 ACOUSTIC ANALYSIS
Capability: FastBEM Acoustics is an acoustic wave modeling software program based on the multipole boundary element method. It predicts acoustic fields using large acoustic models needed to capture the acoustic responses at high frequencies. It predicts noise or sound fields from automobiles, machinery, airplanes, electronic devices, underwater objects, audio equipment, or the environment. The program solves time-harmonic acoustic wave problems for both 3-D full- or half-space symmetry domains. The program models large-scale acoustic problems using pressure, particle velocity, or impedance boundary conditions and multiple plane incident waves, point sources, reverberant conditions, and any combination of the boundary conditions and sources.
Hardware: PC running Windows XP or Vista, or Linux.
Developer: Advanced CAE Research LLC, 7723 Tylers Place Blvd., No. 175, West Chester, Ohio 45069; (513) 785-0666; www.fastbem.com.
Cost: Up to $9,800.
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POINT CLOUD
Capability: The plug-in Pointools Model for AutoCAD allows users to work with large point-cloud datasets within AutoCAD. Existing engineering structures captured by laser scanning can be visualized at full density within AutoCAD. The plug-in will display points in the viewport to allow snapping to points and fast viewing. Users can drill down to subsets of data using selection tools. The range of shading options delivers extra clarity to scan data that can be difficult to interpret.
Hardware: PC running AutoCAD.
Developer: Computer Aided Business Systems Ltd., 8 Forum Place, Fiddlebridge Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 0RN, United Kingdom; (44-1707) 258338; fax (44-1707) 258339; www.cabs-cad.com.
Cost: $1,200.
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DRAWING AND PDF
Capability: PdfImport has been updated to 2.0 to include 64-bit compatibility; faster preview; better support for embedded images, fills, line weights, and text; and increased stability. Users can now create layouts in their current drawing using pages in a PDF or they can batch export a DWG file for each page in multiple PDF files. New functionality in the professional version includes PDF Manager, which allows the user to assemble drawing books from multiple PDF or image files and to export pages, images, and text.
Hardware: PC running AutoCAD.
Developer: DotSoft, 3390 Morehead Road, Flemingsburg, KY 41041; (606) 849-4312; fax (606) 849-3145; www.dotsoft.com.
Cost: $95 for the standard version; $145 for the professional version.
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DRAFT TO DETAIL
Capability: DoubleCAD XT Pro is an AutoCAD LT work-alike. It includes a drafting palette that expedites the drafting-to-detailing process by creating associative two-dimensional views or hatched sections. Other features include geometric and dimensional constraints, and a parametric parts manager. Capabilities include self-healing walls, self-aligning blocks, advanced handle-based editing, snap prioritization, brush editor, smart dimensions, and viewport editing.
Hardware: PC running Windows 2000, XP, NT, or Vista.
Developer: IMSI/Design LLC, 25 Leveroni Court, Novato, CA 94949; (415) 483-8000; fax (415) 884-9023; www.doublecad.com.
Cost: $695.
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PSYCHROMETRIC CALC
Capability: PsychroAir for the iPhone or iPod Touch calculates the thermodynamic properties of moist air. The application outputs specific enthalpy, humidity ratio, relative humidity, specific volume, dry-bulb temperature, and wet-bulb temperature. PsychroAir uses the following input properties: barometric pressure, dry-bulb temperature, and one of the following: humidity ratio, relative humidity, wet-bulb temperature, or dew-point temperature. All of the thermodynamic properties can be calculated in American traditional and metric units.
Hardware: iPhone or iPod Touch.
Developer: Engineering2.com, P.O. Box 720954, Orlando, FL 32872; www.psychroair.com.
Cost: $5.99 downloaded through iTunes.
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