Late last week Autodesk began touting the latest release of the Autodesk suite of products – Autocad 2010. Some of the new functionality that uses can expect includes: Support for 64-bit operating systems, new ribbon-style user interface is customizable to each user, repetitive tasks using Windows Workflow Foundation, Enhancements to reprojection algorithms provide more accurate reprojections of raster imagery accessed through FDO Data Access Technology. Also new at Map 3D 2010
- AutoCAD Map 3D 2010 offers more data creation and editing options; improvements to object snap functionality include the addition of intersection, extension, apparent intersection, and parallel object snaps.
- With the Properties Palette, it’s easy to edit feature attributes by changing data values for multiple features in a single operation. AutoCAD Map 3D 2010 includes support for new FDO data providers, including Microsoft SQL Server Spatial.
- Additional Autodesk FDO providers, including the Autodesk FDO Provider for GE Smallworld, are available to Autodesk Subscription members. AutoCAD Map 3D 2010 software’s increased survey functionality focuses on asset data collection and mapping.
- This functionality helps organize, manage, and integrate field-collected data within the AutoCAD Map 3D environment.
- Additional coordinate geometry (COGO) tools are available for accurately locating and creating features captured with traditional survey methods.
- Seven new overlay operations enhance the analytical capabilities of AutoCAD Map 3D 2010 geospatial software.
- New capabilities include intersect, union, erase, identity, clip, paste and symmetric difference analysis.
- New analysis features enable users to combine FDO-connected data stores for faster, more accurate decision making. Enhancements to the Expression Builder enable construction of composite queries that apply across multiple FDO-accessed data sources.

Autodesk 2010 was introduced to the press via webcasts last week… the greener, lower cost web-cast has replaced the annual Autodesk World Press Day, an event held early in the year for the past several years (although a few CAD bloggers were invited for a back stage seat – seems GIS/Geo didn’t merit any invites… hmmmm). Too bad as this also means no face-to-face for the press with the Autodesk team… seems that with the departure of Carol Bartz from the helm, along with some corporate down-sizing and restructuring, all the PR and corporate contact has been farmed out to third party agencies… too bad really as this really alters the dynamics and flow of communication.