Product
Information
Release Date:
Vendor:
Autodesk,
Inc.
111 McInnis Parkway
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-507-5000
415-507-5100 (fax)
Homepage:
Newsgroup:
Price:
$4,250
$1,395 Educational
(Note: Autodesk has a software grant for educational institutions.
Contact Andrew Carothers at Autodesk, Inc., andrew.carothers@autodesk.com,
for more information).
Distribution
Medium:
System Requirements
- Windows
95, Windows NT 3.51, or Windows NT 4.0 operating
system
- Pentium
processor (P586), 90Mhz or faster
- 32MB
RAM minimum; 64MB recommended (10MB additional
RAM recommended for each concurrent AutoCAD Map
Release 2.0 session)
- 76MB
hard-disk space (minimum); 127MB for typical
install
- 96MB
disk swap space (minimum); 128MB recommended
- 640x480
VGA display (minimum); 1024 x 768 recommended
- pointing
device
- CD-ROM
drive for initial installation only
- 2.5MB
free-disk space during installation only
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Executive Summary
Autodesks AutoCAD Map Release 2.0 is an automated GIS
and mapping software geared toward experienced users of Auto-desks
flagship product AutoCAD. The AutoCAD Map Release 2.0 software
is built upon a base of AutoCAD Release 14. It enhances the
operation of AutoCAD in the GIS marketplace by providing standard
GIS functionality with topology creation, analysis and thematic
mapping, fully integrating raster and vector file formats,
and providing links to attribute information through object
data or external databases.
AutoCAD Map Release
2.0 is one of three main components of the
Auto-desks foray into GIS. Teamed with
this product are Autodesk World and Autodesk
MapGuide. Auto-CAD Map Release 2.0 is the CAD-based
component for small to medium projects that
are graphically oriented, while Auto-desk World
is geared toward larger projects that are data-base
intensive. Autodesk MapGuide is an internet-based
program for authoring, publishing, distributing
and querying geographic data.
Features
The main features of Auto-CAD Map Release 2.0 are geared
toward data creation and maintenance. The program
is fully compatible with existing Auto-CAD-based drawings
and maps, in part, because its data creation foundation
is AutoCAD Release 14. The program can utilize
spatially referenced data in a number of standard map
file formats. The graphical user interface streamlines
the attachment of attribute data to point and line
objects and allows real-time pan and zoom.
Analysis
functions include map algebra commands that
allow for the overlay of node, network, or
polygon topologies. Overlay functions
include intersect, union, identity, erase,
clip, copy and paste. Topology generation
is present in node, link, and polygon formats.
Once network topology is generated shortest-path
and flood-trace analysis algorithms can be
run.
Cleaning up digitized
or imported data is easily implemented. A number
of map clean-up tools such as extend undershoots,
edge-matching, and breaking objects at map
boundaries are present. Imported maps can be
rubber-sheeted through rotate, scale, and stretch
commands to conform to an existing coverage
or base map.
The raster data
handling in AutoCAD Map Release 2.0 is somewhat
limited. Functionality is limited to
movement, rotation, and scaling of the image
and the adjustment of its brightness and contrast.
Raster images cannot be rubber-sheeted to a
particular data set nor can they be integrated
into any sort of analysis.
One of the features
the author finds unique is the multi-user editing
and tracking capabilities built into the program.
A map administrator can set up editing and
updating privileges for specific AutoCAD Map
Release 2.0 drawings allowing for enhanced
tracking and maintenance of the drawings.
Import and export
filters include MicroStation Design files (*.dgn),
Map-Info Interchange files (*.mif), ArcView
Shape files (*.shp), and ARC/INFO Coverages.
Performance
The software was tested in a Windows 95 environment on a
233mhz Dell OptiPlex GXi with 64MB of RAM and a 7GB
EIDE hard drive. Virtual memory was enabled with at
least 3.0GB of scratch space available. The display
consisted of a 17-inch Sony Trinitron monitor at a
resolution of 1024x768 powered by a 4MB Matrox Millenium
video card.
Performance was
tested using the sample data-sets provided
and by completing the tutorial. The tutorial
data sets were often very simple and did not
adequately push the system to its limits. A
number of the authors own data sets were
tested including a complete roads inventory
for a 7 km by 24 km section of Salt Lake
County, Utah, containing over 24,000 lines
or arcs. Importing this data set from
an ARC/INFO coverage took over an hour. Some
analysis operations were quite slow, even running
on a 233mhz Pentium with the recommended amount
of RAM and scratch space. In order to do all
but the simplest operations on a small to intermediate
sized project 64MB of RAM seems to be the lower
threshold. In addition, a Pentium Pro or Pentium
II processor running at 200+ mhz may be needed.
Documentation
AutoCAD Map Release 2.0 comes with an online quick tour and
extensive online help, as well as a 210 page installation
guide detailing digitizer configuration, plotter setup,
as well as other set parameters. A 630 page users guide
(a rarity among todays software providers) is
also included. Updates to the product documentation
can be accessed through Autodesks home page in
Adobe PDF format and users can subscribe to be notified
by email when updated documents are placed online.
AutoCAD Learning Assistance interactive training CD-ROM
is also included with Auto-CAD Map Release 2.0.
Technical Support
According to the Customer Service and Technical Support Card
included with the software, and support information
found on the Autodesk home page (http://www.autodesk.com),
there are a number of support options. First, primary
software support is available through your Authorized
Autodesk GIS Dealer, Distributor, or Autodesk Systems
Center. This is interpreted as if you need help
contact the authorized Autodesk dealer from whom you
bought the product from. Second, online support
is available to CompuServe members (GO ACAD) and from
the Autodesk home page. If you need additional help
or technical questions answered, Autodesk provides
an online source of information through a news-group
devoted to AutoCAD Map Release 2.0 (news://adesknews.autodesk.com/autodesk.autocadmap.general). From
this authors observations an Autodesk GIS Product
Support Specialist answers users questions within one
to two days of initial posting. And finally, Autodesk
provides their new SafetyNet phone support.
SafetyNet provides
direct telephone access to technical assistance
for Autodesk GIS products. SafetyNet
is a pay-as-you-go program charging callers
$65 per incident. Safety Net support is available
from 6 am to 5 pm, Pacific time, Monday through
Friday via toll-free 800 numbers.
AutoCAD Map Release
2.0 Service Pack 1 (a service upgrade) was
released on October 13, 1997. It is available
on the Autodesk home page at http://www.
autodesk.com/support/filelib /acadmap/acadmap.htm.
The Service Pack updates Map130c and Map130f
releases to Map130k. The compressed patch is
approximately 4.7MB. Missing from the service
update page is an option to provide email notification
of software patches and updates similar to
that provided for the written documentation.
AutoCAD Map Release
2.0 is Year 2000 compliant.
Ease of Installation
AutoCAD Map Release 2.0 is easy to install and set up from
the CD-ROM. The install program is designed to automatically
start under Windows 95 and NT 4.0 with AutoPlay enabled. Product
installation requires a serial number and CD key, which
can be found on the back of the CD. Once installed
an authorization code is needed to use the software
beyond a 30-day trial period. The code
can be obtained by telephone, fax, mail, or email.
Ease of Use
The author found AutoCAD Map Release 2.0 relatively easy
to use without extensive experience using the base
program AutoCAD. Users with enhanced Auto-CAD
experience will find that accessing the added functionality
that the Map component provides to be relatively easy.
All AutoCAD Map Release 2.0 functions appear in their
own pull-down menu or can be entered via a standard
Auto-CAD command line interface. Additional mapping
tools are included, simplifying many of the map overlay
commands and analysis functions.
Pros
The author suspects that the main draw to AutoCAD Map Release
2.0 would be its full functionality with AutoCAD Release
14 AutoCAD being the underlying graphics generator
for Map. Users that spend a great deal of time working
with AutoCAD files will find that purchasing AutoCAD
Map Release 2.0 will add an extra AutoCAD Release 14 seat to
their operation. The added overhead of the Map Release
2.0 component can be disabled in the various preferences
dialog boxes freeing up the base AutoCAD Release 14.
One unique feature to this GIS program is the coverage
preview provided by means of an image thumbnail displayed
in the File Open dialog box.
Cons
One of the main drawbacks in integrating this product into
a larger GIS market is its inability to handle Arc
Interchange format (*.e00 files). Many organizations,
including local, state, and federal government and
private industry use the *.e00 ARC export file as a
means for exchanging map coverages regardless of the
platform on which they were generated. AutoCAD Map
Release 2.0 can handle shape files and can convert
(non-*.e00) ARC/INFO coverages to AutoCAD Map Release
2.0 drawing format (*.dwg). The data import and export
commands are processor and memory intensive. The author
found that multitasking with Microsoft Office 97
while writing this review caused my system to lock
up. A greater amount of physical memory (RAM) or switching
to Windows NT 4.0 (with its protected memory) may help
solve this problem.
Recommendations
The author agrees with Autodesk in terms of the market for
AutoCAD Map Release 2.0. This program is geared toward
engineers, planners, utility managers and technicians markets
which may already have an extensive investment in Autodesk
products such as AutoCAD Release 14. AutoCAD Map Release
2.0 provides the GIS capabilities and complete linkage
to AutoCAD that previous GIS add-ons to AutoCAD failed
to supply. This program is definitely worthy of consideration
for CAD users contemplating entering the GIS realm
and for CAD users presently using other AutoCAD add-on
GIS products.
James
D. Hipple
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