Between the Lines

Create VR for Maya

Create VR is an immersive conceptual design tool that empowers artists and designers to start their creative process directly in 3D. Using simple curve and surface tools designers can explore form and shape while being fully immersed in virtual reality alongside their design. Sketches and models can then be easily exported to Maya or other content creation applications for the final realization. Features Create and edit models using NURBs and SubD surface tools. Freeform sketching and NURBs curve tools to... Read more →

Autodesk Technology Centers Request for Proposal - Applications for Mixed Reality Using HoloLens 2

The Autodesk Technology Centers are working with the Microsoft Mixed Reality team to provide HoloLens 2 headsets for teams developing mixed reality (XR) solutions that impact the future of Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Manufacturing. Accepted teams from all over the world will have the opportunity to join our residency program and be given a HoloLens 2 device loan for 6 months, with opportunities to extend on a case-by-case basis. For more details about the Request for Proposal (RFP), and to... Read more →

AEC Hackathon Online – Join In and Bust Silos

I would encourage anyone in the AEC, technology, and the built environment industries looking to break silos and explore new ways of doing things and meeting like minded awesome people to look into joining the upcoming AEC Hackathon. This year the Hackathon will be online due to the current world events with COVID-19, but there are already plans to get back together, and hopefully we do it again in Copenhagen at BloxHub (AEC Hackathon Copenhagen 2020). I will be involved... Read more →

Global Architecture and Interior Design Student Competition

My local Portland VR collaboration friends over the The Wild are hosting the first annual Global Architecture and Interior Design Student Competition at the VR/AR Global Online Summit. Six student finalists will be selected to share their original 3D models in a live-streamed competition in virtual reality. Applications are due May 20th and the jury includes thought leaders Amy Peck (HTC Vive, EndeavorVR) and Aubrey Tucker (ETRO Construction). The design challenge: Design a space that encourages digital socialization or innovative... Read more →

AEC Hackathon 7.0 Copenhagen

One of my favorite events filled with innovative thinking and ideas combined with collaborative fun and technology are the AEC Hackathons held around the world. The next big AEC Hackathon is being held next month in one of my favorite cities in the world, Copenhagen Denmark. ] Feb 21 2020 18:00 - Feb 23 2020 20:00 In a nutshell, the hackathon starts with a group of people from industry, academia, tech, architects, and programmers that for the most part don't... Read more →

XR Party

I attended a great XR Party (Extended Reality (AR & VR) last evening in Portland at Open Signal PDX , the Open Signal: Portland Community Media Center. It was a gathering of the XR community and showed a short in XR no longer being just a cool fringe technology, but now a maturing communication and story telling technology platform as XR us being used in many businesses from marketing, gaming, journalists, architects, story tellers, local community organizations, and artists all... Read more →

How Architects are Using VR and AR in Design Processes

Guest post from Jessica Outlaw who runs the Outlaw Center for Immersive Behavioral Science at Concordia University in Portland Oregon. Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) is increasingly being incorporated into the design process for architects. VR/AR devices allows architects and their clients to experience their buildings, and make any necessary adjustments, before construction begins. I interviewed eight experts who are working in the intersection of architecture and VR to learn how VR is changing the way architects are doing their... Read more →

Introducing Alias Create VR

Immersive computing is revolutionizing the world around us. What started as a spark of imagination decades ago has ignited an inferno of technology-driven creative opportunity today. Nowhere is this more apparent than the automotive industry, where augmented reality and virtual reality technology (AR/VR) continues to deepen and expand its impact on the creative design process.So it is my absolute pleasure to announce the availability of Alias Create VR – a VR based conceptual design toolset as part of the Alias... Read more →

Autodesk Media and Entertainment Showcase 2019

Last Thursday in our Portland Autodesk office, we held a free event for anyone to celebrate and show the creative customers and community of our entertainment products such as Autodesk Maya and Autodesk 3ds Max. We had several presentations from local visual fx and animation studios with amazing visuals and insight on how they work and create what they do. We also had two Autodesk product owners of 3ds Max and Bifrost. Speakers Gabe Selinger of Liquid Development Sarah DeFlaminis... Read more →

If You Love 3D and are in Portland Oregon Today

I hope if you are in the Portland Oregon area today, that you plan to attend the second annual Autodesk Media and Entertainment Showcase. The event is free with some food and refreshments with the highlight amazing local speakers who use Autodesk Media and Entertainment products like 3ds Max and Maya. See how people are using Autodesk products to create amazing VFX and animations and how technology can be used in incredible ways to unleash creativity and save time. You... Read more →

Learn How XR May Impact Your Work in a Portland XR Workshop

My awesome Portland XR startup friends are running a very limited workshop next month. I believe XR (AR,MR, and VR) will be a common platform for delivering information, experiences and visualizations in the future. This 2 1/2 hour workshop and networking event will be held on Thursday September 26th at 52 Limited in NE Portland. This is an interactive workshop that gives attendees a clear understanding of how XR may impact your work. XR Foundations for Business Presented by The... Read more →

Autodesk joined the 3D Formats Working Group to Support the Khronos glTF file format

Autodesk has joined the Khronos Group. Autodesk is an industry-leading provider of 3D design, engineering and entertainment software, that joined the 3D Formats Working Group to support the Khronos glTF file format. “We are delighted that Autodesk has joined Khronos. A company of Autodesk’s stature can be enormously influential in creating and promoting open standards, such as glTF, for the good of the entire 3D industry,” said Neil Trevett, president of the Khronos Group.” https://www.khronos.org/blog/autodesk-joins-the-khronos-group “Autodesk is committed to accelerating... Read more →

Realtime Revit BIM Models in Unity in Just One Click

Today, the awesome fi9ne folks at Unity announced the collaboration with Autodesk for a Revit importation product named Unity Reflect. Unity provides a platform for all sorts of immersive 3D possibilities in AR/VR and more that have bent my mind at times. Now with Unity Reflect you can import your Revit BIM 3D model in one click. Get a hands on look at Autodesk University London in just two weeks! https://unity.com/event/au2019 “Announcing Unity Reflect, a new product for architects, building... Read more →

AEC Hackathon in Seattle was Amazing and Inspiring

The 41st AEC Hackathon event was held in Seattle this past weekend and was great and filled with many smart and inspiring people and several new friends and connections. First, the Seattle weather was amazing and I got in a morning run and flight in South Lake Union area. The AEC Hackathon was held in the University of Washington campus Department of Construction Management CERC. Friday the event began with introductions, speakers including Damon Hernandez the AEC Hackathon Executive Director,... Read more →

AEC Hackathon This Weekend in Seattle

Starting tomorrow, another (41st actually) AEC Hackathon will be held this time in beautiful Seattle Washington and I will be participating. The AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) Hackathon was created to give those designing, building, and maintaining our built environment the opportunity to collaborate with cutting edge technologies and its developers and designers. It has quickly become a community of innovators that include all elements of the built environment, not just AEC all around the world. Please join all of us... Read more →

Visit the Eiffel Tower Project in VR

The project was modelled using Autodesk Infraworks. Discover the existing conditions 3D model developed for the City of Paris. The 3D virtual reality model consists of: A 54 ha site 8,200 trees of different species 1,000 buildings 4 bridges 25 statues 560 light fixtures 425 benches 100 trashcans Read more about the model and download the VR experience at autode.sk/2CYz79X Read more →

Autodesk Design & Manufacturing Official Show Reel 2019

Autodesk just published a new video showing some amazing and inspiring highlights for our Design and Manufacturing industry products, partners, and customers. Enjoy! Read more →

Augmented Reality - The End of Paper Drawings on the Construction Site

Not quite yet, but things are continuing to move that direction with this weekends announcement of the new Microsoft HoloLens 2 augmented reality (mixed reality) headset. The ability to have more portable compute power as a heads up display overlaying information like construction drawings or a BIM model in context will change construction and manufacturing as well as other industries and things in daily life. Microsoft HoloLens 2 hands-on: A giant leap closer to mixed reality https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqFqtAJMtYE This AR is... Read more →

Reimagining the Future of Making

Automation Helps People Live and Work Better “Humanity inevitably needs, desires, and demands more. At the same time, it must also confront the reality of less—fewer natural resources, less space, and fewer skilled construction and manufacturing workers than the world needs.” “Automation also helps companies stay ahead of their competitors, but more important, it encourages and supports the imagination that moves humanity forward. Better cities, better buildings, better things, better work: Reimagining the model for automation can balance the inevitability... Read more →

Thank You Seattle Startup Week

Last Thursday I spoke on a panel How Technology is changing the $10 trillion construction industry at Seattle Startup Week with: Greg Howes - Cofounder, CutMyTimber, AEC Hackathon, Seattle Proptech Amy Hutchins - Founder, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Unearth Technologies Salla Palos - Director of Emerging Technology & Innovation, Sellen Construction Greg Howes opened the panel discussion with a quote on a slide from Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost about AEC and Manufacturing are merging. He then asked the panel... Read more →

Sleepless in Seattle

I am working remote from Seattle this week for several reasons. Tuesday I had my FAA Part 107 renewal exam for commercial SUAS pilot – and passed. I did a lot of studying and practice tests. I can’t recommend RemotePilot101.com enough and first learned of them in our corporate training program and now use them for all my SUAS training and certification needs. Thursday I am speaking at Seattle Startup Week. How Technology is changing the $10 trillion construction industry... Read more →

Digitally Designing the Physical World – XR for Architecture and Construction

A week ago, last Monday evening I presented at a local meetup group Design Reality that was for an AEC focused XR event. My goal was to expand the awareness of AR/VR beyond the 3D rendered images commonly used in pre-construction design reviews and into what I see as a sweet spot in AEC construction. XR is the new term for eXtended Reality which combined AR/MR/VR and is a nice high level since it appears that all three will be... Read more →

Digitally Design the Physical World - XR for Architecture and Construction

I will be presenting next month at the Design Reality meetup event in Portland on using VR/AR in AEC Construction. While many think of a 3D immersive experience and walkthroughs for the design phase, the really valuable sweet spot to AEC professionals is using AR/MR in construction to to plan, review, spot errors, and more. I will talk about the many ways Autodesk and our products generate and enable VR/AR/MR for many industries, but then specifically focus on the AEC... Read more →

Autodesk Design Night PDX Video

Here is a video highlight reel video from our recent Autodesk Design Night Portland event. What a great time and I hope it is one of many more Design Nights held in Portland. Design Night PDX Highlight Video Read more →

Autodesk Design Night Portland

Attention Portland Oregon readers! You may have heard about one of the top event tickets in San Francisco being Autodesk’s Design Night, but we are now branching out to several more cities including Portland later this month. If you want to learn about the latest in Virtual Reality VR and also get some food and drinks then please join Autodesk and me at out Design Night Portland event. Among the exhibits and activities I will be giving VR tours of... Read more →