Autodesk recently released Revit LT 2013, a cheaper software tailored to small architecture firms. It has been ten years since Autodesk acquired the Revit Technology Corporation. In that time, Revit has become one of the most widely used BIM (Building Information Modeling) products in the AEC industries. However, the software’s learning curve, its processing power requirements, and its cost ($5,775 for a standalone version) scare off many would-be users—particularly smaller firms with projects that don’t demand the collaboration of multiple consultants. To capture this segment of the market, Autodesk released this week its first pared-down version of Revit, Revit LT

This new, off-the-shelf product will provide a platform for design collaboration in the cloud. The promise of the cloud has always been twofold—web-enabled storage and computing on demand. Later this summer, Gehry Technologies (GT) plans to release an interactive, web-based collaboration platform called GTeam. It will be the company’s first off-the-shelf product incorporating both storage and computing, and it marks a shift in GT’s strategy from developing stand-alone software to offering cloud-based services. Related links Gehry Forms Alliance of Architects To Promote Technological Integration Frank Gehry Takes His Technological Expertise to the Masses Designed for architecture, engineering, and construction professionals