I write this 33,000 feet in route from Dallas to NYC,

While this is a BIM – REVIT leadership Blog, as a technologist I fully believe that Information Technology is key in implementing any processes such as BIM within our A/E industry. If utilized properly, technology is one of the pillars responsible for our success, integration and transparency.

With that, I bring to you a great discovery that I made earlier in the week when I was booking my trip from D/FW to NYC on AirTran Airways website when I learned that this carrier offer broadband internet through wireless access on all of its flights compatible with your laptops and/or hand-held devices. Yes, if I may add, $12.95 for a day-pass working great for connecting flights, $9.95 for one flight and $39.95 for a month pass if you were a heavy traveler.

What a marriage made in heaven, aviation is a great form of travel based on technology transporting industries and people from point A to point B creating and closing opportunities. Along that side, wireless internet access during these flights allowing individuals to connect with their clients, teams and superiors to keep progress moving on projects without loosing valuable hours in the sky.

For some, travel is a time to retreat, plan and document. For others, it may be catching up with a specialty book. Having the option of such transparent connectivity at a very affordable cost during such demanding times is extremely important for those that would utilize it. As for me, you can bet that my travel search will always begin with AirTran for this very purpose.

To create an account and/or research “gogo” on-board AirTran, use this site:
http://airborne.gogoinflight.com/gbp/gobrowse.do

This is a fantastic article by James O. Jonassen. The material in this long article focus on a BIM Strategic approach that addresses the process/technology from a business standpoint in each of these areas:

• BIM through design only
• BIM through construction only
• BIM in design-build
• BIM in integrated project delivery
• BIM in enterprise/project integration

To view the article go click on this link. Enjoy!

I have been hearing all the fiasco about the introduce REVIT Ribbon in 2010 and how it has been mostly negatively viewed by the users in the industry. As a BIM Implementer and after looking at this very closely with my team and superiors we had to make a tough yet simple decision on continue to deploy 2009 within our firm or make the switch to 2010.

After the research and deliberation, it became clear that the ribbon is easier to use for those that have not been expose to the old menu system. So we asked ourselves a simple question: Why would we deploy 2009 to come back a year later and break a new “old” habit and retrain on the ribbon.

With that being said, we started the implementation of 2010 with an understanding of some overlapping throughout this process. However, I would like to share a great tool that I discovered during this process. A tool that is based on flash technology allowing you to utilize it as a reference sheet to discover where commands went from the old menu to the new ribbon. Our users have been like this significantly and it made much more sense than every document out there that have tried to map the commands.

Please see tool at this link. Enjoy!

During difficult times, BIM and CAD Managers are struggling to justify the cost of attending Autodesk University – 2009. What we should realize is that it is more than ever important that we attend Autodesk University to learn how to maximize on our investment by sharing our experiences and learning from other industry pioneers. I have submitted the following classes for considerations with AU-2009, I hope you find them useful:

Upgrading to CAD Management 2.0
From CAD to BIM Managers – The Evolution
BIM Management Unleashed
A Guideline to REVIT Implementations
CAD Standards Made Easy
From CAD to BIM Managers – The Evolution
Upgrading to CAD Management 2.0
BIM: A Business Decision
Naming Your Family

I have been reading the book Tribes by author Seth Godin and came across this fantastic quote: “Some tribes are stuck. They embrace the status quo and drown out any tribe member who dares to question authority and the accepted order.” I consider this an exact reflection of many in the AEC community stuck with the basics in their approach to embracing BIM as a process.

Although this might not be a BIM Management book, I highly recommend it to Technology Directors, BIM Leaders and Managers. It simply walks us through creating our own tribe of BIM/REVIT, then generating a movement that will guide us through this change that we desperately need. The burden falls completely on our shoulders to bring this movement into our firms and become the BIM Evangelizers within our communities promoting this new process.

BIM Managers should start internally, by showing a completely different level of interest in integrating this process within the AEC firm away from your standard CAD Manager that was simply interested in applying standards to tools of technology. This is an excellent place to start a movement of change to introduce BIM and REVIT.

This is an approach that I will be committing myself to promote within my community, in AU 2009 classes and so forth because I firmly believe that we must start taking those steps aggressively to create and lead the BIM Tribe.