Trimble announced that it has acquired privately-held Plancal of Horgen, Switzerland.Trimble said the acquisition of Plancal broadens its BIM to Field solutions for MEP and HVAC contractors to automate project estimating and management, modeling, detailing, layout and construction.

Autodesk Inc. announced that it has brought the power of cloud computing, mobile computing, and building information modeling (BIM) together. The company introduced a BIM solution that it said will significantly improve how architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) project team members connect, collaborate, and communicate.

Autodesk® Seek, the online source for product specifications and building information modeling (BIM) for building design, now features Uponor’s parts in its database library. By searching ‘Uponor’ in Autodesk Seek, design professionals can gain access to information on more than 70 of the manufacturer’s parts.

Autodesk Inc. announced that it has acquired Micro Application Packages Limited (MAP Software), a United Kingdom-based provider of CAD, CAM, and estimating software that supports fabrication and construction for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) industry.

Autodesk Inc. and Gehry Technologies have announced a strategic business relationship that the companies said will help architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals to more fully realize the benefits of building information modeling (BIM).

The pendulum in terms of ice machines has been swinging back and forth between complex to basic systems. Sometimes the trend was to the complex with detailed diagnostics. The swing to basic brought simple systems designed to run efficiently. But now there is a new level of up front high tech developments to make things simpler down the line.

Recent industry trends have given rise to a new generation of building design tools known as building information modeling, or BIM. BIM goes further than traditional CAD drawings by providing intelligence to building components (such as HVAC) as well as providing system- and building-wide information and awareness (system flows or building loads) in addition to spatial relationships.