BIM Managers connect like CAD Managers

I've been an avid reader of CAD Management forums for years, and I currently moderate in that area on the AUGI Forums. They're a goldmine of information and experienced perspective.

As I have mentioned in previous posts here, and in the AUGI Salary Survey, BIM Managers are becoming more and more common as firms continue to embrace and expand the use of Revit and similar products. They're dealing with a whole new set of problems, in addition to the typical management and education considerations that CAD Managers have been dealing with for years.

I just wanted to let folks know that there is a BIM Management forum on AUGI now, too. For those folks to share ideas and ask questions and point out their favorite resources to one another. For now, since there isn't much traffic, BIM Standards are also being discussed in this and other forums as well, but, if those conversations became very numerous, I'd be happy to see to the creation of a BIM Standards forum.

This is partly a selfish announcement, because I'd love to see a lot more discussion going on in there. As an owner contemplating what standards we will have our contractors operate by, I want to see what those firms have to say about what's easy and what's hard within their own companies. It took me awhile to strike that balance in my CAD Standards between what I really need and what isn't too disruptive to the workflow of our contracted drafters and designers.

Feel free to visit any of the other discussion areas for CAD & BIM Managers on AUGI:
CAD Management general
BIM Management general

CAD Standards
AutoCAD Customization
Training
Education (for educators)

Hardware
Networks
Software
Operating Systems

AutoCAD 2010 Launch - Quickie

I am blogging from San fransisco right now (from my iPhone, because the Hyatt has a lousy connection). I have to be brief on my phone.

Today 10 bloggers were brought to the official launch of Acad2010. We voiced our opinions on new features, hit and miss, to the people in charge of creating them.

I have been tweeting and posting pictures on twitpic all day, but, I do have two fully illustrated blog posts in the queue for when I've got computer Internet access. For now, you can check out a list of new features here:
http://www.twitter.com/MistresDorkness

Cheers!

I've been micro-blogging

Obviously I've been on hiatus from the blog while I was on Maternity leave with the newest addition to our family, but, I have been micro-blogging using Twitter. If you're on Twitter, tweeting about design, look me up and maybe we can follow one another.

It's a quick and easy way to trade links and post updates about everything.

When I'm tweeting about my AutoCAD/CAFM/BIM blog I'll be on:

twitter.com/MistresDorkness

I make personal and general tech updates at:

twitter.com/melanieperry

I'll be heading out to California tomorrow, look for my tweets at the first link to see what we're up to (hint: it has to do with AutoCAD). Look for some blog posts on the topic(s) after I return.

BIM Communication Coordination and Analysis - St. Louis Meeting

Here are the details of our next Gateway Autodesk User Group meeting

When: 18th February - Wednesday - from 6 to 8:00 pm

Where: Clayco, Inc., 2199 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114. (google map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2199+Inne...
).

What: "BIM as a communication, coordination and analysis tool using Revit MEP, Green building Studio, Ecotect, Navisworks" by Jason Steele, Autodesk

Food/Refreshments: Pizza and Drinks – sponsored by Seiler Instrument

You can RSVP here ( http://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?key=plk51EgjXLX-aIdsJy1ucCg ) so that we can make arrangements for food and drinks.

Autodesk University 2008: Follow AUGIatAU on Twitter

Follow AUGI highlights and other event mentions on Twitter (a micro-blogging tool): http://twitter.com/AUGIatAU Also, check out who AUGIatAU is following to easily locate the micro-blogging feeds of Joseph Wurcher, Shaan Hurley and the AUGI BoD. If you Tweet from AU, use the hash code #AU2008 so people can follow your updates (also, if you blog from AU, don't forget to tag your posts).

Welcome to the World Offspring Beta

November 4th was the big day for the Perry family.

Our 2nd son entered the world a healthy 7lbs 12oz and 21" long.

Our Picasa brag book.

We came home on Saturday and are both doing great. Offspring Alpha and dear hubby are looking after us well. Thanks to all for the good wishes on the forums and blogs.

Programming webcast: .NET for LISP Programmers

Another webcast you might be interested in:

Free AutoCAD programming webcast: .NET for LISP Programmers

As mentioned in this previous post, my team delivers regular webcasts on programming with Autodesk technologies.

Assuming you're reading this while the metaphorical ink's still damp, it's still not too late to register for a class being held on Thursday October 16th at 8am Pacific, 5pm CET: AutoCAD: .NET for LISP Programmers.

Otherwise you should be able to find a recording of the webcast on this page within a few weeks of the session being delivered. In fact, here's the recording of the last time this session was delivered (although it may well have been updated slightly, as the session will also be delivered at AU 2008).

Here's a brief synopsis of the topic covered by this webcast:

You know that .NET is a modern and powerful programming environment. But, no matter how much you might want to start using it, you can't abandon all your old LISP code. We’ll show you how to write .NET code that can interoperate with your existing LISP code, with a special emphasis on user interface components.

AutoCAD LT Webcast: Making the Most of Annotation

Update: this webcast was recorded, and should be posted in about a week to:

www.autodesk.com/autocadltwebcasts

via Autodesk:

AutoCAD LT Webcast: Annotation Unlimited: Making the Most of Annotation Tools in AutoCAD LT
Date & Time: Thursday, October 2, 2008 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. PDT

Annotating drawings is something that everybody has to do. No matter how clearly a plan or detail is drawn, it almost always needs some text inserted to convey all the information it should. With AutoCAD® LT, however, that task is easier than ever. In this webcast, AutoCAD LT Technical marketing manager Kate Morrical will explain and demonstrate how built-in tools make adding annotations a snap, whether they’re simple text objects, intelligent dimensions, or detailed tables. She’ll also cover newer features, such as fields and annotation scaling.

REGISTER HERE: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/oc/offer/form?siteID=123112&id=11808649

Reminder: St. Louis Metro BIM/CAD meeting tonight!

Just a reminder...

The Gateway Autodesk User's Group is meeting tonight at the Masonry Institute on Big Bend. From 6-7:30.

Local BIM guru and educational advocate Tomislav Zigo will be presenting on Interoperability and Building Performance tools.

We'll be giving away a pass to Autodesk University (must be 21 and over, and able to cover own transportation costs), among other prizes.

What else: If you are a GAUG member and if you are present at the meeting, you might win a pass to Autodesk University 2008. ($ 1,845 value).
You can RSVP here to make yourself eligible for this AU draw by joining GAUG!!!!

As always, there will be food and drink, thanks to sponsor, Seiler Instrument.
There's also a new reseller in town, and I believe they'll have at least one rep in attendance if you'd like to meet them.



As an aside, world-renowned CADD Manager, Mark Kiker (current President of AUGI) has just started a BIM Manager's group. If you want to share your opinions and gather feedback from other's, pop over and sign up.

AUGI Local Events this Week

I love the calendar reminders on the AUGI forum site.

I can easily see there are a few LUG's/Local Chapters/SIG's with events this week (I also see by the calendar page itself that there are six more events the following week).

September 9th, 2008 -
- San Francisco Revit Structure Special Interest Group
- Redwood Empire Revit User Group

September 10th, 2008 -
- STRUG-SD
- Sacramento MEP User Group
- GAUG (St. Louis Metro Area) CAD/BIM Meeting
- North Bay Civil GIS User Group

September 11th, 2008 -
- Denver Revit Users Group
- San Francisco MEP User Group
- Bend Revit User Group