Vehicle swept path analysis is an essential evaluation process known in the architectural, civil engineering and construction industry. It allows designers to simulate and visualise any scenarios involving vehicle access and circulation thus minimising operational inefficiencies or costly reconstruction of the geometric or infrastructure design.
Yet, finding a tool for this analysis can be challenging for many reasons. For instance, designers have to choose from a limited number of CAD platforms in order to use this functionality.
If their preferred platform is not supported by AutoTURN, it could mean additional costs to the designers to purchase a supported platform first. Moreover, it can be a problem when teams are trying to collaborate and professionals that could be reviewing designs are not able to quickly evaluate the scenario without being limited to working within a particular CAD environment.
Finally, the results of the analysis need to be reliable. Not every swept path analysis tool on the market is made the same where it is intuitively designed and produces high quality trusted results backed by field tests and ongoing research.
Transoft has introduced an ideal solution to the market. AutoTURN Online is a new addition to Transoft’s AutoTURN product family and does not require a CAD program to function.
As it’s cloud-based, there’s nothing to install and it’s available at anytime and anywhere via an internet browser – it’s not tied to a workstation. This makes it accessible to many designers regardless of their CAD platform of choice. This includes SketchUP, Vectorworks, Archicad, Pythagoras, AutoCAD LT and many more.
All designers need do is export their work in the universal ‘.dxf’ file format and import it into AutoTURN Online to begin. Alternatively, they can even import an aerial image for analysis.
Once loaded, designers can perform a full range of vehicle swept path analysis activities, simulating reversing and forward turning manoeuvres for any scenarios such as roundabout navigation, trailer docking and parking in tight spaces.
With hundreds of vehicles to choose from, including cars, buses, semi-trailers, and emergency and construction vehicles, designers can visualise the swept path for the vehicle body envelope, tyre tracks and safety clearances. Designers can simply subscribe to the vehicle library bundles appropriate for their project on an annual or monthly basis. More vehicles can be added later with ease when the project needs arise.
Once the simulation work is complete, designers can export the simulation results as ‘.dxf’ files and import them back to the original platforms, whether they are using a PC or a Mac. Drawings that are saved in AutoTURN Online are secured stored.
Transoft’s AutoTURN has 30,000-plus users from more than 120 countries, and has been performing reliable analysis for more than 25 years.