CRAB Design Systems EZINE

CRAB's list of licensed CIVIL/SURVEY Modules through Eagle Point Includes:
RoadCalc, Profiles, Site Design, Surface Modeling, COGO, Data Collection, Data Transfer, Drafting, Surface Modeling, Survey Adjustment, Sanitary Sewers, Storm Sewers, Water Surface Profiling, Watershed Modeling.

CAD Systems: AutoCAD R14*, 2000/2000i/2002/2004 & Map 1.0,2.0,3.0 and 2000, MicroStation 95, SE & J, IntelliCAD98/Eagle Point Graphics Engine 2002
Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 98, Me, 2000, NT4.0, XP (Home or Professional)

Current Patches: For the latest information on Software Patches from Eagle Point, go to their download site to get their latest and greatest patch. To be informed of upcoming releases, subscribe to Eagle Point's update list by sending a blank email to join-epupdates@lists.eaglepoint.com. Or, if you belong to this list and wish to unsubscribe, send a blank email to
remove- epupdates@lists.eaglepoint.com.

Update Instructions Before you download the update you should first determine which version you are currently running. You may do this by completing the following steps:

CRAB prides itself on offering the counties training courses suited for both the engineering and surveying professionals. These courses reaffirm our commitment to our county partners. No one can match the level of knowledge and real life experience that our certified and licensed trainer can provide.

   • Learning curve is sharply decreased so you become more productive to your County organization.
   • Each student has their own computer.
   • Instructor is a licensed engineer as well as having more than 14 years of professional experience.
   • Working relationship with the people that designed the software

In addition to step-by-step instruction using practical design solutions, users learn timesaving shortcuts. Each student also receives a comprehensive training manual and data files that can be taken back to the office to be used as a valuable reference guide. Small class sizes insure that students receive the maximum amount of attention from the instructors. Students are taught using real-life examples, providing them with skills that can be applied immediately upon return to the office.

All classes use the latest release of the Eagle Point Software and AutoCAD 2005, as well as the Microsoft's latest business application Operating System (Windows 2000). Our aim is to expose you to the best technology available and for you to take back with you valuable information not only on the design software, but other aspects of computing as well. As always, the coffee is plentiful and the donuts are always served fresh. The only cost to you is if you don't attend!

Too busy to attend CRAB's training classes in Olympia? Perhaps Eagle Point's on-line training is for you. As a valued VIP Subscriber, Eagle Point provides two hours of FREE Internet training to all Counties that are currently sub-licensed VIP users through CRAB, each quarter. Eagle Point will be providing this service beginning next week.

Land XML

LandXML is a project data blueprint that has been developed for Land Planning, Civil Engineering, and Surveying professionals as a way to easily and seamlessly transfer data between different software packages. The leading software developers in the industry have come together in partnership with federal, state, and local government agencies as well as larger engineering consulting firms to develop an industry standard data format for land development projects. Some of the companies and organizations involved include Eagle Point Autodesk™, Bentley™, GEOPAK™, Carlson™, CAiCE™, Trimble™, TDS™, AASHTO, Nebraska DOT, Florida DOT, and many others.

Unlock Your Handcuffs!

Prior to LandXML, the software applications used by land-use planners, surveyors and designers created project data only in their own proprietary formats. When people wanted to review project data, the software used to originally create the project data had to be the same software that was used in the review process, or a translation process needed to take place.

As a result, it's been common practice by many D.O.T. and other governmental organizations to require specific proprietary data formats in the delivery of completed proposed projects. This forced consulting firms to use specific "required" software applications in the development of those projects, regardless of whether or not those applications provided the best solution to the issues and challenges associated with the project.

LandXML eliminates this problem by letting you choose the software solution that most effectively allows you to design your projects - no matter which software application others involved in the project may use or require (as long as those applications read/write LandXML data). This allows you to develop project data in a format that can be easily read and understood without the software solution that created the file. All of this reduces the time required for you and the people associated with your projects to develop and/or act on project data.

True Data Integration Throughout the Project Life Cycle

The true importance of LandXML is that it allows all parties involved in a project to truly integrate their business processes throughout the life cycle of the project. By utilizing LandXML, you now have the capability to make better decisions, and make them faster in order to maximize project development effectiveness. You can create, maintain, and share data more effectively allowing you to identify and capitalize on new opportunities, as well as simply eliminate avoidable mistakes. This facilitates more dynamic business relationships and streamlines the delivery and/or receipt of project information to and from your clients.

What is XML?

XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. It is basically a standard way of representing data to enhance its interoperability. The XML file format bridges software applications by letting data move easily between them without the incompatibility concerns that have plagued the land development industry in the past.

Additionally, XML is a very "web-friendly" language, meaning that many software developers and businesses can use this language as a way to effectively share data over the Internet. It is often considered the universal format for structured documents and data on the Web. XML files are also very portable, which means that different operating systems (including properly equipped mobile devices) can read/write this type of data and it can be located on web servers.

Q: Where can I learn more about LandXML and see if the agencies I work with are "onboard"?

A: For more information, please visit the LandXML web page at www.landxml.org

Eagle Point's Land XML FAQs

Q: What is Stored in the LandXML Data File?

A: The following is a list of the LandXML objects that you can import and/or export.

Lot/Parcel Data:
Names, Owner ID, Tax IDs, Area, Perimeter, Geometry, and Lot Group Definitions.

Click for large image.

Node/PointData
"Survey and Design Node IDs, Coordinates, Descriptions, and "Field" Codes.

Alignments/Roads
Alignment Names, Stationing (including equations), Horizontal Geometry, Vertical Profile Geometry (original ground and proposed), and Cross-Section Stations with various surfaces (original ground and proposed).

Surface Models
Surface Point Data and Triangle Faces (TIN data).

All of these types of data can be exported through an Explorer-like user interface offering very flexible selection methods to include only the data you need in the XML file. You can even create multiple groups of these data objects for even greater file organization. Likewise, you have the flexibility of importing only the groups of data or various selection sets of data you need into the current project. Prior to exporting or importing, you are also allowed to graphically preview the data to ensure you have the correct objects selected.

Q: Do I need a certain Web browser to use this feature in Eagle Point?

A: No. The Data Transfer module contains the Import and Export commands that read and write the LandXML format.

Q: Does this mean my permanent data files will be converted to this new format?

A: No. The same databases and file formats that the software actively reads and writes to will not change. The LandXML format
is utilized through the Import and Export LandXML commands found in Data Transfer and it uses "this moment in time" data within the current project.

AutoCAD 2004 coexistence and compatibility revisited
AutoCAD 2004 won’t save in Release 13 or Release 14 formats, making life difficult for AutoCAD 2004 users sharing with others who still use Release 14. Autodesk has gone some way toward rectifying this situation by creating the . This tool converts drawings from any AutoCAD release to any of the three most recent formats – Release 14, AutoCAD 2000–2002, and AutoCAD 2004.

LAND DESKTOP NEWS AND RESOURCES
Autodesk released Service Pack 2 for Land Desktop 2004. It fixes problems with drawings that have Architectural Desktop 3.x drawings attached as and with the Create by Slope and Build Selection Sets commands. Point performance is also improved when using high point numbers or when large gaps exist between point numbers.'http://support.autodesk.com

MORE LAND DESKTOP NEWS AND RESOURCES
Gary Rosen offers video training for Land Desktop and Civil Design in DVD, VHS, and CD-ROM formats: http://www.landnut.com/land.htm

CAD TRAINING AND SUPPORT TOOLS
Ellen Finkelstein offers a free downloadable PDF of all the tips from her latest AutoCAD book, the AutoCAD
2004 Bible. The 18-page download contains more than 160 tips. Download a copy
at:http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com

TIP FROM AUTODESK: FIND A FILE'S PARENT AUTOCAD VERSION
To determine the version of AutoCAD that created a particular DWG or DXF file, open the file as a text editor (save DXF files in ASCII text format first). The first six bytes of a DWG file identify its version. In a DXF file, the AutoCAD version number is specified in the header section. The DXF system variable is $ACADVER. Here are the version identifiers for the various releases. Note that more than one release uses the same identifier when the drawing format remains fully compatible.
AC1018: AutoCAD 2004
AC1015: AutoCAD 2002, 2000i, 2000
AC1014: AutoCAD Release 14 (Release 14 sample drawings use AC1013)
AC1012: AutoCAD Release 13
AC1009: AutoCAD Releases 12, 11
AC1006: AutoCAD Release 10
AC1004: AutoCAD Release 9 AC1002: AutoCAD Release 2.6
AC1.50: AutoCAD Release 2.0

SITES TO SEE: WHAT’S NEW ON THE WEB

View renderings and animation of the finalists in the World Trade Center memorial competition at: http://www.wtcsitememorial.org/finalists.html

STUDY SHOWS TWO SCREENS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

NEC-Mitsubishi Electronics Display of America, ATI Technologies, and the University of Utah released results of a study on benefits of using multiple monitors. "Productivity and Multi-Screen Displays" found that multi-monitor users worked faster and produced more work with fewer errors editing documents, spreadsheets, and graphics files. Overall, multi-monitor users were 10% more productive than those with only one monitor. Users also preferred having two monitors: survey participants found them 29% more effective than a single monitor for tasks, and 24% more comfortable. The 108 participants in the study used dual 18-inch LCD monitors. http://www.necmitsubishi.com

Web-Based Project Aimed at Familiarizing Drivers with New Routes

University of Massachusetts Amherst have produced an outstanding virtual simulation to let drivers
test-drive their routes through Boston's Big Dig before ever pulling out of the driveway. For the full story go to www.ecs.umass.edu/hpl/ when you get to that site "The Web Big Dig Drive" can be viewed by going to clicking on the BigDig button on the left.

Developers Rush to Build in Wetlands After Ruling

Thousands of acres of wetlands across the country are being bulldozed or filled with dirt because of a 2001 Supreme Court decision that stripped them of federal protection. Full Story

Stormwater Manual Workshops This past fall the Department of Ecology (Ecology) released its Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington. The manual has been updated to contain new information and technical standards, and to expand the applicability beyond Puget Sound to all of western Washington. This updated manual replaces the document initially developed and published by Ecology in 1992. The workshops are geared for those responsible for implementing the provisions of the Stormwater Manual. This includes local and state officials responsible for permitting, planning, and/or design related to stormwater requirements. Developers, commercial and industrial companies, and consulting engineers involved in stormwater management requirements in western Washington may also want to attend the workshops. More information

WSDOT, Ecology, SWPAC - Stormwater Management Study The Washington State Department of Transportation in collaboration with the Department of Ecology and the Stormwater Policy Advisory Committee (SWPAC), conducted a stormwater management study to develop recommendations about how to improve stormwater management in Washington state. Click above for more information and a link to download the study. (If a password dialog box appears, just hit cancel)

Eastern Washington Stormwater News Ecology is partnering with eastern Washington communities and other stakeholders to develop improved stormwater management tools for eastern Washington and a Model NPDES Phase II Municipal Stormwater Program for Eastern Washington. Click above for additional information and upcoming events.

CRAB is still maintaining a wish list of features users want to see in future versions of Eagle Point. You can submit your wish by emailing me directly at jima@crab.wa.gov

CRAB will send your suggestions to Eagle Point for their review and comments. This is guaranteed under the terms and conditions of the Client Care subscription that we currently have with them. Please keep in mind that they receive hundreds of customer requests, but as a group, we have historically had an influential voice with Eagle Point. When we have spoken in the past, they have listened and our requests have often made the software better for us...and for them.

We would like to get your input on the CAD/Civil/Survey software that each of you at the counties are currently using. This will help us here at CRAB to better serve all the needs of the counties. If you have a second please fill out this online form. Thank you in advance. Software Users Survey

February 21 &; 22, 2004 Engineering Week . . . Outreach: Shared booth at the Supermall with WSPE and the Pacific Science Center--volunteer now!

Remember . . . you are the point. This is YOUR Point, and CRAB is only here to help sharpen your skills. And that's the Point!

*More classes to be scheduled, so stay tuned!

Eagle Point's Land XML FAQs