Revit Technology Conference 2015 Summary

I hope by now that, if you frequently return to this blog, you've also noticed my references to the Revit Technology Conferences (RTC) that take place each year. It started out in Australia in 2005, expanded to North America in 2011, Europe in 2013 and now Asia with an event in Singapore this year.

If you've got an unlimited or at least a comfortable budget then let me encourage you to attend all of them this year. If you can't attend then consider sending your best, your most enthusiastic, your most accomplished staff in your place.

If it's more realistic to encourage you to attend just one RTC this year, then choose from any of these unique locations and events. Each region will offer its own unique flavor of location, people and sessions (based on the submissions of users like you or those you support/employ).

I wish it were easier to decide (click the links below for each event's info):

RTC Australasia 2015 - Gold Coast, Australia - May 14-16, 2015
RTC North America 2015 - Washington DC - July 23-25, 2015
RTC Asia 2015 - Sentosa, Singapore - September 10-12, 2015
RTC Europe 2015 - Budapest, Hungary - October 29-31, 2015

There are two adjunct events that will occur just before RTC in Washington DC this year. The Design Technology Summit is an ongoing invitation only event while the Building Design Content Summit is a new event that is focused on the ever important subject of content for BIM. Please visit their sites for more information

RTC NA 2015 - Design Technology Summit - July 21-22, 2015
RTC NA 2015 - Building Content Summit - July 22,2015

As always, I hope to see old friends and make new ones at RTC events this year!

RTC in Asia

This is a repost of Wesley's at the RTC Blog, please pass the word along to your friends, co-workers and fellow Revit/BIM people, thanks!

RTC is coming to Asia!

We are now in the early planning stages for our first event in Asia, expected to be held in October or November next year (2015). As with the other regions where we have introduced RTC events, we have listened to the comments and queries of delegates and RTC Community members that have been increasingly vocal in their desire to see this event in Asia, and at the same time we have been watching with great interest the development of some of the government initiatives in the region such as the Singapore Government’s Construction Productivity and Capability Fund and the 5 year BIM roadmap.

Then again, it’s also a great excuse to do a trip around some pretty amazing cities…

In order to take this process beyond “That would be cool” and “lots of people have asked” and “it’s a really big community” we need to do research on what this might mean to people in the region. We remain an event run by users, and our primary focus is as always the question of what would best serve the community. When we introduced RTC into North America, very little changed about the style and methodology with which we ran the event. In Europe, we recognised that there were bigger cultural, social and political dynamics to consider, not to mention the question of a region with a number of languages. This led to some changes in the format of the event which, while hopefully quite subtle from a delegate point of view, are nevertheless identifiable as unique to Europe. An Asian RTC event introduces a cultural and social difference greater again than that in Europe, with a far broader range of languages as well. To us, this is exciting, and the challenge is one that we relish as part of the energy that RTC is all about.

...but it means we need your help…

We might recognise that there are differences in theory, but what does this mean in practice? How do we tweak the way that RTC runs elsewhere to best suit the needs of the Asian BIM community? What are the topics that are most urgent, and most interesting? There are many questions that need to be addressed, and we would like to address them to you, and solicit YOUR answers.

To that end, Heidi Lam and Wesley Benn will be travelling through Asia during September and early October to host a series of information nights where we can introduce ourselves and hear your feedback on those questions. This trip will encompass Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore and details of when and where the information nights are being held can be found at the RTC Asia Web Site . These information evenings are free to attend, and form an important part of ensuring that RTC Asia becomes what you want it to be, so please do come along and join in the conversation.

Finally, it would also be great if you all could spread the word about these events so that we can ensure that as wide a pool of community members hear about it as possible. If you do sign up to join us on the night, please consider also sending the link on to others. The more that contribute to the conversation, the better the outcome.

We are all enormously excited here about the prospect of our first Asian event, and we look forward to seeing many of you at the information nights as well as next year at the first Asian RTC!

Regards,
Wesley Benn
Executive Chairman
RTC Events Management

RTC and my Playlist

I don't recall whose session, or which event, it was that I first heard some music played while we all gathered in the room. I just remember thinking, I LIKE that! I've played music ever since then, before and after my sessions, if it was possible.

I just returned home from speaking at RTC in Melbourne. It was great, even if Melbourne was a bit damp! In keeping with other events, at least one person always asks me about the music I'm playing. I've chosen to use Joe Satriani's music as a prelude for the last couple years. His music is melodic, energetic, and mostly instrumental. I used his new album Unstoppable Momentum for my What's New... session. It features Vinny Colaiuta, one of my favorite drummers, as well as a bunch of other excellent musicians.

I used a shorter playlist for my other session "Grumble, Grumble, Snort". I knew I only had 15 minutes between the end of the previous session and the beginning of mine so I chose Jeff Beck's "Hammerhead" (a tribute to musician Jan Hammer and featuring Australia's own Tal Wilkenfeld on bass), Joe's "Jumpin' In" and "Can't Go Back" and finished with The Tubes "Mr. Hate". I figured we'd start off the session after hearing a "grumpy" sort of tune, to set the mood.

I don't know about you but music is always "on" in my head.

Use Spotify? Here's a LINK to the short Playlist

2014 Revit Technology Conference Plug

If you've been reading this blog for long you've probably heard of the Revit Technology Conference. It's blossomed from an event happening far away in Australia each year to an event that happens three times a year on three continents. I've been fortunate to be part of the crew that helps see that it does.

I'd like to encourage you to make it to RTC again this year. If you are already, Excellent! I look forward to seeing you there. If you can't, I'm disappointed, maybe next year. If you have friends, associates or anyone that you think would enjoy and benefit from attending RTC please pass along the good word to them. Let me know if you need some help telling them.

Below are the cursory details (click the links in the name for more info) for each event this year, Melbourne's RTC is NEXT WEEK!! RTC in Schaumburg, Il (near Chicago) is NEXT MONTH! If you feel like some royal treatment RTC Europe is being held in Dublin Castle. Something for everyone this year! See you there!?!

RTC Australasia 2014
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Venue: Pullman Melbourne Albert Park (same as VisCon)
Dates: May 29 (Thursday) - May 31 (Saturday), 2014

RTC DTS JUNE 2014 (Design Technology Summit)
(Invitation Only)
Location: Schaumburg, IL (Greater Chicago)
Venue: Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel (same at RTC NA)
Dates: June 16 (Monday) - June 17 (Tuesday), 2014

RTC North America 2014
Location: Schaumburg, IL (Greater Chicago)
Venue: Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel (same as RTC DTS II)
Dates: June 19 (Thursday) - June 21 (Saturday), 2014

RTC Europe 2014
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Venue: Dublin Castle
Dates: October 30 (Thursday) - November 1 (Saturday), 2014

Revit Technology Conference - Europe

If you've been reading this blog you've heard me plug many RTC conferences before. Yes I'm a fan, enough so that I got involved with the committee to help bring it to North America beginning in 2011. This September RTC will land in Europe for the first time, in Delft, Holland. Holland and the Dutch have held a special place in my heart ever since I lived there when I was nine. So naturally when the RTC Events staff and the European committee decided the first location should be there I was IN! If you're like me, living anywhere but Holland, it's a great excuse to go to Europe! The RTC experience and Revity goodness is just gravy on top!

The first event in Europe will be two days, Friday and Saturday (September 27 & 28, 2013) versus the three days of the other events in Australasia and North America. The venue arrangement is a little different too. RTC's have traditionally been held at a resort hotel that also has meeting facilities. Since Europe as a whole approaches this sort of thing differently the event needs to as well. I'm looking forward to the experience!

Here are links to consider if you are on the fence about attending:

RTC Europe 2013 Site
Schedule of Sessions

Registration Costs
Register Now

RTC Videos (get a taste of RTC)
RTC Commentary (attendees/bloggers)

I'm practicing my Dutch!

Hallo! Goedenavond! Ja nog een biertje neem! and later... Waar is mijn hotel?

RTC AUS 2013 Auckland

Today I am heading to Auckland, New Zealand to attend the Revit Technology Conference. On Tuesday night I'll be hanging out with fellow American Aaron Maller in Christchurch at a local Revit User Group meeting. It's my first trip to NZ so I'm looking forward to it naturally!

Next week I'll be writing via the RTC Blog. I've managed to get some OpEd stuff scheduled to post while I'm away, just on the off chance somebody might miss my rambling. :)

If you haven't committed to attending the conference in Auckland yet...reconsider there is still time. There are a number of options for registration if time and/or budget are concerns. Hope to see you there!!

If NZ can't be part of your plans... remember, there are two other RTC's to consider, North America's event in Vancouver (July) and Europe's in Delft, Holland (September). Don't be a stranger!!

Revit Technology Conferences 2013

If you read this blog (regularly) then I think/hope that RTC is no surprise to you. I'm writing this as a reminder to those who already know about it as well as to introduce them to anyone who hasn't already heard about them. After all May and RTC AUS isn't far away now...

These are the events in the order that they occur this year:

RTC Australasia - May 16-18, 2013 - Auckland, NZ
RTC North America - July 11-13, 2013 - Vancouver, Canada
RTC Europe - September 27-28, 2013 - Delft, Holland

Each event gives you an opportunity to listen, learn, talk and mingle with many of the best and brightest people that our planet has to offer, seriously!

I attended my first RTC in 2006 in Australia, where it all started (in 2005). I've been a fan ever since and even became a committee member to help start the first RTC in North America in 2011. It isn't any single thing that made me a fan. It was the whole of the experience.

For example, I knew that every person I saw around me was like me, fascinated by Revit, just Revit then and now by what it has expanded into. I knew that no matter who I listened to, talked with or saw in a hallway that I'd see them again...in a session, in a few minutes or during a break or during dinner and drinks. The value of the social side of the event can't be overstated. People have cultivated great friendships, formed at each event, and these last and prove mutually satisfying for years to come. I can vouch for this personally.

If you struggle with getting your firm to support sending you, or if you are the firm, or if you are trying to justify sending your staff consider just the classes alone. If you or someone in your firm was charged with putting together a class of equal quality, compared with any you'll find at RTC, you can reasonably expect a 10-20 hour commitment. That's time spent preparing themselves, making sure they've covered every angle of Revit knowledge they need, then organizing it all, preparing to share it with other staff and finally actually sharing it with them. It might take longer if it is the first time they've had to do something like this, or they might not be knowledgeable enough yet to tackle it all themselves. If this same person attends RTC and returns home not only with the material from the dozens of sessions they attend but access to all the material for each and every class offered at RTC you'll have a wealth of material for FAR less cash outlay than devoting them to developing the same material in-house.

It isn't just the classes either. It's the interaction, the setting, the focus, the passion and excitement expressed by others and witnessed by everyone. You can't help but feel reinvigorated. You'll recharge your batteries so to speak. When you leave RTC you leave ready, ready for anything and eager to take it all back to the office. It's just a shame that you can't bring your whole office along to experience it for themselves...well you can...just not many offices will dare to. There are a few firms that do send as many as 10-15 staff as they see it as their annual training for key people. Do your best to attend the nearest conference, you and your firm won't regret it!

P.S. If you represent a Local User Group focused on Revit I'd like to help you get the word out to your members. Get in touch with me so I can pass along information that you can use to make it easier to talk about it at your next meeting.

RTC Session Datasets for Shared Coordinates

To the people that attended my session at both RTC events.

I apologize for being slack!

It's been months now since Wollongong (May) and only one less since Stone Mountain (June). I'm apologizing because until tonight attendees couldn't actually get the data set files I promised. I've let this issue slip and slide underneath everything else going on and that's not fair. I did try several different times to upload the data but between spotty connections at hotels, the distance and the size of the dataset the upload kept failing. So finally last night we got past that with Bo's help at the BD Group/RTC Events office...thanks Bo!

Thanks for being patient, even if you gave up on me ;)

Session Title: Coordinating Projects with Shared Coordinates

Session in Wollongong, to login for the Materials: CLICK HERE
Session in Stone Mountain, to login for the Materials: CLICK HERE

You'll need to refer to the email you received that provided the login password for the conference you attended.

The only difference between the files offered? There is one project file with "slides" for each location of the conference. The Large and Small project folders contain the same collection regardless of where you attended the session.

RTC AUS 2013 - Seeking Abstracts

Just to further getting the word out the Revit Technology Conference 2013 - Australasia is now accepting abstracts until Wednesday October 31, 2012. CLICK HERE to Submit.

The abstracts requested, at this time, are ONLY for the conference in Auckland, New Zealand this year, May 16-18, 2013. Separate requests will go out for the other two conferences a little later this year.

If you want to keep track of RTC information you have options; Naturally the main RTC Site, and I have a page on this site dedicated to RTC, You can follow RTC on Twitter RTCNA - RTCAUS - RTCEUR and RTC on Facebook as well as the RTC Blog and Linked in and Instagram. We're working on a single You Tube channel.

Have a couple minutes? Considering attending RTC in 2013, then check out this video (00:01:44) to see what RTC is all about. It was created with footage taken from the event in June (Stone Mountain, GA).

RTCAUS Wrapped for Another Year

I was busy pretending to be @RTCAUS on Twitter during the conference. I also wrote a few things during the conference on the blog for RTC. Those two alter egos provide ample distraction from this blog unfortunately. Between the attending of sessions, the socializing, committee member roles etc... I just didn't have enough brain cells left over to post here too. I hope to be able to resume being just me again soon!

The conference went very smoothly. Well there was the elevator needing a part from Germany. There was the internet service provider playing havoc with my "mello" but for the most part it really went swimmingly!

Ralph Grabowski attended the conference this year and wrote several articles about the event on his blog "World CAD Access". If you don't follow his blogging I encourage you to consider doing so. He's been deeply involved in following this "biddness" we are in, from a technology perspective at least. All for now, check out Ralph's post for some insight. You can also review the Tweets and the pictures that were part of many of them. I'll be posting pictures and info on the Facebook site in the coming weeks too.

Win a Free VisDay Pass

This may be of interest to anyone already planning to attend RTC in Wollongong next month since you'll be in town already. RTC also hopes that if you are part of the visualization community you'll be interested too! RTC is running a competition to award a free pass to this new focused event, just have to put fingers to your keyboard and send a quick email to be eligible, read on if you are curious.

What is VisDay?

VisDay is the premier forum on advances in computer generated visualisation for the architecture, engineering and construction industries, and is collocated to the renowned RTC event. The powerful line-up of speakers includes Lon Grohs the Vice President of Chaos Group from Bulgaria, SHW group, HKS and VEO from the United States and local talent from Flood Slicer and Atomic 3D.

VisDay will be held on Wednesday 23 May at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, NSW, Australia. Further details can be found on the WEBSITE

To be eligible for a single complimentary general admission ticket to VisDay we ask for your feedback on attending VisDay. i.e.

Tell us in 25 words or less... What aspect of VisDay are you most interested in?

The Prize includes registration to VisDay 2012 Australasia on Wednesday 23 May at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach. Complimentary scheduled transfers are available from Sydney city and Sydney Domestic Airport. Prize does not include other travel or accommodation.

All submissions are required by Monday 30 April, the winning entry will be decided by the VisDay Committee and will be notified on Wednesday 2 May.

Please email your submission to SECRETARY at RTC Events noting Revit OpEd as the source blog. Please ensure you check back onto the RTC blog as well as this blog after May 2nd to see if you are a winner. Winning comments will be posted on the blog site along with the winners name.

RTC has a Blog Now!

I'm pleased to write that there is a Revit Technology Conference News Blog! I begged and pleaded with Bo to get it up and running before the planned website update work that is under way so we can use it to keep people in the loop right on the conference site itself. Actually I only had to ask once. Bo is THE MAN!

You can still follow the conference on the social sites of course, such as Linked in, Facebook, You Tube and Twitter (RTCAUS, RTCUSA...and RTCInEU...hint).

AUGIWorld and RTC

I've received a copy of AUGIWorld in printed form as AUGI works toward making it available to the AUGI membership. As I write this I'm not sure where that effort stands but it is good to see it back in a physical magazine form again after several years of only being available as an eZine. I recall being shocked at the cost of producing it when I served on AUGI's Board. It was a very significant portion of AUGI's budget then. I'm guessing that getting a printed copy of AUGIWorld will involve some sort of subscription to help keep the cost to produce it in check.

As for the RTC part of my title, a full page ad appears in the current issue of AW. RTC is looking forward to seeing you at one or both of the events this year!

Will I see you there? Looking forward to it!

Laptop Power Supply and Cable

A quick one and a bit off topic sorry: Did you attend RTC in Huntington Beach this past month? Did you leave a HP power supply and cable in Salon B when you left your session? If so I've got it. Let me know via email, contact details at the very bottom of the right side bar.

Revit Technology Conference - Australasia - iTunes App

I suppose the word is getting out when a blogger (Revit3D) that is attending the Revit conference in the USA (RTCUSA) manages to let people know about this before the conference marketing committee members do?

Three enterprising fans of the conference have conspired to create an iPhone, iPad app for the Australasia conference that begins next week. These enterprising fans are Kingfisher Recruitment, Atlas Industries and Rod Howarth (programmer and app author listed at iTunes).

The app features a welcome screen, schedule, site information and app sponsor page. We've asked them to add a sponsor page to list all the conference sponsors too. Here's the main screens in the app.

If you are one of the over four hundred Revit/BIM savvy people coming to RTCAUS in Goldcoast next week then you might want to take advantage of this free app!

Revit Technology Conference - USA 2012 - City Poll

[- The poll is now closed (closed on May 20th), the image below is a screen capture of the poll, not an actual poll, sorry for the confusion it has caused -]

We haven't finished the first RTC in the USA yet but we are already considering where the next one should go. The poll you'll see at the top right corner of this blog offers the cities we've been considering.

There are some "obvious" ones we've considered but decided to try this list first to see what sort of response we get. We'll be sending out a survey to those who are already on the conference mailing lists as well as attempting to get a poll at the Linked In group too. Please take a moment to cast your vote for one of the cities listed or choose "other" and respond to this post with a comment for the one you'd prefer. ~ THANKS!!