ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) hired HNTB Corporation to continue its role as the prime consultant for the department's Innovative Program Delivery Technical Support Services initiative.

Tokyo — With an application called PIPELABO, the 3D building information modeling (BIM) data of round and square steel pipes designed in Tekla Structures software can be automatically transformed into pipe cutting data for Maruhide's Pipe Coaster machines. This enables labor and cost savings and prevents incorrect data at data entry. The solution will be available as of July 1, 2011.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Autodesk, Inc., a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, announced its 2012 portfolio of software for the AEC industry. The updated portfolio supports the Building Information Modeling (BIM) process by offering comprehensive software solutions to help architects, engineers, planners, contractors, facility managers and owners in the building and infrastructure industries meet today’s business challenges. In addition to new and updated software products, Autodesk announced two new design suites for building design, construction and infrastructure professionals.

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. — Firms in the architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting arena appear to be investing in design process-enabling technologies that will help them face the competition and take their offerings to the next level. According to a recent online survey held by ZweigWhite’s weekly management publication The Zweig Letter, 37.5 percent of respondents said their firms are primarily investing or have primarily invested recently in technologies such as 3D design software.

Manchester, N.H. – Newforma, a project information management (PIM) software company connecting architecture, engineering and construction firms worldwide, announced the formation of its Construction Solutions Team, including AEC technology industry veterans Dan Conery, Susan McDowell and Scott Kirshe. The team is focused on helping construction firms embrace PIM to streamline project execution, improve accountability, reduce risk and connect with architecture and engineering firms on projects in a more meaningful way than ever before.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) currently is undertaking the largest bridge replacement project in its history. The new Interstate 5 Willamette River Bridge will be a milestone for ODOT in many respects, most notably for its use of the construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) procurement method — an ODOT first.