This week Autodesk rolled out its new Autodesk 2015 Design Suites. What’s new? This release is said to be more tightly integrated with Autodesk cloud services, facilitating users’ ability to collaborate, simulate, analyze–all with just one click from within the suite. The company reports that the 2015 Design Suite includes the most advanced AutoCAD yet, which offers a new interface and better productivity tools.

Another newsworthy aspect of this announcement is the fact that Autodesk users can now purchase the software suite via pay-as-you-go subscriptions. Logic being that they can access the tools they need, when they need them without being locked into annual licensing agreements. Subscription customers will get frequent software updates, services and support. Customers going this route can choose from monthly, quarterly or annual options.

What’s new?

Here’s a quick run-down of the features and functionality that are new to this release.

* Autodesk AutoCAD Design Suite offers a refined visual interface, better point cloud support to bring the real world into the AutoCAD canvas, and easier ways to work with online maps and other geographic location information.

* Autodesk Building Design Suite delivers better integration with BIM 360 cloud services, enhanced point cloud capabilities, and numerous customer requested improvements for Autodesk Revit, including a new sketchy lines feature, ability to include imagery in schedules, enhanced hidden lines capability and more.

* Autodesk Factory Design Suite introduces easier moves from 2D AutoCAD drawings to 3D factory layouts with streamlined transitions from legacy workflows; point cloud support for “as is” facility capture; extended use of Factory Design data; and enhancements to Factory Design Mobile app.

* Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite includes major enhancements to AutoCAD Civil 3D software, including improved user interface, greater flexibility for corridor modeling, more efficient creation of profiles layouts, better production drafting, and simpler ways to create custom subassemblies.

* Autodesk Plant Design Suite rolls out significant enhancements to AutoCAD Plant 3D software, including center of gravity, bill of materials (BOM), fixed length pipe modeling, piping and instrumentation drawing (P&ID), and isometric improvements.

* Autodesk Product Design Suite launches with exceptional modeling capabilities, a new user experience, and workflow enhancements. This software provides tools for 3D design, simulation, collaboration, and visualization.

Improvements in the cloud

Customers in the manufacturing industry will benefit from new offerings such as Process Analysis 360, a cloud-based service that helps engineers and system designers model, study and optimize manufacturing processes. This accessibility – combined with other feature enhancements and refinements – removes the barriers to entry so that everyone can design and engineer better products.

Autodesk 2015 Design Suites are available now. Check out the details here.

Barb Schmitz