AU2014 Day 2 - Takeaways

Thoughts and takeaways from Day Two or Autodesk University 2014. One day to go!

1. What do you call a cross between a bagel and a biscuit? I have no idea, but we had it for breakfast Wednesday morning.

2. Autodesk Glue 360 really is a huge leap past Navisworks, for so many reasons. I can't wait to deploy it at the airport.

3. I touched on it yesterday, but if you are in the MEP design or construction field, SysQue is really worth a look. If I were in the MEP field, I'd be pulling late nights and weekends if necessary to get it deployed and educate my staff. Fortunately the learning curve doesn't look to be anywhere near steep enough to require that type of investment.

4. We talk about process a lot, and we talk about software and hardware a lot. However, a flawless process with the most sophisticated software on the most advanced hardware amounts to bupkiss without people. Educate yourself. Educate your staff (including your bosses). Educate your clients and educate your consultants and partners. Don't tell them about BIM or whatever it is you are doing... Teach them.

5. Only 10,560 steps on Day 2.

AU2014 Day 1 - Takeaways and Lessons Learned

My takeaways from Day one of AU2014:

1. "I'm a ten year old girl and I know how to weld. What can't I do?" Powerful.

2. When attending any session about a subject or software you already have a level of experience with, a class will usually be one level of complexity lower than it sounds from the description.

3. If it looks like a class you've sat into isn't for you, don't hesitate to leave. If it's not appropriate for your level, you'll just end up frustrated and disappointed when it's over.

4. The above said, apparently you can't get into a class more than 15 minutes after it starts. Hopefully this was a misunderstanding by the person I dealt with (I was able to talk my way in).

5. Be nice to the volunteers/staff. It helps with issues like #4.

6. AIMS (Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server) is pretty cool. Quick GIS maps launched as web interface.

7. Very excited to deploy Vault at DIA. Even more excited to work for an agency that wants to lead in our industry and gives us what we need to do that.

8. Got to test drive SysQue. Most tools and plugins aren't as cool in person as they are on the presentation videos, but this one is. If you're an MEP designer or contractor, you should be giving it a look.

9. The best thing about AU is the people. It's a great chance to connect with old acquaintances and make new, exciting ones.

10. Today's step count: 16,921

11. "I'm a ten year old girl and I know how to weld. What can't I do?"
Some things are worth repeating.

AU2014 Day 0 - Takeaways

A few takeaways from the Computational BIM and Infrastructure Symposium pre-conference events.

1. Wear comfortable shoes folks! I accumulated two hours and thirty three minutes of walking time, or 15,834 steps. My shoes aren't quite as comfortable as they could be and I'm feeling it...

2. I can't even imagine trying to stand up a BIM program for something like London's tube system. Over 150 yrs old, Victorian era construction... Exciting and terrifying, Will Harkney has my sympathies.

3. After almost five years of involvement with the DIA Hotel and Transit Center project and DIA's BIM program I take the project a bit for granted as far as how exciting and groundbreaking what our airport is doing. Events like this, and and hearing about other airports or facilities and their efforts really drives that home.

4. Dynamo is really, really exciting. The stuff we did in the Computational BIM session makes the whole trip worthwhile. My inner designer has fallen in love.

5. As exciting as what you can do with Dynamo is from a design and modeling perspective, it pales in comparison to its potential for owners and asset management. Data. Data. Data.

And this is before the conference officially kicks off!