CanBIM Toronto Regional Session 2018

CanBIM Regional Session, Toronto September 19th and 20th 2018.

September 19

Royal Woodbine Golf Club

195 Galaxy Boulevard

Toronto, Ontario 

September 20

Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Room 205 & 206

255 Front Street West

Toronto, Ontario.

Link: https://toronto18.canbim.com/

Technology Built Innovation IV: Smart Cities is a two-day educational networking opportunity showcasing innovative and emerging technologies that will enable Smart Cities. 

As leaders in the AECO industry, our industry members are leading the digital transformation to a new built environment. Smart Cities use information and communication technologies to increase operational efficiency, share information with the public and improve both the quality of government services and citizen welfare. Our presenters, panelists and exhibitors will showcase the latest trends and technologies that support Smart Cities. Come join key business decision-makers, industry connectors, technology developers and project implementers, all of whom are engaged in improving and ensuring productivity, efficiency and smarter built environments.

Getting started with BIM 360

I've been struggling with getting BIM 360 set up for a IPD project. One of the biggest challenges has been the new workflow of including and setting up team members, having all the applications and add-in's in place and the "new" terminology Autodesk is using for their BIM 360 platform.

We were quite familiar with the old C4R platform and terminology so we understand the fundamentals of the cloud collaboration workflow, our challenge was working through the new process and understanding the new features and terminology.

We eventually figured it out, mostly through trial and error and support from Autodesk (Thanks John).

I recently came across this "Getting Started Guide" which clearly explains the steps to set up a project and the team.

Getting Started Guide




Autodesk BIM 360 platform is an excellent cloud collaboration platform for the entire project team, this will likely become the standard for the majority of projects in the future. Having access to the most current model in an online collaborative platform ensures the communication needs of the project are met.

If you not aware of the BIM 360 platform check it out here: BIM 360

Is BIM De-skilling our Workforce?

I've been a part of a number of discussions recently on the "abilities" of our team, the basic skillsets of putting together a drawing package. We (I too am guilty of this) have been so focused on developing BIM skills, the understanding and knowledge development associated with BIM that we have missed the bigger picture.  

Deskilling; the term refers to a person becoming less proficient over time.

As I've addressed previously, BIM is just a tool, a process utilizing applications that enables our design abilities to shine. “Tools enable us to amplify our abilities”

Has BIM contributed to the reduction in the knowledge and understanding of how to bring together a drawing package?

Has the focus and development of the digital model (Building Information Model) been a detriment to the need of understanding how we deliver projects?

This is what I have seen lately and has been a key discussion point with my colleagues. My colleagues and I have found a decrease in the ability of our newly graduated staff members to bring together a drawing package, or even the ability to “cartoon” the development of projects drawing package required during the early stages of a project.

Their BIM skills are great, their ability to develop a model is sufficient to accomplish the project tasks required, as is their understanding of the benefits and advantages of utilizing the BIM. However, I’m receiving complaints from the project managers on incomplete drawings, lack of content and having to instruct staff on the basics of compiling a drawing package… and I agree, the models are developed, all the information is there but the sheets are not complete. There is not enough emphasis placed on the need to document the model.

Until we get to the point in our industry where the delivery of the model is preferred over the traditionally required set of “drawings”, the knowledge of how to compile a set of drawings will be crucial in the accuracy and ability for our drawings to portray the information required to construct the project through the delivery of a construction set of drawings (documents). 

So who’s responsible? Is the BIM community responsible for this diminished skill set in favor over another, or is this a result of the demand on the education community to provide graduates with a comprehensive set of BIM skills?

In reality, it is the Industry. What I mean by that is that (as I’ve mentioned numerous times) we are trying to incorporate new technology and related processes which change the traditional process. Ultimately, we are all responsible and we all have a role to play in balancing the skillsets of our upcoming leaders in the industry. Their design skills are fantastic, their comfort of using digital tools is amazing and I’m sure in the near future digital delivery will become the norm until then we still need to provide the contractor with the information he needs to build a building. We are cheating ourselves, the contractor and ultimately the client by not documenting adequately the information we have at our fingertip within the BIM.

We need to bridge the transition from traditional to digital.

Owners +AEC Executives + BIM = New Business

As technology evolves, workflows and delivery methods are changing the way we do business.  Owners are progressively understanding the benefits of adopting BIM and are creating a new business vision and strategies, resulting in a shift, which will require the design team, contractors, and trades to integrate data and digital information with their deliverables. Doing so will add value to the planning-design-construction-operation process resulting invaluable business opportunities and strategies to all stakeholders.  

With all this potential, there are many challenges still to address,  such as financial, contractual and legal matters among others. Our Calgary Regional Session will address these challenges through a series presentations and panel discussions.

Join us in  Calgary on June 13-14, 2018 at the Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire

255 Barclay Parade SW Calgary, Alberta for our CanBIM Regional Session.

http://www.canbim.com/calgary18

Autodesk Cloud Services Status

I just found this, actually, a colleague sent it to me (Thanks, Melissa!). 
https://health.autodesk.com/

View current status and upcoming maintenance schedule for the Autodesk Cloud Services

This site from Autodesk shows the current and historical status of the Autodesk Cloud Applications.

However take it with a grain of salt, I've received mixed reviews on its accuracy but at least it'll be a good place to check if you're having issues. Make it part of your "checklist" if you're having issues with any cloud applications.

Here are some screenshots:

Sc.

The Evolution of Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality has come a long way in recent years, many Architectural firms have invested in Virtual Reality technology, further utilizing their Design Models. The benefits are numerous, and in some cases surprising. When I first introduced VR into our office in 2014 I want to create a buzz around this technology by having all levels of staff experience VR. My thoughts were to utilize this visualization tool as a design validation tool, having our clients virtually experience the space to gain a better understanding of the design intent, and that worked well, I think most design firms utilize VR for this reason.

What I didn’t expect was the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Project Managers.

Project managers really enjoyed walking through the digital model of their project, they would inspect crucial design area’s and after experiencing the space was able to make improvements and minor tweaks to further improve the design.

Jump to 2018 where Virtual Reality has progressed to the next level, multi-user VR.

In the past Virtual Reality has been a single user experience, no one else was able to interact with you directly within the VR environment. That has now changed, Virtual Reality companies like IrisVR have developed Multi-User platforms where numerous people in a variety of locations can come together in a VR environment to engage and discuss the design.

What a great opportunity to bring together people who are engaged in an international project, working together across great distance.

I recently set up a test of IrisVR’s Prospect (Multi-User platform), so I contacted Sam who is a IrisVR Customer Experience Associate to set up a challenge for him. I contacted my colleagues in Sydney, Australia, San Francisco USA and Stuttgart, Germany and had Sam, who is located in New York to set up a live demo for me.

Here’s some of the feedback I received.

“In general, the experience has me more enthusiastic now more than ever of what VR can do to transform how we think about and approach collaborating!”

“This was an exciting moment when I was able to 'dial in' using Virtual Reality goggles combined with bluetooth headphones to both review and speak directly with the team. The computer wifi was able to keep up comfortably with the call and actions during the review process.”

“The VR Meeting worked really well and it was very responsive. Super easy to set up.”

“You can talk with the other attendees, see where they are looking at, where their hands are and also what they are pointing at.”

“It certainly felt like we were in the same room together.”

If you want to learn more about IrisVR’s Prospect click the LINK here.

I love this technology, anything that further utilized our Building Information Model is great!

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CanBIM Montréal Regional Session - April 11-12, 2018

Please join us for our upcoming Regional Session in Montréal on April 11th & 12th, 2018.

We’ll hear from industry leaders on the latest technology trends, BIM processes and methodologies. We hope you will take advantage of the early bird rate before the deadline on March 15, 2018.

You won’t want to miss this!

REGISTER