REVIEW: Retrieve Autodesk Civil Suite for Autodesk (Download For PC)

One of the huge strengths of computing is it's ability to manage and track large projects. Like many of the technologies of modern life, it does make you wonder how we managed before.

And projects don't come much larger than civil engineering - designing and planning systems for whole cities.

Autodesk Inc. is a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software with customers across the manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and entertainment industries.

(Because of course these cities can be built virtually now - and Autodesk software is used by Hollywood to create  blockbuster visual effects).

And now this technology is accessible to all through apps for smart phones and tablets - this is 'technology originally built for movie studios, automakers, and architectural firms, is available to anyone who wants to create and share their ideas with the world.'

But how do you learn to use it? To tap into the fabulous power of the software?

Well Retrieve Autodesk Civil Suite for PC (running on Windows Vista / 7 / XP - with MAC versions available) bundles together an all encompassing training package designed to give user in-depth information on civil and infrastructure design (for real or virtual worlds).

This complete training and learning platform costs $699. You may flinch at the price but a quick look at the cost of classroom based training may send you running back to the electronic version.

(It costs money to get good at this stuff...)

The package includes: on demand online training (so you can access it whenever you have time to study); search, retrieve and bookmark functions (to keep a track of those burgeoning projects); video classroom training for as close to live as you can get; and wide compatibility across platforms, so you can use it on the go.

The 'On Demand' component is instructor led video training equal to 14 days of classroom time and includes training in Civil 3D Quick Steps, Autodesk Showcase 2012 Essentials, Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler, Civil 3D 2012 (Essentials and New Features); plus Surveying and Mapping 'Field to Finish' with AutoCAD Civil and much more.

To give you an idea of content; The Civil 3D 2012 Essentials component is a 3 day training course which provides the users with the knowledge to get started. It consists of three volumes of video to cover installation and setup and then runs through every major feature of Civil 3D 2012. 

A data set is provided for the student to follow along with, and each lecture is indexed so that finding and reviewing specific topics is simple and fast.

You will also learn how to use AutoCAD Map 3D - the leading engineering platform for creating and managing spatial data. The comprehensive course ranges from introductory tools to advanced-level techniques. After completing this component, students will be able to create and edit geometry; link and manage attribute data; import mapping data from other applications; set up and manage feature classifications and work with raster images, source drawings and topologies.

If it's out there (or in your imagination) you'll be able to create it on your screen!

The Autodesk Civil 3D software certainly has a good reputation within industry as a, 'dynamic, model-based design application...' providing 'a complete civil engineering solution in a single application.'

It is fully integrated into Autodesk Map, and all project design data is stored with the drawing, which 'dramatically streamlines the design process by greatly simplifying changes.'

According to reviewers, Autodesk Civil 3D, 'enables far greater accuracy [than other software] and productivity and provides tremendous time savings.

However these reviews were for the software itself. I was unable to find any customer comments on the Civil Suite training package. There are previews of the video presentation available on the Retrieve website, which should give customers a better idea of how the product is organized and applied.

For companies that use this software; this training package is undoubtedly essential. For new customers it is clearly a good option - but at this stage, without further feedback from users, it remains just one option.

But there's no doubt that architects, engineers and designers need some kind of AutoCAD... unless you know how the pyramids were built without it...