Category Archives: Virtual Design and Construction

BIM Bots – Virtual 3D Robots

by Fred Abler In the early oughts’ (2000) while working in a CAD research lab at CAL POLY, SLO, I became intensely interested in 3D ‘object-agents’. Today CAD/BIM users might call them “smart objects”, but there’s really a lot more … Continue reading

Posted in 3D Models, 3D Tech, Architecture, BIM, History, Reality Hacking, Revit, SketchUp, Smart Objects, Theory & Concepts, Virtual Design and Construction, Virtual Reality | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SketchUp Tips Hand – 3D Basecamp Registration

Registration for SketchUp’s upcoming 3D Basecamp opened earlier this week. SketchUp’s own Aidan Chopra said Basecamp half-sold-out in the first two hours of registration. There are still a few dozen spots left, but he doesn’t expect them to last through … Continue reading

Posted in 3D Models, 3D Tech, Dynamic Components, Services, SketchUp, Theory & Concepts, Virtual Design and Construction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sunglass 3D Cloud Share – A Future So Bright?

by Fred Abler I love startups with odd names and sunglasses. That’s why Sunglass.io caught my eye. Such a unusual name for a cloud-based 3D collaboration platform (including SketchUp).  I still can’t offer any real insights as to the name, … Continue reading

Posted in 3D Models, 3D Tech, Architecture, GeoDesign, SketchUp, Theory & Concepts, Tools, Uncategorized, Virtual Design and Construction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3D Printing with Concrete – The Future of Construction?

by Fred Abler The ability to ‘materialize’ 3D geometry with additive manufacturing has revolutionized rapid prototyping and design, and in some cases replaced machining of limited-run parts or specialty fittings, etc. However, it has yet to replace any significant manufacturing … Continue reading

Posted in 3D Tech, Architecture, Maker Movement, Theory & Concepts, Uncategorized, Virtual Design and Construction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

IKEA adds AR to 2013 Print Catalog – Meh!

by Fred Abler As a whole, the publishing industry has been decimated by the Internet. So if you still have a global publication with a circulation of 211,000 million copies per annum, you don’t just end it. Instead, you leverage … Continue reading

Posted in 3D Tech, Augmented Reality, Interior Design, Pre-viz, Services, Theory & Concepts, Virtual Design and Construction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pipe Dreams – BIM is (still) the broadband killer-app

By Fred Abler Nearly ten years ago I attended my first Internet2 conference. I was presenting my research project the Objective Networks Collaboratory. It was a free 3D model server for sharing SketchUp components funded by @Last Software and Cal … Continue reading

Posted in 3D Tech, Architecture, BIM, History, Revit, SketchUp, Theory & Concepts, Uncategorized, Virtual Design and Construction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment