Autodesk Web-enables Software Suite

Autodesk Inc. this week is unveiling new versions of its mapping, engineering

and other applications that will allow people to collaborate on projects

over the Internet.

The new releases, based on the company's new AutoCAD 2000i Internet

design platform, will allow users to meet online, review designs collectively,

publish drawings and design objects on the Web, insert hyperlinks into objects

and access industry- specific content.

The Internet-enabled solutions include the latest versions of AutoCAD

Map 2000i, AutoCAD Land Development Desktop 2i, Autodesk Civil Design 2i,

Autodesk Survey 2i and Autodesk CAD Overlay 2000i.

"The 2000i launch is about leveraging the latest technologies and Web-enabling

them," said Terry Bennett, acting director of GIS industry marketing at

Autodesk. "For CAD and GIS, you don't have to save to a disk and then push

it to an HTML page. There are two buttons, you use a wizard and you're

done."

Bennett said agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S.

Geological Survey and the Army Corps of Engineers, which constantly share

information both internally and with external clients, will see immediate

benefits from the collaboration and Internet meeting tools built into the

new products.

The entire suite of products will be available worldwide within the

next month, and the company plans to get the latest versions on the General

Services Administration schedule.