• What’s New in BricsCAD V26 — Mr. Craig Swearingen discusses Bricsys unveiled BricsCAD V26, positioning it as “the True CAD Alternative” by delivering a native DWG platform with high-speed performance, flexible open licensing, and AI-powered features, all at a lower total cost. The latest release introduces significant improvements across general design, including faster 3D editing (up to 25x quicker), enhanced block management with dynamic block support and the Blockify tool, and performance boosts (DWG operations up to 2.8x faster). Industry-specific gains are substantial: BricsCAD Mechanical sees an 80% robustness increase in sheet metal recognition and up to 50% faster documentation, while BricsCAD BIM enables efficient collaboration via a new central project data system and IFC as XREF. Most notably, BricsCAD Survey adds a revolutionary dynamic section creation tool that is up to 24 times faster than previous methods, confirming V26’s focus on accelerating workflows, boosting interoperability, and maximizing user efficiency across the design-to-production pipeline.

• Dealing with the Un List, Part Two — Mark Kiker identifies a critical set of overlooked issues, termed the “Un’s,” which are frequently missing from standard task lists but severely undermine productivity and team morale. These non-task items include the Unappreciated (failing to praise), the Undeserved (misdirecting credit or blame), the Unreliable (lacking dependable people or tools), the Unfunded (not having money for the unexpected), the Untrained (lacking proper staff education), the Unreported (staff hiding problems), and the Unused (wasting money on underutilized technology). Mark stresses the need to actively address these “Un’s”—perhaps by building budget cushions, ensuring continuous training, or fostering an open atmosphere—because they ultimately sabotage even the best efforts and progress.

• Civil 3D Training: How the Pandemic Accelerated Training Changes — Shawn Herring explains the training for Civil 3D has fundamentally transformed since the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting from traditional, multi-day classroom bootcamps to a hybrid, technology-driven, and project-based approach focused on maximizing retention. Training now blends online self-paced modules or virtual prep with shorter, customized in-person workshops, often using the client’s own datasets and real-world projects in smaller groups (4–8 people) to increase relevance. This new model emphasizes the use of digital collaboration tools and cloud workflows (like Autodesk Docs), moving instruction away from simply listing commands toward teaching outcome-based workflows. Research confirms this hybrid method provides the best retention, as opposed to passive online lectures, leading successful engineering firms to adopt a tiered training strategy that balances hands-on lab time for core skills with flexible web-based sessions for conceptual topics and ongoing reinforcement.

• AutoCAD Architecture Display Themes — Melinda Heavrin talks about how Display Themes in AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) allow users to visually represent nonh-graphic property data (like fire rating or function) of ACA objects directly in a 2D or 3D drawing by overriding their display using specific colors, fills, or hatches. This feature is vital for project phases like conceptual design or for flagging objects that meet specific standards. Implementing a theme involves a five-step process: first, defining Property Data Formats for presentation; second, creating Property Set Definitions to group and attach data to objects; third, designing the Display Theme Style to define the visual rules and the appearance of the key; fourth, attaching the Property Set Data to the drawing objects; and finally, activating the theme by inserting the Display Theme Legend, which serves as a visual key and automatically applies the defined overrides, though only one theme can be active at any given time.

• Establishing a Shared Coordinate System in Revit: A Comprehensive Workflow for Model Alignment — Jonathan Massaro explains how establishing a reliable Shared Coordinate System in Revit is essential for BIM coordination, requiring a formal three-stage workflow centered on a Building Coordination Model (BCM). First, the BCM is established by linking the civil DWG file, manually placing the Survey Point and Project Base Point at civil reference locations, manually inputting precise coordinates, and defining a custom site. Second, this coordinate setup is rigorously verified by exporting the BCM view to DWG using the “Shared Coordinates” base, opening it in AutoCAD, and confirming the coordinates match the original civil data, acting as a critical checksum. Finally, to share these coordinates, the target discipline models link the BCM (Internal Origin to Internal Origin), align their geometry to the link, and use the Acquire Coordinates command to inherit the validated spatial framework.

• Disconnected but Not Disengaged: The Human Side of BIM — Jason Peckovitch a seasoned BIM professional experienced a sudden, painful disconnection from the fast-moving Autodesk ecosystem and the industry due to simultaneous, severe life crises, including job loss, the end of a 17-year relationship, and severe personal health struggles. This forced pause, though initially frustrating, provided a crucial insight: the industry’s relentless pressure to be constantly “plugged in” often leads to widespread burnout, confusing mere connectivity with genuine effectiveness. Jason realized that while the BIM world focuses on model health, it neglects the mental health of its professionals, Now starting a new role, he intends to re-engage with a focus on the human perspective, prioritizing empathy, balance, and sustainability for the people who use the technology, understanding that true innovation stems from clarity and rest, not exhaustion.

• The first and last time I spoke at AU — Katie Watton details her intimidating yet rewarding experience as a first-time solo speaker at Autodesk University (AU), the major industry conference. Despite having little experience compared to veterans, she reluctantly submitted seven proposals to get a free pass, resulting in the acceptance of three sessions all scheduled for the same day in 2018. Overwhelmed by imposter syndrome and an intense “stress flu” that prevented practice, she nearly cracked under pressure. However, upon seeing the large number of attendees, Katie went into “autopilot” and successfully navigated all three classes, even managing a last-minute software update for one session. The illness disappeared the moment the final class ended, revealing it was purely stress. She ultimately concluded that the anxiety stemmed from caring rather than a lack of qualification, realizing that showing up and taking the risk for the sake of personal growth mattered more than having decades of experience.

• Expansion Joints vs. Construction Joints in Concrete Structures — Ali Al-Azzawi explains while concrete responds to loads, temperature, creep, and shrinkage in complex ways, joints are essential for managing stress, controlling cracking, and enabling practical construction sequencing. The two major types are expansion joints and construction joints. Expansion joints are full-depth gaps filled with a compressible material (like foam or rubber) and are designed to accommodate movement due to thermal changes or structural isolation, preventing stress buildup in exposed structures like pavements and bridges. In contrast, construction joints are surfaces created when pouring is interrupted, and their purpose is to ensure structural continuity and load transfer, not to allow movement; they are located at points of minimum stress, utilize continuous reinforcement, and are essential for executing large-scale elements like foundations and tall walls in stages.

Questions about AUGI? Please visit www.AUGI.com to learn more.