AUGIWORLD
The Official Publication of the AUGI Design Community
January 2026
Trending Technologiess
Also in this issue: BIM
| AutoCAD Architecture | Civil 3D
AUGI Members
MEMBER
Reach Higher with Expanded Benefits MEMBER
MEMBER
AUGI is introducing three new Membership levels that will bring you more benefits than ever before. Each level will bring you more content and expertise to share with fellow members, plus provide an expanded, more interactive website, publication access, and much more!
MEMBER
MEMBER
Basic members have access to: • Forums • HotNews (last 12 months) • AUGIWorld (last 12 months)
Premier members have access to: • Forums • HotNews (last 24 months) • AUGIWorld (last 24 months)
DUES: Free
DUES: $25
MEMBER
MEMBER
MEMBER
Professional members have access to: • Forums • HotNews (full access) • AUGIWorld (full access and in print) • ADN 2013 Standard Membership Offer DUES: $100
Are you ready to upgrade yourself and your membership? Access additional benefits and upgrade at www.augi.com
MEMBER
AUGIWORLD
January 2026
CONTENTS FEATURES
6
10
6
BIM
14
AutoCAD Architecture 2026
20
Civil 3D
28
Corporate Acquisitions:
32
BricsCAD
The Real 2026 Trend A Connected Digital Ecosystem
AutoCAD Architecture 2026 Workspaces
Autodesk Construction Cloud and Civil 3D
Expectations Versus Reality
BricsCAD® and OpenBIM: Lessons on IFC for Better Project Coordination
COLUMNS 4
Letter from the President
10
Tech Manager
32 augi.com
November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
3
AUGIWORLD www.augi.com
Editors
Editor-in-Chief
Todd Rogers - todd.rogers@augi.com
From the President AUGI MEMBERS,
H
appy New Year! I know we all say it all the time, but where did the time go? I can remember the ball dropping for 2025, and now here we are at the beginning of 2026. As I look back on the past year, one theme stands out… growth.
Miranda Anderson - miranda.anderson@augi.com
Layout Editor
Debby Gwaltney - debby.gwaltney@augi.com
Content Managers
3ds Max - Brian Chapman AutoCAD - Tracy Chadwick AutoCAD Architecture - Melinda Heavrin BIM/CIM - Stephen Walz BricsCAD - Craig Swearingen Civil 3D - Shawn Herring Electrical - Mark Behrens Manufacturing - Kristina Youngblut Revit Architecture - Jonathan Massaro Revit MEP - Jason Peckovitch Tech Manager - Mark Kiker Inside Track - Rina Sahay
Growth rarely shows up the way we expect it to.
Advertising/Reprint Sales
We all faced moments in 2025 that stretched us. Some plans worked beautifully while others didn’t unfold the way we hoped, but each experience, whether it felt like a win or a setback in the moment, added a layer of strength and clarity to who we are as professionals and as people. If there is one lesson I am carrying into 2026, it’s this… We cannot wait for perfect timing or for someone to give us permission.
AUGI Executive Team President
The opportunities that change our careers, our leadership, and our future rarely come with a guarantee. They come with a nudge. A spark. A sense that maybe this is the moment to step forward. This year, I want to encourage every AUGI member to seize that moment.
Secretary
Try the new idea. Volunteer for the project that intimidates you. Learn the new software you’ve been putting off. Share your expertise. Teach someone who is coming up behind you. Get that new job. And most importantly, continue investing in your own development. Our industry is evolving faster than ever, but so are the people who choose to lean in instead of hold back. 2026 will be the year where intention meets opportunity. Where we apply the lessons of 2025. Where we take smarter risks. Where we create the kind of progress we’ll look back on and say, “That was the year everything elevated.” AUGI exists to support that growth. To equip you. To connect you. To give you a place where your voice, your experience, and your curiosity matter. I am honored to serve you as we continue building a stronger, more innovative community together. I hope you enjoy this month’s issue and thank you to all the authors and advertisers who make AUGIWORLD possible. Until next time… Eric 4
Copy Editor
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
Nancy Tanner - sales@augi.com
Eric DeLeon
Vice-President
Kristina Youngblut
Treasurer
Todd Rogers Shelby Smith
AUGI Board of Directors Eric DeLeon Chris Lindner Frank Mayfield Todd Rogers
Shelby Smith Scott Wilcox Kristina Youngblut
AUGI Advisory Board of Directors Gil Cordle Jason Peckovitch
Rina Sahay Jeff Thomas III
Publication Information
AUGIWORLD magazine is a benefit of specific AUGI membership plans. Direct magazine subscriptions are not available. Please visit www.augi.com/account/register to join or upgrade your membership to receive AUGIWORLD magazine in print. To manage your AUGI membership and address, please visit www.augi. com/account. For all other magazine inquires please contact augiworld@augi.com
Published by:
AUGIWORLD is published by AUGI, Inc. AUGI makes no warranty for the use of its products and assumes no responsibility for any errors which may appear in this publication nor does it make a commitment to update the information contained herein. AUGIWORLD is Copyright ©2026 AUGI. No information in this magazine may be reproduced without expressed written permission from AUGI. All registered trademarks and trademarks included in this magazine are held by their respective companies. Every attempt was made to include all trademarks and registered trademarks where indicated by their companies. AUGIWORLD (San Francisco, Calif.) ISSN 2163-7547
augi.com/augiworld
Bright Ideas for a Bright Future
AUGIWORLD brings you the latest tips & tricks, tutorials, and other technical information to keep you on the leading edge of a bright future.
BIM
by: Jason Peckovitch
The Real 2026 Trend:
A Connected Digital Ecosystem
6
or more than a decade, AEC technology marketing has pushed a familiar idea: that one platform, just one, will eventually handle everything we ask of it. A single source of truth. A unified hub. The place where drawings, models, documents, issues, schedules, and conversations all live together in harmony.
F
moving, highly coordinated projects, I’m seeing something very different unfold on the ground. The industry is not consolidating into one platform at all. If anything, it’s moving in the opposite direction.
It’s an attractive vision. But after stepping into the contractor world and working across multiple fast-
Contractors, engineers, architects, and trade partners are increasingly using multiple
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
The real trend in 2026 isn’t a single solution - It’s the ecosystem.
augi.com/augiworld
by: Jason Peckovitch technologies. Each of which is selected for a very specific reason, to create workflows tailored to the realities of modern construction. The goal is no longer to force everything into one environment but to connect the strengths of many. This shift is subtle, but it’s profound and it’s reshaping how projects are delivered.
THE END OF THE ALL-IN-ONE PROMISE When cloud collaboration f irst surged across the industry, nearly every major vendor positioned itself as the “central hub.” Autodesk Construction Cloud emphasized its expanding model-centric environment. Procore f ramed itself as the project’s operational backbone. Revizto emerged as a coordination environment promising clarity. Navisworks, though older, remained the model viewer/clash detection engine no one could quite replace. Each platform tried to be the one place where everything happened. But as digital expectations increased and as project complexity grew, it became clear that no single system could solve the needs of every discipline, every trade, and every workflow. Instead of unifying under one umbrella, project teams began doing something far more practical: they built their own workflows by combining the best of each tool. The result isn’t chaos or redundancy. It’s targeted optimization. Teams aren’t searching for “the one platform” anymore. They’re building the stack that actually gets the job done.
AUTODESK CONSTRUCTION CLOUD’S EVOLVING ROLE Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) remains one of the largest and most influential components in today’s digital workflows. It offers a well-structured approach to document versioning, permissions, model federation, and issue management. These capabilities plug directly into design authoring tools like Revit. For many organizations, ACC provides the anchor point for model review and controlled file exchange. But being the anchor doesn’t mean it replaces other systems. In the contractor environment, ACC coexists with complementary platforms
augi.com
BIM because its greatest strengths: organized data, structured workflows, standardized information management don’t eliminate the need for speed, mobility, or deeper analytics. Instead, ACC functions as the foundation on which other solutions layer their strengths. It’s a critical platform, but not the entire picture.
PROCORE’S STAYING POWER IN THE FIELD Where Autodesk excels in design and modelcentric workflows, Procore continues to dominate the construction site. Its value lies not in competing with ACC or replacing coordination software, but in its straightforward handling of field documentation and communication. Contractors rely on Procore for daily logs, RFIs, submittals, photos, observations, and jobsite records because it performs these tasks with a consistency and simplicity that field teams can adopt quickly. Procore is less concerned with models and more focused on the day-to-day operational reality of construction. This clear role, this specialization, is exactly why Procore remains deeply relevant. It doesn’t try to be a design platform. It doesn’t force itself into coordination. It fits squarely into the ecosystem where it provides value without overlapping.
NAVISWORKS: THE WORKHORSE THAT ENDURES For years, many predicted the decline of Navisworks as cloud platforms grew more capable. Yet on complex projects, Navisworks still plays a central role in clash detection. The software remains unrivaled in handling the sheer volume and density of federated models required for deep clash analysis, trade sequencing, and rule-driven inspections. Its longevity isn’t nostalgic; it’s performance. When teams need detailed control over appearance profiles, clash filtering, quantification, 4D simulation, or granular selection workflows, Navisworks continues to deliver. It remains the engine powering the early, heavy-lifting stages of coordination before issues find their way into more collaborative platforms.
November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
7
BIM Navisworks persists because no one has truly replaced its precision.
REVIZTO AND THE HUMAN SIDE OF COORDINATION While Navisworks is built for the technical team, Revizto is built for people. It sits at the intersection of design, coordination, and field communication by making issues easier to understand, share, discuss, and resolve.
Teams will succeed not by choosing the “best” software, but by designing ecosystems where tools complement one another where design supports coordination, coordination supports construction, and construction feeds back into design. One source of truth may never mean one platform. It may instead mean many platforms working as one.
Revizto transforms clashes and questions into a conversation. Its strength lies in its clarity, allowing teams with varying levels of modeling expertise to navigate models, annotate concerns, and track responsibility. On multidisciplinary projects, Revizto becomes the place where conversations happen, decisions are documented, and accountability is visible. It is the connective tissue between highly technical data and the humans responsible for acting on it.
A NEW DEFINITION OF INNOVATION The most striking trend in 2026 isn’t any single feature or platform. It’s the increasing importance of interoperability and how well these tools communicate with each other, exchange information, and support a broader digital strategy. Workflows today often span multiple platforms: a clash identified in Navisworks becomes an issue in Revizto and/or ACC, which drives a design update in Revit, while ACC tracks the delivered models and Procore captures the field verification. No single tool engineered this workflow on its own. It evolved because project demands required it. Innovation is no longer defined by the capabilities of a single product. It’s defined by how seamlessly these products can be connected.
LOOKING AHEAD As the industry pushes deeper into digital project delivery, the pressure to simplify will continue. But simplification won’t come from forcing everybody into one environment. It will come from creating ecosystems where each platform contributes its strengths while minimizing friction between them. The future of AEC technology isn’t about platform dominance. It’s about platform collaboration. 8
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
Jason Peckovitch, an AUGI Advisory Board Member, is an Autodesk Revit Certified Professional for Mechanical and Electrical Design located in SE Iowa. He is the new BIM/VDC Manager at ACI Mechanical Inc. His CAD/BIM career spans over 25 years, with over 18 years of experience in MEP coordination and Revit standards and content development. He writes regularly for AUGIWorld and shares weekly BIM Mastery insights across the AEC community. Jason is also the father of three children: Shelby (14), Blake (11) and Logan (8), a published photographer, gamer, and car/tech guy. He can be reached at thatbimguy@ gmail.com, found on X under the handle ThatBIMGuy, or connect with him on LinkedIn or several other user platforms like AUGI Community, CAD Manager’s School or BIM Heroes. augi.com/augiworld
A Global Community for AEC Professionals to Learn, Grow and Exchange Knowledge. Become a member: www.dbei.org/membership
Tech Manager
by: Mark Kiker
Leaders Act with Integrity A
quick AI search on Google with the key word of “integrity” returned the following types:
•
10
Structural integrity: This refers to the ability of physical structures or systems to withstand stress and maintain their shape and function.
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
•
Data integrity: This is about ensuring that data is accurate, complete, and consistent throughout its lifecycle, protecting it from corruption.
•
Intellectual integrity: This involves a commitment to intellectual honesty, such as augi.com/augiworld
Tech Manager presenting one’s own original work and giving credit to others. In the area of professional and organizational integrity it brought me this: •
•
Professional integrity: This refers to adhering to the ethical standards, norms, and codes of conduct specific to a profession. It requires professionals to be transparent, reliable, and accountable to their clients and colleagues. Organizational integrity: This is the integrity of a company or organization as a whole. It involves having policies, procedures, and a culture that promotes ethical behavior and prevents corruption.
And for personal and moral integrity this came up: •
•
Personal integrity: This is the quality of being honest and consistent in your actions, thoughts, and words, and is considered the foundation for trust in relationships. It involves a congruence between your ideals, beliefs, and behavior. Moral integrity: This involves a steadfast commitment to ethical principles and values, such as honesty, fairness, and consistency, both in private and professional life. It can be seen as having a strong moral compass that guides your behavior.
I am going to leave the structural, data and intellectual integrity up to others who can do a much better job of it than me. I am also not going to cover professional integrity as many of you are certified or license in your fields and know of the expectations that your career requires. Organizations define the guardrails for integrity within their staff and may have ethical pledges or documents that must be followed. I am going to focus on the personal and moral (ethical) side of integrity since that falls into your individual purview. Your personal integrity will bleed into the organizational integrity because you operate in a business context and that is part of it. But it really comes down to you and your actions (or inactions) as they relate to your guiding principles and values. Dr. Stephen Covey, who wrote a ton on leadership, defines integrity as follows:
augi.com
“Honesty is telling the truth – in other words, conforming our words to reality. Integrity is conforming reality to our words – in other words, keeping promises and fulfilling expectations. This requires an integrated character, a oneness, primarily with self but also with life.” (The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, pp. 195—196). Integrity is separate from ethics. Ethics are the principles and values to be followed, and Integrity is the actions you take to remain within those principles and values. After we cover integrity, we will go into ethics in another article. Most of us have a fairly unified list of things that we feel should be done to act with integrity. They include honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, consistency, accountability, following through, retaining confidences, keeping promises, taking ownership of our mistakes, and not being deceptive or conniving.
LEADERS BUILD TRUST No one want to work with or for someone who they do not trust. They want to bank on the fact that the boss said it and it will come to fruition. They want to know that when they are told something will happen, or not happen, that it will be as they were told. Leaders do what they say they will do. If they can’t do it, they don’t say they will. When they make a promise, they keep it. This may sound so simple and everyone will agree that this is what is needed to build trust, but it is sometimes hard to do. Way back in November of 2017, I wrote an article on Being Trustworthy. I suggest you go back and read that for a deeper dive on the trust topic. “Generally, the more a team trusts its manager, the better the results will be, and the better the retention as well.” ― Mark Horstman, The Effective Manager
LEADERS ARE CONSISTENT, RELIABLE AND DEPENDABLE People bank on the fact that you will act consistently. As you have acted or responded in the past, so you will in the future. Those around you soon learn your patterns and dependability. They know what will upset you and what will gain
November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
11
Tech Manager your praise. As long as you consistently do it. If you sometimes act in opposition to what you have done before, then people will no longer know what to expect. They will become hesitant to tell you the full truth and keep you informed. They will avoid unfolding their plans before you because you may or may not agree with them. They do not know, so they shy away from asking for your input. Someone has said that integrity is ethics lived out with consistency.
LEADERS DO THE RIGHT THING Of course, we all want to do the right thing. And we will discuss what the right things are in future articles. But at this time, I want to just chat about what it means to do the right thing. Obviously, it means telling the truth and not lying. But it is in the context of difficult time. It is not hard to do the right thing when everyone agrees that it is right. But it is hard when others are avoiding the right thing. When others want to sweep something under the rug and the right thing to do it discuss it, then it is harder for you to bring it up. But doing the right thing in the face of difficulty or push back. That is the time when leaders and good managers step forward and press for the right thing being done. A good way to think about this is when you think “I should do this”, then it is probably the right thing to do. If you think, “I should not do this”, then don’t.
LEADERS ARE HONEST Telling the truth is foundational to leadership and building trust. It means that you communicate the needed information truthfully and timely. Notice I said, “needed information”. This would mean that you share what is needed, tempered by respectful language, not “I hate that idea”. Even if that is what you think, you find a kind way to say it. And it should be timely and delivered before someone forces it out of you. It can also be delivered in the proper environment. Take it to a private location if it is negative critique and make it public if it is positive praise. And don’t lie. “Lying makes a problem part of the future; telling the truth makes it part of the past” Lead to Succeed: 10 Traits of Great Leadership in Business and Life - Rick Pitino
12
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
This means that telling the truth about a problem immediately addresses it, and after you get resolution to the problem, it puts it in the past. However, lying about it postpones the issue and creates future complications that will eventually have to be dealt with. When you make a mistake, just admit it. Keep it honest and do not lie. One lie typically falls into a series of lies and clouds decision making. If you make mistakes, you can be forgiven, but deception, conniving, playing overt politics will get you into hot water. “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it” Benjamin Franklin This includes lies to cover your backside. Doing things to cover your backside gets you into more trouble and telling the truth engenders forgiveness. People are very forgiving, unless they are lied to. Integrity is the whole package of your actions integrated into who you are. Keep an eye on what you do and make sure it syncs with your principles and values. Others are watching how you lead and they want to follow – when you act with integrity.
Mark Kiker has more than 30 years of hands-on experience with technology. He is fully versed in every area of management from deployment planning, installation, and configuration to training and strategic planning. As an internationally known speaker and writer, he was a returning speaker at Autodesk University for twenty years. Mark has served as Draftsman, Principal Designer, CAD/ BIM Manager, IT Director, CTO, CIO and AUGI Board President. He can be reached at mark.kiker@augi. com and would love to hear your questions, comments, perspectives and ideas for future topics. augi.com/augiworld
Connect with AUGI Members
Increase your revenue by advertising with AUGI. Over 500,000 members worldwide. Diamond Sponsors
AUGIWORLD
The Official Publication of the AUGI Design Community
What's New?
AUGIWORLD Print AUGI HotNews Digital
www.augiworld.com
June 2025
US $8.00
Also in this issue: Introduction to Layers: The Unsung Hero of CAD Design | Let’s Look at DiRoots!
AUGI.com Website Thousands of visits per month
Forum Advertising Active membership participation • • •
Advertising Email Blasts Targeted Mailings Industry Leading Google Results Site
Visit www.augi.com/advertising or contact salesdirector@augi.com today!
AutoCAD Architecture 2026
by: Melinda Heavrin
AutoCAD Architecture 2026 Workspaces A
workspace in AutoCAD Architecture is the basic interface that includes those palettes, commands and controls you need for your architectural process. When you first start AutoCAD Architecture during implementation, the default Architecture workspace is displayed. The workspace can be reconfigured according to your preferences as you work. You can move or hide various components as needed, display additional ribbon controls or add new tools and tool palettes. You can even save your customization as a new workspace that you can access for later drawing sessions. You can also switch from one workspace to another at any time.
14
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
THE WORKSPACE USER INTERFACE The workspace is designed to make it easier and faster for you to find and use the tools and commands you need. The workspace user interface consists of several components. •
The Ribbon – Similar to Microsoft Office, AutoCAD Architecture uses the ribbon as the central access point for commands. The ribbon contains several tabs on which commands are grouped according to conceptual task types or selected objects.
•
The Application Menu – The Application menu contains basic commands pertaining to the drawing, such as Open, Save and Print. The augi.com/augiworld
AutoCAD Architecture 2026 Application menu is accessed by clicking in the upper-left corner of the workspace. •
Workspaces – AutoCAD Architecture is equipped with one single default workspace (Architecture).
•
Help Access – The commands to access Help features are in the InfoCenter at the top right of the application window. Here, you can find the online resources of InfoCenter and the Help menu, which allows you to access Help, Tutorials and other interactive resources.
•
Status Bar Menus – Commands on the status bar have dialog boxes and options that can be launched by clicking on them or on the drop-down arrow next to them. Click the Customization icon on the status bar to select what you view on the status bar.
•
Autodesk Seek – You can use Autodesk Seek to find product design information. Many content providers, including corporate partners and individual contributors, publish to Autodesk Seek. Content includes 3D models, 2D drawings, specifications, brochures and other descriptions of products or components. You can also share your own content with others using Autodesk Seek. Upload drawings or blocks to Autodesk Seek to give your partners and customers ready access to your content.
CUSTOMIZING A WORKSPACE Workspaces control the display of sets of user interface elements and are typically organized by function or workflow. You can create and manage workspaces from the user interface with the WSSAVE command or Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor. You can also define the properties of a workspace with the CUI Editor. These properties allow you to identify the workspace from other workspaces in the CUIx file and control the behavior of some of the user interface elements related to the application window. A workspace must be set current to update the user interface based on the properties and settings of the workspace. Only workspaces in the main and enterprise CUIx file can be set current. If a workspace is in a partial CUIx file and you want to use it, you must transfer the workspace with the Transfer tab of the CUI Editor to the main CUIx augi.com
file before it can be set current. The most recent workspace is set current after closing and restarting the program. If you are setting up a Network Deployment, you can define which workspace to set as the current workspace the first time the program is started by setting a workspace as Default. The CUIx file containing the workspace set as Default must be defined as the main or enterprise file with the deployment. A workspace set as Default is also set as the current workspace when the CUIx file containing the workspace is loaded with the CUILOAD command. If you wish to set a workspace current, you can do so in the CUI Editor by clicking on the Manage tab of the ribbon, customization panel, and select User Interface. In the Customize tab, Customizations In <file name> pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it. Right-click the workspace you want to set current and select Set Current. Last, select Apply. Workspaces in a CUIx file can be marked as default. Setting a workspace as default determines that it should be restored when the CUIx file is loaded into the program the first time or after the CUIx file has been loaded with the CUILOAD command. To do this, click on the Merge tab of the ribbon, Customization panel, and then select User Interface. In the Customize tab, Customizations In <file name> pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the Workspaces node to expand it. Right-click the workspace you want to set as default and then select Set Default. Last, select Apply. If you wish to create and customize a new Workspace, begin with the Manage tab on the ribbon, Customization panel, User Interface. Now, in the Customize tab, in the Customizations In <file name> pane, right-click on the Workspaces node and select New Workspace (see Figure 1). A new, empty workspace (named Workspace1) is placed at the bottom of the Workspaces. Right-click on Workspace, select Rename and enter a new workspace name. Now, in the Workspace Contents pane, click Customize Workspace. In the Customizations In <file name> pane, click the plus sign (+) next to the user interface elements and expand them. Click the check box next to each user interface element that you want to add to the workspace. The selected user interface elements are added to the workspace. In the Workspace Contents pane, select Done and then select Apply. November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
15
AutoCAD Architecture 2026
Figure 1 – New Workspace
Once you have created your new workspace, you may find that you need to change the properties of that Workspace. To do this, select the Manage tab on the ribbon, Customization panel, User Interface. In the Customize tab, Customizations In <file name> pane, click the workspace whose properties you want to change. In the Properties pane, do any of the following (see figure 2): 16
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
•
In the Name box, enter a name for the workspace
•
In the Description box, enter a description
•
In the Start On box, select an option (Model, Layout, Do Not Change)
•
In the Menu Bar box, select an option (Off, On)
•
In the Status Bar box, select an option augi.com/augiworld
AutoCAD Architecture 2026 (Application Only, All Off, All On, Drawing Status Bar Only)
WORKING WITH OBJECTS IN A WORKSPACE
•
In the Navigation Bar box, select an option (Off, On)
•
In the Model/Layout Tabs box, select an option (On, Off, Do Not Change)
•
In the Scroll Bars box, select an option (On, Off, Do Not Change)
•
Once your changes are complete, select Apply.
The AutoCAD Architecture workspace is where you add and manipulate the architectural objects that make up your drawings. You can add objects to the drawing using tools. Tools generally have preset creation parameters called properties. When you click an object tool to add an object in the drawing, the Properties palette opens, and you can change properties for the new object if desired. If not, you can go ahead and place the object in the drawing.
Figure 2 – Workspace Properties augi.com
November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
17
AutoCAD Architecture 2026 Tools are arranged on tool palettes for easy access. To open the default Design tool palette, click the Home tab on the ribbon, build panel, tools dropdown and then select Design Tools (see Figure 3).
•
Context menu – Right-click the object to display its available commands.
•
Direct editing with grips – Commands for
Figure 3 – Design Tools
You can modify an object in a workspace using any of the following methods: •
Object-specific ribbon tab – When you select an object, an object-specific tab is displayed on the ribbon. The object-specific tab contains commands that apply to the selected object.
•
Properties palette – The Properties palette is one of the central locations for entering and changing information about an object. This palette contains categories that group the properties by type.
•
Matching properties between objects – You can use the Match Properties command to copy the style and display properties of one AEC object and apply them to one or more other objects of the same type.
modifying an object are accessible from the object’s grips. Click an object in a twodimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) view to display its grips.
COPYING TOOL PALETTES AND TOOL PACKAGES TO A WORKSPACE You can create a linked or unlinked copy of the tool palette. A linked copy remains connected to the original in the tool catalog so that you can easily update the copy with any changes made to the original. An unlinked copy is treated as a new tool palette, with no relationship to the original. To do this, begin by clicking the Home tab on the ribbon, Build panel, Tools drop-down, Content Browser. Open the tool catalog containing the tool palette to copy to the tool palette set. If the palette is located in a specific category of the catalog, open that category. Move the pointer over the content icon of the palette you wish to select and click on Add to Tool Palette (see Figure 4). To copy multiple tool palettes, press and hold Ctrl while clicking each palette and then right-click and select Add to Tool Palette. If you want to store a linked copy of the tool palette in the tool palette set, then click Add to Tool Palette to add the palette to the tool palette set. If you want to create an unlinked copy of the tool palette in the tool palette set, then press and hold Alt. Then click Add to Tool Palette.
Figure 4 – Tool Palette
18
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
augi.com/augiworld
Figure 5 – Tool Package
You can also create linked or unlinked copies of the tools in the package. A linked copy remains connected to the original in the tool catalog, so you can easily update the copy with any changes made to the original. An unlinked copy is treated as a new tool, with no relationship to the original. Just as you did with the tool palette above, begin by clicking the Home tab on the ribbon, Build panel, Tools drop-down, Content Browser. Open the tool catalog containing the tool package to copy into the tool palette set. If the package is located in a specific category of the catalog, open that category. Move the pointer over the tool icon and click on Add to Tool Palette (see Figure 5). To copy multiple tool packages, press and hold Ctrl while clicking each package and then rightclick and select Add to Tool Palette. If you want to store linked copies of the package’s tools in the tool palette set, then click Add to Tool Palette to add the tools to the tool palette set. If you want to create unlinked copies of the package’s tools in the tool palette set, then press and hold Alt. Then click Add to Tool Palette.
CONCLUSION Workspaces are sets of menus, toolbars, palettes and ribbon control panels that are grouped and organized so that you can work in a custom, taskoriented drawing environment. Workspaces keep things organized and simple to find within AutoCAD Architecture. It is important to customize your workspace so you are as productive as you can be.
Melinda Heavrin is a CAD Coordinator & Facility Planner in Louisville, Kentucky. She has been using AutoCAD Architecture since release 2000. Melinda can be reached for comments and questions.
Civil 3D
by: Shawn Herring
Autodesk Construction Cloud and Civil 3D
C
ivil 3D users are increasingly adopting Autodesk Construction Cloud, especially BIM Collaborate Pro, or BIM360, or Collaboration for Civil 3D (C4C) or whatever you want to call it these days! Why
20 AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
now? What’s driving this trend? Let’s explore some of the key benefits and workflows to try and understand a bit more.
augi.com/augiworld
Civil 3D
KEY DRIVERS OF ADOPTION •
•
•
Cloud Worksharing and Collaboration The integration allows Civil 3D teams to coauthor and share design files in real time, eliminating the need for physical servers and improving remote team productivity. This capability supports seamless cross-discipline collaboration and faster issue resolution. Centralized Data and Document Management Autodesk Construction Cloud provides a centralized location to store, manage, and access all project data, including Civil 3D drawings, models, data shortcuts, and external references. This supports secure data sharing even outside enterprise firewalls, facilitating easier stakeholder inclusion and better overall project visibility. Enhanced Efficiency and Transparency Advanced features such as automated clash detection, visual timelines, change analytics, and project activity tracking help teams coordinate complex projects efficiently and reduce errors. Teams can track design changes across multiple versions, improving predictability and planning.
Civil 3D-Specific Benefits •
Real-time collaboration and version control reduce delays and improve project outcomes.
•
Easier integration with other Autodesk products, such as Revit, for multidiscipline workflows.For example, publishing a Civil 3D surface to Autodesk Construction Cloud
augi.com
(ACC/Docs) is done with the builtin “Publish Surfaces” command, which creates a cloudhosted surface file that Revit (and others) can link as topography. •
Secure access to Civil 3D files and data shortcuts, supporting connected teams across multiple locations and organizations.
Centralized project data •
Civil 3D models, Xrefs, and data shortcuts are stored in a common cloud environment, giving the entire team a single “source of truth” instead of scattered project folders.
•
Role, Company, and Individual based permissions let you open access across companies while still controlling who can see, edit, or publish design data.
Better design coordination and quality •
Model coordination and clash detection workflows help Civil 3D teams find conflicts (e.g., utilities vs. structures) earlier, before they hit the field.
•
Browser-based 2D/3D review, version comparison, and markup allow PMs, reviewers, and field staff to participate in QA/QC without needing full Civil 3D on their machine.
Now that sounds cool from a marketing standpoint, but what about the real world? Sometimes that disconnect between what Autodesk says works, and what actually works, is quite large. These are some of the typical questions and concerns I see from customers when contemplating the switch to ACC. November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
21
Civil 3D
DOES USING CIVIL 3D IN ACC CHANGE THE USER’S DAY TO DAY WORKFLOW? Using ACC/BIM Collaborate Pro with Civil 3D leaves most daytoday drafting and modeling workflows unchanged; the main differences are where files are saved and how projects are accessed and coordinated.
Impact on users and training •
Because the design tools and object behaviors are identical, most users need only light training focused on: where to browse to projects, how to set working folders, and basic ACC review/issue workflows.
•
The biggest practical behavioral shift is discipline about folder structure and reference paths, since multiple offices now rely on the same cloud-hosted Xrefs and data shortcuts.
What stays the same? •
•
Core Civil 3D tasks (creating alignments, corridors, surfaces, profiles, labels, sheets, data shortcuts, etc.) are performed with the same tools, commands, and drawing structures as on a traditional local network environment. Creating and consuming data shortcuts in a cloud project follows the same steps; the only change is pointing the working folder to an Autodesk Docs location instead of a file server. We’ll explore this further below.
What actually changes? •
•
22
Autodesk Docs provides a cloud sync utility, ACC Cloud Drive, that appears on your computer similar to a mapped drive through Autodesk Desktop Connector, allowing you to access, manage, and sync project files directly from your desktop as if they were stored locally.s Teams get additional cloud specific workflows around versioning, web-based review, issues, and model coordination, but those are layered on top of normal Civil 3D use rather than replacing it.
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
CAN I SET UP A SHEET SET IN ACC USING CIVIL 3D? Civil 3D can use Sheet Set Manager with projects stored in Autodesk Construction Cloud, so you can create and manage cloud-based sheet sets (DST) directly in ACC/Docs. Core capability •
Civil 3D 2023.1+ supports “cloud-first” Sheet Set Manager that works with DST files saved in Autodesk Docs/ACC, letting you organize, renumber, and publish sheets from a cloud project.
•
You can either create a new cloud sheet set from a template or upload an existing DST and convert it for use in ACC via Sheet Set Manager for Web.
How it fits into ACC workflows •
Store the DST and all sheet DWGs in your ACC project folders using the built in ‘Sheet Set Manager for Web’ tool, load and utilize your augi.com/augiworld
Civil 3D
cloud-aware sheet from the ACC Docs Drive in a familiar sheet set interface. •
From there, you can add sheets, create subsets, and publish PDFs, with the sheet set remaining centrally managed in ACC alongside the rest of your Civil 3D project data.
HOW DO I SET UP AND STORE MY SUPPORT FOLDERS AND STANDARDS WHEN USING CIVIL 3D AND ACC? WHAT’S THE BEST FOLDER STRUCTURE? The most effective approach is to keep a single, well-named “CAD Standards” area in Autodesk Docs, then mirror a clear subfolder structure for Civil 3D support types (templates, plot styles, fonts, etc.) that can be reused across projects.
•
04_Linetypes_Hatches (LIN, PAT)
•
05_Lisp_Tools (LSP, DLL, scripts)
•
06_Palettse_Groups (tool palette XTP/ XPG, icons)
Per Project standards folder •
In each live project, add a readonly /_ Standards folder and “bridge” or copy in only the pieces that project needs (e.g., a subset of templates and CTBs).
•
Typical pattern: •
<Project> •
Account Level CAD standards project •
•
_Standards •
Templates
•
PlotStyles
•
Xref_Symbols
Create one dedicated project such as _CADStandards in your ACC Account to hold shared support files used by many jobs.
•
Design
Inside that project, create a structure like:
•
Sheets
•
•
Survey
_CAD-Standards •
01_Templates (Civil 3D DWTs, sheet DWTs, reference template DWGs)
Connecting support files with the Docs Support Files manager
•
02_PlotStyles (CTB/STB)
•
•
03_Fonts_Shapefiles (SHX, TTF)
augi.com
Use the “Manage Support Files” / Support Files manager in ACC to create a configuration that points at the folders above (Templates, November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
23
Civil 3D
PlotStyles, Fonts, etc.) so AutoCAD/Civil 3D Web and cloud sheet sets automatically see them. •
Assign that configuration to your project template so every new ACC project created from it automatically inherits the same standards folder mappings.
•
Guiding principles •
One central standards project; light, projectspecific _Standards folders; no duplicated random CTBs/fonts throughout job trees.
•
Clear naming and versioning (e.g., C3D_ Template_ROAD_2025.dwt) and controlled write access so only CAD admins can change the Docs standards folders, while everyone can read them.
Civil 3D side: how users access them •
•
In Civil 3D, users can either: •
Keep Options > Files paths pointing to onprem master locations and open Docs standards only when needed, or
•
Add Autodesk Docs (via Desktop Connector path to _CAD-Standards) to template/plot style search paths if you want them to pull standards directly from the cloud.
For cloud-based sheet sets, use the “Manage CAD standards for cloud-based sheet sets” workflow to bind the DST to the /_Standards/ PlotStyles and /_Standards/Templates folders in Docs.
24 AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACADWEB/ ENU/?guid=GUID-45700EEC-B549-48799C8C-7C23AB54B112
HOW DO I SET UP A CIVIL 3D PROJECT IN BIM COLLABORATE PRO? To set up a Civil 3D project in BIM Collaborate Pro, you must: (1) prepare your ACC/BIM Collaborate Pro entitlements,
augi.com/augiworld
Civil 3D
(2) create and configure the cloud project in Autodesk Docs, and (3) connect Civil 3D to that project using Collaboration for Civil 3D and cloud data shortcuts. Prerequisites and access •
In Autodesk Account, assign each Civil 3D user the “Collaboration for Civil 3D” entitlement that comes with BIM Collaborate Pro.
•
Install and update Civil 3D, Desktop Connector, and ensure users can sign in with their Autodesk ID (same account used for BIM Collaborate Pro/ACC).
Build a Civil 3D-friendly folder structure •
In the project’s Docs interface, create a clear folder structure or apply a company template if you have one.One thing to note, ACC Templates can’t be applied after creation. They must be specified during the project’s creation.
•
Decide which folder will be the Civil 3D “working folder” (commonly something like Project Files or 02_Design\Civil 3D) so all data shortcuts and design DWGs live in a predictable place.
Connect Civil 3D to the cloud project •
In Civil 3D, sign in with your Autodesk ID, then open the Data Shortcuts panel and set the working folder by browsing to the ACC 360 project via Desktop Connector (it appears as a cloud drive).
•
Use “Set Working Folder” and then “New Data Shortcut Project” (or “Set Data Shortcuts Folder”) to point Civil 3D’s data shortcuts at the chosen cloud folder inside the project.
Create the ACC / BIM Collaborate Pro project •
In Autodesk Construction Cloud, create a new project in the ACC Account Admin portal, fill in name, location, and select the civil/ infrastructure sector as appropriate.
augi.com
November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
25
Civil 3D
Create and share data shortcuts •
•
Save your base design drawings (alignments, corridors, surfaces, pipes) directly into the project’s Civil 3D folder through Desktop Connector or Civil 3D’s Save dialog. Rightclick Data Shortcuts in Prospector to create shortcuts for key objects, then in other drawings use “Create Reference” to consume those shortcuts; Civil 3D will show a cloud icon indicating that the shortcuts reside in BIM Collaborate Pro/Docs.
What is desktop connector? Desktop Connector is a free Autodesk desktop app that creates a special virtual drive on your computer, seamlessly bridging your local file system with your Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), Autodesk Docs, or BIM 360 cloud projects. This lets you open, save, drag, drop, and manage cloud-based files—including Civil 3D drawings, XREFs, data shortcuts, and standards—as if they were local folders in Windows Explorer.
Enable team collaboration and coordination
Key features include:
•
•
Syncing files and folders between your computer and the cloud, so project data is always up to date for all users on the team.
•
Maintaining file references (like XREFs and Civil 3D data shortcuts), so complex project relationships remain intact as files are shared through ACC.
•
Reducing manual uploads and downloads: you simply work in Windows Explorer or the file open/save dialogs in Civil 3D, and Connector syncs changes in the background.
Invite designers, PMs, and reviewers into the project and ensure they have at least Docs access; Civil 3D designers need BIM Collaborate Pro with Collaboration for Civil 3D. •
•
26
clash detection and package-based sharing across disciplines.
NOTE: While Civil designers need a BIM Collaborate pro license, users like PMs and reviewers, and even some drafters, may only need a license of Autodesk Docs, making it a bit more cost effective.
Optionally configure Model Coordination spaces and design collaboration “Teams” if you will coordinate Civil 3D with Revit/Plant 3D, enabling
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
augi.com/augiworld
Civil 3D •
Allowing selective syncing (“always keep on this device”) or freeing up local space, as needed for large projects.
Desktop Connector is essential for using Civil 3D with ACC or BIM Collaborate Pro, as it is the mechanism that ensures CAD data, models, and dependencies are available and up to date in the cloud environment.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES FOR MANAGING XREFS AND DATA SHORTCUTS IN ACC PROJECTS? Using XREFs and data shortcuts in ACC works best when you keep everything under a consistent cloud folder structure, use relative paths, and apply a clear rule for when to XREF versus DREF. This preserves references for all users, avoids broken links, and keeps Civil 3D projects performing well. When to use XREFs vs data shortcuts •
Use XREFs for drafting context (base plans, backgrounds, annotation sheets) where you mainly need graphics, not object-level Civil 3D data.
•
Use data shortcuts (DREFs) for model coordination of Civil 3D objects such as surfaces, alignments, corridors, and pipe networks where you need styles, analysis, and dynamic updates across drawings.
Folder structure and working folders in ACC •
In ACC/Docs, define a stable civil “model” and “sheet” structure (for example, /Design/Models and /Design/Sheets) and keep all XREFs, sources, and DREF projects under that same project tree.
•
In Civil 3D, set the data shortcut working folder to the matching Autodesk Docs folder via the Desktop Connector drive and keep one data shortcut project per job or clearly separated subproject.
Best practices for XREFs in ACC •
Always attach XREFs from the Autodesk Docs (ACC) drive and use relative paths so references remain valid for all users and machines.
•
Limit nested XREF depth, avoid circular references, and keep large backgrounds in a few well-managed base files to improve performance over cloud connections.
augi.com
Best practices for data shortcuts in ACC •
Create and manage shortcuts from Prospector exactly as on a local project but ensure the shortcut project lives entirely in Autodesk Docs and avoid renaming or moving its folders once in use.
•
Edit design objects only in their source drawings, not in the consuming drawings, and use Validate Data Shortcuts to repair or re-path broken references after migrations or folder changes.
Managing changes and multi-team workflows •
Plan which team “owns” each model file (e.g., survey surfaces, roadway corridors, utilities) and document the intended DREF/XREF flow so multiple offices do not duplicate or overwrite sources.
•
For ACC design collaboration, use shared “packages” or coordination spaces to publish stable versions; downstream teams then update their XREFs and DREFs by consuming these new versions instead of pointing at ad-hoc work-in-progress files.
I was hesitant for the first couple years Autodesk was pushing ACC for Civil 3D, but in the past 6 months I’ve had some very successful implementations and feel like all the trends I’m seeing continue to push more and more companies to adopt these workflows. Now there’s always some “gotchyas” when it comes to cutting over existing projects, or dumping major amounts of data at a time, but those can be easily handled with the proper workflows. We’ll address that another time!
Shawn has been a part of the design engineering community for roughly 20 years in all aspects of design, construction and software implementations. He has implemented and trained companies across the Country on Civil 3D and other infrastructure tools and their best practice workflows. Shawn can be reached for comments or questions at sherring@ prosoftnet.com. November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
27
Corporate Acquisitions
by: Mark Behrens
Corporate Acquisitions: Expectations Versus Reality
C
orporate acquisitions are a common occurrence in the modern business world. One company acquires another, merging into a stronger, more viable organization. This newly formed company will be poised to improve its corporate brand and increase marketing opportunities in new directions.
In this article, I will describe my experience as an acquired employee. A note of clarification, however. Each corporation is unique, and therefore, the processes and experiences of those involved will be based on the individual organizations involved.
The process, on the surface, is straightforward. A merging of acquired assets and personnel with those of the acquiring company, integrating technologies and personnel to best position the new organization for forward growth and better market position. As one who has been through this with a previous employer, I have been told of the corporate goals and execution plans, as well as seen the realities of what truly happens as an employee of the acquired company.
28
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
augi.com/augiworld
Corporate Acquisitions The initial plan for the new merger is typically presented to the acquirees as positive and beneficial to everyone involved, with many benefits for all the invested parties. There are, however, many factors that can affect the result of a corporate buyout. Everything from the culture and management style of the acquiree and the acquiring organization being different, to the preparatory work done before the buyout. Let’s first study the potential effect of different corporate cultures between the two parties involved. Very often, the acquiree organization has been in business for many years as a privately owned company. There is a culture developed with this, which values strong communication between people and a sense of camaraderie among employees. This “family environment” will foster many strong relationships between people, as well as create a close-knit business environment. The result was a self-sustained organization, able to manage and profit without external support.
augi.com
When the acquiring organization begins the integration of a new organization, things will typically become very different. The acquiring organization is usually larger, with a pre-established process for such activity. Understanding that, people as a rule do not like change, this will inevitably lead to mistrust and anxiety among the acquired employees. A well-developed onboarding policy with clear and well-defined goals and processes presented to the incoming personnel will ease this to a degree. The core culture differences between the organizations involved, however, are another issue that must not be overlooked or minimized. Instead of having an easily accessible, close-knit core group of people to rely on, now there is an off-site group to handle the daily tasks. This change has a major impact on daily life for the acquired employee. What took an hour in the past now takes three days due to corporate procedures. Having experienced this frustrating change, I can attest to the demoralizing results.
November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
29
Corporate Acquisitions Those who are not happy about delays (especially due to “unnecessary” procedures) will have less drive and interest in daily activities. This leads to many issues at a core level within the organization. There are solid reasons the acquiring organization has procedures and policies in place, which will not be seen as justified to a newly acquired employee. This situation, however frustrating for an employee, is the new normal. Another potential aspect of corporate acquisitions falls solely on the initiator of the acquisition. When there is no pre-established policy or well-defined process within the acquiring organization, the result is completely unpredictable. Having seen this firsthand, I can attest to the chaos that will result. When we were bought out, we did not know how well-organized the acquiring organization was. It was expected that there would be a solid plan in place, with clear directions as to the people and their responsibilities, which we would now need to work with. The reality was very different. There was no clear process in many areas. This was possibly a symptom of moving too quickly with new
30 AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
acquisitions or simply not having a protocol set up. Either way, onboarding to the new organization was confusing, and daily activities became cumbersome. As new employees, we had to be set up in the new organization. The lack of established procedures created timing issues and bottlenecks, which we were not prepared for. Basic daily activities started to become problematic, and many tasks were now unable to be handled. As time went on, things got better, and there were changes to protocols. I realize that there will be issues with any acquisition; however, these issues can be mitigated with judicious planning and forethought. My takeaways on the corporate buyout process. Having been on the acquiree end of things, I would offer the following thoughts, based on reality vs expectations. Expectations: •
Large corporation making the acquisition = wellorganized and established plan
augi.com/augiworld
Corporate Acquisitions
•
Previous experience with acquisitions = smooth process
•
Value given to the existing corporate culture of the acquiree organization
•
Prompt response to common new acquiree (personnel level) questions
Realities: •
Large corporations will target a goal of completing an acquisition quickly, over having a smooth process, which could be less efficient
•
However large the acquiring organization or its experience, the process will not be smooth. Many variables and potential internal issues will occur.
•
Existing corporate culture and personnel within the acquiree organization are of minimal concern. The focus will be on completing corporate-level tasks.
•
Personnel-level concerns will be a low priority compared to decisions that affect corporate ROI.
Final thoughts: Corporate acquisitions will be a part of the business world for years to come. They are not a bad thing. Often, it is the only way a business can survive augi.com
in today’s environment. If your organization is acquired by another company, keep an open mind and realize where the focus of the process will be. The acquiring organization is looking at the industry value being brought to the table. Other concerns will be addressed as time and protocol allow. I have had to learn to accept that the process is not user-friendly and often frustrating and roll with the changes. My current employer designs Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV’s) and test machines. I have worked with AutoCAD software for forty years, starting on version 1.4. Having been with my current employer for almost sixteen years and CAD manager by necessity for at least ten, I have seen their culture change many times in attempts to improve processes and become more efficient. CAD standards have become a high-profile topic recently. I am excited to share my process of implementing a user-friendly system of CAD standards with others. November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
31
BricsCAD
by: Samuel Macalister
BricsCAD® and OpenBIM:
Lessons on IFC for Better Project Coordination
I
n 2004, I found myself in London working on a large BIM project for a well-known university. The project was an ambitious, cutting-edge Medical Research Laboratory designed not just for today’s needs but with the vision of becoming a digital twin for facilities maintenance. Back then, BIM was still in its infancy. Standards were evolving, and the idea of a fully integrated digital workflow was more aspiration than reality. The biggest hurdle? Interoperability. Our team was a mix of architects, engineers, and specialists, each using different software platforms. To collaborate, we turned to IFC, the Industry Foundation Classes standard. It was supposed to be the universal language of BIM, bridging the gaps between tools. But as we soon discovered, theory and practice were worlds apart.
CHALLENGE 1: GEOMETRY LOSS When we exported models to IFC, complex geometry—like curved geometry and intricate façade details- it often came through distorted or missing. What looked perfect on one platform 32
AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
became a puzzle in another. Hours were spent troubleshooting broken solids and patching gaps.
CHALLENGE 2: PROPERTY CHAOS IFC promised rich data exchange, but property sets were inconsistent. Parameters carefully defined in one system vanished in translation. Schedules broke, and critical information for MEP systems had to be manually re-entered. It was a stark reminder that interoperability is not just about geometry; it is about data integrity.
CHALLENGE 3: COORDINATION CHALLENGES Even though base points had been agreed on and checked, when IFC files were shared and referenced, they did not align correctly. Models appeared offset or rotated, creating confusion and delays. This misalignment meant extra coordination meetings and manual adjustments—timeconsuming tasks that undermined the promise of seamless collaboration.
augi.com/augiworld
BricsCAD Fortunately, BricsCAD® BIM, known for its flexibility and affordability, is stepping up to meet these new demands.
WHAT’S NEW IN IFC 4.3 IFC 4.3 introduces significant enhancements over previous versions: (See More: https://standards. buildingsmart.org/IFC/RELEASE/IFC4_3/) •
Infrastructure Support: Expanded schema for roads, bridges, tunnels, railways, and ports. (See Fig. 1)
Figure 1
•
Improved Geometry Handling: More efficient meshes, parametric support, and better texture and lighting definitions.
•
Model View Definitions (MVDs): Includes Reference View, Alignment-Based Reference View, and Design Transfer View for varying levels of detail and collaboration.
•
Enhanced MEP Modeling: Better representation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for complex projects.
BRICSCAD BIM AND IFC INTEROPERABILITY BricsCAD BIM has long supported IFC2x3 and IFC4 for import and export, merging property namespaces for seamless workflows. (See Fig. 2) With V25.2, BricsCAD achieved IFC4 certification for Reference View and Design Transfer View, ensuring compliance for building projects.
Figure 2 augi.com
November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
33
BricsCAD
Figure 3
Figure 3B Figure 3A
What IFC4 Certification Means for BricsCAD® BIM V25.2 Users - Read more about it in the Bricsys Blog While IFC 4.3 export is currently available in experimental mode, it provides a pathway for infrastructure-focused projects, even though certification for IFC 4.3 is still pending across the industry. 34 AUGIWORLD Magazine | November 2025
Key features include: •
Certified IFC4 Outputs: Reliable data exchange for federated models.
•
Custom Property Sets: Ability to export user-defined property sets alongside standard IFC properties.
augi.com/augiworld
BricsCAD •
Simplified Project Setup: Spatial location manager and project browser ensure compliance with naming conventions and hierarchy.
WHY IFC MATTERS Infrastructure projects often span decades, requiring robust, future-proof data exchange. IFC 4.3 addresses long-standing challenges in civil engineering, such as: •
Accurate alignment-based geometry for roads and railways.
•
Consistent coordinate systems to reduce rounding errors in large-scale models.
•
Open data exchange for multi-disciplinary collaboration.
CHALLENGES AND CONSIDERATIONS Despite its promise, IFC 4.3 adoption faces hurdles: •
Certification Lag: No software is fully certified for IFC 4.3 yet, meaning interoperability may vary.
•
Data Integrity Risks: Experimental implementations can lead to inconsistencies in geometry and properties.
•
Workflow Adjustments: Teams must align on which MVD to use for their project stage.
BEST PRACTICES FOR BRICSCAD USERS •
Stick to Certified Outputs: Use IFC4 Reference View for compliance unless IFC 4.3 is explicitly required.
•
Validate Data: Employ tools like Solibri or BIMcollab for clash detection and property checks.
•
Export Backups: Always keep an IFC copy of your project for long-term accessibility.
•
Monitor Updates: Bricsys is actively developing IFC 4.3 support— Click here to stay tuned for certification news.
augi.com
CONCLUSION BricsCAD BIM’s IFC capabilities empower users to participate in openBIM workflows without breaking the bank. While IFC 4.3 is still in its early adoption phase, BricsCAD’s V26 IFC supports it as a forward-thinking solution for infrastructure projects. (Click here to watch the V26 IFC Breakout Session) For AEC professionals, understanding these developments is key to staying competitive in an increasingly collaborative industry. BricsCAD BIM combines affordability with robust functionality, minimizing geometry loss, preserving property data, and ensuring alignment, making openBIM practical and accessible.
MORE ABOUT BRICSCAD® BricsCAD® is the true CAD alternative. We are the 2D and 3D CAD alternative that helps you switch smoothly, excel in the detail, and realize better value f rom day one. Download the f ree, 30-day trial of BricsCAD. Would you like f ree lessons? We have that available at BricsCAD Learning. Ready to migrate to BricsCAD? Download the f ree Migration Guide. Follow us today on LinkedIn and YouTube.
Samuel Macalister is a Senior Solution Consultant at BricsCAD. Currently, Samuel provides migration and implementation guidance and technical assistance to companies that need an alternative, compatible CAD solution. Samuel spent 10 years in the Architecture Building Industry and 14 years in AEC technical solutions, supporting various AEC professionals with adopting BIM, Construction, and Cloud Collaboration platforms. Samuel has taught at several Universities, spoken at global events, and is a Certified Autodesk® Revit Professional. November 2025 | AUGIWORLD Magazine
35
AUGIWorld brings you recent developments in Autodesk and related software items