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Current Filter: CAD>>>>>Technology Focus> Vectorworks 2016 Editorial Type: Technology Focus Date: 09-2015 Views: 2997 Key Topics: CAD Construction BIM Key Companies: Vectorworks Key Products: Vectorworks 2016 Key Industries: | |||
| The latest release of Vectorworks debuts some useful (and fun!) new features, writes David Chadwick. Now that Vectorworks 2016 is here, I was keen to see exactly features made it through from the promising revelations made earlier in the year. Were these just aspirations, or were they based on the results of some impressive background development? Well, I’m happy to say that most of what I had written about has indeed seen the light of day in the new release, making Vectorworks 2016 a substantial hike upwards from the last version in terms of features, capability - and fun! The feature that excites me the most in the latest release is aptly called Marionette. That's the Python based scripting tool that Vectorworks claims will play a significant role in design workflows of the future. With 3D scanning becoming more affordable and available, Vectorworks has beefed up its support for point clouds, a vital tool for as-built capture of complex, old and inaccessible structures. Energos, a sustainability tool, provides Vectorworks with the means to ensure their buildings are environmental standards compliant. Plus, of course, a number of other new tools and enhancements to improve design capabilities, model specific components and enhance workflows.
MARIONETTE Script is right, as the Vectorworks Python scripting tool allows users to programme well beyond the confines of traditional design software. Marionette uses the Vectorworks 2D interface and 3D modelling capabilities to give designers the flexibility to explore designs previously considered impossible, or extremely complex. Another advantage of creating algorithms to automate designs is that any part of the algorithm can be modified to produce another outcome, or instead to create a looping algorithm with incremental elements to explore a whole range of 'what if' scenarios.
POINT CLOUDS The massive point clouds, which may contain many millions of points of 3D data, can be used to create workable 3D models by manipulating and measuring the recognisable features within the point cloud - after importing them into Vectorworks using a number of formats: PTS, E57, LAB and XYZ.
ENERGOS Architects can now assess a building’s energy credentials throughout the design process, and before they have to be submitted to Building Control.
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