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Resources More Useful LinksThird-Party SoftwareVideo Screen Capture UtilitiesTechSmith Corporation offers two award-winning utilities that can be used to record AGTEK 3D drive-through simulations to generic video files. The resulting video files can be played using any media player or they can be used with programs such as Microsoft® PowerPoint® for more elaborate presentations. SnagIt® ($40) includes simple video-capture and a number of static screen-capture options, but it does not include any video editing tools. Camtasia Studio ($300) specializes in video-capture, includes a voice-over capability and video editing tools, and would be a better choice if you must produce professional, high-quality video presentations from your recorded AGTEK drive-through simulations.VRML File ViewersAGTEK's Earthwork 3D and SiteModel 3D programs (Version 1.41 and up) can export an entire 3D surface to a VRML (Virtual Reality Markup Language) file. To export a VRML file, (1) switch to Plan View mode or 3D View mode, (2) set the Reference and Difference Surfaces, (3) make any desired adjustments to the color shading, and (3) select File > Export VRML File from the menu. The Reference Surface (and color shading) selected in Step 2 is written to a .WRL file.AGTEK VRML files can be read by any number of free (and fee) third-party VRML readers which allow the user to dynamically "fly-through" and inspect the 3D surface from any orientation. Two examples of VRML readers that can be downloaded and used for free (click the names for download information) are the browser-based Cortona® VRML Client and the stand-alone SolidView®-Lite.With additional hardware and software, AGTEK VRML files can also be used to "print" a color 3D surface to a scaled solid model. Most AGTEK users will not want to purchase the necessary hardware and software as the cost may be hard to justify for occasional use; but third-party vendors, such as Laser Graphic Manufacturing, will produce the solid models for you using your AGTEK VRML files.Printing to PDF FilesAGTEK's cut/fill maps and other graphical documentation can be shared with (and reprinted by) non-AGTEK users when the graphical documentation is printed to a PDF file. PDF files are also a handy alternative to AGTEK's proprietary AIP format when a complicated AGTEK Print Page needs to be archived. Although AGTEK software does not include the native ability to print to PDF, third-party applications such as Adobe® Acrobat® will get the job done. If you don't already own a copy of Adobe Acrobat (various versions starting at $449), many low-cost alternatives are available: Jaws® PDF Creator ($64) is highly-rated for its performance with graphical images. Bluebeam® PDF Revu® ($149) includes a handy ability to measure onscreen planimetric quantities (length, area and perimeter) directly from a displayed PDF plan file as well as many other options (special thanks to Louis Spahn for his recommendation of the Bluebeam product). BullZip PDF Printer (Free) is available for commercial use at no cost (and, unlike other freeware, BullZip is apparently free of advertising and pop-ups). In addition to creating PDF files, the Bluebeam and BullZip products also include output options for BMP, TIF and several other graphic file formats. Regardless of the specific product used to create them, PDF files printed from AGTEK can be viewed and/or re-printed by anyone using a free copy of Adobe Reader®. A third-party print-to-PDF application can also be useful for converting DWF files for import and processing with AGTEK software (see DWF-to-PDF Conversions below).VMware® WorkstationVMware Workstation is a $189 third-party product that can be used to run AGTEK's legacy DOS-based products (Sitework 98, SitePlan 98, Materials 2000, Sitework Engineering, Highway Sections, etc.) on a Windows NT/2000/XP computer without the need for "Dual Boot" configuration. Click here to visit the VMware website for product details and a free 30-Day evaluation license.Free CAD File UtilitiesIf you need to view (verify the contents of) or print/plot CAD files but you don't want to spend any money on CAD software, you can download and use a free CAD file viewer. Bentley View is compatible with DGN and DWG (R2.6 to R2002 format only) files. Autodesk® DWG TrueView™ is compatible with DWG, DWF and DXF files (no DGN support) and it includes the handy ability to convert DWG files between R14, 2000/2002, 2004/2005/2006 and 2007/2008/2009 version formats (in either direction) [Note: DWG TrueView includes the functionality of Autodesk's older DWG TrueConvert™ utility]. DWG TrueView (which also exports PDF files) can be used to convert a DWF file to a vector PDF file, which can then be imported and processed by some AGTEK programs (see DWF-to-PDF Conversions below). Although handy for what they do, these free utilities do not include any CAD data editing functions -- for that, you will need to purchase a CAD program such as those mentioned in the next paragraph.TurboCAD®TurboCAD Deluxe ($130) is an inexpensive alternative to AutoCAD® ($3,995) or AutoCAD LT® ($1,200) if you need to edit CAD files. In addition to offering a range of 2D/3D design, drafting and rendering functions, TurboCAD reads and writes DGN, DWF, DWG and DXF files so it can be used to make DGN-to-DWG conversions for Earthwork 3D (or DGN/DWG-to-DXF conversions for Sitework 98). TurboCAD (which also exports PDF files) can be used to convert a DWF file to a vector PDF file, which can then be imported and processed by some AGTEK programs (see DWF-to-PDF Conversions below). [Note: Starting with release 2008, AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT also have the ability to read DGN files.]LandXML-to-ASCII PNEZ ConversionsLandXML (.XML) files are generic text files used to transfer site work and highway project data (including points, point groups, horizontal/vertical alignments, cross sections, and surfaces) between different CAD and GIS software applications. Many AutoCAD- and MicroStation-based civil design systems can export LandXML files and some state DOTs have begun releasing highway project data in this format, so some AGTEK users may soon be receiving .XML files. Although AGTEK's earthwork modeling software cannot directly read .XML files, AGTEK's Technical Support Department will convert them to an AGTEK-readable format on request; however, if you have purchased one of AGTEK's highway modeling products (Highway 3D, SiteModel-Highway, or GradeModel 3D), AGTEK can also provide you with a copy of their AGTEK XML utility so you can convert .XML files on your own. Otherwise, you can try experimenting with the free XML2SMi Converter utility. For more information on .XML files, see LandXML.org.DWF-to-DWG ConversionsAutodesk® created and popularized the DWF (Design Web Format) file for secure electronic distribution of CAD data. Essentially, a DWF file contains dumbed-down vector data that is great for viewing and plotting but is of no direct value to an AGTEK user for earthwork modeling applications. If you receive a DWF file and a corresponding DWG or DXF file is absolutely unavailable, then one option (other than manually digitizing the data from a scaled paper plot) is to attempt a DWF-to-DWG conversion using a third-party utility such as Any DWF to DWG Converter ($118, stand alone) or DWF to DWG Importer Pro ($180, stand alone). A better option may be to convert the DWF file to a PDF file (see below).DWF-to-PDF ConversionsAlthough AGTEK software cannot import a DWF file directly, a work-around is to convert the DWF file to a PDF file. This option is available because AGTEK's GradeModel 3D software now includes the native ability to import and process PDF files, and this new functionality is also available as an add-on purchase for AGTEK's Earthwork 3D, SiteModel 3D and Highway 3D software. To make the conversion (1) open the DWF file with a third-party program such as DWG TrueView (see Free CAD File Utilities above) or TurboCAD (see above), and (2) plot the DWF file to a PDF file. In the PDF setup dialog, be sure to specify an appropriate scale and paper size (use the scale indicated on the corresponding paper plan sheet or in the DWF file's title block/graphic scale). The DWG TrueView and TurboCAD programs include built-in PDF export options but you can also use these programs with any third-party print-to-PDF application (see Printing to PDF Files above) that you may prefer. Either way, import and process the resulting PDF file with Earthwork 3D, SiteModel 3D or GradeModel 3D per the instructions included in the Earthwork Software Services 2008-2009 Day 1 Seminar Handbook (see page 102) or 2008-2009 Day 2 Seminar Handbook (see page 199).Raster-to-Vector ConversionsIf you receive a raster graphics file (BMP, GIF, JPG, PDF, TIFF, etc.) and a vector data file (DWG, DXF, DGN) is absolutely unavailable, then you have just two options for modeling the raster data in AGTEK: (1) print the raster file graphics to paper, determine the scale, and manually digitize it or (2) try to convert the raster data to vector format and then import the resulting line work with AGTEK. Neither method is appealing and you may very well end up having to do some of both (and a considerable amount of editing) to get the job done. Also, keep in mind that the result may be good enough for a quantity takeoff but it will lack the precision needed for staking or machine control applications. Here are a few raster-to-vector conversion references that we found by searching the Web:For the do-it-yourself approach, a wide range of raster-to-vector conversion software is available, including: PDF 2 DXF ($49, stand alone, not really raster-to-vector because it only works with vector data already in the PDF file), Print2CAD ($340, stand alone), WinTopo Pro ($375, stand alone), R2V ($1,495, stand alone -- the software manufacturer also provides raster-to-vector conversion services with R2V), GTXRaster R2V (call GTX for pricing, requires AutoCAD), and there are many more. Raster-to-vector conversions typically require geo-reference points so the resulting vector data is correctly dimensioned in a useful coordinate system; if the raster data source is based on a latitude and longitude horizontal reference, an online calculator can be used to convert any latitude/longitude position to its corresponding state plane coordinates.[Note: AGTEK's GradeModel 3D software now includes the native ability to import and process raster and vector data from PDF and TIFF files, and this new functionality is also available as an add-on purchase for AGTEK's Earthwork 3D, SiteModel 3D and Highway 3D software.]For those who do not want to perform raster-to-vector conversions on their own, conversion service bureaus are also available, including: Design Presentation, GeoVect, Trix Conversion Services, and others.USGS Digital Topo Data ConversionsThe U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) produces 3D topographic files in the form of Digital Elevation Models (a DEM file represents a 3D-grid surface) and Digital Line Graphs (a DLG file includes 3D elevation contours). USGS (and other) geospatial data sets are available through third-party suppliers such as the GIS Data Depot®. But, unless you're involved in the preliminary planning of large-scale developments or you just want to fly-through a virtual 3D model of your favorite national park, you may never have need to manipulate such files. On the other hand, if you do receive DEM or DLG files, AGTEK software cannot directly import them and you will need to use utilities such as the following to convert the USGS data to a useable format:DEM files can be converted to 3D point (x,y,z) files using MICRODEM (free), and DLG files can be converted to DXF files using dlgv32/dlgv32 Pro/Global Mapper (free, limited-function trial, and $299 commercial versions of the same program) or DLGX133 (free, download the dlglx133.exe file).WinZip® 12.0WinZip is a file compression/extraction utility that is handy to have when you receive compressed CAD files that are not self-extracting. WinZip's price is $29.95, but you can download a free 21-day evaluation copy when you click here. For a PDF file with step-by-step WinZip installation and usage instructions, click here. [Note: If you are running Windows XP, that operating system includes a built-in file compression/extraction utility so WinZip is not a requirement on XP systems.]Return to Resources Home
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