RobiNZ CAD Blog

End of an era, as Autodesk leaves Shaan Hurley

On Tuesday 30 March 2004, I posted this on TypePad: Getting Started This is the first post to see how it all works. Read other weblogs, thought I'd have a go myself. RobiNZ CAD Blog The reason I chose TypePad, then a new'ish (public launch October 2003) hosted platform, is one of the most influential 'other weblogs' was Shaan Hurley's Between The Lines ~ AutoCAD Blog. I'd been thinking about blogging but had no interest in coding or self-hosting. When Shaan told me his pioneering CAD Blog was hosted, authored, on TypePad it was enough to spur me into action,... Read more →

ActiveWords time codes for video notes 0:00:00!

I'm not at Autodesk University, but I am watching the on-line content. I've long added time codes to notes for video, but only today used ActiveWords for the blindingly obvious. Decided 10-minute blocks were enough, changing one digit makes it minute accurate, so made a bunch of "time code" ActiveWords. Now when I type tc0 I get "0:00:00 | ". tc10 0:10:00 | , tc20 0:20:00 | etc. Why didn't I do this before now? Read more →

Revit User Group Auckland awarded for most RSVPs in Autodesk Group Network

It was a pleasant surprise to see this award, for the Revit User Group Auckland, presented at Autodesk University last week. It was for the most RSVP's for groups in the Autodesk Group Network, but I suspect New Zealand's COVID status gave us an unfair advantage. Our 2020 kicked off in February, as normal due to summer holidays taking priority in January, but then COVID-19 Intervened as New Zealand locked down. We cancelled the March meeting then met on-line in April and May. Our meetings are hosted in an office (thanks Jasmax) we didn't want to compromise their workspace even... Read more →

Vale 'Blads'

it was a shock, last night, to learn of Bill Adams death. Although we both come from the Southern Hemisphere the AUGI booth at Autodesk University was where we met in person. I will miss that smile and the man under the crazy hats (below at AU2011). Vale Bill, my thoughts are with his family and all who'll miss him, literally, around the world. Read more →

Next generation of Autodesk BIM 360 announced #AU2017

BIM 360 revision announced Read more →

ESRI & Autodesk Alliance announced at #AU2017

Fascinating to see Autodesk and ESRI announce an alliance at the Autodesk University Technology Keynote. In my previous life at the Airport the gulf between GIS and BIM was a real frustration. Look forward to seeing what this brings. Sent from Outlook for Android More information here: https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/bim/hub/autodesk-esri Read more →

Twenty years on, another Quantum leap #AU2017

About twenty years ago I read a 'brain dump' from Jim Awe about the next generation of AEC design. It described a world of object design, model properties and display management that was realised in Architectural Desktop and, later, Revit. Today at Autodesk University he did it again presenting the emerging Quantum AEC platform. It's not an application, more a system, a playing field, for managing data flow in design projects at a fundamental level applicable to all applications, cloud and desktop. The Quantum leap: forget about applications, files, even data transfer and think about how your entire project life... Read more →

Forge DevCon and why I really came to #AU2017 (Day –1)

It was quite an impulsive decision which resulted in me attending Autodesk University 2017. I had been thinking about it for a while, but not seriously, and was browsing the session catalogue one evening when I saw: FDC128313 -- Quantum: A Next-Generation BIM Ecosystem – Jim Awe & Shiya Luo I immediately clicked Register, then grabbed a seat in this one hour session. Eleven thousand Kilometres is quite a long way to go for a 60 minute meeting and it wasn’t even part of the main AU event! Forge DevCon? The Quantum session was part of Forge DevCon which ran... Read more →

Autodesk University 2017 booked

It has been few years, 2011!, since I last attended Autodesk University Las Vegas but I have just registered for AU2017. I will be arriving* sometime Sunday 12th as added the Monday 13th Forge DevCon to my pass. Interested to see what is happening in that Quantum space. Because there is a risk of only walking a gazillion steps a day, and not because I’m a cheapskate, I’m reducing the likelyhood of missing my step count target by staying over at Treasure Island. Looking forward to learning heaps, meeting old friends and making new ones. See you in Vegas?! *... Read more →

Why I’m sad not to be at Autodesk University 2016

I’d like to shake Carl Bass’ hand, or (and this is way out of character for me) hug him, for this tweet (below) soon after the first presidential campaign debate: Just to remove any doubt which candidate Carl was referring to this re-tweet and earlier tweet make it clear: I also must say I respect Carl for leaving his Twitter feed unedited post election. I have been sad to see several US friends, companies and institutions changing their stance and even social media history post-election. I understand that may be driven by (justifiable) fear, protecting their own position and family,... Read more →