The CADDle Call
By ZenTek Consultants
The CADDle CallJan 28, 2020
Digital Dashboards: Why We Need Them
In this episode, we discuss the concept of digital dashboards and what they provide. This very powerful concept can save time on tedious tasks and every company should look to implement dashboards in their processes.
Autodesk 2025 Has Dropped
Recently, Autodesk released its Autodesk 2025 product line. Tim Yarris, AutoCAD Civil 3D Product Manager at Autodesk, join us to discuss the cool new features in the Civil Infrastructure tools.
AI for Construction
Ken D'Amato, CEO and founder of SmarTwin AI™, joins us to discuss the benefits of AI for construction and how it can positively impact construction challenges.
Custom Estimating Systems in Construction
Matt DeBasio, Construction Technologist at P. Agnes, is with us to discuss the construction industry's need for custom, or purpose-built, estimating systems.
"The Intentional Engineer"
Jeff Perry, leadership and development expert as well as the host of "The Engineering Career Coach" podcast is here to discuss concepts in his book "The Intentional Engineer". We'll discuss the concepts of intentionality, upgrading your mindset, and genius zones. These concepts apply to all professionals, so grab a cup of your favorite beverage and listen in.
Learn more about the book and grab your copy at https://www.theintentionalengineer.com/.
Bluebeam Features You Need: Export to Microsoft 365 Tools
In this episode, we focus on how you can export data from Bluebeam Revu to Microsoft 365 tools like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.
Connecting PDF and CAD Data
Whether it's markups, as-builts, submittals, or even printing CAD design files to a PDF, there's a struggle when it comes to sharing information between these two file types.
In this episode, we discuss how construction and design firms can move markups and more from a PDF editor and import them as actual linework into CAD.
AI for the Design World
Todd Rogers, BIM Manager at Walter P. Moore, joins us to discuss artificial intelligence in the design world. We'll talk about how AI can fit into daily design workflows and its potential benefits.
This Month in Design Build: Wage Theft in Construction
In this episode, we discuss the latest news on how construction firms are being given heavy fines from the US government due to "intentional wage theft". What does this mean for the industry?
2D CAD Work: Thriving or DOA?
Is 2D CAD still being used in the design/build industry? Join us as we discuss what we're seeing today and the long-term prognosis for 2D CAD work.
Procore - Making it Work
David Mills, Construction Technical Specialist at ZenTek, joins us to discuss Procore and how you can make it work in a real-world environment.
Enterprise Software vs Smarter Workflows
In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of using large enterprise software systems versus developing simplified workflows that can help staff work better and smarter.
Software Partnerships: Working Together for the End User
Craig Swearingen, Implementation Specialist at Bricsys, is here to discuss the relationship between software partners and developers, and, most importantly, how it affects the end users.
Bluebeam Features You Need in Your Life: Publishing
Publishing a pdf in Bluebeam is not the same as printing a pdf. In this episode, we discuss the options available for publishing multiple files that can make a big difference when storing and sharing these files.
Technical Training Options
Training is not a "one-size-fits-all" solution for AEC firms. In this episode, we discuss the different types of technical training options available, how they work, and the pros/cons of each.
ReCap Wrap Up
We wrap up Season 4 of The CADDle Call podcast with Ramesh Sridharan, Autodesk Product Manager for the Infrastructure team. He joins us to discuss the point cloud and GIS developments in Autodesk ReCap over the past year. And, he'll give a little insight into the direction the product is headed in 2024.
"Just-in-Time" Technical Support
In this episode, we discuss the idea of getting employees help with software and processes at the moment they need it. While the concept is simple enough, often times the implementation is not.
Bluebeam Features You Need in Your Life: PDF Packages
In this episode, we discuss the PDF Packages feature in Bluebeam Revu - what it is and how to use it. We'll go over the process of creating a PDF Package of your entire project and how to use the most common tools in this feature.
Autodesk Service Providers - What Do They Do?
In this episode, we dive into who Autodesk Service Providers are, what they do, how to find them, and how they differ from Autodesk Value-Added Resellers.
BIM vs 3D Models
In this podcast episode, we discuss the difference between Building Information Models and 3D Models, as well as determining which one you need.
Live from the GBCA Tech Expo
It's our first ever live podcast broadcast! We're coming to you from the GBCA Tech Expo where we're talking with hosts and attendees about the technology that's important to the design build industry. Learn about the innovative ways people are using technology to make workflows more efficient.
2024 Autodesk Overview
Tim Yarris, AutoCAD Civil 3D Product Manager at Autodesk, joins us to provide a year-end wrap up on the 2024 release of the Autodesk Civil/Site programs and discuss the upcoming Autodesk University conference. We’ll also talk about a few other cool things happening at Autodesk right now and some of the features Tim’s team is working on for next year’s release.
BricsCAD V24 is Here!
Julie Keverian, Bricsys North American Technical Manager, is back with us to share the new and exciting tools in the latest BricsCAD V24 release. We'll also discuss the updates related to specific work processes in Civil, Mechanical, and BIM. If you use CAD, this is one podcast you don't want to miss.
3D Scanning - It's More Than You Think It Is
In this podcast episode, we discuss digital scanning of facilities and sites and, more importantly, all the things you can do with the data once you have it. We'll talk about the benefits that 3D scanning provides throughout construction and post construction, and into facility management for the long term.
Practical Application of Remote Work in the AEC Industry
In this episode, we discuss how remote work ties into the design build industry and the practicality of making this type of work available to employees.
Bluebeam Features You Need in Your Life: Templates
Increase your efficiency and consistency on all construction projects by using Bluebeam Revu templates. In this episode, we discuss the importance of creating pdf and email templates that you can reuse on every project to save time. We'll also talk about creating and using report templates to output markups to a consistent PDF format.
Importance of CAD Standards
CAD Standards have an impact on every design you create. In this episode, Cyndy Davenport, Civil Tech Specialist at ZenTek, joins us to discuss the benefits of well thought out CAD Standards. We'll also talk about the practicalities of developing, or improving, your internal CAD Standards.
Procore - A Field Users View
David Mills, Technical Specialist at ZenTek Consultants, is here to discuss how to best use Procore in a practical field-focused construction workflow.
BricsCAD V23 - Why You Need it in Your Office
Julie Keverian, North American Technical Manager at Bricsys, is back to discuss the newest features in the BricsCAD V23.2 update and how you can incorporate them into your daily workflow to maximize design efficiency and productivity.
Training Your Staff: What's the Right Answer
In this episode, we discuss ways firms can properly handle technical training in this busy design/build environment. We'll look into how the focus of technical training shouldn't be on just software training, but a holistic approach that includes workflow processes. Knowing which buttons to push to get an output with understanding what that output means leads to major inefficiencies.
This Month in Design Build
In this episode, we discuss a few of the new and exciting things that have happened in the design build industry recently.
GIS Data - Linking Autodesk and ESRI
Ramesh Sridharan, Product Manager of Infrastructure at Autodesk, is back to discuss the growing partnership between Autodesk and ESRI.
In this episode, we'll discuss how this partnership is making it easier for the industry to access and integrate GIS data into standard infrastructure designs and vice versa.
Benefits of Adding BricsCAD to Your Design Environment
In this episode, we discuss using more than one CAD system in your firm and the benefits of doing so. In particular, we're focusing on the business and cost benefits of incorporating BricsCAD into your current design environment.
Bluebeam Features You Need in Your Life: Spaces
In this episode, we discuss the benefits of using the Spaces feature in Bluebeam Revu.
Construction Estimating with Bluebeam Revu
If you're using Bluebeam Revu for just marking up documents or viewing pdf files, you're missing out on its most powerful feature - creating estimates. In this episode, we discuss how you can ditch doing estimates by hand or in Microsoft Excel, and configure Bluebeam Revu so you can easily and quickly create takeoffs and estimates that meet your requirements.
Subscription Licenses - Benefit or Burden?
In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of software subscription licenses and the effect they are having on the AEC industry.
Building Better Employees
In the design/build industry, technology and work conditions are becoming tighter companions. Making sure your employees have the tools, skills, and time they need to be highly efficient while maintaining a reasonable work/life balance is vital. In this episode, we discuss how to adapt to the changes in the industry to develop more productive, happier, and loyal employees.
This Month in Design Build
In this episode, we discuss recent news and how it affects the design build industry.
MEP & BIM
David Robison, President of Design Master Software, joins us to discuss MEP requirements in BIM and how these can be handled using BricsCAD. We'll also dive into the benefits of BIM for MEP engineers and designers.
CAD Management - Not Just About CAD
Your CAD skills can make you a super user, but they won't really make you a manager. In this episode, we discuss what's required on the management side. CAD Managers need to understand the business from the ROI calcs to selling ideas to executives to preparing training and rolling out support for staff.
Autodesk ReCap Pro 2024 - What's New
Ramesh Sridharan, Product Manager for Autodesk Infrastructure, is back to discuss the new features and functions in ReCap Pro 2024. He'll also provide tips on better integrating ReCap into your daily workflows.
We're Open in Canada
Our new subsidiary in Canada is now open and Steve Fahie, President of ZenTek Consultants CA, is here to discuss how we can help Canadian firms.
Bluebeam Features You Need In Your Life: Overlaying Documents
In this monthly feature, we discuss the benefits and practical use of overlaying documents in Bluebeam Revu.
Collaborate for Civil 3D
Andrew Milford, Autodesk Senior Product Manager for Civil Infrastructure, joins us to discuss the benefits of Collaborate for Civil 3D and how the tools and features have been updated for the 2024 release of the Civil Infrastructure tool sets.
AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024 is Here
Tim Yarris, AutoCAD Civil 3D Product Manager at Autodesk, is back to give us the breakdown on the new features and tools in AutoCAD Civil 2024 that will make designing more efficient.
Introducing ZenPipe for AutoCAD Civil 3D
Cyndy Davenport, Civil Technical Specialist here at ZenTek, joins us to discuss ZenPipe for Civil 3D Pressure Networks. These new tools were designed to help those who struggle with development and layout of pressure pipe catalog data in AutoCAD Civil 3D. Listen in to learn more.
Bluebeam Revu Features You Need in Your Life
In this episode, we're discussing the Compare Documents feature in Bluebeam Revu and how you can use it in single and batch mode to identify the differences between construction documents and contracts, whether they are drawings or text-based. While using this feature is a simple process, it's one that many construction professionals don't really take advantage of.
Construction Estimating - Which Tools are Best?
The Construction Industry has plenty of tools available to handle QTO and estimating. In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of these tools and where the industry is leaning. We'll also give our listeners an idea of what they should be looking at within their own firms.
This Month in Design Build
We're introducing a new segment, where every month we'll recap recent news in the Design Build industry. While we will try to focus on the technology side, we may also touch on the business and financial aspects, depending on the news story.
This month we're discussing:
- Digital Twin technologies for infrastructure
- Gensler's Design Forecast for 2023
- Dodge Reports - the growth of Prefab and Modular Construction
- ConstructionDive - the lack of growth in commercial construction for 3D modeling
ZenEstimate Tools - A Faster Way to Estimate
In this episode, we discuss construction estimating in Bluebeam Revu, and how using pre-defined tools to automate quantity takeoff, cost, and labor estimating can save you valuable time on your projects.