RobiNZ CAD Blog

For me BIM probably began with LEGO

I haven’t modelled with, or thought much about, LEGO for decades—the photo below is my collection in the mid-1970s, my first building models—but recently created a logon for the LEGO IDEAS site. The motivation was to support an awesome Kākāpō bird project. The real Kākāpō is endangered, once considered extinct, and this LEGO tribute was promoted on Twitter by astronomer turned conservation biologist Dr Andrew Digby @takapodigs; Kākāpō and Takahē Scientist for the New Zealand Department of Conservation. I’ve followed him since seeing his presentation at the NZ Skeptics Conference (2016) about a career/life change that went from creating/using telescope... 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 →

The Ferrari Pinin & me

I debated posting this on the CAD blog but it is a bit off topic. If you’d like to see how a 1980 Pininfarina Ferrari Concept car (now up for sale) led to a school tech drawing project which played a part in my career choice, and therefore (indirectly) led to this blog, click below: RobiNZ Personal Blog: The Ferrari Pinin Sedan Concept Car for sale (without my interior) Read more →

Mastering Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011, more than a book! #AU2010

Imagine you had a magical device that could connect you directly to some of the best Revit brains on the planet. Imagine it revealed techniques, tips and outright tricks to help you make Revit fly. Then imagine it was affordable and readily accessible on your (physical or virtual) desktop. Mastering Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 is that device. It has 1100+ pages containing lessons learnt in years, nearly a decade, and countless hours of real world Revit experience. The Authors Eddy Krygiel, Phil Read & James Vandezande are regular speakers at Autodesk University and well known to “Reviteers” through their blogs,... Read more →

Phil Bernstein has a Blog?

Don’t know how I missed it but a tweet, soon followed by a fellow BIM geek’s email, led me to Phil Bernstein’s relatively new Blog. It’s great to see him jump into the world of blogging. I have seen Phil speak at Autodesk University and (long before that) had some quite “vigorous” discussion via Discussion Group & Email around the Revit acquisition. I first met him at an Autodesk BIM event in Korea, 2006. A year later our paths crossed at an Autodesk University function (Revit or APAC Mixer?) and he said: “I read your post about Korea today, in... Read more →

Thirteen years, where did they go?

According to Outlook, today marked thirteen years since I joined The Warehouse Limited. Coincidentally, yesterday a question regarding the area of a long closed store had me ferreting through an old plan* (below left) which represented TWL store design at about that time. Since then we have evolved from 2D CAD to BIM with tools that seemed like science fiction not much more than a decade ago. Although technology, and the world, has changed the reasons I decided TWL would be a good place to work remain. So, it’s back to work tomorrow! * This plan was a trace of... Read more →

From RobiNZ CAD Blog to RobiNZ Revit Blog

Occasionally I change the banner on this blog. Usually it’s just an excuse to show some photography but this month is different. The banner is completely new, the photo carefully chosen to mark the end of a long an winding road. It’s been, but doesn’t seem, a long time since April 2001 when I first met Phil Read in NZ and he showed me some remarkable software. Seeing the registration dialog below, for the first time on my own PC rather than a work one, means it’s time to acknowledge the change. Although I’m not an Architect I’m now a... Read more →

CADuzer becomes BIMuzer, BIM’vangelism?

Writing about meeting Greg Arkin at Autodesk University (see BIM Bids Only!) I described his style as “BIM’vangelistic”. It seems some BIM’vangelism, combined with the gift of a domain name, worked for Scott! CADuzer becomes BIMuzer - thanks to Revit3D.com Well, I think my work is done here. I've officially gotten CADuzer to become BIMuzer. We can all rest easy. What started out as a New Year's gift has become something real and special… Read more →

BIM at the NZ Maritime Museum?

It’s hard to avoid BIM, even when you’re on holiday. I must admit the prime motivation for visiting the Maritime Museum was a recently opened exhibit: Blue Water Black Magic - A Tribute to Sir Peter Blake It features the 1995 America’s Cup-winning boat NZL32 – Black Magic suspended in mid-air surrounded by exhibits. They showcase the development of yachting as recreation/sport (rather than transport) and New Zealand’s competitive yachting history. While Sir Peter Blake is, deservedly, prominent it is a tribute to the achievements of all Kiwi yachties, designers, sail makers and boat builders; both local and international. You... Read more →