GIS helps designers make better decisions. This is why Vectorworks Inc., a global design and BIM software provider and its partner Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, are bringing Esri’s ArcGIS Online services to AEC and landscape professionals, as well as urban planners and urban designers. The solution offers better and quicker access to GIS imagery, data and geometry and the latest technology available in Vectorworks 2020 software, including Vectorworks Architect, Landmark and Designer.

“The process of integrating GIS information with a BIM model became tremendously easier with the ability to incorporate data from Esri ArcGIS Online services early in the design process. Further, the resulting georeferenced files make it easy to collaborate,” said Vectorworks Landscape Product Marketing Manager Eric Gilbey, PLA, ASLA. “A broad range of AEC and landscape professionals will benefit from the new integration including those planning with architecture firms or delivering government, master planning or campus planning projects. They’ll notice a much more seamless and direct GIS workflow that is a huge time saver.”

With this new solution, designers can utilize access to online mapping and aerial images. This access comes by way of two new Vectorworks tools named Geoimage and Geolocate. With proper geographic coordinates and projection in the Vectorworks file, designers can accurately geolocate their project by simply entering an address. And with a paid ArcGIS Online services plan, customers can access more maps and other imagery directly in Vectorworks.

“I love how Vectorworks often takes a user request to the next level, digging deep into the nature of the request and planning far ahead to meet user needs into the future,” said Anna Arbetter, licensed landscape architect at Futurity, Inc. “As an Esri user, the similarity to the ArcGIS environment makes Vectorworks even more of an asset for us. We use GIS extensively and incorporate it into every project. The streaming imagery service allows us to instantly assess whether our project data has shown up in the right location. The new method for setting the project location at 0,0 means we can use a standardized template that includes sheet viewports without the need to adjust viewports to each particular project location.”

Learn more about the new solutions from Vectorworks by visiting the Vectorworks 2020 website.