Between the Lines

Autodesk University 2023: Your Thrive Guide

After attending 32 Autodesk University events, I won't be at this year's event, and no longer work for Autodesk. However, my tradition of providing tips to make the most of Autodesk University (AU) continues. This guide aims to help you not just survive, but thrive at AU 2023. Read more →

How AEC Firms Can Harness the Power of AI

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector is experiencing a transformative digital shift, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI). From design conception to construction management, AI has found applications across a myriad of tasks. Let's explore some key ways AEC firms can utilize AI. Design Optimization AI algorithms can sift through complex data sets to recommend the most efficient design layouts. By analyzing factors such as sunlight, wind direction, form, and material strength, AI can offer eco-friendly and cost-effective designs. Predictive... Read more →

Evaluating the ROI and Hidden Costs of Design Software and CAD Tools in AEC

In the fast-paced world of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), having the right design software and CAD tools is more than a convenience—it's a necessity. These digital assets are integral to project planning, execution, and even client presentations. However, they also represent a significant investment. This post aims to guide you through the process of assessing the value and Return on Investment (ROI) of your design software, while also considering the often-overlooked costs. Read more →

Harnessing the Power of GIS Location Intelligence in AEC

In the ever-evolving and rapid digitization of the world of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), the importance of location-based data and spatial analytics cannot be understated. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have increasingly become an important strategic component, offering a vital competitive edge for AEC firms. One of the most prominent GIS platforms is Esri's ArcGIS, providing powerful location intelligence and spatial analytics capabilities to users worldwide. Read more →

Dive into XR: Shaping the Future of Building and Design

What is Extended Reality (XR)? The advent of XR has been very helpful for many industries, including Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) and also Manufacturing. XR technology is revolutionizing the way we design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure, facilitating better communication, enhancing collaboration, inspection, and increasing overall productivity and efficiency. Read more →

Digital Twins in the AEC Industry: A Game Changer!

Are you as excited about the latest tech trends as I am? One trend in the digital transformation of industries that's got me on the edge of my seat is Digital Twins. These virtual replicas can transform the way we work in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) world and the data we use to inform decisions and drive design. Let's dive in! Read more →

Sign Villain Busted Using Super Geek Powers of AirTag

Being a technology geek has its benefits when trying to solve a local real estate sign theft issue. Long story short, I helped my partner to solve the case of the disappearing real estate signs. These real estate signs can be spendy and come out of the real estate agent’s pocket. After placing the Open House sign out along the street, I simply taped an Apple AirTag to the sign and then stood nearby with a nice warm chai tea... Read more →

Is There a Future for 2D

Is there still a future for flat two dimensional (2D) writing or drawings, yes. 2D drawings and written communication have been around since the beginning of time as evidenced on cave walls and papyrus. Today many use these flat 2D methods based on needs, medium, cost, and effort and will continue to rely on them, even in design using CAD (Computer Aided Design). CAD has dramatically changed the way we design and develop products, structures, and systems. CAD software today is more focused on 3D modeling, enabling engineers and designers to create three-dimensional representations of their ideas. However, amidst the dominance of 3D CAD, the question arises: Is there a future for 2D CAD? Read more →

How Might AI Impact the AEC industry and Construction

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is one of the most rapidly evolving industries of the 21st century, and to me, it is feeling like the speed is accelerating. With the introduction of AI (Artificial Intelligence), the industry is undergoing a transformation that is expected to have a major impact on the AEC design tools, data, construction process, and the entire industry, including all of us. The what and how we build. The potential applications of AI in the... Read more →

Snaptrude – Innovating the Architectural Design Process

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is no stranger to innovation, and disruption. We have seen new technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), and 3D printing that have transformed the way we design and build. Now, Snaptrude, a relatively new AEC startup aims to further revolutionize the industry with its architectural design platform harnessing the power of intelligent automation and real-time visualization on the cloud. Read more →

How Technology May Change in Our Lifetime – Food for Thought

”It is easy to underestimate how much the world can change within a lifetime. Bringing to mind how dramatically the world has changed can help us see how different the world could be in a few years or decades.” By Max Roser of Our World in Data February 22, 2023 Read the full article. Technology over the long run: zoom out to see how dramatically the world can change within a lifetime - Our World in Data Read more →

AEC Design Software Trends

The AEC Trend Nostradamus.. The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) design software and technology market has been rapidly evolving over the past two decades, with numerous trends shaping or morphing the industry. Here are some of the most significant trends that have emerged in recent years: Cloud-based solutions: Cloud-based AEC design software has become increasingly popular due to its accessibility, scalability, and flexibility. This trend has enabled users to collaborate on projects in real-time and work from anywhere, leading to... Read more →

Manufacturing Design Software Trends

The MFG Trend Nostradamus.. I have been deep dive researching in AEC and Manufacturing design software and the greater industry trends. Here is my overview of manufacturing design software trends. There are several trends in mechanical design software technologies that are shaping the future of engineering and product design. Some of these trends in no particular order of significance include: Cloud-based software: Cloud-based software is becoming increasingly popular as it allows engineers to access design tools and data from anywhere... Read more →

AEC Product Roadmap Ask Me Anything Series Recordings

Last week we held 5 live events on the future roadmap of AEC products, and hundreds attended and asked their great questions using Slido. The annual event was to learn about highlights from recent releases, including Revit and the AEC Collection Ask product managers and experts about the future roadmap of the Autodesk AEC products. Thank you to all that participated and here are the recordings for those unable to attend. We will be posting a list of questions asked/answered very soon. Read more →

AEC Product Roadmap Ask Me Anything Series This Week

Join us and learn about highlights from recent releases, including Revit and the AEC Collection and ask the Product Managers and experts about the future of Autodesk AEC products such as Revit, Dynamo, InfraWorks, Civil 3D, ReCap, Structures, and MEP. Join the conversations! Read more →

Autodesk Gabe Paez of The Wild on Evan Troxel's TRXL Podcast

“Gabe Paez of Autodesk’s The Wild joins Evan Troxel popular podcast TRXL to talk about the intersection of humans and immersive technologies, the magic of experiencing ideas together, shared reality, the difficulty of change in relation to new tools and workflows, the value of working in different ways, the (controversial) notion of having fun at work, Extended Reality (XR) as it relates to remote work, shortening the distance between an idea and an experience, experiential tools, the value of collaboration, synchronous and asynchronous work on projects, interactive and manipulatable environments, persistence of virtual environments, and more.” Read more →

Learn About the Autodesk AI Lab

Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic, and Autodesk is also looking into how we can intelligently utilize AI and machine learning to solve customer challenges. Find out about the new Autodesk AI Lab from theDirector of AI Research at Autodesk Tonya Curtis, and what they are researhing and papers they have submitted. Read more →

Interesting AI Possibilities from OpenAI Using ChatGPT

Last Wednesday, OpenAI released their ChatGPT for free and is based on GPT-3.5. https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/ ChatGPT is like a smarter search engine as a bot with the ability to create results including code or text in response to natural language queries. What I find interesting and the possibilities exciting as well as spooky is the ability to not only get really interesting returns to text questions but also write code including Autodesk product customization like ObjectARX, Lisp, Forge, Dynamo, or mel for Maya and Maxscript for 3ds Max. simply by asking the ChatGPT. ”ChatGPT: Optimizing Language Models for Dialogue We’ve trained a model called ChatGPT which interacts in a conversational way. Read more →

Upskill Using Free Autodesk Industry Courses

Just taking 15 minutes a day to go through Autodesk courses could make you far better prepared for your current role or advance yourskills for a new role. These curated courses cover Architecture, Engineering, and Construction, Design and Manufacturing, Cross-Industry. Search over 500 available courses developed by the best in the industries. Read more →

New Autodesk Community Voices Authors

We added 8 New Autodesk Community Voices Blog authors last week, check out the blog, subscribe, tell others, and bookmark it. Read more →

Two Live Events this Week

Wednesday ,October 27, 2022, 10am PDT Fusion 360 Ask Me Anything: Electronics Design Join Richard Hammerl, a Fusion 360 Community Specialist in Electronics, and Jorge Garcia a Fusion 360 Technical Specialist, Electronics to ask questions on Electronics in Fusion 360 as well as share helpful tips. Register free to Join us live! Thursday, October 27, 2022, 10 am PDT We have informative & fun Halloween-themed Dynamo Office Hours "Parametric Pumpkins". Are you all about the Spooky Season? Do you like... Read more →

Tech.autodesk.com - See How Engineers Empower Architects, Artist, and Engineers to Create Amazing Things

There is a new Autodesk site just launched: tech.autodesk.com. This site isn’t about Autodesk products as the focus, but stories from the voice of our global Autodesk technologists. This new site will highlight our technology as well as the employees in order to attract new tech talent. Check it out. Autodesk is a great place to work building platforms, technology, and products for the greatest customers in the world who use them to design and make the most amazing things. If you know someone in tech looking for a great role at a top-ranked company to work for, then consider Autodesk to shaoe the world, and shape your future. http://careers.autodesk.com/ 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 →

XR For Engineering Design Reviews

Live Webinar - How XR Revolutionizes Engineering Design Reviews “Coordinating design reviews with multiple parties and colleagues is a complicated and messy endeavor. Particularly difficult is collaborating and presenting iterations to clients who lack the knowledge or training to read 2D schematics effectively. By using XR, you can bring stakeholders inside Revit and Navisworks BIM models inside a collaborative VR environment. This immersive collaborative workspace makes the review process simpler and more effective, reducing the risk of concepts being lost in translation—and cutting down on costly errors at the same time.” Read more →

Recent Blog Posts on the Autodesk Community Voices Blog

Community Voices is a blog by the Community, for the Community. You'll find product tips and workflows, career stories, and industry insights, all shared by members of Autodesk’s global community. Subscribe to keep up to date with the latest content from Community members. Check out the most recent posts by the awesome Community Voices authors. Read more →