As more importance is being placed on Building Information Modeling (BIM) models and 3D deliverables and the lifecycle management of project data, there is still the need to present the 2D representations of the model in a clear and concise format that utilizes time-tested effective practices for drawing and drafting standards. In most cases our deliverables are still the 2D plan sets. How many of your engineers, designers, and architects utilize software design packages but have not been instructed in effective drafting practices that help to tell the story on the construction documents that are going to the contractor? In this round-table session we will discuss what organizations are doing to preserve the craft of drafting, and we'll cover how to handle moving between the 3D models to a 2D plan set deliverable.

Sit down, buckle up, and keep your hands on your keyboard for the fifth installment of the multi-award-winning AutoCAD Tips & Tricks class that’s supercharged the productivity of thousands. Throw the caution of “that’s how we’ve always done it” to the wind, and learn innovative ways to make AutoCAD work for you (not the other way around). Autodesk Expert Elite member and Official AutoCAD Blog author Donnie “The CAD Geek” Gladfelter will entertain, inform, and inspire you with the most dapper drafting techniques acquired from more than 15 years of blogging, millions of YouTube views, and as the design technology manager for a civil engineering firm of nearly 900 professionals. From simple to advanced, you’ll learn the latest techniques AutoCAD has to offer and discover new ways to leverage existing tools. Disclaimer: Hourly employees need not attend as this session will only include techniques proven to improve productivity.

Sit down, buckle up, and keep your hands on your keyboard as Autodesk Expert Elite member Donnie “The CAD Geek” Gladfelter takes you through a dazzling collection of drafting techniques guaranteed to improve your productivity—one click at a time. Join Donnie as he shares techniques acquired from authoring six books on AutoCAD, blogging for more than a decade, and serving as the design technology manager of a roughly 700-person civil engineering firm. From simple to advanced, you’re sure to discover new ways to remove tedium and boost your ability to meet project deadlines. Hourly employees need not attend as this session will only include techniques proven to improve productivity.

If you want to master AutoCAD software, join Autodesk Expert Elite member Donnie “The CAD Geek” Gladfelter as he shares a plethora of power-user tips acquired from writing 6 books on AutoCAD and blogging for more than a decade. Mr. Gladfelter will take you through a powerful collection of proven productivity techniques that are certain to improve your everyday drawing life. From simple to advanced, you’re sure to discover new ways to remove tedium and boost your ability to meet project deadlines.

Presenting the next step of the AutoCAD 360 evolution - Enabling accurate drafting, with a brand new feature set: New drafting tools, snap types, canvas utilities, and in general, new ways for modifying your drawings and floor plans on the go. This session will include an overview of all the ways you can use AutoCAD 360 to maximize your out-of-the-office workflows. Whether you’re an architect, drafter, specialty engineer, construction expert, etc., in this session you will learn how to replace your old pen and paper, and save time and money by utilizing mobile tools. We’ll give a live demo explaining how to set up your project, from connecting to your existing library of drawings, to viewing, measuring, and of course - making accurate modifications on the go. This session is relevant for all mobile users - iOS, Android and Windows-Surface.

Tablets and smartphones are no longer futuristic concepts. These devices are ubiquitous and extremely powerful, in both in our daily lives and our professional workflows. But how can we use them in our CAD lives? The AutoCAD mobile app lets us use the copious amounts of data we include in our DWG™ files anywhere we are. Whether in the coffee shop, on the factory floor, or in the middle of a field (cell signal notwithstanding), you can get to your DWG files in the cloud, make changes to the native geometry, and share your changes with others. Other apps can help you complete your workflow, from marking up prints to sharing designs. This class will go through the basics of adding cloud access to AutoCAD mobile, drawing new geometry, and modifying existing work, as well as pulling information such as dimensions and areas from your drawings. We will also cover best practices and access for non-AutoCAD users, as well as some additional apps that can be useful in the field.

Drafting in VDC programs takes a combination of industry knowledge and software knowledge. In order to be proficient, a drafter has to pull from both knowledge sets and the best VDC personnel have some level of field experience in order to know how systems should be built correctly and efficiently. This session will moderate a discussion on ways to train union labor, both from the field and through the apprenticeship. In both cases, there is a need for some level of proficiency. For apprentices, more jobsites are incorporating coordination software in the field. They need to be able to use the software tools to read, interpret and build. For journeymen using their experience to become draftsmen, they need training on how to use software to design, coordinate and fabricate. The discussion will talk about how contractors around the country are approaching this training, what content should be taught to each set of people and how they approach bringing in labor to the office.

If you want to master AutoCAD software, join Autodesk Expert Elite member Donnie “The CAD Geek” Gladfelter as he shares a plethora of power-user tips acquired from writing six books on AutoCAD and blogging for more than a decade. He’ll take you through a powerful collection of proven productivity techniques that are certain to improve your everyday drawing life. From simple to advanced, you’re sure to discover new ways to remove tedium and boost your ability to meet project deadlines.

Training a diverse group of users requires more than a little bit of strategizing. From new users to seasoned veterans, everyone has something they can discover about the software they use. But how do you engage them all and keep them all growing? Explore various methods of engagement and find the approach that works best for you and your trainees. Join our discussion of learning styles, presentation styles, training tools, on-demand content development, ways of testing progress, and identifying topics relevant to your users.

You have succeeded with producing great models with Autodesk Revit software. You have built well coordinated plans, elevations, sections, and schedules. How do you move to the next level and take full advantage of the model for even greater efficiency in your design and documentation process? This class will review the concepts, processes, and tools in Revit 2013 to efficiently design and document building enclosures and curtain walls. These techniques apply to similar parts throughout your project. Topics will include 2D drafting in drafting views, 2D detail components overlaid on plan and section details of the live model, and embedding 2D detail in curtain wall panels. Building enclosure details from large-scale projects will be used to illustrate the concepts and process.

We’ve found that 99% of AutoCAD users spend time drafting based on markups. Even worse, half of users surveyed reported spending more than 20 hours per week responding to changes. AutoCAD software is innovating and building new methods to automate workflows and decrease this time. Join this class to learn how to increase your efficiency and improve collaboration on markups and feedback.

We all realize that the world has changed incredibly since 2019. Industries where crowded conference room and noisy drafting bullpens were once the norm are now dealing with remote work as the norm. Even with the "return to the office" more and more staff wish to work from home. So how does a design firm survive when the new world is so very different. I will discuss my own experience as a IT manager and how we made the "overnight" change to remote work. More importantly I will share how our firm is not only surviving, but thriving, with remote work as the pandemic continues cycles. Join me for a specific recipe of tools, practices, and patience that has proven successful in the real world.

Once a drafting standard and drawing management system has been established, a drawing validation process must exist to ensure compliance with corporate standards. Oftentimes this consists of one or more drafters or checkers performing drawing audits from within AutoCAD® software using various tools like Check Standards, LayWalk, and so on. This process can be time-consuming and costly especially when a large amount of drawings must be processed within a short time period. Several third-party applications exist to assist with this process but most require an extensive setup and an external database. The simplest approach may be to use a product prominent in most GIS environments to extract, transfer, or manipulate data within varying file formats. This class illustrates how the Feature Manipulation Engine (FME) can be used to audit an AutoCAD file to ensure compliance with corporate drafting standards, thus reducing or eliminating the cost for drawing validation prior to project closure.

This class will show you how to get the most out of Revit software's powerful graphic features, incorporating all of the newest features in Revit. You'll gain valuable tips, tricks, and time-proven techniques to make your drawings look great. You'll learn to enhance non-rendered presentations with "out of the box" advanced graphic techniques, as well as how to visually improve trees, plants, and people used in Revit for all non-rendered views. You'll learn more about adding photo backgrounds to presentations and renderings using a unique overlay approach, adding fully controllable color or photo backgrounds behind multiple views-and you'll get tips for improving interior and exterior rendered views. Finally, you'll learn how to use "old-world hand-drafting" techniques to add visual clarity that helps your construction documents communicate seamlessly. Learn how to use surface shading, profiling, transparency, and toning techniques to create beautiful and clear drawings.

AutoCAD software users tend to repeat the same task frequently. Something as simple as placing text may require that one sets a specific layer current, then sets a text style current, and then sets the height of the text. This example requires 3 steps before typing the verbiage. Other repetitive tasks can consume even more time. Creating a simple macro will automate processes such as this into one function. Macros can also assist in ensuring that drafting standards are being used. This session will demonstrate how to easily create macros to automate repetitive tasks, and how one can add them to a tool palette for easy access. This session features AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.

This class will show you how to get the most out of Revit software's powerful graphic features, incorporating all of the newest features in Revit. You'll gain valuable tips, tricks, and time-proven techniques to make your drawings look great. You'll learn to enhance nonrendered presentations with "out of the box" advanced graphic techniques, as well as how to visually improve trees, plants, and people used in Revit for all nonrendered views. You'll learn more about adding photo backgrounds to presentations and renderings using a unique overlay approach, adding fully controllable color or photo backgrounds behind multiple views. You'll get tips for improving interior and exterior rendered views. Finally, you'll learn how to use "old-world” hand-drafting techniques to add visual clarity that can help your construction documents communicate seamlessly. Learn how to use surface shading, profiling, transparency, and toning techniques to create beautiful and clear drawings.

This class will focus on the AutoCAD 360 mobile app, its unique position in the AutoCAD software network, its feature set, and workflows to improve efficiency both in and outside the office. We will explore how to use AutoCAD 360 to expand away from the traditional desktop by using the latest tablet and smartphone technology to access, draft, review, and edit drawings anytime, anywhere. This hands-on workshop will assist you in kick-starting your journey from using desktop-based AutoCAD software onto the AutoCAD 360 mobile app by capitalizing on the capabilities of the A360 cloud-based services. We will deep-dive into AutoCAD 360 software’s powerful tools and capabilities, and look at some tips and tricks to integrate the app into your day-to-day work routine. This session is relevant to all mobile users—iOS, Android, and Windows 10. Transition from the old days of pen and paper and start drafting with a swish of your finger! This session features AutoCAD 360. AIA Approved

This class will cover the ins and outs of setting up your fabrication database as it relates to manufacturing, costing, and drafting. Cutting liner? Where are the two places you can control your cutbacks? Do you want stiffener offsets global, or per connector? Would you rather set up effective diameters for every size, or simply utilize the diameter adjust built into round connectors? The software itself has grown over the years, and newer features have been added controlling certain things, but not everything has been removed. Come and join the session to learn the best way to tie everything together!

This class describes several Building Information Modeling (BIM) challenges that Nikken Sekkei, the largest Japanese design firm, and Takenaka Corporation, one of the top five contractor, design-build companies, faced during their collaboration on a 1,000,000-square-foot BIM hospital project. The class covers three major challenges in the BIM implementation and adoption process between the two companies: how to incorporate the new concept of hospital design with a BIM approach that supports design coordination of the "shell and core" of the hospital plan to reduce RFIs; how to manage all of the designers and drafters who are beginning Autodesk® Revit® software users (no BIM champions) to produce construction documents from design development phase; and how to manage design review communications with the client using visualization technology. The class will cover each of the solutions and their benefits as profitable outputs using Autodesk Revit, Autodesk® 3ds Max®, and Autodesk® Navisworks® software.