20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
Shaan has developed a Civil 3D plugin in C#, functioning as an audit tool to analyze AutoCAD drawings efficiently. It captures essential data on references and project health, providing detailed reports and insights. The plugin can run in headless mode, enhancing performance for large batches of drawings. Future enhancements will address sheet set detection and layer audit calibration.
My session "The Stack Inversion Is Real" was accepted for Autodesk University 2026, focusing on AI's impact on CAD management. While I'm disappointed my favorite submissions were declined, this presentation will reflect my current role as a practitioner. Attendees will learn about AI's changes in CAD functions and strategies for evolving expertise.
Managing a Civil 3D shop can lead to complex issues with circular data shortcuts that obscure visibility and hinder performance. Many users unknowingly create tangled reference chains, resulting in file corruption and slow operations. The author seeks insights from other CAD managers on preventing and managing these challenges for better collaboration and efficiency.
A Saturday loop through Dufur, Tom McCall Preserve, Hood River, Solera Brewery in Parkdale, and dinner in Maupin. Wildflowers, an unexpectedly great organic market, and two very tired dogs.
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.
The Autodesk Assistant in Civil 3D 2027 Tech Preview shows promise, effectively handling large data and summarizing complex drawings. However, it can generate non-existent commands, which erodes trust. Users are encouraged to leverage AI for efficiency while verifying its outputs and ensuring accuracy in commands to avoid confusion.
AUGI CON26 is just under a week away. There’s still time to register. Go here for the Main Stage and Lounge links:
Most CAD managers underestimate the significance of Autodesk crash data found in Customer Error Reports (CERs). Regularly analyzing these files reveals underlying issues affecting user environments, often overlooked by support tickets. Cer data can identify patterns leading to crashes and help implement fixes, thereby reducing user frustration and improving productivity.
A new open-source toolkit, That Open Engine 3.4.0, addresses long-standing issues in BIM workflows by offering an integrated 2D technical drawing system. It enables users to generate, annotate, and export plans directly from BIM models in a browser without relying on external CAD tools. This innovative solution eliminates licensing barriers, making it accessible for all.
My son Jake recently passed his Civil Engineering PE exam, a significant milestone for engineers. Despite being his harshest critic in school, he consistently excelled academically. This achievement marks the culmination of years of hard work, internships, and overcoming self-doubt. I am incredibly proud of him and eager for his future endeavors.