Between the Lines

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 →

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 →

Between the Lines Blog and Coho the Dog Birthdays Today

This Between the Lines Blog is turning 21 years young today! This blog started in 2003 as an experiment, became very popular with thousands of unique page views a day 4389 posts 5389 comments, and over 20 million viewers. I have continually been blogging since launching even when on vacation, sick, sabbatical, or in the Amazon jungle. Thank you to everyone for reading and contributing to this blog over the years. If there is something I can do to improve or make your experience more entertaining, educational, or perhaps and Autodesk topic related guest blog post, please let me know with an email. August 21, 2003 Getting the feel for this Blog. My silver labrador pup named Coho also coincidently turns 1 years old today, at a bouncing playful 99 pounds. Thank you and I hope to see you in a month in New Orleans and Autodesk University 2022. #AU2022 Shaan's AU 2022 Events Notification List Autodesk Community Conversations at Autodesk University 2022 in Person and Online Autodesk University 2022 Free Digital Passes 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 →

Autodesk Open Source

Autodesk Open Source provides the global community of innovators an opportunity to learn, contribute and grow. Visit our Open Source site and see how you can get involved in our latest projects: opensource.autodesk.com Read more →

Fun Finds

In packing my house up to move, I am going through boxes of my technology and Autodesk history items and having a blast remembering all the tech and fun times. There is a slew of my phones and PDA, from the Palm to the super teeny iPhone 5s. The Blackberry with the missing scroll ball saved my life many years ago while in my shirt pocket during a gas fireplace explosion, and my Blackberry was taking the shard of glass... Read more →

Teachers Looking for STEM or Maker Curriculum for Young Students

Join the next Teaching with Tinkercad webinar on Thursday, January 14th at 4pm pacific. They will covering some basics and also take a deeper look at teaching electronics using Tinkercad Circuits. Sign up Here: https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/teaching-with-tinkercad What is Tinkercad you may ask? It is fun web based free 3D design program. Tinkercad is used by millions of teachers, kids, hobbyists, and designers to imagine, design, and make anything! Check out Tinkercad here, its fun and great for 4-100 year old kids.... Read more →

Happy 17th Birthday to Between the Lines Blog

17! Seventeen years ago I started this blog as a fun side project after a couple Autodesk employees Bill Johnson and Eric Wright approached me about this new thing called Blogs, and I have been throwing words and photos up here ever since. Next year the blog will be 18 years old, and I will have to consider if I am kicking it out of the house since it will be an adult if it were human. Thank you 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 →

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 →

Hard to Believe but Between the Lines Blog Turns Sweet 16 Tomorrow

Sixteen years ago tomorrow I started this blog as a fun side project after a couple Autodesk employees Bill Johnson and Eric Wright approached me about this new thing called Blogs and I have been throwing words and photos up here ever since. Its amazing since my daughter just turned 18 and this blog started when she was barely two years old. I need to think about what I'm going to say on the Sweet Sixteen anniversary of a blog... Read more →

RawR See a T-Rex in Stunning 3D Detail - without being eaten

Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking with a panel of Smithsonian employees of the Digitization Program Office and they let me know of an amazing reality capture project that went live just yesterday. It is stunning in detail and fascinating information. You can also download the 3D model data and then 3D print your own although at a smaller than life size. Tyrannosaurus rex This T. rex skeleton was unearthed in Montana beginning in 1988. It is posed over... 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 →

See Some Portland Startup Pitches Today on Pi and PIE Day

On this Pi day (3.14 etc.) I hope you will join us on the PIE (Portland Incubator Experiment) Demo Day livestream at 2PM Pacific Time on March 14, 2019. Tell everyone there is plenty of room on our livestream from Aladdin Theater in sunny Portland Oregon. https://bit.ly/PIEDD2019 We love Pi and PIE! Update: PIE Demo Day 2019 replay is already available. Just in time for some weekend binge watching. https://bit.ly/PIEDD2019 Read more →

Design Automation for Revit - Public Beta

If you have wanted to read, write, and modify data from Revit without installing Revit from within the the Forge cloud platform, then today is your lucky day. The Revit Design Automation API was just launched as a public beta. “Today we’re announcing the availability of Design Automation for Revit as a pubic beta. Using Design Automation, you can create, edit, and extract data from Revit models without a local Revit install. Because Design Automation is a cloud service, you... Read more →

Forge DevCon Keynote 2018

The Forge DevCon was held on the first day of Autodesk University. The keynote was great and you can now watch it on YouTube. It was apparent from the Forge DevCon they will need to expand the are as it was packed with Forge developers,partners, customers, and employees this year and many amazing 3rd party solutions built upon Forge being shown. Forge DevCon Keynote 2018 “Watch the full Forge DevCon keynote from November 12, 2018. Featuring Jim Quanci, Brian Roepke,... Read more →

AU2018 Blogger and Social Media Meetup Sign Up

We are now less than two weeks from Autodesk University 2018! Every year at AU we invite active bloggers, social media participants and other “friends” to join us for a little food and drink at AU – a chance for us to meet some of these people face to face and to thank them personally for their (typically unpaid) work that helps promote Autodesk products or by assisting our Autodesk customers. This year LinkedIn Learning has graciously partnered with us... Read more →

The AutoCAD Web App

I have been really impressed with the new launched AutoCAD Web App that is included with the AutoCAD 2019 and AutoCAD LT 2019 subscription. I have been using it today on a bunch of drawings to kick the tires. There is nothing to download or install, just launch your web browser and go to https://web.autocad.com/ and log in. Not only can you view and edit drawings, but you can create new drawings using the same AutoCAD DNA as the desktop... Read more →

Know a Kid?

If you know a kid, then you should also know Tinkercad. Tinkercad is free and browser based with nothing to install. Tinkercad is the perfect exploration and fun tool to create things easily in 3D and even 3D print them into physical creations. It has been amazing to see what kids (adults too) create by using Tinkercad. It provides an easy way to understand spatial relationships almost like using the modern tinker toys or playdough. You don't need to teach... Read more →

Autodesk Forge - What is it?

Have you heard people talking about Autodesk Forge? Perhaps you wondered what it really was and why it will be a big deal. Jim Quanci Senior Director, Autodesk Developer Network recorded a recent YouTube video that might help you better understand What is Forge and show you some live examples for customers and developers. Read more →

2nd Annual 3D Web Fest on June 30

Mind blowing visual experience in San Francisco! What: 3D + art + music + tech = one night of jaw-dropping visuals. 3D Web Fest showcases top 3D web creations with live performances by their creators. All proceeds benefit CODAME (ART+TECH projects and nonprofit events, to inspire through experience.) When: Friday, June 30th, 6pm Where: Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco Why: Be inspired, amazed, and maybe disturbed and raise money for CODAME. www.3DWebFest.com Read more →

Premiums Instructables for Teachers and Students

Students & teachers get free premium Instructables memberships! Take online classes & explore educational projects. Examples of Instructables for teachers and students: 100 STEAM Projects for Teachers Instructables for Young Engineers If you are not aware, Instructables is a gem for learning how to make almost anything. With step by step instructions called Instructables you lean how to do everything from science projects to building a boat and even to baking a rainbow layered cake or building a campfire or... Read more →

Andrew Hessel–Reddit Ask Me Anything on Biotechnology

Andrew Hessel of Autodesk's Bio/Nano Research Group within Autodesk Office of the CTO recently held a very thought provoking Reddit Ask Me Anything session. Andrew if you have not met him, is a very unique and brilliant researcher in his field and here at Autodesk working on big issues that truly impact our world like finding technology processes to cure cancer, disease,and other big challenges faces us as a species. He refers to the brain as nothing more than a... Read more →