New 3D visualization feature in SITEOPS via export to Google SketchUp

Today, BLUERIDGE Analytics® unveiled a new 3D visualization tool for SITEOPS®, via export to Google SketchUp, providing more aesthetic attributes in site design for civil engineers, architects and landscape architects. This new feature enhances the conceptual capabilities of SITEOPS, revolutionary site-optimization software.

“SITEOPS, a leader in conceptual design, has combined its layout capabilities with the 3D modeling features of Google SketchUp to forever revolutionize conceptual design in the AEC industry,” said Mike Detwiler, President and CEO of BLUERIDGE Analytics.

SITEOPS users can now import site layouts – with parking lots, driveways, islands, curbs, parking lines and building pads – directly into Google SketchUp by simply clicking a button in SITEOPS. Harnessing both the power of SITEOPS and the ease of use of Google SketchUp, users can quickly generate budgets with realistic 3D renderings. The software also allows for a quick visualization of proposed grading plans, including Geotech layers, as well as the automatic draping of underlay images to proposed surfaces.

“The SITEOPS technology in conjunction with Google SketchUp is impressive,” said Tom Wyman, Business Development Manager for Google. “We’re excited to work with the SITEOPS team to provide these easy to use, visualization capabilities to the AEC market.”

With access to the Google SketchUp 3D Warehouse, users have unlimited 3D models at their fingertips to visualize their site plans. The Google SketchUp button is only available with the purchase of SITEOPS® Grading and Piping Module.
The SITEOPS team will debut this new feature Tuesday, Nov. 29, at Autodesk University, booth 637.

SITEOPS® is patented, land development software provided by Charlotte-based BLUERIDGE Analytics, Inc. that can deliver cost-optimized preliminary site designs and cost estimates in hours instead of weeks. SITEOPS can save thousands to millions of dollars per project in grading and other site costs. Clients include Stantec, Lowe’s Companies, Target, SSOE and other leading civil engineers, retailers, architects and land developers.

Charlotte-based BLUERIDGE Analytics® delivers world-class, evolutionary computing software to retail, real estate and the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industries.

Google approves ArtVPS as a SketchUp Authorised Training Centre

ArtVPS is the first UK rendering software developer to be approved as a Google SketchUp Authorised Training Centre, and one of the few organisations in the UK approved to run SketchUp training courses, following the qualification of two of its team members.

Senior Technical and Support Manager Martin Cox and Sales Engineer Richard Meade at ArtVPS have both qualified as SketchUp Trainers, passing their Authorised Training Centre (ATC) examinations.

In October 2010, ArtVPS launched Shaderlight, a rendering plug-in to Google SketchUp that enables users to transform their 3D models into photorealistic images with ease. As a Google SketchUp Authorised Training Centre, ArtVPS will further support the fast growing community of 3d modelers in architecture, design and education, teaching users how to design, share and present 3D models using SketchUp.

ArtVPS will run a series of online classes to reach users around the world, but will also offer classroom-based training for individuals or groups at their headquarters in Cambridge, England. Starting with SketchUp Essentials, ArtVPS soon plans to add Advanced SketchUp courses. A session on photorealistic rendering using Shaderlight will be offered alongside the SketchUp training, where users will learn how to render their models with Shaderlight, transforming them for presentation.

Kate Marshall, Marketing Director at ArtVPS said: “This is a real coup for us and we are delighted with our new status. We work closely with partners and customers around the world to demonstrate the fantastic results that can be achieved simply using Shaderlight. Our new status as a Google SketchUp ATC further enhances our offering and will help many more people around the world benefit from this simple yet innovative modeling tool”.

Turner Construction Company Deploys Google SketchUp Pro™

NEW YORK - Turner Construction Company has announced the deployment of SketchUp Pro™, Google's premium 3-Dimensional model authoring tool and platform. Turner is using SketchUp Pro™ as a part of its standard "digital toolbox" to provide Building Information Modeling (BIM) related services on projects across the United States and around the world.

Turner utilizes SketchUp Pro™ as a 3-D modeling tool due to its user-friendly interface and ability to rapidly produce lightweight geometries. SketchUp is also able to easily scale up and down based on needs: for conceptual "what if" scenario cost estimating analyses, building systems constructability studies, or whole building and site models for sequencing and schedule analysis and work-in-place monitoring during construction.

James P. Barrett, National Director of Integrated Building Solutions at Turner Construction Company, describes the company's approach this way: "Turner has adopted a 'software agnostic' philosophy in the execution of our BIM-related activities so that we are not constrained by tradition or precedence within an industry that is rapidly changing. Instead, we bring a practicality and open mindedness to finding the best digital tool suited to the task at hand. The deployment of SketchUp Pro™ is emblematic of this approach, and we envision its use at all levels of the company from managers to field superintendents."

As an example, Turner staff working at the World Trade Center site in New York City, use SketchUp's efficient, flexible, even customizable modeling tools to enable the on-site BIM team to provide daily rapid 3D studies for project stakeholders. "Turner's SketchUp models provide information during the decision making process and support the overall management and control of the construction activities at the site," said Ben Ferrer, BIM Engineer for Turner Construction Company.

"Google SketchUp is pleased to work more closely with Turner," said Christopher Cronin of Google SketchUp. "We've been impressed with the many uses and new directions they've found for the additional features and functions of SketchUp Pro™. As a leader in the AEC industry we're excited to work with Turner to build on our shared vision of the 'democratization of information' through the wide-spread deployment of SketchUp Pro™."

Geometric releases eDrawings Professional for Google SketchUp version 8.0

Includes support for Google SketchUp 8.0 and eDrawings 2011.

Mumbai: Geometric Limited today announced the release of eDrawings Professional for Google SketchUp version 8.0 with support for Google SketchUp 8.0 and eDrawings 2011.

eDrawings is the first email enabled collaboration tool designed to ease the sharing and interpretation of 2D and 3D product design data.

The new version of eDrawings Professional for Google SketchUp includes:

* Support for Google SketchUp 8.0
* eDrawings viewer version upgraded to eDrawings 2011
* Triad to Move/Constrain component movement to a coordinate axis or plane, or to rotate components about a coordinate axis
* Search or Filter component names from the components tree

eDrawings Publishers are also available for Pro/ENGINEER®, CATIA V5®, NX®, Autodesk Inventor®, SolidEdge®, as well as for STEP/IGES/STL/OBJ/RHINO/DGN and DWG/DXF files.

With eDrawings Publishers you can:

* Generate ultra compact eDrawings (up to 95% compressed) for sharing over email
* Share and receive feedback on product designs with review-enabled eDrawings and collaborate with unlimited number of recipients
* Manage, track, and merge comments from different team members
* Measure part, assembly and drawing geometry
* Dynamic Cross Sectioning and Hide/Show/Move components for understanding assembly structure
* Visualize drawings effectively with 3D Data, Layouts and 3D Pointer tool
* Insert Stamps, Password Protect and Disable Measurement for protecting sensitive design data

For a free 15-day trial, visit http://edrawings.geometricglobal.com. For pricing and purchase options contact ed.sales@geometricglobal.com

3D Render Announces the Release of RENDERLights for SketchUp

RENDERLight for SketchUp is the fastest and easiest to use real-time Radiosity and light simulation engine in the architectural industry.

Helsinki, Finland – Leveraging over a decade of visualization and software development experience, 3D Render today announced the release of RENDERLights for SketchUp. Building upon their widely successful RENDERLights engine, architects, visualization artists and designers now have access to a real-time virtual reality engine on the popular Google SketchUp platform.

“We are very excited to get RENDERLights for SketchUp into the hands of the design community”, said Pauli Jantunen Development Manager for 3D Render, “The speed of the design process has changed dramatically and we’ve developed the first virtual reality engine that will truly democratize visualization throughout the design process.”

Boasting an incredibly powerful and simple user interface, RENDERLights for SketchUp was designed from the ground up with the design industry in mind. In an increasingly competitive market, it has become critically important to quickly and easily communicate design intent with internal stakeholders and customers. RENDERLights for SketchUp brings real-time to the masses with unprecedented real-time performance, radiosity lighting simulation, Google 3D Warehouse integration and the shortest and easiest learning curve of any virtual reality application on the market.

“For me it was ideal to see and present the architectural design and related urban planning with a portable digital model” said Ilari Schouwvlieger, Chairman of Board at BMZ Invest. “It aided us to promote the design for city officials, hotel operators and investors.”

RENDERLights for SketchUp shares many of the advanced features and functionalities of the core RENDERLights engine including: texture baking, realistic environments, animation systems, sun and shadow simulations, real-time bloom water and raytraced reflections, 3d presentations, large model handling and their one click (Click ‘N’Go) functionality.

Shaderlight for Google SketchUp now available for the Mac

Since the launch of Shaderlight for Windows in October 2010, this leading rendering tool has seen enormous success and become an essential part of image creation for SketchUp users in a range of industries across the globe.

Unlike anything else currently available to Mac users, Shaderlight provides a simple extension to the Google SketchUp workflow, enabling users to create photo-real images from 3D scenes with ease.

A first for Shaderlight, both Windows and Mac versions of the software are now available to purchase for networks, enabling businesses to license a number of machines with a ‘floating license’. This will benefit many of the design colleges, architect practices and design agencies that are already looking to purchase multiple licenses.

Kate Marshall commented: “This latest release now makes Shaderlight rendering available to every SketchUp user. We have a waiting list of enthusiastic Mac users who can’t wait to try the software so we’re excited about seeing the results!”

Shaderlight’s interactive renderer for Google SketchUp allows the user to watch their image ‘develop’ on screen as they continue to refine their SketchUp model.

The basic version of the software can be trialled for free, with no registration required. For the Pro version, a trial is available for 14 days, with a cost of $199 thereafter.

Throughout March 2011, Shaderlight Pro will be available to both PC and Mac users for just $149 when purchased using a valid discount available from www.shaderlight.com

LEDAS Releases Driving Dimensions v.1.3 for Google SketchUp

More than 20,000 SketchUp users downloaded LEDAS Driving Dimensions toolset for easy parametric modification of their 3D models.

Novosibirsk, Russia - LEDAS Ltd has announced the availability of version 1.3 of its Driving Dimensions plug-in for Google SketchUp software, a simple in use toolset for parametric modification of history-free 3D models.

Version 1.3 supports new platforms and contains several improvements and fixes. Answering numerous requests by the users of Windows 7 and Mac OS X v.10.6 operating systems, LEDAS development team focused on supporting these new platforms for its SketchUp plug-in. The functionality of multi-document interface (MDI) on Mac platform has been improved. Version 1.3 also includes several fixes of internal errors reported by Driving Dimensions users. To see the full list of changes, please visit the release status page.

“More than 20,000 of SketchUp users worldwide downloaded our Driving Dimensions plug-in,” said Dmitry Ushakov, Director of Product Management, LEDAS Ltd. “When we first released it in October 2008, many users did not understand the value it added to SketchUp, but now reviewers estimated it as “an essential plug-in that can really help you speed up your designing”. We really appreciate this recognition.”
Availability and Price

A free version of the Driving Dimension plug-in for SketchUp can be downloaded from www.DrivingDimensions.com/SketchUp, where visitors will also find detailed on-line help, written and video tutorials, a set of sample drawings, and testimonials made by our users. The free version is not intended for commercial use and does not allow users to add more than 25 driving dimensions to one model.

Commercial licenses of Driving Dimensions v1.3 for Google SketchUp may be purchased for US$45 from the Share-it! online store, accessible from www.DrivingDimensions.com/store/SketchUp. All customers who bought the licenses during last year may upgrade to v1.3 free of charge.
About Driving Dimensions and LGS 3D

Driving Dimensions plug-in v.1.3 is compatible with Google SketchUp v.6 and 7.1, and has been thoroughly tested on the 32-bit versions Windows XP, Vista, and 7, as well as on Mac OS X 10.6.

Driving Dimensions for SketchUp is a plug-in that performs parametric modifications of 3D geometric models in very simple and intuitive way. With Driving Dimensions, users can modify any dimension (length, distance, radius, or angle) in any SketchUp model with just one click. All driving dimensions set in one model are satisfied simultaneously. The simplicity of the user interface of Driving Dimensions plug-in hides a very strong set of mathematical algorithms in the field of geometric constraint solving. Parametric design has never been so easy – even for beginners.

Driving Dimensions v1.3 is based on the latest version of LGS 3D, a geometric constraint solver integrated into a dozen commercial CAD packages. The latest release, version 3.0 of LGS 3D, contains many improvements in stability and performance, which are also available to SketchUp users.

Informatix releases the free Google SketchUp & SketchUp Pro Ruby Script along with a new pricing policy for Piranesi

Cambridge, UK – Informatix Software International, a global provider of CAD software solutions, today announces the availability of the free Prianesi Google SketchUp ruby script along with a new concurrent pricing structure for the Piranesi product to ease the cost of software ownership.

The free ruby script for SketchUp enables users to export their models created in either the free or Pro versions into Piranesi, the leading artist impression tool on the market, and create artist impressions of the model.

The script itself allows the user to export the model from SketchUp to the EPix file format, where they can quickly convert rigid, hard-edged models into a softer, expressive artist’s impression. Piranesi v5.1 is more than just a painting tool – it is a graphical persuader that excels at turning conceptual 2D and 3D models into wonderfully atmospheric, stylised and persuasive visualisations.

“The popularity of Google SketchUp within the architect and designer community makes it the perfect partner to Piranesi. Both products complement each other with their designer friendly user interfaces and there is no doubt that with the combined capabilities of SketchUp and Piranesi designers will be winning more projects and awards for their presentation alone.” Steve Evans, managing director of Informatix Software International

Piranesi’s unique ability to generate stylish illustrations with a truly hand-painted feel sets it apart from other visualisation tools. At the later stages of the project, after initial concepts have been approved, Piranesi can again be used to produce an artist impression of the finished visuals for distribution to all parties involved, or for competition submission.

Pricing and Availability
To support the use of the free SketchUp ruby script Informatix are also announcing a concurrent licensing model for Piranesi v5.1 which comes into effect today.

Prices start at £200+VAT with the additional option to purchase unlimited concurrent user licenses on a per site basis on an annual subscription or over a 3 year period. Costs include support, maintenance and upgrades throughout the subscription period.

“ The concurrent licensing model allows architect and designer practices to achieve more from their software investment. By offering them this solution they are able to get a quicker return on their software investment, especially when they opt for the free version of SketchUp. For example, a practice with 100 architects may only need to buy 10 licenses, but this gives everyone in the practice the ability to use the software as and when they need it.” Paul Lloyd, global operations director at Informatix Software International.

The ruby script is available to download immediately

LEDAS Improves Parametric Design in SketchUp with version 1.2 of its Driving Dimensions plug-in

Novosibirsk, Russia – LEDAS Ltd., an independent provider of variational design tools, technology components and software development services for CAD/CAM/CAE/PLM market, today announced the availability of version 1.2 of its Driving Dimensions plug-in for Google SketchUp software. The Driving Dimensions product line from LEDAS is aimed at making advanced MCAD technology available at an affordable price to all users of popular 3D software.

Version 1.2 contains significant improvements in quality, stability, and performance. This was made possible because it is based on the next generation of LGS 3D geometric constraint solving software component recently released by LEDAS. The new version generates solutions that users would expect to see as outcomes. When users now modify the parameters of driving dimensions, most edges and faces remain unchanged; the only ones to change are those needed to satisfy the new parameter values. In addition, the time to solve constraints has been significantly reduced, with the Driving Dimensions plug-in now up to ten times faster than the previous version on large models.

A new feature in Driving Dimensions version 1.2 is multi-language support. Now all tooltips and system messages can be translated to other languages. Version 1.2 comes with English and Japanese built-in. (Translation into Japanese was performed by EBATECH of Japan, a reseller of LEDAS solutions in Japan.)

LEDAS invites uses of the free version of Driving Dimensions to help translate the plug-in to different languages. As compensation, LEDAS will provide all collaborators with Pro licenses of the Driving Dimensions plug-in for SketchUp at no charge.

"The Driving Dimensions plug-in for SketchUp is our most popular software," said Dmitry Ushakov, Director of Product Management, LEDAS Ltd. "The free version of our plug-in has been downloaded by more than 15,000 SketchUp users worldwide since the first public beta was released a year ago. Significant feedback from users of both the free and Pro versions is allowing us to improve the quality of our software, and is giving us fresh ideas on new functions."

Aftercad Tunes 3D Collaboration Service for Google SketchUp Users

Vancouver B.C - Aftercad Software has announced that it's Renderjam.com 3D collaboration service has been optimized for Google SketchUp users, offering an unprecedented level of freedom for projects that use 3D assets.

"As the next step in our Aftercad 3D Live market rollout, we have embraced Google SketchUp users as the heir apparent in 3D CAD work on the web. Google has done a terrific job with SketchUp and its rapid adoption across all areas of CAD and Design has made it a perfect tool to work with to introduce true 3D collaboration on the Web." said Chris Boothroyd, CEO of Aftercad. "Our goal to make 3D assets easily accessible for collaboration is now a powerful tool in any designer's tool belt. Now all projects that include SketchUp 3D assets can offer stakeholders equal access and the opportunity to participate."

SketchUp users can signup on Renderjam.com for free, create a workspace and start collaborating on 3D assets within minutes. The Renderjam service tracks all workspace activity and can issue a daily audit trail report of all changes made by participants. Most importantly, all project stakeholders including those who don't have SketchUp can easily see, manipulate and annotate the 3D project assets in the web browser and directly contribute to the project instead of having to wait for emails, look at still images or couriered paper rolls.

"This is a brand new development and once again, Aftercad is the first. This technology will open up new verticals of communication where individuals have easy access and interactivity with real time 3D from wherever they are. Coupled with the market momentum of Google SketchUp, this is an exciting development in the democratization of 3D." said Boothroyd.

Cadalog,Inc. releases SU Podium 1.7 - photo-realistic rendering plug-in for Google SketchUp

Cadalog,Inc. has released SU Podium 1.7 which includes blurred reflections and some utilities to help analyze and help fix textures that are difficult to render.

SU Podium is a popular photo-realistic rendering plug-in for SketchUp. Podium 1.7 includes a new blurred reflection feature. Blurred reflections can give faces and textures subtle, indirect reflections. Blurred reflections work well with wood, metal, plaster or cloth type textures.what’s new in SU Podium 1.7

In a separate announcement, Cadalog,Inc. has released the Fire Farm Ceiling Light Fixture addition for the free Podium Light Fixture plug-in. Fire Farm is a light fixture manufacturer which creates uniquely styled light fixtures. Using Fire Farm’s SketchUp models, Cadalog created an addition to its Podium Light Fixture library. The light fixtures are “render ready” and simply need to be dragged and dropped into a SketchUp model and then rendered in Podium.

Upgrade to SU Podium 1.7 for existing Podium customers is free. SU Podium works in Google SketchUp, Free or Pro, Windows or Mac. Cost is $179.00 (USD).

StudioGPU MachStudio Pro Adds Support for Google SketchUp Pro and Rhino Software

New Exporters Offer Artists, Designers and Engineers Immediate Access to Real-Time 3D Workflow and Rendering.

LOS ANGELES - StudioGPU announced today that MachStudio Pro™, a professional 3D-workflow and rendering package created by artists for artists, now offers free exporters for Google SketchUp Pro and McNeel Rhino 3D modeling and animation software. With these new exporters, 3D assets from SketchUp Pro 7 and Rhino 4 can easily be transferred into MachStudio Pro, where users can create and manipulate lights, materials and HDR cameras in a real-time non-linear environment to achieve cinematic-quality results.

MachStudio Pro is real-time 3D final shot and compositing package that harnesses the power of today’s massively parallel processing units in off-the-shelf professional graphics accelerators, changing the equation of time versus quality in the production pipeline. Frames that typically take hours to render can now be rendered in seconds and sub-seconds, eliminating the need for expensive render farms.

Visit StudioGPU and AMD (booth #2417) at SIGGRAPH 2009 in New Orleans, August 4-6 to see the advanced workflow benefits of MachStudio Pro on the latest AMD ATI 3D workstation graphics accelerators.

MachStudio Pro allows artists to easily create, manage and interact with complex lighting, caustics, cameras, shaders, materials, ambient occlusion, and color grading. Powered by a real-time rendering engine, MachStudio Pro software fits into the creative pipeline after all 3D models are produced to streamline lighting, cameras, materials, compositing and finishing capabilities.

MachStudio Pro ships with an AMD ATI FireGL™ V8650 3D-workstation graphics accelerator card featuring 2 GB onboard graphics memory and a parallel processing Unified Shader architecture. Supporting a wide range of industries—from computer-aided design (CAD) visualization and 3D animation to top-quality film and broadcast projects — MachStudio Pro offers seamless interoperability with leading professional 3D modeling, animation, and CAD software packages.

Pricing and Purchasing Information

MachStudio Pro supports Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista operating systems, and comes standard with an AMD ATI FireGL™ V8650 3D workstation graphics accelerator card. MachStudio Pro has an introductory price of $4,999 (USD MSRP), which includes a full year of technical support and product maintenance updates. Education and volume licensing is also available.

LEDAS Ports its Driving Dimensions plugin for Google SketchUp to Mac

10,000 Downloads of Windows Version.

Novosibirsk, Russia – LEDAS Ltd., an independent provider of variational design tools known as Driving Dimensions plugins for different CAD platforms, today announced version 1.1 of its Driving Dimensions plugin for Google SketchUp, a free 3D modeling software. With this plugin SketchUp users can parametrically edit their models in a very simple and intuitive way.

Version 1.1 introduces the ability to apply driving dimensions between geometric objects included into one group. Enhancements of the graphical user interface include a new toolbar button that simplifies the access to online help and improved usability when selecting two dimension arguments with a mouse.

With release 1.1 LEDAS also made a significant step toward Mac community of SketchUp users: now Driving Dimensions for SketchUp runs not only on Windows 2000/XP/Vista, but also on Mac OS X platform. It became possible after porting LGS, a variational geometric solver developed by LEDAS, to Mac OS X.

"In our work we were seriously inspired by the constantly growing user base of our Driving Dimensions plugin for SketchUp,” said Dmitry Ushakov, Director of Product Management, LEDAS Ltd. “In less than eight months after we released a first public beta, about 10,000 SketchUp users from 125 countries downloaded it from our website. With its growing popularity Mac OS X platform attracts more and more attention of CAD developers. We are excited to offer advanced parametrization tools integrated with a popular free 3D modeling software for Mac users."

A free version of Driving Dimensions 1.1 for SketchUp 6 and 7 running on Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Mac OS X can be downloaded at http://DrivingDimensions.com/download. The free version is not intended for commercial use and is limited in the maximum driving dimensions entities that can be added to one SketchUp model. The Pro version is available from share-it! online store for only $45 per single user license.

AABSyS offers 3D CAD modeling on new platforms

AABSyS ready to start executing its 3D CAD modeling projects on the Google SketchUp, Autodesk Revit® Architecture, and Graphisoft ArchiCAD® platforms

Bhubaneswar : AABSyS is now ready to execute 3D CAD modeling projects on the Google SketchUp, Autodesk Revit® Architecture, and Graphisoft ArchiCAD® platforms on a large scale. This is the result of AABSyS' continuous upgradation of skills and technologies to meet the demands of the marketplace.

There has been a growing demand for 3D CAD modeling in the civil/ architectural sectors because of its many advantages. These include visualization, virtual building navigation, object intelligence (database-driven dimensions provided to objects and structures), return on investments (changing design is simpler and cost-effective), and interoperability for different platforms of services.

Google's new SketchUp software allows users to create, modify and share 3D models. AABSyS can prepare 3D models of buildings for customers in the required format. These can be easily incorporated into Google Earth so visitors can have a virtual 3D view of the buildings.

Autodesk's Revit® Architecture software offers database-driven 3D modeling, or Building Information Modeling (BIM). ArchiCAD®, a product of Graphisoft, with intelligent building designs, helps architects, builders and individuals to create 3D models.

The architectural team at AABSyS has the technical capability to create 3D modeling of floor plans, or to convert the 2D floor plans into 3D floor plans and create 3D models of houses or building complexes. The 3D architectural floor plans and 3D models can be augmented with our 3D rendering services to provide a realistic view of the model.

AABSyS is one of the preferred offshore CAD outsourcing vendors for customers outside India. The company provides Auto Cad, GIS, web site design and programming services and is based in Bhubaneswar, India.

About AABSyS
AABSyS is a leading outsourcing company that provides GIS/ CAD services, software development services and data entry services to customers worldwide. The company brings together optimized resources, talented personnel, and the years of experience to meet a variety of customer needs. The company is based in Bhubaneswar in Orissa, India.

Google to Sponsor daratechPLANT 2009 Conference; Aidan Chopra, Product Evangelist, Google SketchUp, to Deliver Keynote Address

HOUSTON — daratechPLANT, the world’s leading plant asset lifecycle management event, announced today that Google will be sponsoring its 2009 Conference, February 23 – 25, at the Hilton Americas in Houston. daratechPLANT also announced that Aidan Chopra, Product Evangelist, Google SketchUp, will be delivering the keynote address on Wednesday, February 25, at 8:00 am.

Mr. Chopra will provide the daratechPLANT audience with an insider’s view on Google’s work in the 3D and geospatial arena, and what might be coming next. He will address how ideas like real-time collaboration, cloud computing and mobile access to information will affect the way companies deal with 3D data, some of the challenges involved in working with 3D information, and how they might be overcome.

“We are thrilled that Google is sponsoring daratechPLANT 2009, and that this is the first plant asset lifecycle management conference serving the petrochemical/chemical, energy/power, oil & gas and shipbuilding industries that Google will be sponsoring and exhibiting at,” said Sean Guerre, president of the TradeFair Group.

“Mr. Chopra’s keynote is an exciting addition to the daratechPLANT 2009 Conference agenda,” said Kim Arellano, daratechPLANT Conference Director. “The prestigious list of industry leaders, visionaries and experts we have confirmed to speak at daratechPLANT 2009 ensures attendees will gain invaluable information and unmatched insight into the latest technologies in the fast evolving plant asset lifecycle management space.”

daratechPLANT is organized by TradeFair Group, Inc. For the latest info and to register, visit www.daratechPLANT.com. For info on becoming a sponsor and/or exhibitor, contact Julien Dupont at 214-358-5359 or Email Contact. For info on speaking or serving on the Advisory Board, contact Kim Arellano at 832-242-1969 ext. 313 or Email Contact.

About TradeFair Group, Inc.

A leading energy industry information provider, with conferences, tradeshows, and publications for the oil, gas, petrochemical, power generation, transmission, and coal industries, TradeFair Group, Inc., a part of Access Intelligence LLC, produces events throughout North America, and its publications and online properties serve a global marketplace. Additional information is available at www.TradeFairGroup.com.

IES Launches plug-in for Google SketchUp

IES Toolbar enables Environmental Performance Analysis directly from SketchUp Model

Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), a world leading provider of integrated performance analysis software and consulting services for sustainable building design, today announced the availability of a plug-in to Google SketchUp^TM, a free, easy-to-learn 3D design tool from Google. This Toolbar sits within the SketchUp application and gives direct access to all of IES’s tools: VE-Ware, VE-Toolkits and the full . For many architects and other professionals in the building design industry, this level of integration is what they have been waiting for – it allows empowering energy, carbon, daylight and solar analysis, and much more to be undertaken at the touch of a few buttons, right from the earliest stages of the design process, where the maximum difference to sustainable design can be achieved.

The plug-in is compatible with both the Free and Pro versions of Google SketchUp. The IES Toolbar allows SketchUp users to assign important sustainable design information like location, building and room type, construction types and HVAC systems to their SketchUp model and then import it directly into their chosen IES analysis tool, without having to re-build any geometry.

John Bacus, Product Manager of Google SketchUp, commented: “With SketchUp, we dreamed of a simple tool that would give people the ability to think fast and iterate often on complex building design problems. With this release, IES is plugging a set of energy analysis tools into SketchUp at just the right level of complexity— enabling designers to think not just about how a building might look, but also how it will perform in a sustainable world”.

Dr Don Mc Lean, founder and MD of IES, commented: “I’m incredibly excited by today’s launch, in many ways it’s a culmination of 14 years of work. When I founded IES in 1994 my aim was to develop what were primarily academic tools and bring them into mainstream use. By linking our tools directly to Google SketchUp and continuing to develop different levels of interface we are making the sustainable design potential of performance analysis very easily available to a huge number of professionals.”

Within the Google SketchUp plug-in, IES offers building designers the choice to engage with its software at the level and in the way which is best for them:

• IES VE-Ware: Free energy and carbon analysis tool which makes basic performance analysis widely available to anyone and includes US Architecture 2030 Challenge benchmark capabilities;
• IES VE-Toolkits: mid-level tools that allow a variety of early stage sustainability energy, carbon, solar and daylight analyses to be undertaken at the touch of a few buttons. Including thermal implications of solar/light penetration and LEED/US 2030 Challenge benchmark capabilities;
• The full IES : a powerful integrated suite of highly detailed performance analysis tools covering Energy, Carbon, Thermal comfort, Airflow (CFD), Bulk Airflow, Daylighting, Solar, LEED, Egress, M&E, Value and Capital/Lifecycle Cost. It also contains Government approved software for showing compliance with conservation of energy Building Regulations and the creation of non-dwelling Energy Performance Certificates in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Performance analysis has a big role to play in the design of green, high-performance buildings, and in the bridging of the 'information' gulf between architects and engineers. This Google SketchUp connectivity and other recent developments by IES have been undertaken to help aid this by offering an analysis toolset that can be used throughout the whole design process; from concept to completion.

Current IES user and beta tester of the IES SketchUp integration Mark Dietrick from Burt Hill commented: “We are very excited about the possibilities the IES/SketchUp plug-in presents. Plans to extend this capability into the hands of more of our staff are already underway – our ‘Energy Analysis’ team is doing an exceptional job of documenting the work-flow so that we will easily be able to engage others once the product is officially launched. This connectivity allows many more of our architectural staff to take advantage of IES’s environmental analysis capabilities to better assure that our designs are being formed for optimal performance in early design.”

IES’s Performance Analysis tools already link directly to the Autodesk Revit Architecture and MEP Building Information Model applications. While the addition of IES connectivity to Google SketchUp is a significant advancement in its own right, it also enhances the workflow for many Revit users who choose to undertake initial concept designs via Google SketchUp – they can now progress their design, as informed by IES performance analysis, seamlessly from one application to another.

Another IES customer and beta tester of the SketchUp integration Ken Hall from Gensler commented: “This new tool means we now have the ability to integrate building performance analysis from early conceptual design using SketchUp, through our entire design process using Revit Architecture. Faster feedback in design affords more opportunity to innovate with sustainability in mind. This means not only can we make the right decisions in the first place; we can make the right decision at every step in the process.”

The IES SketchUp plug-in is available to download from: www.iesve.com/sketchup

Google SketchUp is available to download from: http://sketchup.google.com/

Other useful links:

- IES You Tube profile www.youtube.com/iesve

- IES blog http://blog.iesve.com

This launch is public beta and is being refined over the coming months.

Google and Google SketchUp are licensed trademarks of Google Inc.