Introducing the "Tip and Tricks" Section

The year 2005 may be drawing to a close, and rather than winding down to a slow halt, AECbytes is ending the year with a new beginning: the launch of a new "Tips and Tricks" section! This section will be authored by experts in individual AEC applications and will be focused on learning tips, tutorials, hands-on exercises, and so on. The intent is to complement the broad-based articles and reviews that are traditionally published in AECbytes with some more application-specific content authored by experts that its users will find helpful. Readers are also welcome to contribute to this section. The December issue of "Tips and Tricks" features two tutorials: Data Linking in Autodesk Architectural Desktop 2006, and Follow Me with Components/Groups in SketchUp.

This month also features two articles on Autodesk University 2005, which was held from Nov 28 to Dec 1 in Orlando. The attendance at this year's event crossed the 5,000 mark for the first time. It is a sign of the increasing importance of technology in all of the different industries Autodesk caters to, including AEC, manufacturing, and infrastructure. And a significant aspect of this increased criticality of technology is the move from 2D to 3D. In fact, if I had to pick the most significant highlight of this conference that made it different from prior Autodesk user conferences, it would have to be the de-emphasis of AutoCAD. A close second would be the significant shift in style, with more emphasis on products and technology and less of marketing hoopla. Read about the conference highlights, product annoucements, and my overall impressions of it in AECbytes Newsletter #24. Other material including highlights from the Exhibit Floor, a customer site visit, and the classes and labs will be covered in the "Building the Future" section later on this month.

Look out also for a Viewpoint contribution by Jim Bedrick, Director of Systems Integration at Webcor Builders, which is leading in the application of BIM to construction.

Last but not the least, wishing you all a very festive holiday season and a wonderful New Year!

Thank you
Lachmi Khemlani

Editorials > December 2005