dODDS and ENDS

Join the the Autodesk Virtual Event

Join us for the Autodesk Virtual Event on March 29, 2012. See how Autodesk BIM solutions are transforming the building and construction industries.

With tight budgets, project complexity, and short timelines, the building and construction industry is under pressure. It’s time to move forward or risk falling behind. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and new technologies are changing what’s possible. With our latest software releases, Autodesk^® helps you lead the way in transforming your business now and into the future.

This year’s event features sessions from Autodesk executives, as well as building and construction experts, including:

• Review of Strategic Initiatives for Autodesk by Carl Bass, Amar Hanspal, and Lynn Allen
• Building a Better Architecture Business with BIM, by Joy Stark
• BIM for Building Engineering, by Sarah Hodges
• Implementing BIM in Construction, by Anthony Governanti

Register now: http://experience.autodesk.com/build/

Prepping Your Model for Construction Scheduling and Logistics

Prepping Your BIM Model for Construction Scheduling and Logistics

Watch this free screencast, hosted by Autodesk Technical Marketing Manager, Anthony Governanti, and see how to modify your model in the Revit format and prepare it for the construction process.

You'll learn how to schedule with the Navisworks timeliner, create construction parts from existing model elements, and organize the model by construction phase or zone using the Revit section box and Navisworks selection sets. 

Click here to Watch Now

Autodesk Construction Solutions Videos

Often we create these great informational videos and place them on You Tube. So I thought it would be a good idea to pull a few of them together and share. There are also additional webcasts and videos located on the Autodesk Construction landing page (http://www.autodesk.com/constructionsolutions)

Preconstruction Modeling w/ BIM:
Preconstruction modeling is one of the fastest-growing practices in the field of construction today. Contractors, owners, designers, and consultants are all rapidly adopting the technique of building a virtual model of the project, either in whole or in part, before it's built in the real world. In this webcast we will look at what preconstruction modeling is, why it's so popular, and how you can use it on your projects

Top 5 Ways Your Project Will Benefit from BIM Execution Planning:
In the following video, "Top Five Ways Your Project Will Benefit From BIM Execution Planning," you will learn about the key components of a BIM Execution Plan, and what it can do to improve your business. In addition, you will hear from a construction professional who will share real-world experiences in implementing a plan.

Autodesk Construction Solutions w/ BIM:
Less risk, less rework, less delay. More predictability, more accuracy, and more confidence. Watch this free screencast to learn how less is more with BIM.

Become More Efficient and Effective with Autodesk BIM Solutions for Construction Professionals:
Build with confidence, and do more with less. Watch this on-demand screencast to learn how to harness the power of Autodesk® building information modeling (BIM) solutions to better determine constructability and derive insight into cost, schedule, and coordination issues before work begins—and throughout a project

See the Suite Advantage at the Autodesk Virtual Event on September 7

 
Be among the first to See the Suite Advantage of the latest Autodesk® solutions, including our comprehensive new design suites, and how they can help you deliver more innovative designs better and faster than ever.

Register today for the See the Suite Advantage at the Autodesk Virtual Event on September 7!

Click here to register: http://aec.experience.autodesk.com/all/

You'll even be able to catch one of my webcasts: "The Power of Navisworks using the Building Design Suite" Check out this link to see the schedule. http://aec.experience.autodesk.com/all/sessions/

AU 2011 Class Catalog is Live! #AU2011

Its hard to believe that its that time of year where we can stat thinking about AU already. But it is and the class schedule has been posted for everyone to start planning which classes they want to attend. Here is the link: http://au.autodesk.com/?nd=au2011_class_catalog This year I have 2 classes (Navisworks and Advanced QTO) that I am teaching and 1 other that I will be co-teaching with Kevin Miller. Be sure to look them up in the catalog.

Adventures in Writing: "Mastering Navisworks 2012"

I never thought that writing a book was going to be such an adventure. I am excited to say that "Mastering Navisworks 2012" is just about done and should be available in stores and online sometime in August. Actually writing the book was a mix of excitement and challenge and I look forward to the next part of the adventure.

Here are a few links if you want to take a look or get even get a few pre-orders:

From Amazon

From Barnes and Noble

A quick thank you to those who offered support to the writing of "Mastering Navisworks 2012" and to my coauthor Scott as well. I hope that we have been able to write a book to that will offer something to everyone. Enjoy!

Go Mobile with Buzzsaw on iPad and iPhone

Exciting information for Buzzsaw users!

Now you can securely access AEC project information stored on a Buzzsaw project site from anywhere with Buzzsaw Mobile for iPad / iPhone.

• View any DWF file stored on Buzzsaw.
• View any office document or image file and save it for offline viewing.
• Download a DWG file from Buzzsaw and use the “Open with’ feature to view it in AutoCAD WS.
• Capture a photo in the field and upload it directly to Buzzsaw.
• Access multiple Buzzsaw sites from a single screen

The Buzzsaw App is available on the App Store!

Autodesk Navisworks 2012 Released

This is always such an exciting time of the year with all the new Autodesk technology coming out!

We just announced QTO being released and now I am pleased to announce that Navisworks 2012 has also been released.

This release introduces a set of new features that really hit the mark with our construction, plant and engineering customers, highlights include:

• 2D DWF support integrated with the 3D model, including the introduction of a multi-sheet Project Browser.
• Numerous Revit interop enhancements including Revit Switchback, support for construction modeling, linked files and enhanced property support.
• Numerous clash detection improvements such as enhanced reporting capability and workflow tools (export directly to Microsoft Excel, see Figure 1).
• Integration of the Gantt control to allow editing and review of the schedule during playback (see Figure 2).
• Support for Autodesk Consistent Materials when using the FBX format.
• Integration with Vault Collaboration for data management.
• Introduction of the Appearance Profiler to visually differentiate project systems and components

  Figure 1

 Figure 2

 

Autodesk Quantity Takeoff 2011 Released

I know some time has gone by and I have personally been anxiously awaiting its arrival, so I am glad to say that the next release of Autodesk Quantity Takeoff (QTO) 2011 has been released with new updates and features.

Here is a quick look at some of new enhancements (I'll have a few blogs posts in the future to further explore some of the new features):

• Edit a takeoff element or a group of selected takeoff elements from the Properties palette.
• Edit DWF properties from the Properties Box
• Work Break Down Structure Groups. A column for Work Breakdown Structure groups has been added to the Takeoff palette, Property palette, and Workbook.
• Enable takeoff model coloring in 3D views to maintain those colors assigned in the Takeoff palette. This keeps it consistent with the coloring seen in 2D views.
• Legends now accurately depict color, symbols, and fills.
• Exporting to Excel spreadsheets is more accurate.
• Network Deployment of Autodesk Quantity Takeoff installation and licensing is now supported.
• Network license borrowing enabled.
• Model takeoff support for Inventor DWFs.
• Full Windows 7 support.
• Multiple memory and performance enhancements.

A quick note about installing QTO 2011. You will have to remove QTO 2010 prior to installing 2011 since some of the new updates and enhancements will not allow for a side by side installation of QTO 2010 and 2011. QTO 2011 may not install if QTO 2010 is currently installed on the system.

How do you get QTO 2011? For those of your on subscription, you should be able to log into the
Subscription Center (http://subscription.autodesk.com) and download QTO 2011. Otherwise contact your local reseller for more information.

Just Released: Project Vasari Technology Preview Now Available at Autodesk Labs

What would it be like to have access to conceptual modeling and analysis via the cloud. We are pleased to announce the release of Project Vasari. Check out the quick you tube teaser for a snapshot of what's to come.

Project Vasari: You Tube Teaser Video

So what is project Vasari really? Autodesk® Project Vasari is an easy-to-use, standalone application built on the same technology as the Revit® platform, aimed at architectural designers and building energy analysts.  Vasari is focused on conceptual building design using both geometric and parametric modeling and supports performance-based design via integrated energy modeling and analysis features.  This new technology preview will be available as a free download and trial on Autodesk Labs.

Download Project Vasari via Autodesk Labs

Project Vasari is compatible with Revit in that files created by Project Vasari can be opened using Revit 2011, and Revit files can be opened by Project Vasari. There are some limitations in that, as a conceptual modeler, Project Vasari does not support some features (e.g., detailed model elements such as walls, windows, doors, etc.) The thinking is that you would start with Project Vasari and then continue with Revit 2011 to make more detailed models - not the other way around.

So please give Project Vasari a try. Let us know what you think at labs.vasari@autodeskcom