Corridor Optimization for InfraWorks 360

Today I am reminded of an old skit.

• 4th man: ...We used to live in this tiny old house with great big holes in the roof. 
• 2nd man: House! You were lucky to live in a house! We used to live in one room, all twenty-six of us, no furniture, Half the floor was missing, and we were all huddled together in one corner for fear of falling. 
• 3rd man: Eh, you were lucky to have a room! We used to have to live in the corridor! 
• 1st man: Oh, we used to dream of living in a corridor! Would have been a palace to us. 

— Monty Python's Flying Circus, "The Four Yorkshiremen."

From September 2011 to July 2012 we had a technology preview on Autodesk Labs that was called Corridor Solids for AutoCAD Civil 3D. This technology provides functionality to create AutoCAD solids from AutoCAD Civil 3D Subassembly shapes that are contained in an AutoCAD Civil 3D Corridor Model. By creating solids from subassembly shapes, representative real-world objects such as tunnels, retaining walls, and pavement, layers can be easily used for visual analysis, design verification, and construction coordination. The technology graduated from Autodesk Labs to Autodesk Subscription Center.

Today we have Corridor Optimization for InfraWorks 360. InfraWorks 360 offers cloud services and enables users to share large models via the cloud. Some AutoCAD Civil 3D users would like to see better corridor functionality in AutoCAD Civil 3D itself [duly noted]. The technology preview is seeking feedback on the leveraging of cloud computing for:

• Determining optimal horizontal and vertical roadway geometry based on a number of factors to create optimal road projects.
• Basing optimized horizontal alignment and profile on topographic conditions, areas identified as undesirable (avoidance zones), and wetlands.
• Using road types, bridge, and tunnel structures for proposed designs while optimizing the road design elements.

Existing Roadway Design for InfraWorks 360 users can try the technology preview by enabling it from the InfraWorks 360 menu. Non-InfraWorks 360 users can conduct an evaluation of InfraWorks 360 (including the technology preview) using the free trial.

So it's never too late to start.

Dreaming of corridors is alive in the lab.