TECH-DBUG Digest Friday, June 1 V2018 #010

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Evan Shu

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Jun 1, 2018, 2:17:37 PM6/1/18
to DataCAD Tech
Date: Fri, 1 June 2018 14:00:00 -0500
From: DATACAD-TECH
Subject: TECH-DBUG Digest Friday, June 1 V2018 #010

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datacad-dbug-digest Friday, June 1 2018  Volume 2018:No 010

For DBUG Tech BulletinBd or to Join: http://www.tinyurl.com/DBUGTech

  DBUG> Reminder: DBUG Meeting, May 23rd at BSA bldg.
  DBUG> Solar Tracking House
  DBUG> Solar Tracking House
  DBUG> Solar Tracking House
  DBUG> Solar Tracking House
  DBUG> dH Space Planner Macro --> Major Update to Blocker
  DBUG> dH Space Planner Macro --> Major Update to Blocker
  DBUG> dH Space Planner Macro --> Major Update to Blocker
  DBUG> dH Space Planner Macro --> Major Update to Blocker
  DBUG> DataCAD on a Mac
  DBUG> Check out the amazing Hover 3D app

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Subject: DBUG> Reminder: DBUG Meeting, May 23rd at BSA bldg.
From: Evan H Shu, FAIA
Date: May 21 2018

Boston Area DBUGers: Please join us, if you can! -- Evan


               MAY DBUG MEETING

WHERE: BSA |Space| <http://tinyurl.com/BSA-AIA>
290 Congress St. (across Fed. Reserve Bldg near South Station T)
Boston, Massachusetts 02210

Map Link: BSA-Space <http://tinyurl.com/BSA-AIA>

WHEN: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 6 p.m.

PARKING: Underground garage is $12 for the evening, if arriving after 5 pm. 
BY TRANSIT: Easy walking distance from South Station on Red Line

RSVP for Food Count: Evan H. Shu, FAIA, Shu Associates Inc. <eva...@comcast.net>

        Hover for 3D Models, FreshBooks, and Up with Trees

* Light Dinner Refreshments ($5 Donation for buffet) Reception & Networking

* Welcome, Introductions, and General Announcements (updates on any DataCAD developments)

* Surprising Tree Removal Services
by Evan H. Shu, FAIA
The Winter Storms caused a lot of tree and property damage. Evan will give you his video story of the removing of 3 huge backyard trees in a surprising method that involved not so much cutting them down and cutting them upward. You have to see it to believe it.

* Hover software for Photogrammetry
by Greg Barriere, AIA / Barriere Design Associates
We have long talked about the day when true photogrammetry arrives, when the taking of a few photographs around a building can result in true CAD model being developed automically. That day is already here. Greg will demonstrate how he has used the latest software in photogrammetry using the Hover app that will give you a true, measurable, customizable model directly from taking photographs around a building. The Hover app provides very detailed building information which helps contractors and clients communicate material changes & alternates with detailed measurements, making accurate cost estimates possible.

* FreshBooks -- Accounting Software for Architects
by Anson Courtright, AC-Architect
FreshBooks is simple and intuitive software that automates many of the tasks around invoicing, organizing expenses, tracking your time and following up with clients. Anson will show us how he uses this software in his architectural firm and how it has made accounting tasks much easier while letting you know both the pros and cons (or workarounds) of using it. 

*Notes: AIA Members & Massachusetts Registered Architects can earn 2.5 CEU credits for attending.

Google Map Link to BSA |Space| <http://tinyurl.com/BSA-AIA>

Easy 2 block walk from South Station T stop

NOTE ON PARKING: Street meter parking is rare -- don't count on it. Underground garage parking is available for flat $12 rate for the entire evening if you arrive anytime after 5 p.m. Electric car charging station (2-Chargepoint on P1 level) may be available, first 3 hours is free.

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Subject: DBUG> Solar Tracking House
Date: May 23 2018
From: Christopher Blair (G)


Couldn't resist. Gotta be a favorite of  J Horecka. No?


-- 
Regards
______________________________________________
Christopher Blair
33 Blue Hill Rd
Monterey MA 01230

"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of suspecting breakfast comes from the grocery,
and the other is that heat comes from the furnace."
-- Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac


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Subject: DBUG> Solar Tracking House
Date: May 24 2018
From: Neil Blanchard

That is neat.  But maybe it is weird to live with?  What the sun goes down, how quickly does it track back to the east to "meet" the sunrise?  Does it make noise?  Is it designed for seismic events?

I would think that the sense of time would be affected in some way, if you were inside this house all day.

On 5/22/2018 4:21 PM, Christopher Blair (G) wrote:
Couldn't resist. Gotta be a favorite of  J Horecka. No?

-- 
Sincerely, Neil

 

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Date: 5/24/2018 10:15 AM
From: Mark Wilhelm 
Subject: DBUG> Solar Tracking House


Neil, all my questions, too.  Truly a gearhead architect.  Which is not a bad thing, in my book.  The other question might be, would you have to be running around with an oil can every day?

Best,

Mark Wilhelm


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Subject: DBUG> Solar Tracking House
Date: May 24 2018
From: Christopher Blair (G)

Naw. No oil. Probably all brass bearing surfaces



On 5/24/2018 10:15 AM, Mark Wilhelm wrote:
Neil, all my questions, too.  Truly a gearhead architect.  Which is not a bad thing, in my book.  The other question might be, would you have to be running around with an oil can every day?

-- 
Regards
______________________________________________
Christopher Blair
33 Blue Hill Rd
Monterey MA 01230

"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of suspecting breakfast comes from the grocery,
and the other is that heat comes from the furnace."
-- Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

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Subject: DBUG> dh Space Planner macro --> Major update to Blocker
Date: May 23 2018
From: Neil Blanchard

Hi folks, 

I want to bring your attention to a new macro that David Henderson (dh 
Software) is working on, called Space Planner.  He is updating and 
expanding on what Bill D'Amico's classic Blocker macro does.  Here's the 
thread on the DataCAD forum: 


Blocker can be used to design new buildings, and it can be used to get 
categories and areas of rooms/spaces in existing buildings. 

The way that I have used Blocker in the past, is on an existing building 
that I have a drawing for, I use Blocker to measure the area on each 
type of room / area in the building. In one case, this was a nursing 
home, which needed a spreadsheet analysis of many categories of room 
types. The total usable areas needed to be compared to the total gross 
area, to get a ratio of the areas, of various types of uses in the 
building. The spreadsheet is required to show that the plan has the 
required size for the various uses. 

Another similar situation is in a commercial building, for the area 
sizes of each lease unit, and the common areas, circulation space, etc. 

This could also be used to get a area of various flooring materials. 

The ways that I have used Blocker are all along the lines of gathering 
data of an existing building. If this functioned as a Smart Floor tool 
that integrated with the Smart Walls, that would be great - but is 
probably beyond what is possible in a macro. We still work exclusively 
in 2D construction drawings, though, and having a organized way to 
measure and report floor areas (and wall areas for that matter!), would 
be a very important update in DataCAD. 

David Henderson is looking for input suggestions for how he builds his 
new Space Planner macro. 

-- 
Sincerely, Neil 


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Subject: DBUG> dh Space Planner macro --> Major update to Blocker
Date: May 23 2018
From: David Sargert

Super! 

I LOVE Blocker and all things DH! 

What I have been hoping for for over a decade is that the system many of us used to help Greg B with all the Global DeLoitte properties could be integrated into Datacad. 

Greg and Geoffrey L. Crunched massive amounts of data into very elegant graphics and reports. It was an honor to participate. 

Greg, I don't know how much of your (total) system was proprietary and feel it better that you address specifics as the "inventor". 

Many thanks to DH for continuing to keep us all sharp and Neil for always giving the first heads up! 

David K. Sargert, LEED AP 



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Subject: DBUG> dh Space Planner macro --> Major update to Blocker
Date: May 24 2018

Hi all,

Version 1.0 of the Space Planner macro is now available for download from my web site (http://www.dhsoftware.com.au/planner.htm).  

That page contains links to a couple of videos that demonstrate a lot of its functionality, as well as a download link. Much functionality has been added to Bill's original Blocker macro, but I think it's easier to let you watch the video or try it out rather than try to enumerate the differences here.

As with all my recent macro offerings, this is free software  (although I appreciate and am encouraged by contributions if you find it useful, there is absolutely no obligation to make any payment),

Best Regards,
David H.

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Subject: DBUG> dh Space Planner macro --> Major update to Blocker
Date: May 24 2018
From: Neil Blanchard


David Henderson has released v1.0 of his Space Planner macro: 


- show quoted text -
 
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Subject: DBUG> dh Space Planner macro --> Major update to Blocker
Date: May 25 2018
From: Mark Wilhelm

This Space Planner looks great!  As soon as I get a chance I'll learn by doing...  Seems like it might have something of a learning curve. 

My problem with Blocker has been that it won't work with an angled 
orientation.  We've been doing a lot of buildings lately with a bend 
somewhere in the middle.  So, to use Blocker to help design the angled 
section I had to straighten it out, do the layout, and then rotate it 
back.  Minor nuisance, but it would be nice... 

Thanks David, for all you've done, and it's great to have you back! 

Mark Wilhelm 

Marblehead, Massachusetts 

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Subject: DBUG> DataCAD on a Mac
From: Jerome M Headley
Date: May 30 2018


Currently, I run DCAD using Fusion on my iMac/MBP without glitches.

Saw another Mac app, CrossOver, which runs Windows based programs on a Mac.  Dowloaded a fully functional trail version & installed DCAD per their instructions for programs not in their list with a couple of minor glitches.

Now that the glitches have ben worked out, I'll continue to use CrossOver for the remainder of the trial to see how well DCAD functions.

While post an update as the trail period ends.


Take care

Jerry

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DBUG> Check out amazing Hover 3D app
From: Evan H. Shu, FAIA
Date: 1 Jun 2018 1:59 PM


Hi DBUGers,

Those at the May DBUG meeting saw a jaw-dropping presentation of the Hover 3D app <https://hover.to> by Greg Barriere. 

This amazing app/service lets you take pictures of a house or commercial buiding (each elevation and each major corner -- and don't worry about trees, cars or obstructions) with your smartphone or iPad and within about an hour this service will create for you a dynamic 3D model of your building, as well as a set of PDF elevations and 3D views that has been fully dimensioned with windows and doors keynoted, and siding takeoffs provided. I just did my own house yesterday and the results that came back were pretty astounding.

The model can be viewed in a dynamic Object-Viewer like interface on their website (and shared with others), plus you can try out different materials for the faces as well as window/door types.

You will want to know if you can import this model into DataCAD, and the answer is "yes" if you subscribe to one of their per building or monthly subscription plans. (Greg showed use elevations he developed in DataCAD using a DWG model import. It also does SketchUp file imports.) At about $50 per building or per month, you will save tremendously after the first HOUR of your first job developing existing facility plans!

But do take advantage of their free trial, as I did, of one building first (model is free, and just request the PDFs from their chat support). The accuracy of their dimensioning is pretty good. The spot checks I did found an error of only a couple of inches across the whole face of a building. See attached for a couple of snapshots of the model I got and a PDF with measurements.

This app made me wish (for only a moment) that I was writing Cheap Tricks again, so I could share all the details with everyone . . . but this forum post will have to do for now.

Check it out -- you'll be glad you did!

Evan Shu



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End of datacad-dbug-digest V2018 #010

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