! Watch my video to see how it works.

Callout's in AUD 2014!

Have you had a chance to look at AUD 2014? The Callout feature is really nice, very simple, works… and has leaders… and automatic update's!

It is simply a block with attributes, you can then define the attribute fields with AUD fields in the editor:

The only limitation out-of-the-box that I see is it cannot grab data from the material list, so we cannot see the cost or minor materials through the label. Hopefully I am just missing something! I will let you know if I find it.

Jeremiah

Finding RUS Specifications and Drawings

I am posting this in hopes that it will help someone spend less time in a day finding the latest RUS standards for design!

RUS Electirc Bulletins page:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDU_Bulletins_Electric.html


A few of the documents I use on a regular basis:

Specifications and Drawings for 24.9/14.4 kV Line Construction (12/15/98):
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/UEP_Bulletin_1728F-803.pdf

Specifications and Drawings for 12.5/7.2 kV Line Construction (4/21/05):
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/UEP_Bulletin_1728F-804.pdf

Specifications and Drawings for Underground Electric Distribution (6/2/00):
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/1728f-806.pdf


To my knowledge the Bulletins page contains the most current documents, so watch for updates!

Jeremiah

How to stack text in Map3D Expression builder

This ha boggled me several times in the last few months and I can not for the life of me remember this:

'\P'

That's all it takes to stack text in the Map3D Expression builder!

Jeremiah

How to set specific layer for AUD Objects

AutoCAD Utility Design 2013

In this tutorial we will create a specific layer for the AUD Pole objects, these steps can be used for all AUD objects and will allow the use of traditional AutoCAD Layer commands to control visibility.

1. Create a new layer called POLES
1. Type LAYER at the command line to invoke the Layer Properties Manager:
2. Click the new layer button (in red above).
3. Type POLES for the layer name:
4. Close the Layer Properties Manager.
2. In the Configuration tab in the ribbon click the Industry Model button:
3. Choose the Pole Feature Class:
4. Click on the Styles tab:
5. Click on the Default 2D Plan Symbol, then click the edit button (in red below):
6. In the Symbol Editor drop down the Layer Name pick list and choose the POLES layer:
7. Click OK to close the Symbol Editor.
8. Click Apply to save the changes in the Industry Model Configuration window.
9. Click OK to close the Industry Model Configuration window.
10. Select an existing Pole or create and a new one and view its properties (select pole, right-click, choose Properties). You will see the layer is now POLES:
11. Repeat this process for the Existing and Removal Pole Styles as well or any other AUD object type. You can create layers for each state and then can control AUD Object visibility with traditional AutoCAD layer tools.
    
    

Visit us at the APPA E&O Conference next week!

Spatial Business Systems will be in booth 519 at the APPA E&O Conference next week.

Stop by and see how we can improve you engineering, design and staking environment with our DWConnector solutions.

Here are the show details:

http://www.publicpower.org/EandO/index.cfm?ItemNumber=29261&navItemNumber=29236

See you there!

Jeremiah

Video: Using GPS and Survey data in AutoCAD Utility Design

Here is a short video I made on how to use GPS and Survey data in AUD.

Using_GPS_and_Survey_Data_in_AutoCAD_Utility_Desig


Jeremiah

Win a trip to Autodesk University 2013!

This is an awesome opportunity to show you or your companies skills in Autodesk products and win an awesome prize! Check out Dana's for a great overview:

http://bimontherocks.typepad.com/my_weblog/2013/03/get-your-projects-recognized-and-maybe-win-a-trip-to-autodesk-university-au2013.html

And then sign up here:

http://www.infrastructure-excellence.com/

Good luck!
Jeremiah

Spatial Business Systems Announces SpatialBiz Plug-in for FME 2013

Here is the official press release for our FME SpatialBiz Plugin!

February 20, 2013 Annecy, France – Spatial Business Systems (SBS) has announced at the Safe Software Value-Added Reseller conference the availability of the SpatialBiz Plug-in for FME 2013.  The new release is compatible with FME 2013 and has a number of new features and improvements including: Support for FME 2013 32-bit & 64-bit New Flex Licensing Support for scratch tables Support for  heterogeneous geometry mapping Addition of text alignment geometry trait Addition of writer retry/repeat counters Addition of the ability to export changes to derived fields Addition of mirror geometry trait to points Workspace level WHERE condition Magik Session Identifier    This release marks the use of a new naming convention that is consistent with the Safe Software FME product suite designations.  The SpatialBiz Plug-in, also known as the Smallworld Plug-in for FME, is the foundation for supporting advanced data translation and interoperability solutions with the GE Smallworld GIS product.  Use of the SpatialBiz Plug-in with the SBS OSpatial Plug-in provides synchronized data exchange with Oracle Spatial, thus enabling coexistence of Smallworld with spatial data warehouses based on Oracle technologies.  The SpatialBiz Plug-in also works with Esri GIS technologies to support dynamic access to the Smallworld VMDS database from supported Esri products, thus allowing Esri users to perform business analytics and spatial analysis on GE Smallworld data.   Availability of the SpatialBiz Plug-in 2013 is February 20, 2013.   About Spatial Business Systems SBS offers an unparalleled combination of talent and advanced spatial information tools to help companies leverage their CAD and GIS investments by expanding them with open database, service-oriented, technologies. Headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, with offices in Melbourne, Australia the SBS team is a highly regarded group of professional consultants and software developers, with many decades of experience in the application of geospatial information technologies. For additional information about SBS visit http://www.spatialbiz.com/

Adding Pole Heads to an existing pole in AUD

After you add a Pole in the AutoCAD Utility Design (AUD) environment it is very easy to add most attachments using the tool bars and Design Explorer   Pole Heads are one exception to this, they cannot be added using theses tools. The command you need  is AUDADDTOPOLE. Here is how it works:

1.       Type AUDADDTOPOLE
2.       Type F for Feature
3.       Choose Pole Head
4.       Choose Model Name
5.       Select the Pole Head to use and click OK
6.       Click Back
7.       Click Back
8.       At the command line type X for exit
9.       Select the pole(s) you want to attach to, press enter
10.   Press enter again to end the command

A little convoluted but it works great! Still working on how to get the conductors to connect and will post as soon as i do. As you can see this tool can be used for all kinds of other attachments as well.

Jeremiah

One more test...

Also, AUD 2014 looks to have awesome new tools!

Jeremiah

Test again, should hit Twitter and LinkedIn!

Jeremiah

Connecting my connected life...

So, just moved my blogspot account into Google+ with the tool in blogspot. I have also joined HootSuite. This is a test, so there may be a few, when its done I will lay out the process to becoming uniformly social!

Jeremiah

Connect to ArcSDE with AutoCAD Map3D, Civil3D, or AutoCAD Utility Design

Leveraging ESRI ArcSDE in your AutoCAD design can make life a whole lot better! Using the FDO tools found AutoCAD Map3D, Civil3D, and AutoCAD Utility Design this is easy to do. Here are the steps to do it:

You need these files from an ESRI install (any product):

1.       Pe.dll
2.       Sg.dll
3.       Sde.dll

You need to copy them into this folder:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD *\bin\FDO

Once you copy them into the folder open AutoCAD *. At the command line type MAPWSPACE and choose Y to open the Task Pane. In the Task Pane click the “Data” button and choose “Connect to Data…”:

In the Data Connections by Provider dialog box choose “Add ArcSDE Connection”, add your connection details and Login with the appropriate username and password:

Once you have logged in, select your Data Store and Version, click “Connect. The list of layers available to that user are listed, select what is needed and click “Add to Map…”.

True Scale Map Books in Map3D revisited...

Finally Fixed the link to creating True Scale Map Books in Map3D. You can find the post here with the link at the bottom!

http://gisx.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html

Jeremiah

SSD is Awesome

Just got an SSD for my Laptop today, freaking awesome. My 10min startup is now 18sec and my 5min shutdown is now 11sec! Installing SQL and AUD to see how good it really works!

My IT dept. is the best!

Jeremiah