Brazilian Civil Engineering Firm Figueiredo Ferraz Earns Autodesk BIM Experience Award

March 11, 2010

Multidisciplinary Transportation, Infrastructure and Urban Development Projects Demonstrate Integrated Building Information Modeling (BIM) Process SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, announced that Figueiredo Ferraz, one of Brazil’s foremost engineering companies, has been selected to receive an Autodesk BIM Experience Award for its application and promotion of Building Information Modeling (BIM) as a process for large-scale government projects. The award also recognizes the firm’s use of AutoCAD Civil 3D software for all of its current civil engineering projects; Autodesk Revit Structure software for bridge, viaduct and tunnel design projects; as well as Autodesk 3ds Max Design software for visualizations. One of the firm’s recent BIM process-based projects targets environmental recovery for the Sapolandia, Franco and the Quarenta watercourses in Manaus, Brazil. Currently under construction, this government project will protect these watersheds and improve the quality of life for nearby residents and businesses. The project includes urban renewal of the land adjacent to the watercourses, implementation of drains and sewer systems, and construction of bridges and pedestrian overpasses. The Figueiredo Ferraz design team used AutoCAD Civil 3D software to develop several sustainable design alternatives for both watercourses, including plans for watercourse channeling, drainage systems and traffic circulation. The team aggregated existing geographic information system (GIS) and survey data in a BIM-based design model to efficiently create, visualize and evaluate design options. BIM design processes enabled the team to react more quickly to design decisions and changes, helping to keep the construction on schedule and avoid downtime when seasonal flooding of the Amazon limits waterfront construction. BIM was also valuable for cross-disciplinary design coordination with the project architect and other members of the extended design team. In addition, the team transferred its design models into 3ds Max Design software to create project visualizations for design reviews, approvals and public outreach efforts.

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