Tech Briefs

BIM modeler forms the country's first regional users group for Autodesk Revit. Patrick Davis, a senior BIM modeler in the Kansas City office of New York-based structural engineer Thornton-Tomasetti Group, has formed a Revit users group in Kansas City. The first of its kind, the regional users group will serve as a forum for Revit users to meet face-to-face, share ideas, and learn collaboratively, said Davis, who will serve as president. Todd Williams, a CAD manager for HOK Sport Venue Event, will serve as VP, and Dave Willard, a CAD manager with Gould Evans, will serve as secretary. www.kcrevit.com

Dell PCs most popular brand among U.S. contractors. Dell remains the most popular brand of PC workstation for contractors, according to the Construction Financial Management Association, Princeton, N.J. Of the more than 2,400 respondents to CFMA's 2006 IT survey, 72% said they used Dell products. On the software side, 62% said their firms used CAD/drafting software, with Autodesk's AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT the most popular, with a combined share of 62%. For estimating software, Excel was the winner among general contractors (28%), followed by Sage Timberline (23%). www.cfma.org