dODDS and ENDS

Birs Eye View of an Active Downtown San Francisco Construction Site

Today I am in the Financial District of San Francisco getting ready for a few meetings later. At 7AM this morning my neighbors started working on setting rebar, pouring concrete and doing other tasks that I could observe from the hotel window. It sure was nice to wake at the sound of a crane horn announcing that a lift was getting ready to take place.

Here is a picture that shows the active site really well (from the 17th floor of hotel):

  
Me being the constructed minded individual that I am, I wonder about the processes that they are using on this project: how was it designed, are they using Navisworks to coordinate the project (trades, pours, lifts), what about the crane locations, how were those determined (there are two)?

I just thought I would share a little bit of my day and thought it made for an interesting birds eye view picture that you don't often see since most of the time we just walk by these project and only gain perspective from the ground.

Revamped Ask Jason Site for Construction Questions and Answers

The Autodesk team has been hard at work to revamp the AskJason site. So I thought I would share a quick update.

 
So feel free to use the www.autodesk.com/askjason direct URL to submit your construction questions and I will continue to do my best to get questions answered.

You can also find a link right from the top of the blog to get to the AskJason site as well.

 

Another Autodesk Univeristy Class Added: Autodesk Quantity Takeoff

How exciting, the AU team has added another session! If you were trying get into a QTO class and found that it was full, well now is your chance to sign up for another recently added QTO session.

Here is a bit of info on the class. See you at AU in a few weeks!

CR427-3L - Every Building Has Its Price: Finding It with Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff - Thursday 1:30PM PST

Every building truly does have its price and one of the most time consuming items during the estimation process is to perform a building takeoff. This hands-on lab will teach you how to utilize Autodesk Quantity Takeoff (QTO) in a 2D, 3D, and a combined 2D/3D workflow to help you minimize your time doing takeoffs. We will leverage PDF files, as well as models to complete our tasks in this class. You learn to understand the QTO interface, the tools in the software, create reports and leave the class feeling ready to tackle the coming estimating challenges.

Autodesk Constuctware 2011 Released

Looks like the Constructware team has been hard at work on some updates and new features in Constructware 2011. Read on for more information.

Daily “Field” Reports
The Daily Reports module is used by construction teams in the field to record and communicate on-site construction activities such as work activity by trade contractors, equipment used, safety issues, and QA/QC concerns.

The newest update to this module includes features designed to increase the collaborative nature of Daily Reports – enabling subcontractors to create and view their own forms without  access to those created by other trades, and giving general contractors and/or owners access to all data, as well as their own forms.

The added ability to add an image of your “signature” to a finalized form with a special PIN code locks down the report for further editing, and adds a level of trust and accountability to the process.

 
 
Simplified File Upload
Instead of uploading design files, photos, and other attachments in support of workflows such as RFIs and Change Orders and then linking the documents together, customers can now upload files directly to File Director “on the fly.”  This improvement saves several steps on a process that users undertake several times per day, and satisfies one of the improvement request most commonly made by end users.

Data Access / Reporting
Constructware’s data warehouse that is used for Custom Reports is updated several times per day with fresh data.  The previous refresh rate was approximately every 4 hours, and it has been improved by 100% to every 2 hours.  This improvement marks significant progress on another top request of customers – improvement in the freshness and relevance of data used in their customized reports.  As always, the data in the 100+ “preconfigured” reports is up-to-the-minute.

More Information:
For a complete listing of the updates, check out this link: http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/what_snew_cw2011.pdf

New Buzzsaw Sync Features Available Now

It's always great news when customer requests are heard and new features can be released into a product. Read below for more info on the latest release on Buzzsaw Sync.

Buzzsaw Sync, released in April 2010, has fundamentally changed and simplified how Autodesk customers manage and exchange multi-discipline models and project documents across distributed teams and external partners.  

“I used to spend 8 hours a week managing models.  With Buzzsaw Sync, it’s virtually zero hours.”   - John Mack, BIM Manager, Herrero Contractors, inc.

Buzzsaw Sync has already delivered proven efficiency improvements in our customer workflows.  With the SaaS-based delivery model for Buzzsaw, we are pleased that we can deliver new functionality to increase efficiencies and flexibility in model and document exchange.

Top three customer-requested Sync features available now.
We have received consistently positive responses from customers who are using Sync for their BIM and other model-based workflows.  Our customers have also consistently asked for the same three Buzzsaw Sync features that are now available:

Sync Subfolders:
Buzzsaw Sync now lets you create a Sync folder with subfolders in one easy step and keep the entire folder tree synchronized automatically.  

Scheduled Sync:
Buzzsaw Sync now provides three ways to control the timing and frequency of Sync:  you can Sync continuously; Sync at a scheduled time; or Sync only when you initiate “Sync Now.”  This level of flexibility supports multiple use cases and the unique process needs of our customers.

Full Permission Support:
Sync now expands beyond Admin and Edit users to allow all users at all permission levels to automatically sync files based on their access privileges.

 
 

Consolidate Important Project Emails in Buzzsaw:
In addition to the new Sync features, Buzzsaw now provides a simple way to include critical emails in the full project documentation set.  Users can simply drag and drop any Outlook email message to a Buzzsaw Sync folder (or directly onto a Buzzsaw folder in the desktop application) to store project-related emails with other project designs and documentation on Buzzsaw.  The Buzzsaw full-content search feature now supports Outlook MSG files, so users can find all indexed project information, including email, quickly and easily.

Download Info:
You can download the latest release here: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=9262136

Quick video on Buzzsaw Sync can be found from this link: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=14245299

Autodesk University Early Registration Now Open

Can you believe that time of the year has come for all of us to start thinking about AU. Well today starts the early registration for AU members, 1 full week before the regular registration...

Click here for AU Registration

Now time for a little shameless self promotion: this year I will be teaching two classes at AU, both will be hands on labs.

CR322-1L - Quick Spin: Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage 2011 - Wednesday 11:00AM PST

Autodesk Navisworks is a great tool for communicating and sharing design ideas, identifying conflicts, and winning new business. This class will allow users the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of Autodesk Navisworks Manage, be able to navigate the model and return from AU better armed for approaching design challenges.

CR430-1L - Every Building Has Its Price: Finding It with Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff - Thursday 3:00PM PST

Every building truly does have its price and one of the most time consuming items during the estimation process is to perform a building takeoff. This hands-on lab will teach you how to utilize Autodesk Quantity Takeoff (QTO) in a 2D, 3D, and a combined 2D/3D workflow to help you minimize your time doing takeoffs. We will leverage PDF files, as well as models to complete our tasks in this class. You learn to understand the QTO interface, the tools in the software, create reports and leave the class feeling ready to tackle the coming estimating challenges.

I am also co-presenting along with Kevin Miller from BYU for a third hands on lab.

CR223-1L - Integrating Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff and Timberline Estimating - Tuesday 11:30AM PST

For years, software companies have been trying to figure out how quantities could be taken off from AutoCAD® projects. There have been many ideas and approaches on how to accomplish this task. With the Sage Timberline Office plug-in for Autodesk Quantity Takeoff, the eagle has landed. Come learn how to perform takeoff from Revit® models and seamlessly integrate Sage Timberline Office Estimating with Autodesk Quantity Takeoff.

 

Sign up early as classes fill up fast. See you at AU 2010!

"Ask Jason" Now Live on the Autodesk Construction Resource Center!

The doctor is IN: Now you can send me your questions about Autodesk construction products right from the Autodesk Construction Resource Center, on the new Ask Jason (actual link: www.autodesk.com/askjason) page.

Just choose your topic (if you don't see your topic in the drop-down list, choose "other" and enter your own topic), and submit your question. I'll do my best to answer your question within a week. Over time, I'll also post the most frequently asked questions to the Ask Jason page so you can quickly browse the knowledge base for answers to your most pressing issues. I'll also try to post topics to the blog as well!

If you need more in-depth technical support questions on any of our products, the page also features a direct link to Autodesk Services & Support.

Looking forward to receiving your questions from the Ask Jason page!

BLOG Update: Relocation to Denver almost complete

Some of you may have been wondering  (some have even asked) why it has been a few weeks since I have posted on the BLOG? So why not take a minute to clue everyone in to a few life events that have been going on in my little world these past few weeks.

In addition to hours spent on airplanes traveling around North America, I have been getting ready to move from DC to Denver. How fun! Relocation week is finally here and all of my worldly possessions have been loaded onto the moving truck and are in transit to CO as we speak. Hopefully they arrive soon. For the time being I will be living in a hotel.

I have also undergone the wonderful drive out here, and really I found that it was a great drive. Other than the rain for most of the first two days it was a rather interesting drive. 1714 total miles driven in 27 hours over 2 days. I took my self to Terra Haute, IN on the first day and then the rest of the trip (1023 miles) on the second day.

There were some interesting sights to be had along the way for sure.... Seeing the ST. Louis Gateway Arch from the highway is pretty cool, its just kind of sneaks up on you. I was amazed by the vast amounts of wind farms in Kansas. I tried to count them but gave up somewhere around 200 turbines. But I think the thing that takes the cake is the yellow stunt plane flying about 40-50 feet off the ground right next to the highway just as I was about to leave Kansas. Oh yeah, he was upside down the whole time. That's not something you see every day. I think I am ready to learn to fly now!

So all in all, good road trip, now I am waiting on the furniture so I can start putting my life back together. BLOG posts should start to resume soon!

Active Jobsite - Inside?

Have you ever driven by a construction project and thought to yourself "wow, I bet it would be cool to be run the crane?"

Well, while on a recent visit to Mortenson Construction in Minneapolis, MN, I had that chance. Mortenson Constructionis one of Autodesk's customers that is demonstrating skills through their use of Building Information Modeling and really utilizing Revit and Navisworks.

But operating the crane was a little different than one might think. They’ve simulated an active jobsite inside the lobby of their office, complete with equipment, jobsite trailer, concrete truck, steel supports, decking, and a working tower crane. How cool!

The crane itself actually works, and you can put yourself at the controls and see what it’s like for just a minute to "build" part of a building from the driver’s seat. I have to say that it's not as easy as it looks.
 
 

Watch out for the people as you’re placing the equipment, because the loads you’re moving swing easily and the risk of injury is high.

 

 

We did manage, with great effort, to move the loads to and from the building and place them back on the truck. But I think there might have been some lost time accidents with us at the controls. We may need to go back for more training. It sure was fun!

Concrete and the Human Body

Happy New Year Everyone! Hope that the holiday season did not pass by as quickly for you as it did for me? But I think every year it seems to just zoom by. It did not help that I spent a great deal of time in the hospital with a family member. But while hanging out in the hospital and watching the Price Is Right on TV (because as I learned there is nothing on during the day) I saw a man with my favorite t-shirt on “nothing tips like a cow” (as noted in an earlier post). Funny how strange little things like that make a boring moment turn into great laughter!

Something that I found even more interesting was the surgery itself and the link back to the built environment. Let’s start off by saying all is well now, but the short story is my family member had an infection in his prosthetic knee joint and it had to be removed. Ouch, to say the least! Then the Doctors decided to leave the joint out for three months until the infection cleared up.

At this point one would normally ask what you put into the space where a knee should be. Good question! The answer is good ole fashion concrete. You know the stuff we use to build slabs and buildings with. They just mix it up in the Operating Room and then add some antibiotics then pour it into the space where the knee used to be. Then off you go with a knee brace to keep it all in place.  You can actually walk on it somewhat.

Who would have thought that concrete would find its way inside the human body? I have to say I am truly amazed!