The Status of Revit 101

I haven't forgotten about you guys!

I will be posting more on this topic soon, but I have to be careful with what I write about mainly due to the fact that I am now under contract to write a book on customizing Autodesk Revit 2013 with .NET. As I complete chapters for the book, I will elaborate more on some of the topics here so that the book and these entries will compliment each other resulting in 37% more awesome.

The book should drop before September sometime if everything goes according to plan... Look for some Twitter hosted trivia to win free copies after it get's published.

Che-che-che- Changes....

It's been a very busy year so far and some rumors have surfaced. I have indeed officially moved on into a new roll with a new company that some may refer to as a start up. I prefer to think of us as an industry changing leader of the AEC community with very deep roots.

Who are we, you ask? Here's a clue:

I will be serving this fine group of super powered individuals as their new CTO and look forward to working with you all in one form or another before it's all said and done...

Be sure and contact me if you have any needs for AEC development, no matter how large or small. We will be focusing on Revit and Navisworks mostly. You should also keep an eye out for a few game changing mobile apps from us to hit the streets soon as well!

This concludes today's public service announcement!

Model Security! Take it Seriously!

I just returned from a trip to Huntington Beach, CA where I attended the inaugural Revit Technology Conference of North America. I have to say that it was one of the best conferences I've ever attended and that's saying a lot for someone that spent three blurry years living in Las Vegas.

One of the recurring themes that came up over and over was model security. Just what exactly is it and what are you doing to make sure that your models contain adequate security? There are many methods and techniques for you to achieve model security, and they were all debated heavily and often throughout the conference.

I proposed my idea on model security and what I'm doing to make sure that all of my models are at their optimum security performance. I prefer a non human approach to model security. Something with some sort of motion sensor that doesn't take shit off of nobody, but still has a sense of humor and doesn't eat too much. Turrets are a great selection for such a medial task and are 40% reliable at least 60% of the time. These turrets are also very cheap to replicate throughout your models.

The turrets shown here are rigged with parametric motion sensing lasers to provide a fully adjustable motion sensing distance. Smaller spaces will require a shorter range while larger spaces may require longer motion sensing distances. These wonderful model security devices can to both all while costing very little to keep operable!!

You can download this model security device here for a limited time. The license to use these devices come with a cost however. You will be required to leave a comment describing your model security needs and how many you intend to place within your model to achieve the level of security that you require. These devices have not been tested with government installations and are not suggested for any form of government or even commercial use whatsoever, mostly due to the fact that they are not entirely reliable all of the time.

Take good care of your turret(s) and enjoy the videos below demonstrating their capabilities as I find them a very valuable means for model security.

Revit Technology Conference USA 2011

Well, RTC AUS 2011 is going on as we read (speak), and RTC USA 2011 is just around the corner (28 days)! I can't wait to work hard at the beach!

I've been working on my dataset for the class that I will be presenting at the inaugural RTC North America 2011 in Huntington Beach, California entitled "Building a Dynamic Facility Management Web Application with Revit Using APIs."

Here's a sneak peak of my interiors model:

Care to Request a Topic?

Do you have a burning desire to make an API post request?

Send your request as a mention on Twitter to AYBABTM

Come Book an Appointment to Master Revit

Well... it's already that time of year again... The Autodesk annual software releasals event that you've all been waiting for (patiently I hope). We have a new book out this year and while the name isn't a total representation of how creative we are at our day jobs, is a very creative and enlightening perspective on how to master Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012!

Be sure to check out the best chapter in the whole book, chapter 25!!
"Getting Acquainted with the API"

Buy your copy today (...using the link to the right please ;)

You may want to buy one for every room in your house... your friends will be absolutely envious!! They also make great gifts to relatives and even better gifts for anniversaries and graduations!! Collect 'em all!!!

And if you bring your copy to Revit Technology Conference USA 2011 in Huntington Beach, CA... we (the main authors... and then me) might even autograph them for you!!... Registration is now open!!

Thou Shall Read Thy Dialog Box!!

This may appear to be a ridiculous post to most... but you would be amazed as to how many people call me to fix something with their model when they get a popup dialog that they have not seen before. They could solve their own problems 99% of the time if they would just simply READ the dialog box.

It really gets me though when people never read any warnings or dialogs at all and just close them no matter what. These are the people that tend to destroy stuff and don't even know it!

So please... if you're new to Revit or have been doing this stuff for 20 years... please... PLEASE read the dialogs and warning popups all the time!

...or the code ninjas will get you!!! I'm planning to start placing random jokes in my dialogs to urge people to want to start reading dialog boxes... I wish Autodesk could do the same

Top 10 Reasons Chuck Norris Would be a Great BIM Manager

I realize that I haven't posted any API stuff lately. I've been tied up with the BETA's as well as writing the API chapter for the next installment of "Mastering Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012"... Look for an essential post later this month on converting rooms to masses without tessellation (super fast).

It's amazing how much of a BIM Manager's time is taken up daily to cater to the occasional user's laziness or lack of fear. If BIM Manager's were more like Chuck Norris, our jobs would be amazingly more efficient and productive [wink]... So here are the top ten reasons on why I think Chuck Norris would be an excellent BIM Manager:

10.) User's would never miss a deadline for fear that they might have to become victim to his wrath

9.) Plotter's would never fail or run out of paper where Chuck Norris is BIM Manager

8.) Getting user's to pay attention in training sessions would never be easier

7.) Why?... Chuck Norris, that's why!

6.) Chuck Norris doesn't miss deadlines because they work only within HIS schedule!

5.) Chuck Norris could improve the functionality of Revit simply by starring it down

4.) All constraints would always be satisfied or die a painful round-house death

3.) No Revit model under Chuck Norris' responsibility would ever think of containing an error or perform slowly

2.) Chuck Norris would tell families to build themselves, and they would

1.) Not even Revit would dare give warnings to Chuck Norris

Best Idea for a Building... EVER

This post requires very little explanation, Pie day is next month!

Now this is Architectin'

Pientines Day!

I know most people relate falling in love with February 14th. ...being the geek at heart that I am, I think this holiday should be relocated to March 14...
That's right, 3/14.. or 3.14!! It's only one month exactly from the ever so improperly commercialized love holiday of 2.14!!!



Write your senators and let's get this taken care of once and for all!!! We all owe our livelihoods to simple arithmetic whether we know it or not and should celebrate our love of understanding it!!

And ladies... if you feel the same way, let's talk!!

Parametric Holiday Tree from Charles Lee

Well, working for an Architectural firm definitely brings me closer to some strange and interesting people. One such interesting person I get to work with regularly is Mr. Charles Lee.

Charles was named this year's "Young Architect of the Year 2010" here in San Francisco and really loves the BIM stuff. Check out his biosarch blog based on BIO Design!

Here's Charlie's Revit model of a Holiday Tree... Thanks Charles! Maybe next time we can set this up as a shared model where everyone in the office could model their own ornaments to help decorate it! Next time we'll have to get that setup for our users...

Download

10 Pick up Lines All BIM Managers Must Know

If you lack a sense of humor or are easily offended then click an ad to the right and avoid reading this post! There will be other posts later that actually have a point!

As you can imagine, I have a lot of friends (pause) that poke fun at my line of work (I'm from Austin Texas). So I got into a bit of a challenge in comparing how my profession can just as easily be compared to theirs in terms of pick up lines to use at a bar. So here's the top ten pick up lines that ALL BIM managers need to know:

10.) These hands aren't just for constraining forms

9.) Have you ever been with a BIM Manager?

8.) All my models make it to stardom!

7.) Your forms are constrained quite efficiently

6.) I'm an expert at starting complex families...

5.) You have eyes that shine like the most elaborate curtainwall on the most perfect summer day

4.) You're more beautiful than any building I've ever modeled

3.) Speaking of Models, you're one of the best I've ever managed

2.) Has anyone ever 3D modeled you before?

1.) Wanna come back to my place and check out some sweet renderings?

Workin Hard?... or hardly workin?....

I've been working hard over the past few months... so I decided to go see some friends in Las Vegas... Any guesses as to what bar this photo was taken off of?...