CAD, BIM & 3D

The free Personal Learning Edition of Vue is available on http://www.vue6.com/ple . It can be used for the modeling and visualization of landscapes, including foliage. Available on Windows and Macintosh platforms, but limitations apply: For personal, non-commercial use only You cannot exchange files with other PLE users PLE files are not compatible with other versions of Vue Render at any resolution (renders are watermarked and carry a logo) Render up to 800x600 without watermark for 30 days

While Impression (aka Vespa) has been available for quite some time on the Autodesk Labs, it was timebombed. After all, it is a commercial application ($495). Since it has not been released worldwide, it is currently still available as a technology preview. The version on the Autodesk Labs expired on may 1st, but you can receive a sustained version from local sites. The overview is given on http://impression.autodesk.com/blogs/blog/5/blogpost/3089 where you can find the correct place to download Impression Preview. Be sure to check the system requirements, as you will need a fairly heavy graphics adapter and up to date system. Windows only, as usual.

On http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/inventor_lt/ you can register and download a free version of Autodesk Inventor. This is a time-limited offer (the license expires on 1 may 2008) and is only available for the Windows platform. Inventor LT is a light version of Inventor, including full 3D part modeling, but no assemblies of parts, no analysis and collaboration tools and no AutoCAD included. The offer is currently only available for US and Canada and even though you can fill in the form with bogus data, your internet connection can not be faked...