Ask an Expert Week

   All of this week I am answering questions on AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT for the Official Autodesk Website.

   Some of the questions I get are issues I have worked through over my years as a CAD and BIM Manager, and this is also a great opportunity to see what issues people are dealing with outside my full service A/E and MEP background.

   It is great to see the different implementation standards set by other fields of study -- Such as manufacturing & smaller consultant firms.

"Ask an Expert" is keeping me on my toes.

   I'm also working on some other things, like a SEM-NET database logic structure for my "Demystifying BIM" professional blog I am frameworking for a consulting portal on my professional website I am slowly developing; Which will replace this personal blog once I finish all the smaller steps for creating a [redacted]...

(Oh just wait until you can hear about it)

iFreelance.com... might be worth it

Hire me for freelance work at iFreelance.com
Hire C M Daugherity for Mechanical Engineering, Office Architecture, and Interior Design
Find Mechanical Engineering Freelance Jobs at iFreelance.com

So....

   As I work on some website designs for some friends, I decided to post a slightly more formal online CV for my skills and work ethic.


   Often enough I am too technical for most people who are in the fields of Architecture and Engineering, because apples and oranges are generalities that have no place in Construction Science; Especially if you are working under a new consulting firm conglomerate who is managing a project and doesn't have your firm's interests in mind.

   I am usually writing technical manuals while I work with a team or teams that know the basics. I am currently working on my own dynamic SEM-NET for explaining the changes that happen every three to four months -- to people who do not understand technology as it pertains to Architecture and Engineering.  Which unfortunately happens to be a majority of people in the field.

   Implementation of change as it happens is not something most firms can afford, and should also be understood in upgrades to software and projects.

   Knowing how to calculate the Risk of Investment is paramount - which is why white papers are typically something that any manager should refer back to: For the general concepts of whichever software, hardware, process or procedure(s) are currently being implemented, or planned for.

   This is also why Building Information Modeling has become a requirement for civic design, Skyscrapers, and why a majority of the firms either break into new technological fields with vetted partners, or consolidate with full service A/E firms.

   To Teach, To Educate, and to Fix all the problems with the Construction Industry from Conceptualization to Construction and Facility Management. -- That is the mantra of multi-dimensional design; Taking the long view on controlling cost and creating better buildings.

   Architects, Engineers, and Manufacturers are slowly catching on to what people like me have been doing professionally for over ten years.  Those that don't understand it, well... Please learn it, adapt your teams to it, and consolidate or restructure your corporation to handle the changes -- your firm will die out if you cannot keep up with the industry or the law.

http://au.autodesk.com/
Visit Autodesk University, and prepare for AU 2010.

Listen to what Frank Gehry has to say about Virtual Construction:
Frank Gehry on Dassault Systèmes and Architecture

or you could also watch Design E2 on PBS or Hulu
The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious

Just because the college classes are over, doesn't mean your education stops.

   I realized back in middle school that hand drafting is a wonderful skill to have, but the trend of using computers was something that was worth investing time and energy into. Akin to having to redraw over and over for multiple revisions and copies like how the older generations of technical designers, architects, & engineers learned -- The modern Architect or Engineer is now required to know how to draw a line, and have the line be so much more than just a piece of graphite on bond paper, or India ink on vellum.


   The 'new' language of our industry includes (0,0,0) to (X, Y, Z):(A, B, C, D, ....) This 'new' group of languages are actually over 40 years old, so words can be relative according to the etymology of phrases, or technical jargon. The subtleties of each language should also be understood - at least from a conceptual standpoint.



   If there is something you don't understand: One can always take notes, and then ask what it means. Or look in the glossary or terminology index within the technical manual. There is too much information necessary to complete tasks and too many people working collaboratively for any one person to keep track of every detail. So please refer back to the general white papers for the concepts, and refer to the technical manuals for determining the cost/time efficiency.

   Investing in proper training and certification for collaborative teams is a necessary cost adjustment for the modern construction industry if you want to keep projects on budget -- adhering to the local, state and federal standards and regulations.

For another book suggestion:
Read Peter Senge.
NOT Ayn Rand.

Fraternity Rush T-shirt Design

   In my first year in my Fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi -- I was tasked with creating the next semester's Rush Tee Shirts.

   Rush is a time of the semester where fraternal and sororal orders try and recruit new members to each of their respective fraternities and sororities.

First draft before font was chosen:

    My first draft used a character from Invader Zim, but because the Character GIR was mostly unknown at the time, my fraternity brothers and I decided to go with a more recognizable character to college students.





An online - webisode website that us nerds enjoyed going to a nerdy technical college:

www.Homestarrunner.com


   I designed the Tee Shirts with a 4 color process on both Red and Grey Shirts, because our fraternal colors are Cardinal and Stone.

The process colors:     Black, White, Yellow, & Glow-in-the-Dark.

Here is a small sample mock up of the front of the shirts:

13" Wide x 9" Tall graphic - Red

13" Wide x 9" Tall graphic - Grey

Action Shot:

*Anyone in Design of any sort would benefit from reading books that too many young people have forgotten thanks to the speed of technology & the evolution of art.  Art which sometimes forgets the reasoning behind older standards and regulations in the pursuit of the new.


   My book recommendation for Layout Design would be 'Mastering Layout: On the Art of Eye Appeal' ~ by Mike Stevens.  A lot of study went into the psychology of appeal, retention, and natural layout; A set of rules that are universally understood.


Link: http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Layout-Art-Eye-Appeal/dp/091138068X




    When I worked in Advertising for the creator of the Eight-O'Clock Coffee Logo -- I learned a lot from him and other artists from my home-town.


**Something I have learned about expediency and eye appeal though training architects and engineers, laymen, and clients: 


   The faster the technology - e.g. speed reading, navigating websites, creating presentations, developing software &/or computer code, error-proofing construction documents, reading or writing technical manuals, etc. -- The more concern about layout and standardization within each genre or classification. 


Or for a shorter version:  The Faster the Tech, the more concern about customization.


   Art is a niche, and each field of study has an art unto itself - but the greatest artists follow a set of rules within their process, and do not see the rules as a limiting factor to their own creative process.


From the worlds of Art, Architecture, and Engineering: 
      Information should never be shown as SuPer GraPHiCs. 

Writing a 'Good' Virus

      In the fall of 2006 I read in the news on AUGI (Autodesk User Group International) that people over in China and Korea started to provide "free" Computer Aided Drafting / Design downloads for the rest of the world to download.

     The only problem was some of the "free" downloads had what is known as auto-routines and reactors built into the back-end programming of the files: causing computers to crash and leading to company downtime...


     I spent a weekend thinking about how this could be used for company efficiency and customized 'in-house' small business / multi-office, multi-state, & international business; Having worked for a small business with offices in multiple states and contracting for International Architecture & Engineering firms.


     I then wrote a 'Virus' in LISP for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Land Development Desktop, AutoCAD Architectural Desktop, & AutoCAD Survey (Just to name a few of the programs used within the office)


     My 'Virus' was set to 'hack' into the Microsoft Window's 'under-the-hood' program Registry using code I found in 'regedit.exe' and an automatic reactor set to fix the 'File Save' and 'Print to File' locations so that every time an End User saved a file it would redirect the print / plot location for Green Archiving.


LISP is a computer language that LOGO (the Turtle that draws on the screen) and other AI (Artificial Intelligence) - Graphic User Interface Languages are written in, such as Autodesk's AutoCAD.


     The Reactor was a low-latency single-line code snippet written in Visual Basic, cross-referenced with an XML palette for i-Drop Technology.

     My Company then implemented this 'Virus' across our main "Do-everything" office and then I modified the LISP code for every other office we had in other states.


Viruses can be used for Good... but I will not share the single page considering it could be used to crash companies

'White-Hat' Hackers and Artists such as myself know the security and manipulation that can be done – Just like using a pencil to draw and erase.

;-p


**Post Edit:**
Autodesk© Announced on August 31st @ 1:19pm · AutoCAD® is coming to the UNIX Shell of Mac OSX

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?id=15421056&siteID=123112

A Tip on Email & Ergonomics for Busy People

Almost all of us use Google for our primary search engine, but I am sure many of you are unaware of all the tips and tricks with time management that Google has to offer....


Using Gmail for busy people:

I use a lot of the Google Labs to help turn Gmail into a better email / word processor / management tool than MS Office provides with it's different development teams -- Which needs plug-ins, and hotfixes to correct many of the interoperibility issues.


     The online personal profile that Google uses makes online communication easy for people to find you for your personal & professional Life. My Professional email is in Google, Mozilla Thunderbird, & Microsoft Outlook which I forward all my personal email to.


     My professional email address is also tied to my Hotmail/Windows ID account, since I have to use MS products for design in Autodesk Revit & related programs beyond using Apple or Linux for other parts of design & management.

Using filters within Gmail:

I have my mail automatically filtered using the button located at the bottom of Gmail.

I have Gmail set to apply labels for multi-tasking and back-referencing using the Search Mail feature built into Google mail - which I can reference back to from my cell phone, a portable application of Chrome on my usb flash drive*, or my copy of Google Chrome for my home PC.


Hint: when you want to archive other emails you already have of the same type, be sure to click on the check-box "Also apply filters to the 'X' conversations below." (see second 'Gmail filters' image in this blog)

*Portable Applications can make transferring your Custom Bookmarks, Keyboard Short-cuts, & User Interface transferable from one computer to the next, (i.e. using a Public Library computer, a clients laptop or projection room conference media center, or from one computer to the next within your own office.)

Setting Up Gmail Filters:

Applying Filters to past emails as you create a new filter:

I have my personal Gmail set to automatically forward all mail to my professional-use Gmail email address, which I use a separate browser like Firefox to view and have both accounts open at the same time while at home, & my professional email at work.
(one using the Google Chrome web browser & the other email address in Firefox)



Professional email address in Firefox, Flock, Opera, or Internet Explorer: using Google Business
(DPI or Zoom Settings set higher so I can read small text from farther away)

In my professional Gmail account, I have my Buzz set up for employers to view and project teams to collaborate with - as this was Google's intent with creating Buzz, Wave, Docs, etc.

This type of cloud computing makes it easy to accomplish from a tethered phone, a net-book, or reducing bandwidth on an employer's IT system;  Allowing cloud storage rather than only having the local servers as a data storage location. Something I am sure you have had to deal with when the company server has gone down for maintenance or err.

(Be sure to select the check-box labeled ''Also apply to 'X' conversations below.'' )

(My professional Gmail account has no color on the labels,

so I don't filter out messages by color like I do in my personal Gmail account)

Office Ergonomics:

Along with better office products provided open-source from Google, something else to keep in mind when working on computers:    taking breaks and proper stretching.

At home I use a Wii along with Wii Fit to help with sitting at badly designed computer stations at work or working for a company that does not buy the proper ergonomics for the employees.





A cheap way for employers to combat these problems would be to implement 'Computer Station Yoga Techniques' while at work, much like how Pixar uses for their own corporate office; A company who was helped by a Yoga Instructor named Sandy Blaine.

Sandy Blaine -- a Health & Wellness writer, has several books of how to deal with implementation & design issues when working with stress and computers. Her best selling book is called Office Ergonomics.

**Microsoft has developed it's own version of Webware, which can be found on Skydrive; Skydrive allows people who are unfamiliar with Microsoft Office 2010 an easier learning curve for learning the new features, and because it is offered for free, tied to a Hotmail account -- It allows managers to see what they are missing out on in the latest product line, before buying the software or installing a trial version.

Thoughts on IT and Data Management

While studying and using different OS's and design programs, which I only know from the aspect of CAD/BIM Management in Architecture and Engineering; Here are my thoughts on IT and Data Management.

     If you start with a base OS and only load Firewalls & Security, then set up a virtual machine on a separate HDD - for IT to fix, without taking the entire computer. This VM will then access a local network shared drive that acts like a portal to the local onsite servers..

Then IT will load Firewalls & Security on each virtual machine - one build or flavor that is cloned to each computer in the network created from an image (per specified job type/assignment. per block of licensing) and have everyone in the project team/ group use only VM for work and internet...

Doesn't that mean that even if your employee's aren't following the proper net usage protocols there is only one door you have to actively guard for security?

Can anyone give an answer to my quandary?

• Customized End User Interfaces would be maintained on segmented portion of personal VM, reviewed by IT for problems
• Directly applicable to Cloud Computing and Virtual Office Portable Applications
• One major downside being the processor and RAM capabilities are diminished, so this will have to be applied to a customized cluster - HPC or Beowulf; To save on money rather than buying a pre-fab Dell or Macintosh. and distributing the blade server equivalent across everyone's workstations along with their intra-office connection
• Modding is a good way to re-use old technology.  This follows the standards set by most large IT departments, set on a smaller and affordable scale for small business

How TelCo's Could Approach Net Neutrality

While having my work slow down on a collaborative BIM project, about six months ago I had to discontinue my Cable, Home Phone, and DSL Broadband connection. (I didn't even know the number to my home phone, since I never used it, and had to set up a google voice redirect just to be sure to use it once in a while to take advantage of the privatized Cablevision monopoly & triple package.)

After finding this out I went on my smartphone and downloaded VZAccess Manager.

I also did some research on my phone with skyfire, and learned some disturbing facts about how we are being treated like children -- or typical Americans, as we are being told not to worry about the back end of things, unless you put the time into reading and re-reading the fine print with a magnifying glass.

My MS phone used to have a piece of software preloaded on it that allowed free internet sharing allowing you to tether your phone to a computer through usb/bluetooth/and another program to make the wifi receiver a wifi hotspot. I found that Verizon/Vodafone must have asked Samsung to remove that feature as their network could not handle their marketing claims with the unlimited disclaimer.

I used my USB cable to download all the information I was sending through my phone and sent it through ActiveSync to my flash card on my phone, and uploaded via my phone's unlimited data plan.

It was slow, spotty & failed almost every time I tried loading files larger than 3 MB. Meanwhile being used to ftp transfers of several gigs at a time, this was quite the adjustment.

I had to relearn the old net protocols for reducing wasted bandwidth that I had forgotten as soon as I had something comparable to a T1 line when I was stuck working at home; It reminded me of the time I went to Japan for two months before starting college.

In a very rural part of Osaka, there wasn't a lot of demand for supporting hardline broadband. Whenever we were checking email we would sign on; download our email; sign off. After reading and writing replies to our emails we would sign back on; send; and sign off.   On the flip side every teen out there had a sleek cellular phone with amazing capabilities with music writing software, non-network photo sharing, and all the personalization of the iPhone ten years before it was on any network that supported bloated applications.

If the iPhone is any indication on how we are using communication tools, as we have in our entertainment and insentient need of bandwidth to support it; it is no wonder no one wants to claim responsibility for having Congress pass a new telecommunications bill, or reclassify broadband under a necessary service without spelling out the details -- without first thinking of the sustainability of having just one electrical system to support the local infrastructure.

Telecomm companies double talk of up speeds and downspeeds is constantly evolving to support a bigger infrastructure, which has become a necessary part of many people in the working world.

One solution I can see is to properly educate the public to reduce all of the wasted i/o we produce -- Beaming infrared is very slow and inconvenient and syncing bluetooth is lax in security.

If we had more transparency and feedback from the competing Telecommunication companies. Or had Telecommunication Providers run themselves like Alltel tried to by providing home business alternatives built into the base packages; Then some of the problems could be solved without having to pass another law about changing the traffic priority.

Just like how 'Woz' and Jobs fought the system in their youth by selling blue boxes from outside the back of their car, the real rebellion was that of not having a voice and being forced to support an infrastructure they didn't have a say in. Business models have changed to provide comprehensive and personal customer service because of this in my field of expertise.

Now Apple has integrated it's approach with other like-minded companies managing multiple design tools and specialties, thanks to what Jobs learned through his pursuit of usable technology & other companies like Google have tried to solve. An Example of Google's mentality are the bandwidth reduction protocols with their free alternatives and cloud computing browser; Google Labs also has Offline / 'Flakey Connection Mode' add-ons for Gmail.

If each company rather than overcharging and punishing individuals for using their networks in ways that they did not anticipate as, within reason, or if they turned the problem around and saw it as possible beta testing for improving their statistical data; That would be better than fast forwarding through another commercial that has a price with an asterisk on it. Something I would sit through and watch and draw my attention, something the internet is getting quite good at as a medium and communications platform.

If people are going to complain and shoot their mouth off, they should really check their pretension before sounding off on the internet.

If the companies explained to it's consumers that they are offsetting the cost of supporting the infrastructure through overages like when SMS and MMS first arrived, then they could spend their advertising money wisely rather than only reaching the generalized public.  Something they have started doing by 'smart' advertising on Hulu, and Hulu Plus.

My phone's screen calibration is faulty, like most smart phones now that are manufactured to the lowest bidder; often not even meeting the lowest OEM standards. At first having to reset the calibration once a week, then everyday, then just having to use the optical mouse to type and navigate, it did make me slow down and think more about what I was typing and the overall content of the message, as per the audience intended, within a vernacular we both could relate to.

Hopefully future products of America won't have to mean replacing entire packages, systems, or tools just to turn a profit on developing future technology. It is about time the techno intra-connected culture of 'Techgnostism' matured in its young 40 year history as a viable communication and professional platform tool.

Whenever there is a legitimate problem such as a mine collapse or terror threat, cellular companies deploy temporary cell towers to help Police, EMT's, and volunteer's help communicate with each other via cellular networks -- Because many local standards have advanced without much forethought.

Circling back to my main point -- due to faulty advertising and horrible training for customer service/sales - The next business phone I get is going to be a global phone, a blackberry, or I am going to switch to another service provider.

Verizon Global Phones: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2elfy7c

A link to the FCC's blog on broadband:

http://blog.broadband.gov/

(It explains why the FCC is sinking money into getting WiMAX available in more cities, by sinking money into Sprint and other smaller competitors)

Corporate Responsibility is something that AT&T, Verizon, Nextel, Sprint, and other competitors are finally starting to teach to everyone that works for them.  We are getting less Digitally Distracted as a Nation.

Custom Djembe Cases

The Summer of 2003 I decided to make some djembe cases for my 10" & 12" Remo Djembe's using my technical skills, a sewing machine, and AutoCAD. I spent a couple weeks thinking about what the cases should look like, the durability and comfort of the material; the extra pockets for equipment like a Lp Claw, XLR cable, SM57, and modded conga feet.

I decided to keep the profile sleek after seeing the generic cases available, ugly & unimaginative - unlike the drummer it reflects.

My last case fell apart on me sometime in between going to Jamaica, Japan, Juarez, Boston, New York/Jersey, Arizona, New Mexico, and various other construction/new group trips. If I treat my cases badly or roughly without realizing it -- the material would have to be durable, especially for road travel.

I decided to go with a furniture fabic that was durable yet soft so if I wanted to use it as a pillow while lounging or waiting to jam -- I could.

I then drew up a 3d plan in AutoCAD, flattened the design using 'old school' tomography into how many sections and parts I wanted & optimized the pattern loss, while I mapped the variables in overhang by material; I then chose an interior fabric with guards and zipper lining (my last one had metal zippers exposed and ate up the side of the head of my djembe.)

Then I made these:

The next step I am going to do is to make a Klong Yao Case Design -- after that I will modify my Djembe plans with improvements and customizations based on the past seven years of use.

This time I think I will use Revit, 3ds Max & AutoCAD along with Illustrator, Illustrate 3, & Illustrate! -- with some custom macro's to come up with the plans for the new cases. This also gives me an excuse to learn the finer aspects of Autodesk Inventor and Algor DesignCheck and apply those lessons to my engineered art.

**With the left over material, I designed a small gig bag that I could fit inside the hollow cavity of either one of my drums.  I will be posting a link to it on my website CV - Once I train myself in some of the new practices and procedures for web development.

Life Ad Hoc

Drawing/CAD/BIM/OS's/lifehacking tips and tricks to come...

Formatted for phones, so I can leave my computer once and a while.