This morning, Autodesk announced that it will be aquiring Navisworks.
This is exciting, but at the same time, I'm not sure what it will mean for the development of Navisworks as a tool for contractors. Navisworks has been the "Switzerland" of BIM softwares, accepting files from a wide range of other software platforms.
Will Navis become too friendly with Revit and start ignoring the others? Or is this Autodesk's attempt to reach out and start playing nice? Is Autodesk waking up?
5.23.2007
USGBC Massachusetts Affiliate Town Meeting
Last night, Mo & I attended the USGBC Affiliate of MA Town Meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to give the membership a chance to define the agenda of the developing affiliate. The meeting consisted of a few introductions, breakout sessions and then the whole group came back together to report on their sessions. A few things came up that I think were interesting (and relevant) enough to share.
1 After the breakout sessions, when each group was reporting on the sessions, I noticed something about the way people were speaking about LEED, green building and the affiliate. They were saying things like:
2 Jim Newman, of Building Green, recommended this article on BIM and green design to me. I read it this morning. It didn't introduce me to anything new, but it was a good summary of a lot of information.
3 After exchanging business cards with someone, they said to Mo & I, "Now tell me, why would a contractor use BIM." After looking at him in shock and disbelief for a few seconds, I launched into my explanation, which started with, "How does a project truly use BIM if the contractor isn't BIM-enabled?".
I think I'm still in shock and disbelief.
1 After the breakout sessions, when each group was reporting on the sessions, I noticed something about the way people were speaking about LEED, green building and the affiliate. They were saying things like:
"The activities of the past 10 years have led to this point, where green building is really taking off," and "We need to focus on the process of green design," and "Our goal should be to become obsolete - so that green design is the new standard," and "The organization needs to become the place where when people think LEED or green, they come to us" and "We need to elevate the bottom while pushing the envelope of the top".The resemblance that this conversation has to the conversations about BIM are incredible. If you replace LEED and green with BIM or VDC, it could be the conversation that Mo & I had yesterday, the presentation that John gave last week or the message of any progressive organization.
2 Jim Newman, of Building Green, recommended this article on BIM and green design to me. I read it this morning. It didn't introduce me to anything new, but it was a good summary of a lot of information.
3 After exchanging business cards with someone, they said to Mo & I, "Now tell me, why would a contractor use BIM." After looking at him in shock and disbelief for a few seconds, I launched into my explanation, which started with, "How does a project truly use BIM if the contractor isn't BIM-enabled?".
I think I'm still in shock and disbelief.
5.16.2007
more on scanning
I spent last week visiting the building that we are going to scan, meeting with surveyors and learning the building a little more. We are still fine tuning the overall script that we intend to follow for this, but it seems like it really is going to come together.
One of the surveyors demonstrated the scanner in the sales office of the building. We can actually open that file natively in NavisWorks. Although it appears somewhat blurry here, it scans so many points that it almost looks like a picture of the building.
From there, the project is modeled in one of several software programs which can export to CAD. From there, we will most likely follow Eric's advice.
Although I am really excited about the idea of prefabricating from a model, I am definitely nervous too. Hopefully, as we push forward with this, things will solidify a bit more. It isn't that I doubt that we will succeed with this - I'm just not exactly sure what it will take to reach that level of success.
One of the surveyors demonstrated the scanner in the sales office of the building. We can actually open that file natively in NavisWorks. Although it appears somewhat blurry here, it scans so many points that it almost looks like a picture of the building.
From there, the project is modeled in one of several software programs which can export to CAD. From there, we will most likely follow Eric's advice.
Although I am really excited about the idea of prefabricating from a model, I am definitely nervous too. Hopefully, as we push forward with this, things will solidify a bit more. It isn't that I doubt that we will succeed with this - I'm just not exactly sure what it will take to reach that level of success.
5.07.2007
my title
My title is Building Information Modeler. It is a tough title because there is no elegant way to shorten it.
Sometimes, we use BIMer, but it is really for in office use - very colloquial. Others tend to shorten it to BIM Modeler, which is redundant. Building Information Modeler Modeler?
Any ideas for a new improved title?
Sometimes, we use BIMer, but it is really for in office use - very colloquial. Others tend to shorten it to BIM Modeler, which is redundant. Building Information Modeler Modeler?
Any ideas for a new improved title?
5.04.2007
high definition scanning
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
