Between the Lines

AEC Cloud Information Model API Beta

”Autodesk Platform Services – the platform formerly known as Forge – has a brand new service that’s soon going into beta: the AEC Cloud Information Model API. This API will allow you to access design parameters in Revit models hosted in the cloud with no need to pass by an instance Revit.” Read More from Kean and get involved in the Beta Join the beta for the AEC Cloud Information Model API Read more →

Health Check for Autodesk Cloud – What's Up?

You can check health the status of Autodesk Cloud Services such as BIM 360, InfraWorks, FormIt, Fusion 360, AutoCAD Web, and a few others quickly by going to https://health.autodesk.com/. Read more →

Putting The Wild in Forge APIs

Learn how The Wild put the Forge APIs to work, creating immersive, data-rich, AR/VR collaboration environments that AEC teams can access with a single click. Read more →

Autodesk Forge Digital Twin Example Using Data Visualization API

The Forge team has provided a reference architecture example of a digital twin application using the Forge platform data visualization APIs, complete with some documentation and code samples. | The live web browser based reference architecture will demonstrate the type of applications you can build using the available Forge APIs. You could build your own custom digital twin application customized for your business or industry needs. Documentation https://forge.autodesk.com/en/docs/dataviz/v1/developers_guide/quickstart/ Read more →

BIM 360/ACC Model Properties API

Autodesk has announced the availability of the BIM 360/Autodesk Construction Cloud Model Properties API on the powerful Forge platform. This is a very powerful tool and capability that could be used in your custom applications built on Forge. “This tool can query, filter ,and compare model data online, making it easier to locate specific design elements and changes. Learn More: https://autode.sk/3tf0qpP Two main functionalities in Model Properties API: Index - process model data for fast look up and allow users... Read more →

Steelcase Chair Assembly Instructions Powered by Autodesk Forge

Pretty nice implementation example of a browser using the Autodesk Forge platform to present interactive chair assembly instructions. “Powered by Forge, these interactive furniture assembly instructions from Steelcase allow customers to rotate views and step through the assembly process at their own pace.” Check it out live: https://bit.ly/3C9YMK4 Read more →

Autodesk Open-Sources Web-Based USD Viewing

My Autodesk colleague, and friend, Kean Walmsley wrote a great post explaining how Autodesk open-sourced our USD web-based viewer implementation and some details on it. Read more →

Digital Twin is So Much More Than Just a 3D Model

A digital twin is not just a 3D model representation of something in the real world. A digital twin can contain more information than even a BIM model and can include contextual IOT sensor data, simulation data, real-world performance data, controls, predictive insight, and more. A great example of a digital twin project is my friend and colleague Kean Walmsley's Project Dasher. Lessons from Project Dasher: Building a Digital Twin Using Forge Read more →

Availability of Photos API in Autodesk Build

Autodesk Forge announces the availability of Photos API, another Autodesk Build specific Forge API. Photos is one of the modules in Autodesk Build. It provides a single, unified place to view and manage photos and videos in Autodesk Build. This is useful, such as for documenting progress photos, informal communication, and material tracking. Everyone on your project can upload photos and videos. These files will all be available in the Photos gallery, but they can also be attached as a reference to issues, RFIs, submittals, and forms in UI. Read more →

Connected Construction Forum June 10, 15 & 17th 2021

Attention BIM/VDC Managers, Project Managers, Estimators, Quality Managers, and design teams. Digital transformation encompasses the move from siloed and analog ways of working to more connected, data-driven processes that help teams achieve better project outcomes. The construction industry has been on the steady journey of digital transformation for many years – from the rise of building information modeling to the surge of tech on the jobsite. Today, the industry is experiencing exponential growth of digital transformation, spurred in part by... 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 →

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 →

AEC Hackathon Online v2 Join Me!

I hope you will again join the AEC Hackathon organized by an independent group of AEC technology and built environment superheroes.These events are normally held in person, but with the current COVID-19 they pivoted this summer with the first online version being a hit in light of all the quirks and challenges online live sessions and collaboration can bring they pulled it off. I really enjoyed being mentor and speaking with some of the teams. The speaker sessions were very... Read more →

Congratulations to AEC Hackathon Teams

Recently, over the course of two weeks there has been the AEC hackathon that for the first time after over AEC industry hackathon just had to resort to go in digital since we cant meet in person safely. There were many teams from around the world competing in this global event and many presentations over the course of the two weeks with the final presentations and and the awards held on July 26th. It has been an absolute honor to... 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 →

Join Us for a Virtual AEC Hackathon

Over the next couple of weeks there is a online virtual event going on for those in the AEC industry. Some of the presentations are free to attend, but the registration is cheap at $25 to see some of the potential cutting edge silo busting ideas and the hackathon team solution presentations. Come learn something, a new perspective, a new technology, a new contact, a new potential solution to a challenging problem in our industry. For a great deal of... Read more →

The Forge Platform in Just 2 Minutes:

Get to know the Autodesk Forge platform in just 2 minutes autode.sk/36BZyQx Read more →

Be Part of Autodesk University 2020

Autodesk University 2020 and connected events will be reimagined as digital experiences this year. We have started the call for proposals from May 20, 2020 and it is open until June 22, 2020. For this year, I am considering some proposals myself including ones focused on innovation as well as how a hackathon or innovation sprint can surface innovative solutions to challenges for your company or industry. Be a leader and submit an idea In addition to proposing a class... 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 →

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 →

Setup BIM 360 Projects Programmatically – Open Source Release

There is a new Open Source Tool from our Autodesk Global Consulting Delivery to address a common request from our customers requiring a way to automate setting up BIM 360 environment users and projects. The BIM 360 project setup tool sample was first created by Oliver Scharpf from our Global Consulting Delivery team to solve this need. The tool was released by Autodesk to Open Source for everyone to use. Use this command line tool to setup BIM 360 projects,... 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 →