FARO and Autodesk Collaborate to Add Support for Point Cloud Data to AutoCAD 2011

AutoCAD Plant 3D and FARO Laser Scanner Photon Are Preferred Hardware and Software Setup for Process Plant Modeling.

LAKE MARY, Fla. & SAN RAFAEL, Calif - Autodesk, Inc and FARO announced their collaboration to add direct integration of point cloud data to AutoCAD 2011 software. FARO and Autodesk have also entered into an agreement for FARO to promote AutoCAD Plant 3D software as its preferred 3D modeling application for the process plant industry.

In addition, Autodesk announced the FARO Laser Scanner Photon as its preferred hardware for point cloud data capture of process plant facilities using AutoCAD Plant 3D.

Through joint engineering and development efforts, AutoCAD 2011 allows the direct import of binary scan data from FARO Scene, FARO’s scan processing software for the FARO Laser Scanner. The introduction of a dedicated point cloud platform that seamlessly integrates into AutoCAD will allow customers to do more than ever before. AutoCAD 2011 supports up to 2 billion points, which can be used with the enhanced tools for 3D modeling to enable extremely high performance usage of the scan data.

“As the use of laser scanners has become more widespread by our customers, they’ve asked for direct import and support for large point clouds in AutoCAD,” said Gonzalo Martinez, director of strategic research, Autodesk. “For the past year we have been working closely with FARO, who assisted with the design of the feature and provided us with crucial feedback for the direct integration of point cloud data. We are thrilled to bring this functionality to our customers.”

Autodesk and FARO provide technology and advanced solutions that empower customers and help shorten work processes. For Autodesk users, the ability to import binary scan data directly into AutoCAD 2011 is allowing more powerful 3D modeling. For FARO Laser Scanner users, data collected now goes directly into AutoCAD 2011, eliminating the need for a neutral space-consuming file format.

For customers in the process and power industries, the addition of point cloud support in AutoCAD 2011 will significantly speed the process of converting as-built information into 3D models. Built on AutoCAD software, AutoCAD Plant 3D brings the proven benefits of model-based design to mainstream plant design projects, and has been purpose-built specifically for the design, modeling and documentation of process plants.

“Autodesk and FARO share a vision of making technology more accessible, so we are proud of our successful cooperation to develop a functionality that really supports our joint customers in their day-by-day design activities and will help them achieve remarkable time savings,” said Jay Freeland, CEO and president of FARO Technologies. “We are also pleased to expand our relationship with Autodesk with the selection of AutoCAD Plant 3D as our preferred modeling application for the process plant industry, and are confident our customers will benefit from its ease of use and worldwide availability.”