20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
Jon Peddie Research puts the 2D CAD market at about 5.4 billion dollars in 2025 and calls it structurally strong. I am not in the 2D camp or the 3D camp. Both have real jobs, and the interesting problem is the handoff between them.
AI in AEC is not a technology problem - it's a data problem. Shaan Hurley recaps the AUGICon 2026 Applied AI in AECO panel: what's working, what's amplifying the mess, and why AEC is heading toward specialized tools on shared platforms.
Autodesk privacy settings are often misunderstood, but knowing where to look can simplify them. Start with your Autodesk Profile to manage desktop product privacy linked to your account. Be aware of toggles for required and optional data collection, understanding both are part of using Autodesk software.
In November 2013, Autodesk successfully ran full versions of its applications like Inventor and Revit in web browsers through a partnership with Mozilla, OTOY, AWS, and NVIDIA. Despite the groundbreaking performance, Autodesk chose not to launch the product due to pricing, internal politics, and fear of disrupting existing profits, ultimately opting for limited cloud features instead.
Autodesk is laying off approximately 1,000 employees, or 7% of its workforce, primarily affecting sales roles as part of a global restructuring. This move, intended to optimize sales and marketing, will incur substantial pre-tax charges. Despite recent business strength, repeated layoffs create instability, impacting employee morale and customer relationships.
The recent CITE User Group meeting highlighted the shift towards open standards in digital delivery, especially regarding DOTs and the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). Bob Mueser discussed the fading resistance to change and the increasing adoption of IFC 4.3, promoting flexibility and competition. This momentum fosters non-proprietary delivery and enhances long-term data ownership.
The constant pressure to adopt new AI tools and tech updates can enhance efficiency but cannot replace human expertise. While tools streamline tasks and identify problems, they cannot replicate the nuanced understanding that experienced professionals provide. Effective use of technology requires judgment, skill, and clear awareness of potential risks and challenges.
The importance of precision in CAD software like AutoCAD is highlighted, illustrating how floating point limits affect geometry at large scales. While multi-core processing exists, certain tasks must remain single-threaded to ensure accuracy and reliability. AutoCAD balances threading where beneficial, continually addressing tradeoffs between precision and performance for user stability and productivity.
Autodesk's Customer Error Reports (CER) are crucial for CAD Managers to diagnose crashes effectively. These reports, generated post-crash, provide insights into system information and usage patterns. Local access to CER data can help identify issues, improve reliability, and enhance productivity. Future visibility may empower administrators to track trends and proactively address problems.
As design tools evolve, CAD standards must also adapt to ensure consistency, accuracy, and efficiency in projects. Regular reviews, conducted quarterly or yearly, will capture lessons learned, incorporate new efficiencies, and standardize updates. This proactive approach fosters collaboration and maintains quality, ensuring standards align with current workflows and technology.