Between the Lines

Data Interoperability Is Game-Changing

“Imagine a collaboration utopia for architects, engineers, fabricators, contractors, and project owners. What would it be like? Maybe it’s a world where all software talks to each other, regardless of which company sells it. Maybe it’s a world where no one has to remodel and duplicate work on a project because there’s a seamless flow of information handed off from discipline to discipline. Or maybe it’s a world where all collaborators can work together in a common data environment and... Read more →

Autodesk Construction Cloud API Added to Forge Dev Portal

The Forge teams Mikako Harada just announced on the Forge blog that there is a new API type. Autodesk Construction Cloud API, has been added to the Forge dev portals My Apps->Create App page. This is a precursor to the releases of APIs that are specific to Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) unified products. Read more about this new API here: https://autode.sk/3cQu9yz Read more →

Happy 10th Birthday Tinkercad!

Tinkercad turned 10 years old today. This free cloud-based 3D creative design tool is used by students to retired makers and 3D print hobbyist, and loved by millions from 5-100+ years old. Reflecting on 10 Years of Tinkering as Tinkercad Turns Double Digits Check out what people have made: https://www.tinkercad.com/search?q=tinkercad10 Read more →

Autodesk Construction Cloud Announces Autodesk Takeoff and Autodesk BIM Collaborate

I am a regular reader of the Autodesk Construction Cloud Blog, and if you are involved in pre-construction or construction workflows and activities, you should consider subscribing to it as well. Today Andrea Neiman posted the two new products to help construction professionals and a great deal of information all in a nice 8 minute read. The New Preconstruction Advantage: Connected Quantification & Model Coordination in a Common Data Environment Read more →

Autodesk Build Added to Autodesk Construction Cloud

Today, Autodesk officially launched Autodesk Build, our all-new project, cost, and field solution available as part of Autodesk Construction Cloud. Read how Autodesk Build unifies best-in-class features from BIM 360 and PlanGrid Our Mission to Connect the Office & Field: Autodesk Build “Autodesk Build serves as a truly unified platform that connects all team members, data, and workflows. The solution links stakeholders and information, not just between the jobsite and office, but throughout all stages of the project and across the entire... Read more →

AutoCAD Web App Trace Feature

I recently noticed a new feature after opening AutoCAD Web App, a new preview feature of a Trace feature. The new Trace feature works great for non-destructive overlays for markup and edits that don't alter the original drawing. Introducing Trace (preview feature) “Trace provides a safe space to add changes to a drawing in the web and mobile apps without altering the existing drawing. To open the Trace palette, click Traces in the side panel on the left side of... Read more →

Autodesk Thoughts on EMEA Engineering Executive Council Report

“Autodesk is very intrigued by the perspectives the EMEA Engineering Executive Council have articulated in its paper Good data for the public good, as published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology. We succeed as a technology partner for our subscribers when we help them move the industry forward, so the principles contained within this paper shed valuable insight on what the industry is expecting from us. Autodesk’s Future of Making for AEC Driving Industry Change Through Convergence” Read the... Read more →

Learn the Autodesk Forge Platform

My friend and colleague Kean just posted on his blog an excellent PDF resource that will help you learn the Forge platform. You can use the Forge platform to enable you to do things with design automation, viewing design data, and even more on the web. Getting Started with Forge Read more →

AEC Hackathon Online 2.0 – Attend the Opening and Lightning Rounds

I hope you will join me and the many others attending the kick off of the AEC Hackathon Online 2.0 Friday October 9th. It is online and open to people around the globe. Come see what it is all about, or jump in and get involved in and pitch an idea in the lightening round or join a team that forms around an idea – you may change the AEC Industry. AEC Hackathon Online 2.0 Opening & Lightning Round Presentations... Read more →

Autodesk Forge Design Automation Tutorial

Have you ever wanted to automate AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, 3ds Max tasks in a nearly headless way using the power of the cloud and some limited code calling APIs? Design Automation is the critical secret method. The Design Automation API allows you to access the automation capabilities of Autodesk’s core products as cloud services. Almost any task you can automate on your desktop application can now be automated at scale using the Design Automation API. A common and extremely popular... Read more →

Explore the Autodesk Forge Showroom

A new online resource Forge Showroom is now available to see what others are building using Autodesk Forge. https://forge-showroom.autodesk.io/ 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 →

Forge Partner Talks - Digital Twins

If “Digital Twin” was in your Technology Term BINGO card – this is your lucky day! Digital Twins were one of the top ten tech trends of 2019, according to Gartner and Deloitte. Learn about some of Autodesk’s Forge partners and their solutions around Digital Twin and understand the importance of this to the AEC industry and building owners and see how Forge was a great platform for their solutions. https://youtu.be/JJ64DKsX9v8 Forge Partner Talks web series Tune in every Wednesday... Read more →

Fusion 360 Extended Access Program

Autodesk has recently announced a special program for Fusion 360 in the Extended Access Program which gives free commercial access to Fusion 360 until June 30, 2020. Find out more on the free Extended Access Program: https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/extended-access-program Read more →

COVID-19 Design Challenges – Call To Action

My longtime friend and Autodesk colleague Kean Walmsley and I have been talking about ways Autodesk technology might assist our customers, and even us at Autodesk in these changing times or the “new normal”. How might we evaluate social distancing, points where people could congregate or HVAC flows all based on best health and safety practices being publicly discussed in this potential new normal environment when many self isolated communities slowly phase back in public settings and buildings. I would... Read more →

AEC Hackathon Copenhagen 2020

"The world is becoming too fast, too complex, too networked for any company to have all the answers inside." Yochai Benkler This past weekend myself and consultants Jan Liska and Paolo Serra from Autodesk Global Consulting Delivery participated in the public AEC Hackathon in Copenhagen Denmark. These AEC Hackathon events are where experts from the built environment and tech innovators get together to break silos in the AEC industry. This AEC Hackathon was hosted by the inspiring innovation lab BLOXHUB... Read more →

Join Us Next Week to Innovate and Break AEC Silos

There is a great AEC Hackathon event being held next week in beautiful Copenhagen Denmark. The goal is to break down the silos in AEC design, technology, and the workflows to result in better cities. I will be joined by two of the expertly skilled and amazing Autodesk consultants from our Autodesk Global Consulting Delivery organization. It’s going to be a lot of work and fun. You should consider attending if you will be in Copenhagen end of next week,... 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 →

Step Inside the Jobsite of the Future

Allison Scott Director, Head of Construction Thought Leadership & Customer Marketing recently gave a great talk on the big stage at Autodesk University 2019 with the Architecture, Engineering & Construction Keynote and recently published this great article on the the Autodesk Construction Blog. I'm a big fan of Allison Scott, and I think you will be as well if you aren't already a fan. “Construction is a highly collaborative process, but it’s also very fragmented. Poor data and disconnected information are leading... Read more →

The Autodesk Group Network – Find Your Group

There are currently 70+ groups around the World and growing of thousands of Autodesk product and technology users just like you. Go have a look and find your group or enter your existing group (add a group) to the growing list. Local groups are an invaluable resource and network as I remember running the Portland Autodesk Users Group years and years ago and many awesome local people looking to share ways of using the software and back then it was... Read more →

Design Automation API Webinar Series - Register Now

Have you ever wanted to automate and process or create data or drawings using a cloud based API in an almost-headless configuration? Design Automation on Forge is most likely the answer to this need. There is still time to get hands on with the new Design Automation APIs. Four webinars are scheduled in December that will cover each of the Design Automation APIs in depth. Register Now and read more at the Autodesk Forge Blog https://forge.autodesk.com/blog/design-automation-api-webinar-series-register-now December 5 - Design... Read more →

Learn Autodesk BIM 360 - FREE

Are you looking for some training on using Autodesk’s BIM 360 to better manage your construction risk, improve quality, and deliver projects on time and on budget, and the training courses for free? Here is a great resource for you to learn BIM 360 Document Management, Approvals Workflow, Quality Management, RFI Workflow, Submittals Workflow, Cost Management, and Design Collaboration. Get started now at https://learnbim360.autodesk.com/ Read more →

Autodesk Forge Accelerator in NYC September 9-13

A Forge Accelerator is an opportunity for cloud developers to spend one week with the Forge team, with one-on-one help building applications. Apply to attend the #Accelerator in NYC from September 9-13: https://autode.sk/2GCGhCz Jim Quanci Senior Director, Autodesk Developer Network announced today that this event will be held at the big New York City Amazon AWS offices making room for more participants. From Twitter https://twitter.com/jimquanci ”Just teamed up with @awscloud- to hold the Autodesk Forge Accelerator in their large NYC... Read more →

Machine Learning Unleashed to Aid in Construction

Machine learning has been a growing in this ever growing world of growing data. It has been in your hands surfacing tips and reducing tasks on your phones, in your bank statements, everyone and now in construction. Autodesk has released a preview of Construction IQ after several years of research and testing to help customers identify risk, Construction IQ Preview available for Quality and Safety for customers using BIM 360 Field. Using machine learning can surface insight into your construction... 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 →