Automate repetitive tasks, render 2D
and 3D models in a web browser, generate reports on consumption, usage and
contract details, and convert images into high-res meshes, point clouds and
orthophotos. It all sounds a little dreamy, doesn’t it? Perhaps a little out of
reach?
We’re here to tell you all this may be
in your work space sooner than you think. In fact, it’s already at your
fingertips! Cue Forge, a relatively new tool from Autodesk, providing us with a
way to unlock the powerful functionality in Autodesk’s products. It’s designed
in a way that allows you to pick and manipulate a variety of tools Autodesk has
provided, to bring to life your imagination in ways never before possible. All
this is created through using a set of API’s and services handled by a platform
intuitively called Forge. But before we start casually throwing around sophisticated
acronyms like API and SDK, let’s take a minute to understand some of the
foundational (and admittedly less exciting) things about Forge.
What on earth is an API? API stands
for Application Programming Interface (in English please!). Basically, an API
is the middleman that allows two applications to talk to each other. Think of
this example: You’d like to invest money into the stock market. You need a way
to buy stock but can’t quite do it yourself. This is where you’ll need an API,
or in this case, a broker. The Broker will communicate with you, and then
process the order in your behalf to the provider (stock market), and will then
communicate back to you that you have indeed invested money into the market.
SDK is
another term you may come across on your journey with Forge, so let’s find out
more about this one too. An SDK is a Software Development Kit. They are a set
of tools that allow the creation of applications for specific hardware or
software (the key words here being specific hardware or software). Essentially,
it provides developers a good foundation and healthy parameters to work with
predetermined hardware or software, therefore speeding up the development
process by getting rid of much of the back-end compatibility work.
Now for some
real-life application, shall we?
Forge, as it sits, gives you access to nine (9) API’s and services namely:
Forge, as it sits, gives you access to nine (9) API’s and services namely:
-Authentication:
Generate tokens based on the OAuth 2.0 standard to
authenticate requests made to Forge APIs and SDKs.
-BIM 360: Integrate
with the Autodesk BIM 360 platform to extend its capabilities to reach segments
of the construction ecosystem that don’t have direct access to BIM data.
-Data
Management: Access data across BIM 360 team, Fusion Team, BIM 360 Docs,
and the Object Storage Service to build apps to display and extend your data in
ways that add value to your users.
-Design
Automation: Automate repetitive tasks by leveraging on the scale of the
Forge Platform and running scripts on your design files in the cloud.
-Model
Derivative: Derive outputs viewable by the Forge Viewer from more than 60
CAD file formats, and extract metadata about the models as well as the
individual objects within the model.
-Reality
Capture: Convert digital images into high resolution textured meshes,
dense point clouds and orthophotos.
-Token Flex:
Access Autodesk Token Flex Usage Data platform to generate
reports on consumption, usage, and contract details.
-Viewer: Render
3D and 2D model data within a browser. The models can come from a wide range of
applications such as AutoCAD, Fusion 360, Revit, and many more.
-Webhooks: Subscribe
to and receive notifications of the occurrence of events within the Forge ecosystem.
Viewing a 3D model with
associated data in a web browser
The idea of
these API’s is that it gives the user direct access to these specific tools and
services to either compliment existing software and fill in where they may be
lacking, or these may be used in software and hardware yet to be developed.
While we
won’t go into too much detail on the use of each of these (at least not here),
you may find it worthwhile to know that each of these tools allow you to
integrate Autodesk products into your daily workflows, streamline and
collaborate your efforts, embed many Autodesk components into your own mobile
or web-based applications, and quite effectively forge your way to a better
future.
If taken
advantage of, Forge can make all the difference in the way you interact with
Autodesk. It can make all the difference in avoiding mistakes, keeping all parties
involved informed, saving both time and money, and keeping you on the cutting
of Autodesk software. Forge can become the driving force and inspiration for
the latest features and products of Autodesk itself.
Stick with
us as we continue to discover Forge, and learn more in detail as to how it
works and why we should be using it!
Let’s Forge
the future together!
-Ethyn Roux
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