Posts in category ‘AUGIWorld’

2025.04.08

AUGIWORLD April 2025 -- Collaboration: Tips for Working Together

AUGIWORLD April 2025
Collaboration is a tool that doesn’t come easily to some. It’s also something that you can never stop learning more about, including ways to collaboratively communicate and flourish in every aspect of your life.

This month at AUGIWORLD, we’re focusing on the ways to contribute and collaborate so we all can create excellence! We hope you enjoy this month’s issue!

In the April 2025 issue:

BricsCAD: Create, Contribute, and Collaborate: Engineering Precision on the Court — Mr. Craig Swearingen draws parallels between the success of Purdue University’s basketball team and high-functioning engineering design teams, highlighting that both rely on strategic leadership, strong collaboration, innovation, precise execution, continuous improvement through analysis, and a winning culture. Just as Purdue basketball thrives on teamwork and adaptability, engineering teams excel through shared vision, commitment to excellence, and relentless pursuit of improvement, demonstrating that the principles of successful team dynamics apply across diverse fields.

Doing Nothing — Mark Kiker argues that strategically “doing nothing”—pausing to think, allowing silence for idea development, delaying responses to encourage problem-solving, and withholding public criticism—is a valuable management tool, not procrastination. These purposeful pauses foster deeper thinking, promote independent learning, and enhance communication by allowing space for reflection and thoughtful decision-making, ultimately leading to better outcomes than immediate, unconsidered action.

Collaboration in 3D: Best Tips for Working Together in 3ds Max — Brain Chapman explains how effective collaboration in 3ds Max hinges on leveraging Autodesk’s built-in tools for sharing and review, employing robust asset management systems for version control, establishing clear organizational standards, utilizing real-time communication platforms for immediate feedback, integrating project management tools for tracking progress, automating repetitive tasks via scripting, and prioritizing low-resolution render tests to streamline workflows. By balancing technical skills with clear communication, teams can significantly enhance productivity and deliver high-quality 3D projects efficiently.

Quantity Takeoffs with Bluebeam Revu — Mike Thomas details how Bluebeam Revu facilitates efficient and accurate digital quantity takeoffs for construction projects, replacing traditional manual methods. He emphasizes Revu’s features, including scale calibration, diverse measurement tools, automated counting through visual search and sequences, and the powerful Markups List for data management and export. Mike also highlights the ability to link Revu data with Excel for advanced calculations and collaboration, ultimately showcasing Revu as a tool that significantly improves the speed, accuracy, and overall efficiency of the quantity takeoff process.

AutoCAD Architecture 2025 Project Navigator — Melinda Heavrin discusses how the AutoCAD Architecture Project Navigator’s Drawing Management environment organizes project files through hierarchical categories (Constructs, Views, Sheets), managed via dedicated tabs for project information, building object creation, view generation, and sheet plotting. It utilizes external references for linking project elements, employs a check-in/check-out system for collaborative version control, and provides tools for project maintenance like refreshing and repathing, ensuring efficient workflow and preventing file conflicts while emphasizing the importance of using the Project Navigator for project-related xrefs and preserving associated XML files.

Coordination: Then, Now and Beyond — Jonathan Massaro discusses how the evolution of design coordination in the AEC industry has progressed from manual methods like blueprints and physical meetings to sophisticated digital workflows utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) and cloud-based platforms like Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), which enable real-time collaboration, automated clash detection, and streamlined issue resolution; the current trend emphasizes visual and rule-based coordination, aiming to minimize the need for physical meetings, while future innovations like Extended Reality (XR) promise immersive collaboration experiences across the entire project lifecycle.

What’s new in Revit 2026 — Jason Peckovitch talks about how Revit 2026 brings a suite of powerful updates designed to streamline workflows and enhance productivity across architecture, engineering, and construction. Key improvements include accelerated graphics for better performance, a refined user interface with contextual ribbons for easier navigation, and enhanced documentation tools like expanded shared parameter support and improved sheet management. Collaboration is strengthened through enhanced coordination model visibility and better CAD file management, while sustainability is addressed with integrated carbon analysis tools. MEPF design, particularly electrical systems, benefits from globalized conductor management and improved power calculations. These comprehensive updates aim to provide professionals with the precision, flexibility, and efficiency needed to excel in modern design and construction projects.

AUGIWORLD April 2025 Issue Released!

2025.03.04

AUGIWORLD March 2025 -- Tips and Tricks

AUGIWORLD March 2025
We can all use new input, more help, and more knowledge for all things in life!

This month at AUGIWORLD join us as we focus on our most progressive and productive tips and tricks.

In the March 2025 issue:

Procrastinating — Mark Kiker explores the nature of procrastination, differentiating it from laziness and highlighting common causes such as fear of failure, perfectionism, and feeling overwhelmed. He emphasizes the importance of setting deadlines, reducing the scope of projects, staggering deliverables, and finding internal motivation to overcome procrastination. Mark concludes by advising readers to be kind to themselves when they procrastinate, acknowledging that it is a common human experience, and encourages them to refocus their efforts and maintain a proactive approach to their work.

AutoCAD Architecture 2025: Tips & Tricks in ACA — Melinda Heavrin discusses how AutoCAD Architecture provides architects with specialized tools for efficient design and drafting, including layer management, enhanced object selection, intelligent dimensioning, powerful rendering capabilities, and robust geographic location features. These tools streamline workflows, improve accuracy, and enhance the overall design process.

Civil 3D: Tips and Tricks — In this article Shawn Herring explores several often-overlooked features within Civil 3D that can significantly enhance workflow efficiency. These include improved surface editing capabilities, advanced labeling techniques, streamlined grading transitions, efficient corridor editing within the Section Editor, innovative parcel creation methods, enhanced stage storage analysis, and the utilization of the Volumes Dashboard for effective earthwork management. By incorporating these tips and tricks, Civil 3D users can streamline their design processes and achieve greater efficiency in their projects.

Weekly BIM Mastery: Tips and Tricks — Jason Peckovitch describes the “Weekly BIM Mastery” program, an internal initiative designed to enhance Building Information Modeling (BIM) knowledge and skills within a company’s Buildings Business Line. Delivered through SharePoint, the program provides weekly tips, tricks, and best practices on BIM software and workflows, covering topics like Revit, Navisworks, and Autodesk Construction Cloud. By focusing on practical applications and emphasizing continuous learning, the program empowers team members to improve project efficiency, enhance collaboration, and deliver higher-quality projects.

What can I do with a point cloud in Autodesk Civil 3D 2025? — Ms. Eva Helps demonstrates how to effectively utilize point cloud data within Autodesk Civil 3D 2025. She outlines the process of attaching point clouds in .rcp or .rcs format, generated using Autodesk Recap, and explores various visualization techniques, including adjusting display properties and creating cross-sections. She further details how to extract data from point clouds, such as creating surfaces, snapping to points for linework, and generating section views. By leveraging these capabilities, civil engineers can enhance their design accuracy, improve visualization, and streamline workflows, ultimately leading to more efficient and successful projects.

Life Lessons: An OG CAD Designers’ Perspective — Mark Behrens a veteran CAD designer shares lessons learned throughout his career. He emphasizes that failure is a valuable learning experience and highlights the importance of seeking solutions from online resources and attending conferences to stay up-to-date and improve one’s skills.

BricsCAD moves the Business Needle (Part 2): Tips and Tricks — Mr. Craig Swearingen explores the crucial role of effective drafting standards and best practices in improving efficiency and productivity within a BricsCAD environment. He emphasizes the importance of developing comprehensive standards documents, leveraging templates for consistent design, providing thorough user training, automating repetitive tasks, conducting regular audits, and encouraging feedback to refine standards over time. By implementing these strategies and utilizing BricsCAD’s powerful tools, such as the Standards Checker and DWGHealth, organizations can enhance drawing quality, reduce errors, and achieve greater efficiency in their design workflows.

AutoCAD: How do you Calc? — Paul Li chronicles the evolution of calculators within AutoCAD, from its initial absence to the introduction of the QuickCalc command. Early versions lacked a dedicated calculator, forcing users to rely on external tools or cumbersome AutoLISP commands. He highlights the ongoing evolution of calculation tools within AutoCAD and encourages users to find the most suitable method for their individual needs, whether it’s a physical calculator, a custom solution like DDCalc, or the built-in QuickCalc command.

Inside Track 5b: Let’s Look at DiRoots! (cont’d) — Rina Sahay delves into several DiRoots add-ins, including the DiRoots App Manager for managing all Revit add-ins, DiStellar (Beta), a web-based IFC viewer with limitations on larger models, and DiRootsOne for AutoCAD (Beta), which enhances element filtering and searching. She emphasizes the importance of judicious add-in usage to prevent performance issues and recommends enabling or disabling add-ins as needed to maintain optimal software performance.

AUGIWORLD March 2025 Issue Released!

2025.02.10

AUGIWORLD February 2025 -- Standards and Strategies

AUGIWORLD February 2025
Everyone has standards, and that is no different for this industry, they provide a guideline that is key to helping things run smoothly.

This month in AUGIWORLD our authors will discuss specific standards and how to apply them to certain situations in life and projects you might be working on.

In the February 2025 issue:

Setting the Standards: 3ds Max Strategies for Success in 3D Design and Visualization — Brian Chapman explains how success in 3D design and visualization with 3ds Max hinges on optimizing workflows through strategies like building reusable asset libraries, leveraging procedural modeling tools, mastering photorealistic rendering techniques, and automating tasks with scripting. Companies that embrace these strategies, integrate real-time engines, and utilize AI-powered tools can increase efficiency, enhance client experiences, and ultimately achieve greater success in the competitive 3D market.

Taking Action — Mark Kiker emphasizes the importance of taking action and moving forward with projects. He encourages readers to prioritize action over excessive planning, focus on tasks that motivate them, strive for effective solutions rather than perfection, and ensure that actions are sustainable in the long term. Defining milestones and minimizing procrastination are crucial for maintaining momentum and achieving project goals. By embracing a proactive mindset and focusing on effective action, individuals can successfully navigate projects and achieve desired outcomes.

Technology Manager’s Coin — In this article Gil Cordle emphasizes that successful Technology Managers must master both technical skills and leadership qualities. Just as a coin has two sides, so too does this role. The “Tails” side focuses on technical proficiency, such as troubleshooting software issues and developing processes. The “Heads” side emphasizes leadership and interpersonal skills, such as building relationships with staff, effectively communicating change, and fostering a collaborative environment. Gil explains that while technical expertise is crucial, effective leadership is equally important for building trust, motivating teams, and driving overall success within the organization.

Clash Detection in Civil 3D — Basheer Al Hamdan talks about how Pipeline Crossings Check (PCC) is a useful add-in for Autodesk Civil 3D that simplifies and accelerates the process of checking for clashes between pipes. It can detect both soft clashes (clearance issues) and hard clashes (physical overlaps) in gravity, pressure, or mixed networks. PCC offers features like customizable clash labels, clash reports, and the ability to zoom to clash locations for easy identification. Overall, PCC can save Civil 3D users time and effort by streamlining the clash detection process.

BricsCAD moves the Business Needle (Part 1): Standards — Mr. Craig Swearingen emphasizes the importance of drafting standards in ensuring consistency and efficiency in design workflows. By establishing clear standards for layers, dimensions, and text styles, companies can improve project quality, reduce errors, and enhance collaboration. BricsCAD provides a suite of tools, including Drawing Explorer, Standards Checking, and Sheet Set Manager, to help implement and maintain these standards. Features like templates, parametric blocks, and LISP scripting further enhance efficiency and automation. By embracing drafting standards and leveraging BricsCAD’s capabilities, businesses can streamline their processes, improve project outcomes, and achieve greater success.

AutoCAD Architecture 2025 standards in ACA — Melinda Hearvin emphasizes the importance of defining and implementing CAD Standards in AutoCAD Architecture, especially when multiple users contribute to a project. By creating a standards file with specific layer, text, dimension, and multileader styles, and associating it with drawings, you can ensure consistency and improve productivity. She discusses tools like the Standards Audit and Batch Standards Checker to help identify and correct violations.

Tips for a successful training program in Civil 3D — Jeff Frye outlines a strategy for successful Civil 3D training programs, emphasizing several key steps. Pre-class preparation is crucial, involving a pre-session assessment to tailor the curriculum, creating concise reference materials and a simple dataset, and developing a flexible course outline. During training, use ice breakers, adapt to different learning styles, avoid certain leading questions, and make it engaging with incentives and practical exercises that start simple and gradually incorporate more detail. After training offer additional support for anyone who may need it.

Building Excellence: The Role of Revit Standards — Jason Peckovitch discusses the critical role of Revit Standards in ensuring project success within the AEC industry. By establishing clear guidelines for modeling, documentation, and collaboration, Revit Standards provide a common language for project teams, enhancing efficiency and reducing errors. These standards, which encompass aspects like file naming conventions, modeling techniques, annotation styles, and collaboration protocols, contribute to improved project quality, client satisfaction, and overall project success. As technology evolves, Revit Standards must adapt to incorporate AI, cloud computing, and data-driven design, while also addressing global collaboration and sustainability considerations.

Inside Track: Walking through the Autodesk App Store Wonderland — In this article Rina Sahay explores free Revit add-ins available on the Autodesk App Store, starting with the introduction of a native Add-Ins Manager in Revit 2025. She then highlights several free tools, including ARKANCE’s Smart Browser Free for family management, Cut Opening Free for automatic hole creation, and Smart Select Free for advanced selection options. Rina also examines the Views Synchronizer and Worksets Management add-ins from KEO, discussing their functionalities and potential use cases. She concludes by encouraging users to explore the App Store further to discover tools that can enhance their Revit productivity.

AUGIWORLD February 2025 Issue Released!

2025.01.09

AUGIWORLD January 2025 -- Trending Technologies

AUGIWORLD January 2025
There is no better way to start off the new year than reading all about exciting trending technologies, join us in learning all about these technologies while also learning useful tips and tricks on how to use them.

Happy New Year and please enjoy this month’s issue!

In the January 2025 issue:

Leaning toward Action — In this article Mark Kiker explains the importance of a proactive approach to decision-making. It advocates for a balance between thoughtful analysis and decisive action. He suggests seeking conclusions that lead to specific actions, avoiding excessive deliberation, and being open to review and adjustment.

Unlocking the power of your office CAD workstation from Anywhere with Remote Access — Bryson Anderson discusses how remote access to high-performance CAD workstations empowers professionals to work efficiently from anywhere. He explains how optimizing network stability, workstation settings, and remote access software is crucial for a smooth experience. He also explains how implementing a secure remote access setup offers the benefits of mobility, efficiency, and cost savings while maintaining a high level of productivity and security.

Precision Meets Innovation: A Workflow for Point Cloud in AutoCAD — In this article Marialejandra Assunto Salcedo outlines a workflow for creating accurate 2D plans from point clouds using AutoCAD. She explains different steps that should be taken so professionals can create precise drawings for heritage preservation and remodeling projects. AutoCAD’s flexibility makes it the ideal tool for this process, ensuring accuracy to project goals.

IFC for the Win? — Jason Peckovitch explains why IFC, a standard for interoperability in the AEC industry, faces challenges in practical application. He explains how linking and importing IFC files into Revit can be inefficient and frustrating, particularly with complex models. Jason covers tools like the ArchiCAD Revit add-in and Newforma Konekt that offer partial solutions.

Storytelling with Generative AI Video: Beyond Plan, Elevation, and Section Chris Hoal explains how AI-generated video is revolutionizing architectural presentations. He mentions some tools you can use for going beyond traditional 2D representations. He talks about how the shift towards video storytelling allows designers to connect with clients and stakeholders, making their ideas more accessible and impactful. As these technologies continue to advance, they will be helpful in captivating audiences and elevating the design process.

Navigating the Complexities of Trending Technology with BricsCAD — In this article Mr. Craig Swearingen explains how BricsCAD is a versatile CAD software that embraces new trends with features like AI-driven automation, cloud collaboration, BIM capabilities, and parametric design. He explains how BricsCAD is a platform that helps navigate complexities with agility as well as giving you some tools that help balance innovation, cost-effectiveness, and user accessibility.

Emerging Technologies and Software Trends for 3ds Max Users — Brian Chapman explains how the 3D design industry is undergoing a technological revolution. AI-powered tools are streamlining workflows and enhancing creativity. Virtual production and immersive technologies are becoming more accessible. The future of 3D design is bright, with AI and other technologies poised to reshape the industry.

AUGIWORLD January 2025 Issue Released!

2024.12.06

AUGIWORLD December 2024 -- Industry Insights

AUGIWORLD December 2024
This month at AUGIWORLD, we’re ending the year with some helpful insights from our authors into the industry that is ever-changing.

Take some good notes, stay warm this holiday season, and we hope you enjoy this month’s issue!

In the December 2024 issue:

Industry Insights for 3ds Max Professionals — Brian Chapman highlights the key trends reshaping workflows—from digital twin technology to AI driven Creativity—alongside emerging tools that can help artists stay at the forefront of innovation.

Realistic Optimism — Mark Kiker talks about his experience in taking a realistic view in the decision making process. He practices realistic optimism and gives an example on what it means to be realistically optimistic in the workspace. Mark uses this to provide a good framework for his article.

Best Practices for Fire Safety System Design Using BIM — Nerold Abedin explores the best practices for using BIM in fire safety system designs to help optimize outcomes for construction projects.

Work Smarter, Not Faster: 3rd Party Apps for Civil 3D — Tom Schrecengost shares twelve of his favorite lisps and executables that he uses weekly, if not daily. And on top of that, they’re all free!

Inside Track: To IFC or NOT to IFC — Rina Sahay shares some of the lessons she learned in the process of working on a large industrial project based in the US earlier this year, which involved collaboration with overseas consultants!

BricsCAD V25: Smart Meets Easy — Craig Swearingen explores BricsCAD V25 to uncover the new features and latest advancements in CAD technology that automates workflows in a user-friendly design space.

The Evolution of Land Surveying — Shawn Herring talks about the history and evolution that Land Surveying has progressed into over time, so he decided to do a bit of digging on the history of land surveying—and not just from the days of chains—but way back in the day!

Autodesk University 2024: Key Takeaways for the Future of AECO — Jordan Bullock takes a closer look at the technologies and ideas that are redefining AECO’s future. These key takeaways from AU24 reveal how Autodesk is empowering professionals to lead projects with precision, efficiency, and a clear focus on sustainability.

2024 Industry Insights from ThatBIMGuy — Jason Peckovitch delves into the key advancements, from the release of Revit 2025 and its subsequent updates to the introduction of Autodesk’s Content Catalog. Jason also explores the impacts of large language models like ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot, and the innovative AI tools transforming Revit workflows. Lastly, he highlights the importance of industry conferences and the valuable insights they provide!

AUGIWORLD December 2024 Issue Released!

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