Autodesk Inc. has acquired Micro Application Packages Ltd. (MAP), a United Kingdom-based provider of CAD, CAM, and estimating software that supports fabrication and construction for the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) industry. The acquisition is expected to help Autodesk support the evolution to model-based design workflows among MEP contractors, engineers, designers, and fabricators who provide design, detailing, estimating, and manufacturing services for MEP systems.
Adding MAP Software’s products to the Autodesk portfolio provides additional tools for building systems design and fabrication, which complements existing AutoCAD, AutoCAD MEP, and Autodesk Revit MEP project life-cycle workflows. The acquisition further expands the Autodesk portfolio for MEP contractors and fabricators by providing tools for the manufacturing, fabrication, and installation of MEP systems.
MAP has provided estimating, CAD, and CAM applications for the construction and building services industries for the last 29 years. Its products have been specifically written to fulfill certain stages within the HVAC, mechanical, public-health, and electrical-containment industries, from design and estimating through coordination to procurement and manufacturing.
“By offering fabrication tools that support BIM-based workflows, we are closing the gap between design and construction,” said Jay Bhatt, Autodesk’s senior vice president for architecture, engineering, and construction solutions. “This will help make BIM valuable for fabrication, further advancing adoption in the MEP engineering industry."
Autodesk intends to integrate MAP’s solutions into its AEC portfolio. During the transition, Autodesk is urging existing MAP customers and prospects to continue to visit the company's website (http://www.map-software.com/) for up-to-date information.
When asked to estimate the size of the potential market for the MAP product line, Autodesk spokesperson Paul Sullivan toldConstruction Project Controls and BIM Report, “The acquisition of MAP Software further supports Autodesk’s commitment to drive BIM in the MEP industry across the project lifecycle. The acquisition will help Autodesk support the evolution to model-based design workflows among MEP contractors, designers, engineers, and fabricators who are providing design, detailing, estimating, and manufacturing services for MEP systems and will address the increasing number of MEP specialty contractors looking for a model-based design approach with BIM.
“For example, according to the 2009 SmartMarket Report, the use of BIM among U.S. contractors has almost quadrupled in the past two years, with half of all contractors currently using BIM. The 2010 SmartMarket Report on BIM in Europe reports that 52 percent of contractors in western Europe found BIM to be of high or very high value during the construction phase. These stats alone demonstrate the trends and demands in the industry for BIM-based solutions that connect design through to fabrication and construction.”
