Well, St. Louis will be getting it's first CAD Camp ( a one-day regional training event ) on October 24th.
Hey, and, did you know, that if you attend an AUGI CAD Camp, you'll be eligible for a $150 discount on your Autodesk University registration?
And if you don't know what AU is... well, you're missing out. It's the 14th annual training mecca put on by Autodesk with 500 classes taught by industry gurus.
If you belong to an AUGI local user group, be sure to name them during your AU registration.
And, if you belong to a LUG, make sure your contact information is up to date and your spam filters allow your LUG President's important email announcements through so you don't miss any valuable information about upcoming training and special offers.
Okay, if that's not enough of a hint, nearly 20% of my members' emails have bounced on this message, come on people, work with me here. If you belong to the Gateway AUG and did NOT get an email from me, please send me a message so I can fill you in. Thanks!
Oh, and if you'd like to know what you can expect from classes at autodesk university, please check out the Autodesk University Course Handout Archives hosted on AUGI.com (free registration to become a member and access all this and more!). You can find courses from 2000-2004, and, if you're still using older versions of AutoCAD, these may be just what you need.
Hope to see you at CAD Camp and AU!
To the St. Louisans, the next meeting of the Gateway AUG, showcasing some great Tips and Tricks, is planned for Tuesday October the 3rd at Vatterott College in Sunset Hills. We'll bring the food and the AutoCAD tips, all you have to bring is yourself... well, we'll let you bring a friend if you want to, as well. ;) We might have some nice give-aways, too.
2006-08-29
2006-08-28
Loads of Very Cool Tech Links
How Do You Use Your Blog? - take part in this survey of bloggers and they will email you the results 30 days after it closes
"This is perhaps the most inventive human-powered device that's come across my desk this month. It's a design concept for a wireless yo-yo powered MP3 player. The inventors estimate that between 10-12 tosses per hour are sufficient for continuous music play. A wireless headset allows the user to listen to music while yo-yoing. Chris Aimone and Tomek Bartczak created the design, and recently took home the Pop Sci and Core77 award for best human-powered device."
Thanks to Mark Kiker for the following...
or, the cursor you get, the further you fall?
or, what's the point?
alright, I'm running out of puns :-/ moving swiftly along...
Hey, while I'm up here, check it out!
50 hits on AutoCAD videos on YouTube
40 hits on AutoCAD on google video.
27 hits on Revit
and another 9
58 on Autodesk ( neat one on Design )
Duct Tape outfits can add up to cold hard cash for high-school students.
The ticket gate electricity generation system relies on a series of piezo elements embedded in the floor under the ticket gates, which generate electricity from the pressure and vibration they receive as people step on them. When combined with high-efficiency storage systems, the ticket gate generators can serve as a clean source of supplementary power for the train stations. Busy train stations (and those with large numbers of passengers willing to bounce heavily through the gates) will be able to accumulate a relatively large amount of electricity."
erm... Tele-airhockey-conference?
This just looks too handy... oh, and for the curious, my brit hubby doesn't know why the reviewer is snickering? Anyone care to enlighten us?
From 'trash' to 'flash'... recycled rubber purses!
Need to charge the battery for your portable electronic devices? Try this handy charge box!
And, finally, the most mind-wobblingly-useful class I've ever taken at Autodesk University (and that is saying A LOT!) presented by Daniel Abbott - 'Changing hundreds of AutoCAD drawings in a hurry'.
Be sure to check out all of the other handouts here... (this was under 2004 - Customization)
(free registration is required, if you've already signed up and you can't remember your password, contact member services, don't start a new account please. thank you)
Something that might also be of note... the ransom to free the maps (DRG) was successful! GIS-ers rejoice.
Happy CADding!
Something that might also be of note... the ransom to free the maps (DRG) was successful! GIS-ers rejoice.
Happy CADding!
2006-08-23
AutoCAD 2007 SP1 and Map3D SP2 Released
Autodesk have released Service Pack 1 for AutoCAD 2007.
Autodesk MAP3D 2007 has a 2nd Service Pack available.
Autodesk MAP3D 2007 has a 2nd Service Pack available.
2006-08-22
Bentley has BIM for FM? wot?
Just decided to do a Google for Facilities Management BIM... and link #3 (~sigh~ and of course the first two show my pathetic self ranting alone on this podium to a seemingly empty room)... is about Bentley's BIM program... "for architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and operators to design, analyze, build, and operate buildings and facilities. These solutions support all phases of the project lifecycle—from conceptual design and construction documentation, to coordination and construction, and throughout ongoing facilitymanagement, maintenance, and operations"
What's this? Well, I guess I've got my head in the sand, as usual. I don't use any Bentley drawing programs (I'm sure you don't count Bentley Viewer? At last count, we've got about 40 pc's across the campus sporting that one), so I hope I can be excused.
It looks like, just like Autodesk's FMDesktop, they've got different modules geared toward specific tasks.
Now, I do see that they have BIM systems design programs, I just haven't yet come across anything telling me that those two programs can work together seamlessly. *Perhaps* this module, Facilities Inquirer can work with the data/model, but, I'm not quite clear from what I've read.
Perhaps this whitepaper from FM Innovations will prove interesting reading to some...
Topics include: What is BIM? Will BIM replace CAFM? What can the model provide? What role will BIM play? Can BIM be applied to existing buildings?
Since the April 3, 2003 “Great Debate” between Autodesk and Bentley on the topic of Building Information Modeling (BIM), there have been many articles, white papers and responses on this topic. None of them however, including responses by the big 3 – Autodesk, Bentley or Graphisoft – seemed to discuss in any detail what the long term affects of BIM will be.
One key to all this is that the premise behind BIM is that it is a database housing both tabular and graphical information.
Conclusion: Building Information Modeling, or some evolved form of it, is the wave of the future.
Creating a BIM will never replace the “human factor” in designing, constructing and maintaining a building. The creativity of a design, the craftsmanship of the construction, and the fundamentals of maintenance have to exist. But the tools used to fuel these skills will make the process more efficient.
Hmm. Interesting enough. This paper covered the topics which facility managers should be contemplating, but, it was really long on speculation and short on definites... but, that's the point we're at today. I look forward to Autodesk's developments, of course. ?Ensuring that FMDesktop is compatible with Revit and ADT (~cough~Revit Systems and ABS~cough~I hope)?
I do realize that so much of what I am looking forward to is going to depend on human factors... support for the programs, budgeting, adoption, training, data gathering, data input, constant updates... but! that will be a challenge no matter what method... even if we continue to photocopy blueprints and not insist on accurate as-builts coming to us when a project is complete.
There are many unique challenges to our position, and I can't help but think that there MUST be more efficient ways to go about how we're doing things.
What's this? Well, I guess I've got my head in the sand, as usual. I don't use any Bentley drawing programs (I'm sure you don't count Bentley Viewer? At last count, we've got about 40 pc's across the campus sporting that one), so I hope I can be excused.
It looks like, just like Autodesk's FMDesktop, they've got different modules geared toward specific tasks.
- Bentley Facilities
BIM for operational management of space and assets - Bentley Facilities Inquirer
Full access to facilities data via a Web browser - Bentley Facilities Manager
Author and maintain facilities-related information in a non-graphical (Windows) environment - Bentley Facilities Planner
Track corporate assets from deployment to decommissioning - Bentley Facilities Reports
Create and run Microsoft Access 2000 formatted reports against Bentley Facilities data sources - Bentley I/RAS B
Conversion, revision and restoration for legacy drawings and records - Bentley View (already have this one, obviously! A free tool, because budgets are tight!)
A CAD file viewing application that can open, view, and print DGN, DWG and DXF file formats - CEI Toolset
Electronic Field Book for Stakeout and Inspection
Now, I do see that they have BIM systems design programs, I just haven't yet come across anything telling me that those two programs can work together seamlessly. *Perhaps* this module, Facilities Inquirer can work with the data/model, but, I'm not quite clear from what I've read.
Perhaps this whitepaper from FM Innovations will prove interesting reading to some...
Topics include: What is BIM? Will BIM replace CAFM? What can the model provide? What role will BIM play? Can BIM be applied to existing buildings?
Since the April 3, 2003 “Great Debate” between Autodesk and Bentley on the topic of Building Information Modeling (BIM), there have been many articles, white papers and responses on this topic. None of them however, including responses by the big 3 – Autodesk, Bentley or Graphisoft – seemed to discuss in any detail what the long term affects of BIM will be.
One key to all this is that the premise behind BIM is that it is a database housing both tabular and graphical information.
Conclusion: Building Information Modeling, or some evolved form of it, is the wave of the future.
Creating a BIM will never replace the “human factor” in designing, constructing and maintaining a building. The creativity of a design, the craftsmanship of the construction, and the fundamentals of maintenance have to exist. But the tools used to fuel these skills will make the process more efficient.
Hmm. Interesting enough. This paper covered the topics which facility managers should be contemplating, but, it was really long on speculation and short on definites... but, that's the point we're at today. I look forward to Autodesk's developments, of course. ?Ensuring that FMDesktop is compatible with Revit and ADT (~cough~Revit Systems and ABS~cough~I hope)?
I do realize that so much of what I am looking forward to is going to depend on human factors... support for the programs, budgeting, adoption, training, data gathering, data input, constant updates... but! that will be a challenge no matter what method... even if we continue to photocopy blueprints and not insist on accurate as-builts coming to us when a project is complete.
There are many unique challenges to our position, and I can't help but think that there MUST be more efficient ways to go about how we're doing things.
2006-08-21
August 26th, National Day of Equality for Women
from the website for the History of Women's Equality Day:
What is Women's Equality Day?
I am happy to be a woman living in today's world. A world where I can pursue my education. A world where I can be employed in a male-dominated field (14% female overall). A world where I can vote for our leaders and new laws/taxes/etc. A world where I can walk down the street by myself. A world where I can own property. A world where I can look anyone in the eye and not be intimidated. A world where I can pursue any career that I choose.
Now, the other day in the Autodesk discussion group, there was a woman who asked about what she should be making in her job/her location/her level of experience. So, I sort of walked her through where this information is found and how to average it out to estimate what she should reasonably expect to be making. One item I threw in there, was to reduce by 12.5% for being female. One guy made a comment (he also called me by the wrong name, thanks!) oh, I'm surprised nobody commented on your -12.5% for being female comment, obviously you had a sense of humor about it.'
What's that supposed to mean? There's no sense of humour involved. There are just facts, me stating them, and her accepting them. But! I don't think I'm going to chalk that up to gender discrimination. If you look at the results of the Salary Survey, you'll see that women are working fewer hours and reaping better benefits. So, we've just got our priorities in different places than our male counterparts.
In the wider world outside of the field of design, a recent Redbook article claims that 33% of married women today earn more than their husbands.
In fact, women today are more educated than men: In 1998, there were 125,000 more college-educated women than men, according to the Center for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education. By 2010, that gap is expected to double.
Most high-earning wives said they make the higher salary in the marriage not because they're more aggressive about job hunting or working longer hours, but typically because they are better educated, and therefore landed in a more lucrative field.
That 33% comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, no less. It's good to see that so many women have realized (not just mentally, but, actually) the attainability of education. It might open up a whole different can of worms in spousal dynamics and a man's view of himself, but, nowadays, it's all down to choice not lack of opportunity.
And to congratulate yourself on embracing your opportunities, I think that you should treat yourself to a new book... how about 'She's Such a Geek', due out this fall? So that you can enjoy seeing 'Women Write About Science, Technology, and Other Nerdy Stuff'.
What is the point of my post today?
Not to put down those people still stuck in the dark ages (go ahead, ask me to get you a cup of coffee... I dare ya!) but to observe how far we have come, and to remind women how lucky we are to have the privileges that we do today and not to let them go unused/unappreciated! Cast your votes, get your education... enjoy your freedom and remember those who have made it possible.
What is Women's Equality Day?
At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.”
The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the worldÂ’s first womenÂ’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.
The observance of WomenÂ’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to womenÂ’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with WomenÂ’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.
I am happy to be a woman living in today's world. A world where I can pursue my education. A world where I can be employed in a male-dominated field (14% female overall). A world where I can vote for our leaders and new laws/taxes/etc. A world where I can walk down the street by myself. A world where I can own property. A world where I can look anyone in the eye and not be intimidated. A world where I can pursue any career that I choose.
Now, the other day in the Autodesk discussion group, there was a woman who asked about what she should be making in her job/her location/her level of experience. So, I sort of walked her through where this information is found and how to average it out to estimate what she should reasonably expect to be making. One item I threw in there, was to reduce by 12.5% for being female. One guy made a comment (he also called me by the wrong name, thanks!) oh, I'm surprised nobody commented on your -12.5% for being female comment, obviously you had a sense of humor about it.'
What's that supposed to mean? There's no sense of humour involved. There are just facts, me stating them, and her accepting them. But! I don't think I'm going to chalk that up to gender discrimination. If you look at the results of the Salary Survey, you'll see that women are working fewer hours and reaping better benefits. So, we've just got our priorities in different places than our male counterparts.
In the wider world outside of the field of design, a recent Redbook article claims that 33% of married women today earn more than their husbands.
In fact, women today are more educated than men: In 1998, there were 125,000 more college-educated women than men, according to the Center for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education. By 2010, that gap is expected to double.
Most high-earning wives said they make the higher salary in the marriage not because they're more aggressive about job hunting or working longer hours, but typically because they are better educated, and therefore landed in a more lucrative field.
That 33% comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, no less. It's good to see that so many women have realized (not just mentally, but, actually) the attainability of education. It might open up a whole different can of worms in spousal dynamics and a man's view of himself, but, nowadays, it's all down to choice not lack of opportunity.
And to congratulate yourself on embracing your opportunities, I think that you should treat yourself to a new book... how about 'She's Such a Geek', due out this fall? So that you can enjoy seeing 'Women Write About Science, Technology, and Other Nerdy Stuff'.
What is the point of my post today?
Not to put down those people still stuck in the dark ages (go ahead, ask me to get you a cup of coffee... I dare ya!) but to observe how far we have come, and to remind women how lucky we are to have the privileges that we do today and not to let them go unused/unappreciated! Cast your votes, get your education... enjoy your freedom and remember those who have made it possible.
Test Drive Your Dream Job
I just came across this site from a blogging buddy, and I thought, wow, is this not the neatest idea ever! Vocation Vacation! From the front page of the site:
Isn't that Fantastic? Well, depending on where you're at... in Missouri, I could pay $600 to spend two days being mentored by a photographer. That would be really cool to experience. If I decide to go to illinois I have the choice of 5 mentoring possibilities (dog training, photography, hotel general manager... ooor chocolatier/pastry chef). Now, if you don't care where you have to travel to, why not try... Film Production in New York, or Songwriting/Music Publishing in Tennessee!
How fun would it be to just slip into your dream job to try it on for size! Heck, there are even 8 opportunities across the countries to try your hand at being a Brewmaster! Woohoo! ;)
Let's face it, most of us spend the majority of our waking moments at work -- and yet few of us are actually doing work that we're passionate about. But who says it has to be that way?
At VocationVacations®, we believe "work" can be much, much more than just a four-letter word. That's why we've made it our business to offer you the chance to test-drive your dream job -- completely risk-free! No need to quit your day job. No need to tell the boss. Just spend a couple days on a VocationVacation, working one-on-one with a VocationVacations Mentor, to see what your dream job is really like.
You can take a VocationVacation to truly explore a career change, to sample the “road not taken” or to enjoy a fun, unique learning experience!
Isn't that Fantastic? Well, depending on where you're at... in Missouri, I could pay $600 to spend two days being mentored by a photographer. That would be really cool to experience. If I decide to go to illinois I have the choice of 5 mentoring possibilities (dog training, photography, hotel general manager... ooor chocolatier/pastry chef). Now, if you don't care where you have to travel to, why not try... Film Production in New York, or Songwriting/Music Publishing in Tennessee!
How fun would it be to just slip into your dream job to try it on for size! Heck, there are even 8 opportunities across the countries to try your hand at being a Brewmaster! Woohoo! ;)
2006-08-20
Office Work Is Funny
Funny? Familiar? Fantastic... a sampling of Useless Office Skills.
Through this site, I found links to other great (ie... funny and pointless) sites like this one, which shows more than 1000 Business and Computer cartoons. There's some good stuff in there.
There's also a link to a site called LaughNet, which includes jokes about Computers and the Workplace. I think I've read most of these before, but, it's always good to revisit and have a chuckle.
And of course, the quintessential office comic, Dilbert.
And, Scott Adams' Dilbert Blog. Stimulating and amusing reading, you should check it out...
Here are some site I've come across in my web wandering...
Nukees comic.
Heroes of Engineering comic on ASME.
Here's an eyeopening bit about Entertaining Engineers.
And of course, if you want to get Technically Funny, you can't forget Engineer-turned-standup comedian, Don McMillan. He was on Bob & Tom (radio show) earlier this week. Check out the video clip posted on his site, you'll want to buy his video.
You really can't talk about office humour without mentioning Ricky Gervais, creator of The Office.
And, finally, one of my favorite work experiences that we like to laugh about in the office.
In my facility we have one particular enclosed walkway which has always had problems with its cooling system. One day, I was walking through and stopped to talk to the HVAC mechanics who were up in the ceiling working on the equipment (which had been turned off during the repair, of course).
A little ways past us, they had set up a large fan to facilitate airflow during the downtime.
As we were talking, another employee walks past us and in front of the fan. She then declares loudly with incredulity 'Uh! Even the fan is blowing out hot air'. :-o
Through this site, I found links to other great (ie... funny and pointless) sites like this one, which shows more than 1000 Business and Computer cartoons. There's some good stuff in there.
There's also a link to a site called LaughNet, which includes jokes about Computers and the Workplace. I think I've read most of these before, but, it's always good to revisit and have a chuckle.
And of course, the quintessential office comic, Dilbert.
And, Scott Adams' Dilbert Blog. Stimulating and amusing reading, you should check it out...
Here are some site I've come across in my web wandering...
Nukees comic.
Heroes of Engineering comic on ASME.
Here's an eyeopening bit about Entertaining Engineers.
And of course, if you want to get Technically Funny, you can't forget Engineer-turned-standup comedian, Don McMillan. He was on Bob & Tom (radio show) earlier this week. Check out the video clip posted on his site, you'll want to buy his video.
You really can't talk about office humour without mentioning Ricky Gervais, creator of The Office.
And, finally, one of my favorite work experiences that we like to laugh about in the office.
In my facility we have one particular enclosed walkway which has always had problems with its cooling system. One day, I was walking through and stopped to talk to the HVAC mechanics who were up in the ceiling working on the equipment (which had been turned off during the repair, of course).
A little ways past us, they had set up a large fan to facilitate airflow during the downtime.
As we were talking, another employee walks past us and in front of the fan. She then declares loudly with incredulity 'Uh! Even the fan is blowing out hot air'. :-o
2006-08-18
When is a Facilities Management like an Artichoke?
When you try to explain it to someone, of course.
An identifiable way of saying that, I suppose. There is sometimes a misunderstanding about what a facility manager does (the reason for my previous post laying out some definitions for frequently interchanged terms).
As an aside... i've just reached somewhat of a milestone here today... over 30,000 logged hits. I started this blog in April of 2005, but, didn't put a counter on it, until about a week after this announcement by Lynn Allen... that would be the end of June or beginning of August. So... 30,000 hits in one year seems decently impressive to a person working in such a niche field.
Thank you faithful reader. :)
An identifiable way of saying that, I suppose. There is sometimes a misunderstanding about what a facility manager does (the reason for my previous post laying out some definitions for frequently interchanged terms).
As an aside... i've just reached somewhat of a milestone here today... over 30,000 logged hits. I started this blog in April of 2005, but, didn't put a counter on it, until about a week after this announcement by Lynn Allen... that would be the end of June or beginning of August. So... 30,000 hits in one year seems decently impressive to a person working in such a niche field.
Thank you faithful reader. :)
2006-08-17
Whatever happened to: Autodesk's Design Your Future (dyf)?
I recently pulled up the first annual augi salary survey from 2002 to check to see if a couple of numbers had changed drastically since then.
In the introductory paragraph, a mention was made of Autodesk's Design Your Future initiative to interest girls in Math, Science and Technology (launched by Carol Bartz in 1997).
When following that link today I'm told that the page is not found. The only mention I see of this initiative now is on the Internship Success Stories page.
Does anyone know if this program is not still active, what might have replaced it, if anything?
In the introductory paragraph, a mention was made of Autodesk's Design Your Future initiative to interest girls in Math, Science and Technology (launched by Carol Bartz in 1997).
When following that link today I'm told that the page is not found. The only mention I see of this initiative now is on the Internship Success Stories page.
Does anyone know if this program is not still active, what might have replaced it, if anything?
2006-08-14
Undocumented Commands in Autodesk MAP3D
MAP power-guru, James Murphy, posts reminders about nifty, undocumented commands in MAP on his blog, Mapping the World.
Also, for more Autocad Learning...
Ellen Finkelstein reminds us... You can buy AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible at Amazon.com today or at your bookstore. The main new features are 3D -- and they're very exciting -- but there are lots of great 2D features, too. Buy it today! AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible
Also, here's a new one that is definitely worth checking out...
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT for Dummies, by Lee Ambrosius and David Byrnes
And, not to leave out the Architects in the house... there is an ADT Implementation Guide in the works from Paul Aubin and Matt Dillon.
Happy learning... especially to those of us lucky enough to be attending Autodesk University this fall/winter.
Also, for more Autocad Learning...
Ellen Finkelstein reminds us... You can buy AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible at Amazon.com today or at your bookstore. The main new features are 3D -- and they're very exciting -- but there are lots of great 2D features, too. Buy it today! AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible
Also, here's a new one that is definitely worth checking out...
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT for Dummies, by Lee Ambrosius and David Byrnes
And, not to leave out the Architects in the house... there is an ADT Implementation Guide in the works from Paul Aubin and Matt Dillon.
Happy learning... especially to those of us lucky enough to be attending Autodesk University this fall/winter.
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