TTF: Beach Reads
July 24, 2025
This weekly email is my curated selection of interesting and useful topics related to BIM, design, and technology. I aim to provide you with some good information and a few laughs along the way. What did I find interesting this week? Read down to find out!
Greetings from vacation! I'm currently typing this from a beach chair in Martha's Vineyard. Despite the sun and the surf, I'm still thinking about Revit automation (I might need help)! But hey, at least I'm reading about AI and technology trends with sand between my toes! Speaking of automation, I'm excited to remind you that my Launchpad Ignite challenge kicks off Monday β perfect timing for those of you who want to learn how to code your first Revit tool while I'm still recovering from a wicked sunburn. Here are five things to check out this week.
#1: Code Your First Revit Automation Tool in 5 Days (Launchpad Ignite)
Ready to discover you CAN code? My free 5-day challenge starts Monday, July 28. Each day, you'll spend just 10-15 minutes building a real automation tool using C# and the Revit API β no previous coding experience required! Using Launchpad Lite (free), everything happens right inside Revit with zero setup hassles. By Friday, you'll have transformed a tedious manual task into an automated solution. If you've been curious about coding but thought it was too complex, this is your chance to prove yourself wrong.
Click here to register for the free challenge at ArchSmarter
#2: The 6 Technological Forces Shaping AEC's Future
While everyone's talking about AI, Paul Wintour from Parametric Monkey takes a much deeper dive into the technological forces already transforming our industry. Drawing from Kevin Kelly's "The Inevitable," this thought-provoking piece explores six key forces of technology and change. It's a long read, but absolutely worth your time β especially the part about how we'll all be "endless newbies" trying to keep up with tech changes.
Click here to read the full article at Parametric Monkey
#3: Unlocking Granular Project Data
Autodesk makes a compelling case for why we need to stop thinking about files and start thinking about data. Here's the jaw-dropping stat: 96% of construction data goes unused, trapped in bloated files that take forever to open. Their solution? Break free from file-based workflows and give everyone access to object-level data. This isn't just about making files smaller β it's about fundamentally changing how information flows through projects.
Click here to read the full article at Autodesk Blog
#4: The Seven Ways AI Can Impact Construction
A new report from the Get It Right Initiative (GIRI) examines how AI can help reduce errors across the construction lifecycle. In the report, the Initiative identified seven key areas where AI could make a real difference. What I appreciate most is their balanced approach β they're not just cheerleading for AI, but also highlighting where it could introduce new risks. Essential reading for anyone trying to separate AI hype from reality.
Click here to read the full article at Construction Management
#5: No One Knows Anything About AI
Speaking of AI, Cal Newport brings some much-needed perspective to the AI discussion with this excellent piece examining contradictory narratives about AI's impact on programming. On one hand, we have CEOs claiming AI tools cut development time from days to hours; on the other, controlled studies show AI makes developers 19% slower. Newport's conclusion? We don't know anything about AI's impacts, but that isn't stopping everyone from pretending we do. Refreshing honesty in a sea of hype!
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