I read an online articles headline stating blueprints were dead. I would love that, but in reality I find that proclamation of blueprints being dead as a headline hard to believe at this time. This topic also started a flurry of tweets discussing if paper blueprints were really dead and discussing if hardware could survive some work environments.
First in order to avoid confusion or misunderstanding I want to clearly indicate I prefer mobile digital solutions like using AutoCAD WS, Buzzsaw or Autodesk 360 at the office or at the jobsite to review and/or markup drawings. With mobile there are also many ways to make sure that you have the latest approved drawings and information such as from a Vault server or Autodesk PLM 360. In the design workflows I think paper is all but dead as not many are designing using paper other than perhaps sketching concepts or draft planning but in the use of the design data for assembly, construction, and fabrication drawings the paper still is alive and well in certain rough environments that eat electronics like soft chewy candy.
Let me explain the problem as I see it having worked in several medium and large steel fabrication companies before joining Autodesk. There is one major barrier that prevents digital workflows for viewing drawings everywhere and that is the work environment such one example being a fabrication plant with high voltage equipment such as welding or plasma cutting equipment at fabricators workstations. Current electronics such as laptops, computers, and tablets are all very susceptible to damage by electrical and magnetic interference in addition to other fabrication mechanical dangers like weld spatter, grinding sparks and debris, and of course the mandatory spilled coffee. Also the ability to clearly see a D-size drawing at a welding station is a benefit many cite when discussing paper versus digital solutions. The other thing I have heard is that most wouldn’t be upset if a drawing was destroyed and they had to re-issue and new one versus a destroyed tablet or mobile device replacement cost.
I think most of us would agree that a complete digital workflow solution is best and is the future. What is needed for rough service environments is a shielded and very highly visible device that can be connected to a document system. The days until blueprints are actually dead are still down the road so don’t write it obituary just yet.
What do you think, post your comments.
Cheers,
Shaan
Interesting blog topic. Paper still rules for shop floor, but I would like to see the day when a purpose built shielded projector/PC combination can be used to project the drawing. No good for in the field but that where tablets and/or paper come into play. The light from welding arc could make the projection invisible but I can’t remember the last time I welded and looked at a projector simultaneously.
Hopefully flexible display technology will be a step in the direction of enabling technology to replace paper.
Do you think they would be durable enough to withstand magnetic and electrical interference of some job work spaces or just used for calmer work sites?
I wonder if they will have a D-size flexible display that can be seen in sunlight and take a coffee spill. 🙂
Real blue prints are dead. I haven’t seen a smelly blue line copy or a machine that prints them in at least a decade.
However, every time I visit an engineering office, I am struck by the fact that so much is still paper based. I’ve worked with a number of companies that have tried to move to electronic markups, but it’s a tough transition.
So, while actual bluelines are pretty much dead, paper based processes live on.
Printed sheets aside, what do you think of Phil Bernstein’s prediction that in the not too distant future there will not even be the need for abstractions? That is, floor plans, drafted details, even sheets will yield to a complex data-rich model. Seems to me this utopia is analogous to the move from CAD to BIM, and what you describe in the post as the move from drafting boards to CAD. Hmmmm…