AutoTrack

AutoTrack
Developer(s) Savoy Computing
Operating system Windows (XP / Vista / 7 / 8)
Type Transportation Planning and Design
License Software license agreement
Website www.savoycomputing.com

AutoTrack is a vehicle swept path analysis software program used for analysing the movements of steered and wheeled vehicles including cars, trucks, trams, aircraft and other more specialist vehicles such as fork lift trucks, wheelchairs and access platforms. AutoTrack was the world's first swept path analysis software program, originally being jointly developed by TRL[1] (the UK's Transport Research Laboratory) and British engineering consultants, Travers Morgan (acquired by Symonds in 1995 who are now part of Capita Symonds,[2] in the form of TRACK. The term track refers to the tracking of a vehicle's simulated movements in relation to geometry, based upon vehicle dimensions, chassis and steering specification.

AutoTrack is generally used by transportation engineers, architects and planners for the analysis and design of highways, intersections, buildings and other facilities to check that provision has been made for the space and geometry required to manoeuvre specified design vehicles. A design vehicle may be a real vehicle modelled within the software's computer environment but will often be a virtual vehicle that does not exist in real life, rather being indicative of the type and configuration of vehicle that the final design is expected to accommodate. Design vehicles are commonly specified by the relevant governing body that also controls the specification for which the design must conform.

The AutoTrack range is divided into modules that service the Road, Rail and Airports industries and operates within several different CAD systems such as AutoCAD by Autodesk,[3] Microstation by Bentley Systems,[4] Bricscad by Bricsys[5] (a former member of the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium) and standalone in Microsoft Windows. When the software was first developed it initially ran as a DOS based application and when it was ported to operate within AutoCAD, it was given the name AutoTrack. The software, initially developed for consulting purposes, was sold commercially and following the demise of the original company, a management buy out pre-empted the incorporation of Savoy Computing Services Ltd.[6] in 1996. Two of the surviving directors of Savoy Computing were involved with the original development of TRACK.

In August, 2013 Autodesk acquired the technology assets of Savoy Computing Services Ltd, including the AutoTrack technology.[7] Autodesk subsequently released Autodesk Vehicle Tracking, which directly superseded AutoTrack in November, 2013.

Brief history of AutoTrack

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Transport Research Laboratory
  2. ↑ Capita Symonds company history
  3. ↑ AutoCAD product page on the Autodesk website
  4. ↑ A brief history of Bentley Systems and Microstation
  5. ↑ Bricsys company website (developer of Bricscad
  6. ↑ Savoy Computing company website Archived January 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Autodesk expands Infrastructure portfolio

External links

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