Using AutoCAD Map 3D with ArcGIS Desktop?

AutoCAD Map is prefect for cleaning dwg files (spaghetti vector data) and preparing them for import for GIS applications. Also it is very good for georeferencing vector and raster data which can be pretty tedious in some GIS applications (not all of them). Generally, it is used for preparing data for GIS. You can us it as a GIS application, but it lacks lot of options and it not really suited for GIS. I don't think you can really compare ArcGIS and AutoCAD Map because they main purpose is not the same. Everyone has his benefits, ArcGIS can not replace AutoCAD Map nor AutoCAD Map can replace ArcGIS.

I partially agree with Devdatta Tehngshe,
Map3d was designed at rel2000 specifically for heads-up digitizing. (This has gotten much more sophisticated in recent versions.)

Argis 10 now has some features which make it "more" usable for that.

I have map3d and raster design I use to geo-reference images and save to geo-tiff which I use in all my applications proprietary and open.
I have several templates that it takes about 4 mins each to complete.

Doing the same thing in arcmap is not nearly so fast (not to mention I haven't figured a good way to make a template) and I have yet to find a good raster format that ESRI writes that Autodesk will read and georeference straight out.

There are many other functions which are not duplicated between the two. I can't live without both.

Direct export from Map3d gives infinitely more options than any of the capabilities of FME or ESRI.

In regards to the statements about autodesk not performing analysis.

The truth is that while autodesk does not embrace the same methodology for analysis as ESRI, autodesk is one of the most highly utilized analysis tools in all of the engineering disciplines and there are literally thousands of application, and scripts written to perform a wide range of analysis in all of the Autodesk applications.

Analysis of spatial properties of flood plain is used extensively with add-on products and has only recently (maybe 10 yrs) been developed for the ESRI product line. As of right now is not supported on the latest release. ESRI Forum Question

I would never put down ESRI, I use it daily, as I do Map3d. It does take some experieince to exploit the strengths of each and use them both as a tool in the belt, knowing which works best for which task.

I took courses for both programs, and during saw the use of MAP 3D applications easier than Arcgis (for Engineer) of the following aspects: 1- Drawings (lines, points, polyline, polygon,....). 2- cleanup drawing. 3- working with Survey data. 4- working with Raster Image. 5- Data Conversion. 6- Data editing. 7- Data management. 8- Styling and Theming Features.