Eric D. Colburn, PLS

Professional Land Surveyor News

Professional Land Surveyor News: Autodesk Announces AutoCAD for Mac and AutoCAD WS App for iPad and iPhone

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK), a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, announced AutoCAD for Mac software. This version of AutoCAD, one of the most widely used software for professional design and engineering, runs natively on Mac OS X and will increase choice of hardware for millions of users around the world. Autodesk also announced the AutoCAD WS mobile application, a new app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch that will allow users to edit and share their AutoCAD designs in the field.

“Apple is thrilled that Autodesk is bringing AutoCAD back to the Mac and we think it’s the perfect combination for millions of design and engineering professionals”

“The release of AutoCAD for Mac marks the return of professional design and engineering software to the Mac platform and an important convergence of power and design. Over 5000 customers have helped develop this product through our beta program and they are delighted to have the choice of a native Mac version of AutoCAD,” said Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, Autodesk Platform Solutions and Emerging Business. “The combination of this new version of AutoCAD and the extension of AutoCAD to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch is a big step in Autodesk’s efforts to accelerate design and make design more accessible for an ever-greater number of people so they can shape the world around them.”

“Apple is thrilled that Autodesk is bringing AutoCAD back to the Mac and we think it’s the perfect combination for millions of design and engineering professionals,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The AutoCAD WS app is a bold new idea, a mobile version of industry-leading design software for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, the world’s most innovative mobile devices.”

AutoCAD for Mac Built for Mac OS X Read the rest of this entry →

Twitter #FollowFriday Professional Land Surveyor Recommendations

Here are this week’s Twitter #FollowFriday Professional Land Surveyor Recommendations:

@Lyme_Warrior – Misdiagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis for 10-years, Jo-Ann reassessed her condition, care, and treatment, taking the bold step of questioning her supposed “health care” and sought alternate (but logical) explanations for what was happening to her. Long story short, Jo-Ann has recently been diagnosed with Lyme Disease, rather than Rheumatoid Arthritis. Now she is a Lyme Warrior and the driving force behind the new and innovative LymeWarriors.com, an informative website, social network, forum, and support network for all Lyme Warriors.

@artpetty – Arts Twitter Bio says,  ”I help professionals develop as senior contributors & I help firms solve vexing problems in marketing & strategy. Management & Leadership author/blogger/mentor”. This week I read a brilliant article Art wrote and posted a linkt to his article here: Leadership Caffeine-Give Your People Room to Run | Management Excellence.

@CADRelations – CAD Relations website is an “Engineers Online Portal” for CAD, Engineering, Architecture, Community, Motorsports and Design, including Autodesk and Bentley software, which they proudly shout from the rafters “that is what we love and live for!!” I love the passion that they bring to the industry. Check out their AutoCAD Back to the Basics: Opening drawings by Drag’n Drop post.

@wkfd – WKFD is the Twitter account for the Kung Fu Drafter blog. They are drafters and geeks trying to share information with people with similar interests. I highly recommend visiting The Kung Fu Drafter blog, as it is a fun site and full of information too! It’s an older post, but a good one, so visit The Kung Fu Drafter to read the CAD: Untie Your Favorite Commands from the Map 3D 2010 Ribbon … blog post.

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The Professional Land Surveyor Podcast (PLSP)

Shownotes – Episode 3
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Here are a few tips to help you succeed in having a more productive next week.

Question: Why Saturday?

Answer: Why not? No seriously now; because the best way to execute success is to plan for success. The day really isn’t important, so let’s call it “End of the Week” Tips for a More Productive Next Week, if you prefer.

Question: It was a tough week this week, so why can’t I just put this off and worry about it next week? Besides, I love the exhilaration of scrambling everyday to make deadlines and putting out client and project fires as they arise!

Answer: Think about it, you probably experienced a tough week at work, scrambling to make deadlines while putting out all those client and project fires, because you didn’t plan for the things you could control.

Question: But I can’t plan because I’ll just have to change everything next week as circumstances change?

Answer: So what? What you said and what I heard are two different things. I heard, besides fear, is “I choose guaranteed failure rather than give myself a great chance at success” or, maybe even, “I’m really comfortable with chronic failure”. It’s not cast in stone; it’s just a plan for goodness sake – so change it as need be.

Those who set goals and plan for success more often reach their goals and enjoy success than those who don’t.

5 Saturday Tips for a More Productive Next Week Read the rest of this entry →

Before I get to this article about marketing a land surveying business online, first a little about how you might be reading this post. This is my first endeavor in creating a post exclusively for you, a Premium Member. Congratulations on joining my site as a Premium Member!

With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a few glitches and bumps in the road: If you, as a Premium Member to this site, had any troubles accessing this post, then please let me know about your experience. If you’re not a Premium Member you will be asked to register in order to read this post.

Now let’s get down to business

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Professional Land Surveyor News

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 Update 3.1 is Available for Download

Autodesk has released its AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 Update 3.1. This update fixes or addresses a variety of issues discovered by customers and by Autodesk’s internal testing team.

Read the “Read Me” File, it’s recommended and helpful, too

The updates and fixes are too numerous to list here, but if you follow the link below and look at the Read Me file, you can investigate the issues Autodesk has resolved with AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 that may have been causing you problems.

As recommended by Autodesk, you should also read the ENTIRE Read Me file to understand the installation and use of this update before you apply the update to your AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010 product.

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5 Winning Strategies To Running A Professional Land Surveying Business

5 Winning Strategies To Running A Professional Land Surveying Business

I’m hoping that you all had an awesome week last week. News on the economy was mixed, with private sector jobs showing another small gain, while the jobs market, overall, is anything other than awesome. I did hear, over the weekend, that one pundit is predicting that the housing market will double in the next two years pulling us out of this recession. Sounds good to me!

How are you making out in these times?

While I’ve seen an uptick in the economy, and I’m grateful for it, it’s nothing to make me think that we’re out of the woods yet. The flow of money is loosening up, a little, and people are increasingly more willing to spend a few of their hard-earned money on things, like professional services. It is, however, a bumpy road to recovery with weeks looking up, and others not cooperating so much.

Is technology the answer?

Last week I posted the Professional Land Surveyor Survey-Business Conditions Survey for August 2010?, and had a few lively discussions about the economy and running a land surveying business. One land surveyor asked me what I thought was a winning strategy in these times. That’s a good question!

Immediately, I began to think about implementing technology and the like, which are generally all good ideas. But after giving it some thought, and knowing that it’s the basics that often matter the most, these are my answers:

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Twitter #FollowFriday Professional Land Surveyor Recommendations

Here are this week’s Twitter #FollowFriday Professional Land Surveyor Recommendations:

@wkfd – WKFD is the Twitter account for the Kung Fu Drafter blog. They are drafters and geeks trying to share information with people with similar interests. I highly recommend visiting The Kung Fu Drafter blog, as it is a fun site and full of information too! If you get a chance read the CAD: Leap Over the Bar of System Requirements … blog post.

@iPinda – Edward’s Twitter bio says “CAD specialist, AutoCAD trainer and Civil 3D addict” and if you visit his Civil 3D Peanuts blog, you’ll discover that he’s also a part-time freelance AutoCAD trainer and full time CAD application administrator for an international AEC company. If you get a chance, read his Bentley’s SELECTseries 1 reading Civil 3D DWG blog post.

@CADRelations – CAD Relations website is an “Engineers Online Portal” for CAD, Engineering, Architecture, Community, Motorsports and Design, including Autodesk and Bentley software, which they proudly shout from the rafters “that is what we love and live for!!” I love the passion that they bring to the industry. Check out their Applications for Autodesk solutions post.

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Seeing is Deceiving

Today I wanted to talk with you about this site and a few changes that I have in the works. While nothing that I’m proposing to do is either earth shattering or overly revolutionary, I thought that in giving you a heads up you would, therefore, not be surprised. I’d also be very interested in getting your feedback, too.

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PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR SURVEY

In this week’s Professional Land Surveyor Survey, I’m asking the question:

Should NSPS Separate from ACSM?

Recently, the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) announced that it is seeking to separate from the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM). In a joint NSPS letter by Wayne Harrison, NSPS President, John Matonich, NSPS Immediate Past President, and Curt Sumner, NSPS Executive Director, entitled “The Evolution of a National Voice, The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors“, the three layout the timeline set in place (2 years) and the reasons for this potential departure. You can read their letter here »» The Evolution of a National Voice, The Future of the National Society of Professional Surveyors.

On the flip side of this brewing controversy, if you visit the ACSM website you will find under Developing News, the following:

“NSPS to re-define its relationship to ACSM“

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