What do you see emerging?

[scott.sheppard]

Now that the ruckus related to setting up new forums has settled down, let's get back to using them. What new technologies should Autodesk investigate and collect feedback on via Autodesk Labs?

[civil3Dguide]

Now that the ruckus related to setting up new forums has settled down, let's get back to using them. What new technologies should Autodesk investigate and collect feedback on via Autodesk Labs?

Cloud computing based products, that are always up to date and when one persons problem is fixed it fixes everyones and hopefully being able to use large images in AutoCAD based drawings without it slowing you down. I have a couple of other reasons for wanting this type of technology.

[scott.sheppard]

Thank you for your response. Clouds are definitely on the horizon.

[Wanderer]

Cloud computing based products, that are always up to date and when one persons problem is fixed it fixes everyones and hopefully being able to use large images in AutoCAD based drawings without it slowing you down. I have a couple of other reasons for wanting this type of technology.

I have to agree there, Christian.

I never thought much about the cloud... until! I was at a meeting last year, and one of the other panelists pulled out his iPad, showing me a model of a hospital (originating across all the products on the Revit platform, and viewed in Navisworks using Citrix)... just spinning and zooming and the idea of having access to that type of data right in your hands just struck me.

I'm currently working on a project that will give us wireless connectivity in our machine rooms across the facility, and our mechanics will be able to access our drawings (as well as Preventative Maintenance / work order information and procedures) while they're out in the field. With a 6mil sq ft campus, no one single person can be intimately familiar with the systems, and walking around from their computer or plan room back to the equipment they're working on takes a bit of time.

Our drawing archive is primarily 2d (heck, we're 99 years old, what can one expect?), but, that's slowly changing. But, if we really want our guys to get some use out of the newer stuff, it's going to have to work fast and intuitive, or they won't want to touch it and they'll just go back to paper.

[Ed Jobe]

Thank you for your response. Clouds are definitely on the horizon.

In for a bit of nasty weather, eh?

[scott.sheppard]

Eventually all of data will be on servers somewhere, and we will laugh at the days "when our data was only on one machine, and we could only get to it when we were on that machine."

[Brian Myers]

I'm interested in more direct ways to leverage field data with it's digital counterpart. Currently we see programs like MAP being leveraged with collectors to produce shape files and then leverage that data.

To state in simpler terms, a location needs to be documented. Perhaps a maintenance worker finds a leaky sprinkler head. He needs to document it digitally, perhaps taking a photo of the condition, and note it. Then this data needs to be easily associated with the model created in Revit and then leveraged by those fixing it as well as documenting the materials/labor/issue.

There are solutions available to do this, but none are as simple as what the industry needs. Shape files and Revit files really don't "mix" well, we need an interface that allows for a better collaborative environment that relates to real world conditions and workers. It could be argued Navisworks allows for it, but that's a bulky solution. Map isn't ideal and it's a solution that would require more work than this scenario should require. A cloud app that allowed collaboration between the hardware and software and individuals in multiple locations would be ideal.

In short: We need a better field documentation solution for developing conditions which could be leverage by construction and FM.

[Wanderer]

To state in simpler terms, a location needs to be documented. Perhaps a maintenance worker finds a leaky sprinkler head. He needs to document it digitally, perhaps taking a photo of the condition, and note it. Then this data needs to be easily associated with the model created in Revit and then leveraged by those fixing it as well as documenting the materials/labor/issue.

There are solutions available to do this, but none are as simple as what the industry needs. Shape files and Revit files really don't "mix" well, we need an interface that allows for a better collaborative environment that relates to real world conditions and workers.

Indeed, things could be sleeker there.

The mechanic will be (ideally) taking this photo and making his checklist, which will be logged in the facility's CMMS. That's a work order or PM record. That record is associated with equipment or space in a CAFM program. That CAFM program is drawing it's space data from the Revit model.

Connected (which is better than pencil and paper), but, still pretty bulky and a long chain.

[Brian Myers]

Connected (which is better than pencil and paper), but, still pretty bulky and a long chain.

Exactly. There is a huge market opening there and the hardware (interface devices) already exist... may it be construction specific items such as the Trimble Geo (a ruggedized handheld device) or more common items such as smart phones. But the ability to associate, integrate, and leverage data with the "I" in BIM or GIS (information) is really lacking without substantial workarounds.