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

#AU2011 - Additional #Navisworks Class Just Added

I cannot believe that its already October and its time to start gearing up for AU2011. How exciting!

This year I am teaching hands on labs for both QTO and Navisworks and they are filling up quickly. But not to fear, theAU team has added another Navisworks class. For those of you who were not able to sign up, or have been thinking about it, now is your chance to get some hands on time with Navisworks at AU.

Here is a quick rundown on the class dates and times:

• Tuesday 11/29, 1PM (just added) - Quick Spin: Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage 2012
• Tuesday 11/29, 3PM - Quick Spin: Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage 2012
• Wednesday 11/30, 1PM - Takeoff to the Next Level: Advanced Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff 2012
• Wednesday 11/30, 3PM - Integrating Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff and Sage® Timberline™ Estimating (co-teaching this class with Kevin Miller from BYU)

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.

Mastering Navisworks 2012 - Now Shipping from Amazon

Since I put up the post on"Adventures in Writing" I have received several questions about when the Mastering Navisworks 2012 book would be available...

Well I am finally pleased to announce that Mastering Navisworks 2012 has started shipping from Amazon. Its also available on the Kindle (IPAD app too).

Here is the link: Mastering Navisworks on Amazon

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!

Quick Tip: Appearance Profiler in Navisworks 2012

The Appearance Profiler was fully incorporated in Navisworks 2012, but was originally added as an extension pack for Navisworks 2011. The Appearance Profiler lets you create custom color and transparency profiles based on Selection/Search Sets as well as Property data and then apply them to your Navisworks objects.

You could use this tool to help create distinction between different trades, add transparency to objects contained in Selection Sets or quickly visually add status or display to objects in Navisworks.

Here are some quick steps for using the Appearance Profiler in Navisworks 2012.

• Whether you are using Sets or Properties, the process becomes the same. Select the item from the list, select the Color and Transparency (as needed) then select Add to move it to the column at the right (Selector column)
• Once you have started to add color and transparency you click on any of items in the Selector column to make additional changes. Make sure to click on Update so your changes will be saved.
• Click on Run when your ready to apply your selections to your items. See Figures 1-3 for a few details

 Figure 1: No Appearance Profiler applied

 Figure 2: Appearance Profiler applied for Color and Transparency

 Figure 3: Appearance Profiler applied for Color to distinguish between duct and pipe

• If you need to clear the Appearance Profiler settings you can use the Reset All Appearances from either the Home tab or the Right-click menu. Keep in mind if you have other Appearances applied they might be set back to there original state. A good tip would be to only Reset only the Sets that are in need of resetting instead of doing a Reset All
• To remove items use Delete or Delete All
• Selections can be Saved and Loaded so you can share your settings between other projects and other users

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