Eptura updates Archibus to better leverage BIM models

Eptura updates Archibus to better leverage BIM models

Eptura, the global worktech leader, earlier this month unveiled a series of enhancements for its Integrated Workplace Management System, Archibus, offering increased visibility and reporting for occupancy, allowing facility management teams to leverage building operations data in the field, and introducing new bulk lease renewal capabilities.

Today’s facility management teams are facing a growing workload and an expanded role in ongoing space planning conversations. As these responsibilities mount, and organizations look to solidify the future of their workplace accommodations, facility managers are increasingly looking for accessible, actionable operations data to inform planning decisions. Eptura’s updates to the Archibus platform are enabling building owner-operators to digitize facility operations and analytics. Facility managers and building operators can now:

  • Navigate through models by Autodesk project in Autodesk® Construction Cloud® or BIM 360® Docs to easily search and find building models.
  • Visualize and work with custom 3D views from Autodesk® Revit® models so BIM Managers can focus on specific locations or asset systems in a building, eliminating the need to re-create visualizations when managing assets or planning spaces.
  • Customize BIM viewer display for data overlay preferences, from highlight colors and room opacity to zoom level for a more personalized view of key building data.
  • Streamline lease renewals at scale by automatically populating relevant information (location, contacts, lease type, suites, recurring costs, etc) from expiring leases to eliminate the repetitive process of copying these data to new leases.
  • Integrate VergeSense occupancy data to better understand space utilization and patterns to determine peak hours and workspace traffic.
  • Upload files in the mobile app and view attachments associated with work orders to provide more data to facility managers responding to tickets, and to build a more comprehensive work order ticket.
  • Ask and respond to questions within mobile service tickets to resolve issues faster and on the go.

The enhancements unlock new capabilities in Archibus’s Building Information Modeling (BIM) Viewer tool, allowing post-construction teams to more effectively manage their buildings. In the lifecycle of a building, 80% of the costs are associated with the post-construction phase, making it crucial for data to transfer smoothly from construction over to post-building operators and ensure lifecycle continuity.

Updates to BIM Viewer streamline navigation through Autodesk projects and grant facility managers more control over their preferred building models and views. Eptura is an Autodesk Strategic Alliance Partner, working together to deliver integrated solutions to help mutual customers be more successful.

Space utilization data has become paramount for planning teams that are tasked with recommending space consolidations and increases for their organizations. Through an integration with VergeSense, space planners can deploy sensor hardware and leverage IoT occupancy sensors to document the utilization of workspaces. By bringing these data points into Archibus, customers will have the most accurate measurements of actual space utilization to help them find more opportunities to optimize their space.

“Data is the ultimate driver behind space utilization decisions, and we strive to deliver the visibility and context on which our customers rely,” said Paul Phillips, CTO of Eptura. “In collaboration with partners like Autodesk and VergeSense, we’re able to rethink the way that organizations approach building operations and digitize components to more conveniently provide our customers with the decision-making tools they need.”

The user experience within the Archibus Workplace app has also been updated, building upon the service request functionality introduced to the mobile app earlier this year. Now with easy access to service request responses and document support, users can save time in the field by managing each step of the request process conveniently from their mobile devices.

“Autodesk customers are looking to maximize the lifecycle of their Autodesk Construction Cloud and Revit models beyond construction so that building management can efficiently maintain the space and assets,” said Susan Clarke, Senior Manager, Building Operations at Autodesk. “Building information modeling in Archibus is accelerating the digitization of building operations by making custom 3D views, asset and maintenance data, and access to documents and files intuitive for facility teams around the world.”

For finance and facility teams managing multiple properties, Archibus’s newest updates are also intended to simplify workflows for lease administrators. Juggling extensive lease portfolios, administrators may find themselves with 10 or more lease renewals to manage at the end of a fiscal year. Archibus is easing the burden with the introduction of bulk renewal capabilities that can automatically generate new leases within minutes.

Introducing Revit 2024

Introducing Revit 2024

Revit 2024 has just been released, and with it are a lot of exciting new additions and improvements to existing features. We’ve highlighted several of the latest features you’ll come across.

To see all this in video format, click here: [link coming soon!]

 

Design productivity

  • My Insights in Revit Home
  • Dark Theme
  • New Imperial and Metric Templates
  • New sample model
  • Modernized Project Browser with new Search
  • Height parameter in scope box
  • Color Books browser
  • Textures visual style
  • Revit to Twinmotion enhancements
  • Site design – Icon reorg for Massing and Site
  • Site design – Create Toposolid
  • Site design – Generate Toposolid from Toposurface
  • Site design – Linked Topography enhancements
  • Site design – Contour Display settings per Types
  • Site design – Cut geometry enhancement & Mass Cut excavations
  • Site design – Solid Sub-divisions 
  • Site design – Cut & Split Toposolids
  • Site design – Graded Regions
  • Site design – Show shape-edit control points
  • Site design – Floor-based families and Slab Edges on Toposolids
  • Site design – Exposed Toposolid API
  • New path alignment options for free form rebar
  • Stirrup orientation for aligned free form rebar
  • MEP fabrication ductwork stiffener
  • Pipe Wall thickness as a built-in parameter
  • Elevation parameters in visibility filters
  • Hide insulation with hosting duct and pipe
  • Parameters sorting in type/instance properties
  • Export ‘Family type’ parameter

Simulation & analysis

  • Sun Settings in the ribbon
  • Run Solar Studies with seconds intervals
  • Sun Paths in perspective views
  • Generate energy model by view
  • Enhanced structural analytical loads
  • Structural area loads with color coding
  • Custom physical-analytical association
  • Detailed results for connection automation rules
  • Non-coincident loads for electrical analytical components
  • Flow and pressure calculations added to MEP fabrication network
  • Network based calculation for design ductwork
  • Demand loads for electrical analytical components
  • Flow and pressure drop calculations

Cloud data & interoperability

  • Link coordination models from Autodesk Docs
  • Manage links dialog for coordination models
  • Access properties of coordination model objects
  • Point snaps for coordination model objects
  • Collaboration cache relocation for cloud models
  • Link and Import PDF in Revit LT and Design Automation API
  • Revit to Robot Link enhancements

Design optimization

  • Dynamo for Revit 2.17 upgrade
  • Dynamo Player & Generative Design updates
  • Dynamo Player & Generative Design samples
  • Improved steel connections SDK documentation
  • Revit additional resizable dialogs
  • Revit Macro security improvements
  • API enhancements for developers

Documentation efficiency

  • Place multiple views and schedules on a sheet
  • Move aligned to sheet enhancements
  • Open sheet directly from drawing area
  • Schedule revision clouds
  • Align patterns on shaped-edited surfaces
  • Bar bending details on reinforcement drawings
  • Bar bending details in rebar schedules
  • 2D element draw order in 3D families
  • Resize all schedule rows
  • Enable removal of unit symbol for fraction inches

My Insights in Revit Home

  • New My Insights tab in Revit home page
  • Get personalized insights based on how you work and the work you do
  • Learn valuable information (new features, commands and workflows)
  • Display through cards
    • React to the cards
    • Learn more through the link in cards

Fresh from the Factory, Revit 2024 is rolling out globally! In this release, Autodesk has combined eagerly anticipated additions, like Site Tools for landscape designers, with highly requested enhancements from the community, like Dark Theme and a more modern user interface.

Here are three of the highlights from the new version:

Introducing Site Tools for Revit & Revit LT.

This new toolset supports the design and documentation of richly detailed landscapes. You can use Site Tools to:

  • Collect and rationalize existing conditions data from CAD Imports, CSV point files, and more.
  • Model your design intent freely and easily, with versatile site and massing tools for modeling topography.
  • Populate schedules, sheets, and views and calculate material quantities. Cut, fill, join, and run phasing scenarios. Use the design-to-documentation engine of Revit to save time and improve design quality when modeling landscape and site conditions.

Save time in concrete detailing.

Structural engineers and rebar detailers have new capabilities for creating, scheduling, and documenting rebar. Use the new bar bending details to:

  • Create reinforcement drawings and schedules with detailed fabrication instructions. With this new tool in Revit, when the model changes, the details adapt along with it.
  • Add and customize rebar bending details so that your views and sheets respect your typical practice.
  • Reduce errors and omissions in your document sets.

Evolve work together.

Link Coordination Model from Autodesk Docs into Revit makes it easier for project teams to sync and coordinate design deliverables. Keep project files light and teams on the same page.

  • Link models and views from any of the 60+ formats supported by Docs and the Autodesk Construction Cloud directly into Revit.
  • Underlay the coordination model as visual reference when designing in Revit.
  • Reduce the need for interpretation when coordinating up-to-date design deliverables with partners and project teams.   
Introducing Revit 2024

Introducing Revit 2024

Fresh from the Factory, Revit 2024 is rolling out globally! In this release, Autodesk has combined eagerly anticipated additions, like Site Tools for landscape designers, with highly requested enhancements from the community, like Dark Theme and a more modern user interface.

Here are three of the highlights from the new version:

Introducing Site Tools for Revit & Revit LT.

This new toolset supports the design and documentation of richly detailed landscapes. You can use Site Tools to:

  • Collect and rationalize existing conditions data from CAD Imports, CSV point files, and more.
  • Model your design intent freely and easily, with versatile site and massing tools for modeling topography.
  • Populate schedules, sheets, and views and calculate material quantities. Cut, fill, join, and run phasing scenarios. Use the design-to-documentation engine of Revit to save time and improve design quality when modeling landscape and site conditions.

Save time in concrete detailing.

Structural engineers and rebar detailers have new capabilities for creating, scheduling, and documenting rebar. Use the new bar bending details to:

  • Create reinforcement drawings and schedules with detailed fabrication instructions. With this new tool in Revit, when the model changes, the details adapt along with it.
  • Add and customize rebar bending details so that your views and sheets respect your typical practice.
  • Reduce errors and omissions in your document sets.

Evolve work together.

Link Coordination Model from Autodesk Docs into Revit makes it easier for project teams to sync and coordinate design deliverables. Keep project files light and teams on the same page.

  • Link models and views from any of the 60+ formats supported by Docs and the Autodesk Construction Cloud directly into Revit.
  • Underlay the coordination model as visual reference when designing in Revit.
  • Reduce the need for interpretation when coordinating up-to-date design deliverables with partners and project teams.   

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Disable User’s Ability to Install Updates via Autodesk Access

Disable User’s Ability to Install Updates via Autodesk Access

With the new Autodesk Access available since March 18, administrators now have more Users can install updates via Autodesk Access.  We don’t want users attempting to install updates either because:

  • My users don’t have install permissions, and the updates will fail anyway, or
  • I want to control the distribution of updates via another method, such as SCCM or Microsoft Endpoint Manager.

 

Causes:

Autodesk Access is the new desktop application for installing product updates on Windows devices.  This new application provides the ability for users to install their own updates, as long as they have install permissions.  This application is built with administrator controls in mind, so if you want to prevent your users from installing updates from Access, you can do so.  All users will still have Access available so that they can get information about updates that may impact them.

Solution:

The following registry key will disable the “Update” button in Autodesk Access, as well as notifications about new updates for the users where it is applied.

  • Create a new key in the HKCU/Software/Autodesk/ODIS folder.
    • Key name: DisableManualUpdateInstall
    • DWORD value: 1

AccessNewDisable_image.png

To set this key on your user’s devices, do one of the following:

Manually create a registry key on their device

  1. From the Search bar in Windows, type in “regedit”
  2. Browse to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Autodesk/ODIS folder.  If it does not exist, create it.
  3. Right-click on the folder, and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
  4. Enter “DisableManualUpdateInstall” for the Name
  5. Enter 1 for the Data.

Distribute the registry key via Group Policy

If you use Group Policy in your company, you can distribute this key to multiple users via this process:

  1. Open the Group Policy Management Console, gpmc.msc
  2. Create a new (or edit an existing) Group Policy Object (GPO) in the Organizational Unit you prefer.
  3. Expand the User Configuration section > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry
  4. Right click on Registry, and select New > Registry Item
  5. Use these settings:
    1. Action: Update
    2. Hive:  HKEY_USERS
    3. Key Path:  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk\ODIS
    4. Value Name:  DisableManualUpdateInstall
    5. Value Type:  REG_DWORD
    6. Value Data:  1

Logon Script

You can include the following command in any CMD-based user logon script you may have configured:

REG ADD HKCU\Software\Autodesk\ODIS /V DisableManualUpdateInstall /D 1 /T REG_DWORD

Other methods

Any other system management tool that allows you to write registry keys should also work like the methods used above.

Autodesk Access has replaced Autodesk Desktop App

Autodesk Access has replaced Autodesk Desktop App

On March 15, 2023, Autodesk Access replaced Autodesk Desktop Application (ADA) to provide the foundational capability to ensure you receive the continuous benefits of new features and fixes, making managing product updates easier than ever.

Autodesk Access is just the first step in Autodesk’s plan to further develop the platform to provide you with greater control, easier access, and additional capabilities to achieve your desired outcomes.

How does it help you?

Autodesk has heard from customers that product updates have been frustrating, and that the previous update system, ADA, didn’t meet their needs. Some customers didn’t want their users to install updates themselves. As a result, they uninstalled ADA altogether. Autodesk Access will make things easier for you, so changes are now implemented specifically for admins to address these issues.

Autodesk Access is built with trust, security, and admin controls in mind. Using the latest installation technology, it will deliver fast, reliable updates and offers many benefits, including:

  • Continuous software updates, new features, and hot defect fixes to stay productive without interfering with your workflows
  • Easy admin controls to disable user’s ability to install updates and new update notifications
  • Enhanced security and better performance, reducing risk of downtime

Once Autodesk Access is installed, users will be able to install updates if they have administrator rights. A simple registry key will allow admins to disable a user’s ability to install updates, while also allowing users to see information about available updates.

 

View our blog to see how disable user update access.

 

 

 

How do I get Autodesk Access?

You can get Autodesk Access in four ways starting March 15, 2023:

  1. With any new 2022 or later product installation after March 15th.
  2. As an automatic self-update of the Autodesk installer.  This will be a progressive, percentage-based rollout ending around mid-May 2023.
  3. As an update to ADA starting April 3, 2023.
  4. Direct download of the installer from the Access landing page

 

 

Do you need to uninstall ADA before installing Access?

No, when Autodesk Access installs, it will uninstall ADA.

 

 

Does Autodesk Access work for Enterprise or other large customers?

Yes!  All customers will benefit from Autodesk Access.  We have many plans for new features this year to make getting updates easier.  For those customers that manage their own updates, we included admin controls to disable user’s ability to install updates.  Users at large companies can benefit from Access by getting information about updates that may be available, even if they can’t install them.

 

 

Do the Autodesk Access services consume resources on my device?

All long-running services consume some resources.  Autodesk Access, and specifically the Autodesk Access Core, consumes 34 MB of RAM and 0% CPU while idle.  The only time it is not idle is during startup, and when it is installing an update, where it would consume some resources related to installations as expected.

 

 

Can I remove or uninstall Access?

Currently, Access is part of the Autodesk Installer and can’t be removed.  Admin controls previously mentioned provide the ability for you to control your user’s ability to update products, and because it consumes a very small amount of resources, we believe that it is not necessary to remove it.

Our goal is to provide a great, transparent update experience. This is the first step in an exciting roadmap to give customers control and easy access to new product features. We will continue to build on the new Autodesk Access platform with capabilities to make updates easier and with the controls you are looking for.

Whats new in AutoCAD 2024

Whats new in AutoCAD 2024

AutoCAD 2024

Whats New

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