RobiNZ CAD Blog

No escaping the BIM, even on holiday

Several years ago I blogged about finding Cadman Rd in Auckland & wondered if there were any place names with BIM (Building Information Model). Google maps showed just one in New Zealand: Bims Rd in a fairly isolated part of the South Island near Nelson Lakes. By chance I had been there and even taken a photo, perhaps not a surprise given the number I shoot on holiday, of the valley while on a cycle tour. Yesterday the cycle tour I’ve just finished passed by there again so I just had to stop and get a real photo. Bims Road... Read more →

Cycling Directions now in Google Maps New Zealand

Yay, Google Maps now has cycling directions for New Zealand and Map Maker tools so we can add updates. Below you can see Google Maps suggested route from my suburb to the city. It routes cycles to the North Western Motorway (or freeway for US readers) in preference to a shorter suburban road route. Although cycles are not allowed on the motorway there is a cycle path beside it which is the safest way to town. The current route misses a short section of cycle path near Henderson and in the city. You can use the Map Maker tools to... Read more →

Register to see Autodesk’s “Lead The Way” Virtual Event, while I’m on my bike!

In late March I’m off to tour Northland — the north of NZ’s North Island — with a bunch of similarly crazy cyclists. Ten days of cycling a mainly coastal circuit around the beautiful Northland scenery. I just hope some summer weather we haven’t had yet arrives really late! The area is very familiar, unlike previous South Island & Vietnam cycle trips, Most of it is within a (long) days drive of my Auckland home and the location for many childhood family holidays. I have cycled most the route before but that was long ago (I was 17!). In those... Read more →

And so it begins... #AU2011

Picked a beautiful sunny Sunday evening to leave NZ. Waiting to board my flight to L.A. it finally seems like AU 2011 is happening. I arrive, all going to plan, Sunday afternoon (love that dateline). Can't wait! Read more →

@ AU, are you? Autodesk University 2011 #AU2011

As I write, according to the countdown on Shaan Hurley’s blog, it is a mere fifty six days and five hours until Autodesk University 2011, Las Vegas, begins. However another deadline is approaching rapidly if you are thinking of attending and haven’t registered yet. General Registration opened mid September but if you register by October 11th you can save up to us$500 on the 3 Day pass. Although I love attending AU it seemed a remote possibility this year. However that changed last week with some assistance from Autodesk Public Relations, via the AutoCAD Blogger Council, in the form of... Read more →

#AU2009 – I’m (finally) here!

Auckland – Terminal kerb to aircraft in a mere 7 hours… Perhaps it was my fault, maybe posting the Savage Chicken baggage claim hell toon wasn’t such a good idea. The trouble started long before LAX baggage claim, in fact before check in at Auckland! I arrived nice and early, about 12:30, to avoid the possible Sunday afternoon rush only to find the QANTAS check in line went beyond the ziggy zaggy queue area and halfway along the departure hall. That seemed a bit strange three hours before departure. I joined the end only to be told that the check... Read more →

Ferrari World, looks CGI but it’s real

This is off topic but I thought worth sharing. Looking at the image (right) of Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi it seems a bit “computer render” but this is a photograph. The shrine to all things Ferrari was recently closed in and certainly stood out in the coverage from last weekends inaugural Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix. It doesn’t fully open until 2010 but was used for some support events, concerts and the has the worlds largest Ferrari store. I have been to Disney’s world but suspect Ferrari World will be more fun for big boys. Imagine GM... Read more →

Autodesk Gallery - The technology toy box

A few weeks ago I blogged about the design related displays in the Autodesk Gallery at One Market Street - their San Francisco Customer and Technology Showcase. That is just one aspect of the space. T... Read more →

Autodesk Gallery - Design on show

Having seen "The Gallery", on Scott's Labs Blog , I was keen to visit and delighted to find it was the location for the AutoCAD 2010 Backstage Pass Event . When I arrived much of the display area was... Read more →

Happy Birthday 747 - First flight +40

Last week I flew about 22,000km in a Boeing 747 for the AutoCAD 2010 Launch Event . I didn't realise, until today, that the 747 celebrated forty years of flight while we were in the air on the flight... Read more →