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Keys to a Successful BIM Implementation: News from the Frontline – Who Needs Training?!

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

by Dave Webster, BIM/CAD Specialist for the AECOO Industry

Now I want to take a moment to talk to you all about the importance of training. I am going to take my consulting hat off for a moment and simply talk to you as a fellow architect. For many generations, our industry has not understood the value of properly training our staff because we are too concerned about the “Bottom Line”. “We simply don’t have the time or the money to train our staff and incur all the downtime”. OK…let’s think about this a bit. I think we can all agree that our investment into software is one of our biggest expenses in the process of design and documentation. Why would we not consider taking the time to learn how to absolutely maximize the software to its fullest potential! This has a larger effect on your bottom line!

Look at it this way…a good colleague of mine introduced a great analogy on this for me…picture this…you come home one day and find a formula 1 car sitting in your driveway!

How cool is that!! Your neighbors are all staring at you now! You take a long stroll around this machine to admire its power and then wiggle your way into the cockpit, struggle to figure out the seatbelts and grab the keys. Hopefully at some point, someone hands you a helmet as well! You might even put this baby into first gear and take it slowly around the block. But some of us, (myself included), won’t even figure out how to get it out of the driveway! “What’s the motto here Dave? Where in the world are you going here?”…you ask. Simply this; you have been given a very powerful vehicle for design and documentation and it might be fairly easy for you to get it started and use some of the fundamental tools…but we have not even talked about getting into a race yet! You can’t! You can’t enter a formula one race without the proper training in driving this vehicle let alone some practice before you get on the road with the rest of the pros!

I can’t encourage you enough to take the time to hire a trusted partner to train your staff in Revit and give your team ample practice laps before you put them on that high profile project that has design complexity and a pretty demanding project schedule. When we all dove into AutoCAD, it was pretty much dumped on our laps and we figured out what we needed to know on our own. This was possible because it was built on our familiar standards of drafting and we could understand the correlation of the two processes. Revit is not about drafting; it is about information modeling. It is not a process we are used to. It is not simply 3D CAD. We need to understand the theory and intent of information modeling in order to get the most out of our software investment and leverage the power of BIM. Don’t make the mistake of reducing Revit to simply another drafting and visualization tool!

The software applications we use for building information modeling require a much more thorough understanding and proficiency in the tools; I hope the analogy helped you understand this. Now that I have hopefully convinced you to consider training; here are a few tips for you…

  • First: identify a typical and simple Pilot Project as the first project for Revit.
  • Target your training 2 weeks before the project. Figure about 30 hours for fundamentals training.
  • Be sure the pilot project has a reasonable schedule.
  • Find an Authorized Training Center (ATC) for hands-on, instructor led classes.
  • Find an ATC who can customize the content, delivery and location of your training to best meet your schedule and business needs.
  • Look for process teachers not software instructors. Seek out industry experts who can truly help you get competitive.
  • Look for trainers who can apply the tools and training to your active projects and continue to support you on billable projects.
  • Be sure that your partner in training can also provide ongoing support through advanced technology connections.
  • Did I mention we do all of this here at MasterGraphics?…
  • Remember: the shorter your path to proficiency; the less frustration and sooner arrival at profit.
  • Bottom Line: Take the time to train!

So…who needs training? If you ask me…Everyone! Simply to get started on the right foot and then ongoing training to evolve, stay ahead of your competition and maximize your services and improve your profitability! Only then will you be ready for the races!

Happy New Year to you all!

Posted in Building / AEC, General | No Comments »

Keys to a Successful BIM Implementation: News from the Frontline - Considerations before the Transition

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

by Dave Webster, BIM/CAD Specialist for the AECOO Industry

Based on our past two discussions we’ve had, I hope by now you can see clearly that transitioning to BIM is far more than another software upgrade. The transition to BIM needs to be a business decision made by all major stakeholders of a firm; from COO to CAD operator. There are many factors to consider when determining how BIM fits your business plan or how your business plan needs to change to accommodate a building information modeling process.

So many times I have seen firms that have been wowed by a Revit Demo and get a spark of inspiration to get out there and “get some BIM”! Revit is not simply a new CAD replacement tool; it takes careful planning. I had the privilege of working with a firm that purchased and rolled out Revit without an implementation plan. After several years into the venture they realized something was fundamentally wrong and they were losing money on projects. The steps to recovery involved meeting with the firm’s directors, interviewing each of the users for Revit skills, CAD skills and attitude towards change. We studied their present process and gathered information regarding their optimal process. We took a dive into the CAD standards to help them see beyond these trusted methods in order to begin to consider possibilities with BIM. We then helped to establish a game plan specifically for this firm at this point I time for the optimal BIM adoption. It involved custom training, consulting and ongoing guidance to the team. Eventually, even their most resistant CAD user became a Revit champion!

A proper implementation plan looks something like this…

Situation Analysis – fully consider your present process and situation; both pros and cons.

Implementation Strategy – Align your business goals, project schedules and staff allotment.

Process Assessment – Identify what you would like to accomplish with a new process.

Implementation Plan – with the help of someone who has been through this…document your plan with established milestones and goals.

Software Deployment – Be sure to consider present state of hardware and potential hardware upgrade needs. Use these upgrades as incentive points for staff!

Training Delivery – Training is a must for a successful BIM adoption. Again, with the help of a trusted advisor, establish the best means of training delivery so as to provide a cohesive training delivery while minimizing disruption to your project schedules.

Maintenance – the tools for BIM are under constant change. Be sure to partner with someone to keep you posted on all the best tools that would be beneficial to your particular process

So in summary…be sure to consider the three main components for a successful BIM adoption; people, process and technology. A Revit implementation should provide a clean slate from which to revitalize your present CAD standards and process; be sure to find a trusted advisor who can help you understand the potential and make the best educated decisions on how best to move forward. Oh…and be sure to leverage the users who are excited and will embrace this change; train and support them first; the rest will eventually follow…or fall by the wayside!

Posted in Building / AEC | No Comments »

MasterGraphics Specialists to Present at Upcoming Autodesk University

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Three technical specialists from MasterGraphics have been invited to present at Autodesk University, the nation’s largest gathering of software design professionals in the design, engineering and entertainment industries, November 29 through December 1 in Las Vegas.

“Our technical experts are among the most talented in the country,” said Michael Wilkes, MasterGraphics president. “Not only do they possess a keen understanding of the latest industry solutions, but they are dedicated to educating themselves and others on practical applications of those solutions. Autodesk University is an ideal venue for them to continue this commitment.”

The presenters include:

Dan Banach, 3D Mechanical CAD Consultant

Dan Banach is a nationally recognized author and educator in the Mechanical CAD field and co-author of 15 books on Autodesk Inventor software. Banach is also an Autodesk Inventor 2012 Certified Professional and Autodesk Certified Instructor. He has presented at every Autodesk University since 1997 and this year will be leading a hands-on lab titled Inventor Publisher: Some Assembly Required.

Louisa Holland, E.I.T., LEED AP, Application Engineer - Civil Industry

Holland is an accredited professional of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as well as an AutoCAD Civil 3D Certified Professional.  She has been training customers on CAD-based products since 1997, and this will be her 2nd year presenting at Autodesk University with a session titled AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 for Beginners.

Russell Nicloy, E.I.T., LEED AP, Application Engineer - Civil Industry

Nicloy is an AutoCAD Civil 3D Certified Professional with more than ten years of experience in the civil design industry and eight years of experience in consulting and instruction. This will be his 1styear presenting at Autodesk University with a session titled Importing the Most Useful Data Into Survey in AutoCAD Civil 3D

About MasterGraphics Inc.

MasterGraphics is an Autodesk Gold Partner for the manufacturing, architecture and education communities and is headquartered in Madison, Wis., with offices in Milwaukee, Appleton, Chicago and Minneapolis. Serving as a trusted advisor to its clients, MasterGraphics helps to streamline the design process and utilization of CAD data through an integrated mix of software, hardware, professional services and digital imaging and distribution offerings.  For more information, please visit www.mastergraphics.com.

Autodesk, Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD and Civil 3D are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries.

Posted in Building / AEC, Civil, General, Manufacturing | No Comments »

Keys to a Successful BIM Implementation; …News From the Frontline.

Monday, October 24th, 2011

by Dave Webster, Application Engineer for the AEC Industry

Greetings MG Blog followers!

Let me introduce myself…my name is Dave Webster. I am a BIM specialist here at MasterGraphics and have been working with clients of various size and focus over the past four years to help get their Building Information Modeling adoption on the right track. Previous to working with MasterGraphics, I practiced architecture for over 20 years here in Chicagoland. I had the privilege of working on many project types as a designer, (my favorite), technical detailer, and project manager to name a few. No…this is not a blog about me and my bragging; I simply want you to know that I have been in the trenches and have a good idea what architects want and need.

That said…please stay tuned for an ongoing discussion about what my associates and I have seen on the frontline as we have been helping firms adopt a BIM process. I will be sharing many tips of what we see across the industry and give you insights as to what are successful tips…and what are not so successful things we typically see. I will look forward to your comments and concerns on the topics so please chime in when you can!

Lesson #1: Understand: This is not just another CAD program!

One of the most common problems I have seen in firms is the misunderstanding that this is just a better CAD software. Building Information Modeling is a process; not a software. By the way…you will see over months, maybe years to come that I refer to Autodesk Revit quite often; please understand that this is simply a tool for authoring BIM models that I happen to know the most about. Many firms know something about BIM; maybe they have seen a pretty impressive demonstration of Revit and have even made the investment into the software. But please understand that this is just a small portion of a BIM adoption process and this should not be the first step!

To truly adopt a building information modeling process, it takes a business decision of all stakeholders in the firm to make. It requires careful planning, many key decisions and an overall process change. The way the design process is budgeted in a firm needs to change, proposals need to be reformatted, (based on value instead of time and material), a change in marketing focus, teams restructured and clients reeducated to name a few considerations. I hope to expound on many of these in upcoming posts.

Now please understand this as well…it is not complicated. BIM does not require you to have every detail worked out and all standards in place prior to getting your feet wet! The process of adoption typically takes anywhere from 6 to 12 months. I will be sharing many tips with you on how to best achieve smaller steps to minimize your company’s downtime and maximize the resources you already have.

So step #1 looks like this…find someone who has successfully been through the adoption process or call MasterGraphics and become a partner! Set goals and plan the milestones. Be sure to include training in your goals…this is not your father’s CAD program! It is fairly easy to learn but takes some time to master!

Stay tuned and please comment to keep this Blog as useful as possible! I will be diving much deeper into helpful tips in posts to come!  I will look forward to hearing from you…

Posted in Building / AEC | No Comments »

Autodesk 2012 Software Certification Prep Classes

Friday, October 14th, 2011

By, Dan Banach

If you are planning on taking an Autodesk 2012 Certification exam Autodesk is offering virtual certification prep classes. The virtual classes will be hosted on the Autodesk University (AU) Virtual class site starting on October 18th, 2011. The list of prep classes is located at: http://au.autodesk.com/?nd=au2011_certification_preparation_classes

Enjoy the classes.

Posted in Building / AEC, Civil, General, Manufacturing | No Comments »

Autodesk University 2011 registration now open!

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

Early Registration for the AU Las Vegas event, and the AU Virtual event are now open - register soon to get the best class selection and pricing! Learn more

Posted in Building / AEC, Civil, General, Manufacturing | No Comments »

Save up to $1,000 on Autodesk suites & get 0% financing!

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

From now through October 14, 2011, you can take advantage of Autodesk’s ‘Better Together’ promo AND their 0% financing promo to save big bucks! Read more

Posted in Building / AEC, Civil, General, Manufacturing | No Comments »

Photofly in Real Life

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

by Russ Nicloy, Civil Applications Engineer

This post was a little hard to write because it becomes personal very quickly. I’ll get to those details in a second. Let me begin by saying I have been fascinated with what Autodesk’s Project Photofly could accomplish ever since it was first posted to the Autodesk Labs website. Photofly is basically the way we can create surface models from photos. And better yet, any digital photo should do, as long as some important guidelines are followed. This means anyone with a nice digital camera, a cheap digital camera, or phone camera, could create 3D surface models of objects, buildings, people….If you’re creative this list goes on.

So this is where it gets personal. Several weeks ago my dad was in a terrible car accident. He is blessed to be alive. After it was clear he was going to be ok, and the business end of things was taken care of, the somewhat odd part of going to see the wreck and crash site came up. I don’t know why but I had to see both to get my head around the whole incident. This is where the geek side of me takes over. I’m only going to get one chance to try this, so it has to be now. I started taking pictures of the wrecked truck, trying to remember the Photofly shooting guidelines as I did so. I have an old camera that doesn’t hold a lot of data, so I was disappointed to run out of storage space before we got to the crash site. Working with civil data, the topography of the crash site would have been marvelous to capture. That just says, when attempting a Photofly pickup, plan ahead.

Camera Locations

I returned to the family house and ran the images through the Photofly Photo Scene Editor. It is not a fast process, but it allows you to send the data and receive an email when the scene is complete. The processing occurs on the remote servers, so your resources are still available for other work in the mean time. The results of the capture were stunning! I have to admit, this was my first attempt, so not all of the model came in as I had hoped. The truck body being shiny tended to negate some of the processing, leaving some gaps (especially on the “sun-side” of the truck). But a good portion of the truck was visible, and produced a great 3D model of the most badly damaged side of the truck. I am an iPhone/iPad user, and have the Inventor Publisher Mobile Viewer (.ipm file format) which Photofly exports to. Android users will also be able to get the IPM app. Also, the Photo Scene Editor exports to DWG and LAS among others.


I’ve seen some great uses for Project Photofly discussed. Capturing small parts, capturing room data, capturing building exteriors (especially known landmarks). I think we need to add another use to the list, accident investigation or recreation. I’m certain that if I’d been able to shoot the accident scene, some useable data could have been retrieved to review the road design in that particular area. Also, besides showing the truck to friends and family, the insurance companies (and yes, lawyers) could make use of the 3D model of the vehicle(s). Depending on the situation it may not be possible in all events.

Even if Project Photofly doesn’t seem like it would be in your normal workflow, I encourage you to check it out, or at least the shooting guide, which I found as a great creative introduction to what could be accompished.

Let me end with the good news. My dad is doing much better. After spending weeks in the hospital, and having to relearn how to walk and maneuver around his injuries, he is scheduled to be home soon.

Posted in Building / AEC, Civil, General, Manufacturing | No Comments »

Building Design Suites and Licensing

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

As most of you know Autodesk has come out with the Building Design Suites to give customers access to more software at a reasonable price. Here at MasterGraphics on our support line have run into a few issues with the licensing aspect of the suites. The issue is related to previous versions of software and the BDS. If you are running all 2012 software, then the cascading will function properly and this will not apply to you. The issue is when a company is running previous versions which they are allowed to do when on subscription. For example if a company has a network seat of BDS 2012 and they are also running Revit Architecture 2010. When the launch Revit 2010 it pulls from the BDS license pool and not from the Revit pool of lcienses. So after talking to Autodesk they have come up with a couple of solutions that have worked for some but not others. Try rearranging the licesne file to have the single seats of software first, then any Revit suites, and then the BDS suites last. This actually worked for one customer. Another is set up a options file that will dictate which license pool a particular user will pull from. Instructions can be found on Autodesk’s website if you search for options files or give our support line a call and we can send it to you. This may or may not work based on your system and network setup. In one case, neither of these solutions worked for one of our customers. What ended up happening is they gave the csutomer a bunch of NFR seats of the BDS so all of their users could pull licenses without any issues until the problem is resolved. This has been escalated up to their licensing team and a solution is not available. So if you run into these issues, you can try to rearrange the license file, try the options file, or move everyone to the 2012 releases.

By: Will Hilgendorf

Posted in Building / AEC | No Comments »

Revit Architecture 2012 Update 1 Now Available!

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

The Web Update for Revit 2012 is now available for download at this link http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=16841348 One known issue that it resolves is when you go into the material dialog box and try to change the relief pattern to a different image, the software would crash. It was happening to all of us here at MG but the web update fixed that issue.

By: Will Hilgendorf

Posted in Building / AEC | No Comments »

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