Tools Make Short Work of Big Projects (NAPSA)—Americansarefascinated with makeovers. Turn on the television and you’ll see beauty makeovers, car makeovers and, of course, home makeovers. Not a day goes by, it seems, without a kitchen redone, a yard landscaped or a homerenovated. The makeover magic is dazzling. For example, a recent episode of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” featured the Dore family whose house had been destroyed by fire, forcing them to live in a half-built shed in the backyard. The Extreme Makeover team, led by Centex Homes, built them a seven-bedroom housein less than a week. The stories in front of the camera makeit look easy. Sometimes, though, the stories off-camera are equally amazing. How do they pull off these massive projects? The answer to that question says a lot about how the world has changed. New technologies like the Internet, wireless data connec- tivity and powerful computer software have made possible things that were impossible ten years ago—like the week-long development of the Dores’ new house. Centex Homes used computeraided design—or CAD—software to create plans and drawings. They also use online project coordination solutions like Autodesk Buzzsaw to coordinate thousands of workers, vendors and volun- teers on a week-long construction schedule. Technology helps architects and engineers to develop and share designs, work with construction teams—and ultimately, bring ideas to life. Autodesk, one of the leading software developers in the United States, pioneered CAD software for architecture and design in the 1980s with Auto- so); ~ yr — = @( A & . YF “) ly JS New technology helps makeover happenin a lot less time. CAD—and revolutionized the work of pencils and drafting tables, reducing design time. CAD software since has evolved from simple drawing to sophisticated tools such as “parametric” modeling for 3D, which allows designs to be modified during the building process. Mostof the time, of course, this technology doesn’t star on television. It’s in the background, helping, for example, civil engineers work on massive highway, airport or utilities projects, or helping manufacturers design and produce goods using a supply chain that circles the planet. Or, it is being used to create out of the ordinary home designs as seen on Original Production’s popular “Monster House” program. Whether it’s “Robin Hood House,” “Paris House” or some other “monster” project, Original Productions frequently use AutoCAD to develop workable architectural drawings and plans from the often outrageous design challenges posed to the show’s contestants. To learn more about how architecture and design software is working behindthescenes to help all projects (both home and fantastical) becomea reality, visit www.autodesk.com/monsterhouse.
