• BIM solutions and construction information provider Reed Construction Data will provide Autodesk with nearly 1,200 high-quality, parametric BIM objects, representing 17,000 product configurations, for the Autodesk Seek service. Autodesk Seek allows architects, engineers, and construction professionals to search, select, and specify building product content, including 3D models, 2D drawings, visual images, and product specification data. Reed's objects, called SmartBIM Objects, are designed exclusively for building product manufacturers to simulate actual products within BIM software applications. http://seek.autodesk.com
• Software developers Nemetschek Allplan GmbH and Weto AG have united to create integrated design software for timber construction, with the first release due in early 2009. “For economic and ecological reasons, wood is one of the building materials of the future,” says Peter Mehlstäubler, general manager of Nemetschek Allplan. The firms hope to offer design solutions that help users meet environmental criteria while achieving cost efficiency and high quality. http://www.nemetschek.com/
