Avatech's Free Plug-in Places 2D & 3D Designs Anywhere on Google Earth

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - January 4, 2005 - Avatech Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: AVSO.OB), the recognized leader in design and engineering technology for the manufacturing, building design, and engineering markets, today announced the availability of Avatech Earth Connector, a unique AutoCAD plug-in which allows architects, building designers, and engineers to place 2D and 3D structures developed in AutoCAD-based products directly into Google Earth's 3D world.

Google Earth has done more to advance the public's awareness of GIS - Geographic Information Systems - than anything since MapQuest and is delivered via an easy access desktop service. Avatech Earth Connector joins the world's most popular design-creation tool with the most popular Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tool on the planet.

While images created using Avatech Earth Connector will not replace carefully rendered scenes created with products like Autodesk VIZ, the ability to quickly develop and send a design to a client which allows them to view a structure or land project in place from all angles makes Avatech Earth Connector an attractive addition to the designer's toolkit.

The benefit to architects, designers and engineers is that they can show buildings, subdivisions or other designs to clients in the context of a 3D world. The ubiquity of Google Earth, its game-like rendering speed, and built-in GIS imagery provides users of Avatech Earth Connector with a quick, easy way to show clients how a finished project might look in place.

"At Avatech Research and Development, we continuously try to improve our clients' abilities to use drawings in more efficient and unique ways that give them a competitive advantage," said Avatech President and COO, Scott Harris. "Our development team quickly saw the opportunity to make a link between Google Earth and AutoCAD and have built an innovative solution that enables companies to communicate and collaborate in new ways."

Avatech Earth Connector is currently in beta form, and works with Autodesk AutoCAD 2006 and 2005. Earth Connector is free to download from the Avatech Web site at http://www.avat.com/web/earth. Contact information for feedback is available on the download page.

"We are inviting people to download and use the beta version to give us feedback about how we can enhance Earth Connector's functionality," said Matt Mason, Avatech Director of Research and Development.

About Avatech Solutions 

Avatech Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: AVSO.OB) is the recognized leader in design and engineering technology with unparalleled expertise in design automation, data management and process optimization for the manufacturing, engineering, building design and facilities management markets. Headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland, the company specializes in consulting, software systems integration and implementation, standards development and deployment, education, and technical support. Avatech is one of the largest integrators of Autodesk software worldwide and a leading provider of PLM solutions. The company's clients include industry leaders from Fortune 500 and Engineering News Record's Top 100 companies. 

www.avatechsolutions.com

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