IMAGINiT Building Solutions Blog

AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and AutoCAD MEP 2012

Next up in our tour of what’s new, we’re going to deviate from Revit and move over to the old guard - to AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture (ACA), and AutoCAD MEP (AMEP). As you probably know, the new features in AutoCAD also exist in ACA and AMEP, and the new features available in ACA exist in AMEP as well. I’m sure there’s a three musketeers reference in here somewhere, I’m just not seeing it right now. :)
For the purposes of this post, I’m going to focus on the new features that I think are the most relevant to building design – that being said, I’m sure that there are those who will disagree with me, but you know what? That’s the joy of being in the world we’re in. If you feel I’m missing anything and you’d like to make a gentle correction, post a comment below.

AutoCAD

• Path array: take an element and array along a path – the element and the path are linked to each other so that if you change the path, the array changes too. The images below are before and after grip editing the spline path that the circles are arrayed along.

 

• Multi-functional grips: this capability has been extended to lines, arcs, elliptical arcs, dimensions, mleaders, 3D faces, 3D edges, and 3D vertices. Hover your cursor over a grip point and see a list of available editing functions for that object’s grip point.

 

• Enhanced copy tool: the Copy tool now includes a non-associative linear array option.

AutoCAD Architecture

• This one’s easy… corner windows. Adds easily to walls, automatically adjusts if the wall angle changes, uses regular window styles (no new object type just for this condition), handles butt join conditions or corner framing… really well implemented!

 

AutoCAD MEP

• User Interface consolidation: drawing duct or pipe no longer brings up a separate dialog box; it uses the properties palette, just like most everything else.
• Engineering Units: you can now set your units for flow, friction, and velocity from one unit to another, with the associated values automatically converting for you (found in the Drawing Setup dialog box)

 

Autodesk 2012 Software - What's in it for you?

The season of Autodesk 2012 software releases is upon us…  and there’s a lot to talk about. Too much for a single blog post, of course. :) This posting will start a series discussing highlights of the new releases. In addition to this, please refer back to our main site, www.imaginit.com for information on our other activities related to this time of year.

New and improved features in Revit Architecture 2012:

• Tagging elements in linked files has been extended to Rooms, Spaces, Beam Annotation, Keynotes, Beam Systems, and Areas
• The Type Selector works while drawing objects in sketch mode
• New “Realistic with Edges” and “Ghost Surfaces” graphics display modes have been added, along with ambient occlusion for hidden line and consistent color graphics display modes
• 3Dconnexion devices are supported in Revit for 2D and 3D view navigation
• You can now assign a specific “Starting View” to be opened when the file is loaded
• 3D Views can be locked, and once they’ve been locked, you can tag elements in these 3D views
• Consistent thickness walls, roofs, ceilings, and floors can be divided into ‘Parts’ for construction planning purposes
• Publishing to CAD has been enhanced with new export settings, including better layer, dimension, text, line pattern, and fill pattern mapping
• You can save all families loaded into a project or family to individual files
• Enhanced importing to and exporting from .txt files (type catalogs)
• Revit now has the ability to directly link point cloud (PCG) files – and the ability to convert common cloud file formats to PCG files
• Materials in Revit have been improved, allowing for better management of these materials, material properties, and material libraries
• New EQ display for dimensions and enhanced dimension leader line options
• There is a new button in the options bar to relocate the center of rotation (or other commands that have this same behavior) as opposed to only having the option to dragging the control point
  Workset visibility can be controlled through View Templates
• You now have the ability to disable worksets when detaching a model from central
• There is a new display mode that will allow you to change the display of elements according to ownership, its up-to-date status relative to the central file, or workset assignment
• Editing Requests now show up in balloon notifications
• Revit Server is formally supported in Windows Server 2008 R2 and VMWare
• Revit Architecture is now compatible with Citrix® XenApp®6
• Integration with Autodesk® Vault Collaboration AEC software, to help securely manage content, current and historical models, design, and project data
• Improved Performance: multi-threaded element loading, computation of silhouette edges, and model element graphics
• Purge unused now includes Import Categories and Object Styles
• New Rounding function in formulas

There’s a lot more than just this, so keep an eye out for more information and links coming soon!

Employment Opportunities at IMAGINiT!

Stolen from our wicked-awsome HR department:

IMAGINIT Technologies, a division of RAND WORLDWIDE, is a leading provider of Autodesk design and engineering solutions to the building, architecture, manufacturing, civil engineering, geospatial, and media and entertainment industry.  With employees in the US, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, IMAGINiT provides CAD software and technology expertise.

When you work with an industry leader you expect more.  At IMAGINiT Technologies we offer a competitive salary, bonus potential, and excellent benefits.  IMAGINiT employees have medical coverage from Aetna, Delta Dental, Flexible Spending Accounts, Fidelity 401(k) plan with a company match, paid holidays, sick and vacation time and tuition reimbursement.

IMAGINiT Technologies is an Autodesk Gold Partner.  Gold Partners are qualified to provide customers with full solutions from pre and post-sales support, training, implementation, and customization services.  Fortune 100 companies - as well as the last 14 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects - use Autodesk software tools to design, visualize and simulate their ideas to save time and money, enhance quality, and foster innovation for competitive advantage. 

IMAGINiT is Autodesk's largest Authorized Training Center (ATC) partner in North America. The ATC program is Autodesk's preferred provider network for instructor-led training and is recognized as the authority on Autodesk software technical training in a classroom setting.

Why work at IMAGINiT?  Because we’re a company on the move!  We have the rich legacy of 20+ years in the business, but the energy of a start up.  Are you someone who:

• thrives on change
• loves a challenge
• has confidence in your own ability to succeed
• is a self-starter
• wants to make a difference in your customers’ lives

Don’t just think about it – IMAGINiT with an industry-leading technology company!

AEC positions that we have open:
Cleveland, Ohio (Direct link to posting below):
http://tbe.taleo.net/NA11/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=RAND&cws=1&rid=265

Baltimore, Maryland (Direct link to posting below):
http://tbe.taleo.net/NA11/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=RAND&cws=1&rid=266

How Do You Learn?

I've been in some discussions recently about different ways that education can be provided or knowledge acquired. With that in mind, here’s a bit that I wrote about training about 5 or so years ago. One thought I'd add to all of this, is that in my opinion, you should engage in learning with the mindset that you will in turn need to teach the subject to someone else. Some of the best knowledge I ever gained (and retained) was when I've had this attitude. 

This piece is not intended to consist of absolutely everything that exists or is possible, and there is never one single solution - everyone tends to have a different way they prefer to learn. What do you think, do you agree? Disagree?

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Software is a critical and integral part of the business and workflow of building design. This software is constantly changing and improving, making education critical to the success of implementation or effective utilization – especially if you are changing from one software platform to another. With this in mind, there are many types of education available to consider taking advantage of, including:

• Instructor led classroom training (on or off site)
  • Best for staff education where a lot of information will need to be delivered to the employees or project team
• Web based training
  • Similar to Instructor led classroom training, but it avoids potential expenses and can lack some of the personal feel and accountability of a face-to-face class. These classes can sometimes have a reduced level of focus on the part of the students.
• Viewing pre-recorded presentations
  • Good for archiving common issues or workflow processes
• User group meetings
  • Excellent environment for making and improving industry contacts, and learning about aspects of the software that you may not use on a regular basis
• Lunch and learns (brown bag)
  • Good for delivering information about workflow or CAD/BIM guidelines that is very focused to a small topic.
• Just-in-time, task oriented training
  • Excellent method for teaching an individual about a single object or task, immediately before they start working on it. For example, teaching someone about stairs and railings immediately prior to that person starting work on a building core.
• Over-the-shoulder training
  • Similar to just-in-time task training, but is not focused on a single object or topic. This is often used as a support delivery mechanism to reactively or proactively check with employees.
• Reading books or tutorials
  • This is the most time-consuming educational process and it does not provide a structure for questions and answers for the material covered in the book.
• Blogs, social media, and video sites like YouTube
  • These sources are great for tips and tricks, but it can take a large amount of time to search for potential solutions. You may find a large volume of information that does not apply to you, or find that the information is out of date.

Each of these methods have different hard and soft costs associated to them (in general, hard costs = out-of-pocket expenses, soft costs = time away from billable work) and each has its own place in an overall professional development program. In addition, what works for one person may not work for another, so keep all your options open!

Where possible, training should include development of customized project-oriented education classes to address your specific requirements. In other words, if you can avoid it, don’t go to a class and learn how to design a medical lab if you usually work on houses. :) If it is company-specific education, education should allow for standards and any custom routines to be explained. Time and resources should be provided for an expert to follow-up with on-site or web-based productivity training and support for all users. This instructor should be available while users are working on projects during the learning period after formal education classes have occurred.

Project Managers, Project Architects and Engineers who are not drafting regularly must be encouraged to participate in ongoing education programs. This will allow these non-CAD/BIM users the ability to know what is possible in the software, and what they can expect from their team members.
All staff should use a skills assessment to discover gaps in areas of knowledge, and highlight topics required for education. Education for employees should be based on the user’s previous experience and skill level. This education can be achieved by:

• Outside classroom training with a trusted partner.
• Internal classroom or one-on-one training either by external or internal instructor.
• Web-based either live instructor led, or self-paced training. This can be used to combine multiple offices into one web-based training series.

It is essential for the productivity within project teams that new employees are exposed to a structured training course on your workflow and processes. Education delivery can be by internal resources, or by an external partner.

• Internal resources are advantageous since the staff is familiar with your workflow and standards. However, if internal resources are used, regular scheduling, time allocation and budgeting is required.
• External partnerships are advantageous since there are fewer conflicts for competing resource time and instructors are more experienced with the product and teaching techniques. Through long-term partnership, and by using the same partners to assist with creation of standards and processes, these partners will be familiar with your workflow and be able to incorporate this into their teaching.