The CADDle Call

Hosted by ZenTek Consultants

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Episodes

243

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Computer-Aided Design & Drafting meets humor and practicality, with a touch of business acumen thrown in for fun. Jim and Rocco, owners of ZenTek Consultants, the premiere U.S. technology consulting firm for the architecture, engineering, construction, and manufacturing industries discuss the fascinating world of CADD with some humor and honesty. Join them, and their industry-expert guests for CADD- focused tech and biz discussions. Learn more at https://zentekconsultants.net/. Warm Duck Shuffle by arnebhus | https://soundcloud.com/arnebhus

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60 recent

August 12, 2026Episode 1146 min

Inside Bluebeam: Bluebeam Max, AI Tools & What's Next

Bluebeam powers over 85% of construction firms in North America, and it's grown into far more than a PDF markup tool. In this episode of The CADDle Call podcast, we sit down with Jeff Hoagland, Senior Account Manager at Bluebeam, to unpack where the platform is headed under parent company Nemetschek. We cover Bluebeam's expanding partner ecosystem, including integrations with GoCanvas and SiteDocs, and what these acquisitions mean for everyday users. Then we dig into Bluebeam Max , the premium AI-powered subscription tier now live for all Bluebeam customers. Jeff breaks down what Max brings to the table, including: Revu + Claude AI integration for natural-language prompts that turn markup data into actionable insights Smart Overlay & Smart Review for instant cross-discipline comparison and early issue detection Magic Markups (Convert To, Duplicate As, Offset) for CAD-level markup speed Stitching , which combines multiple drawing sheets into one navigable view for large-scale projects Task Link , connecting Revu markups directly to field tasks in GoCanvas Whether you're a longtime Revu power user or just starting to explore what Bluebeam can do beyond PDFs, this episode gives you the roadmap for what's next, and why now's the time to look at making the move to Max. Tune in for the full conversation on AI, integrations, and the future of connected construction tech. Intrigued by how Bluebeam Max can speed up your workflow? Try it out for free at http://www.bluebeam.com/trial/zentek.

July 29, 2026Episode 1025 min

How the New Housing Affordability Act Will Impact Construction Firms

The new Housing Affordability Act could reshape residential construction. In this episode of The CADDle Call podcast, we break down what eased permitting, loosened environmental review, and new manufactured-housing baselines mean for builders on the ground. We'll also touch on how limits on corporate home-buying could shift demand back toward new construction. With a 7-million-home shortage and prices up 54% since 2020, this bill directly affects project pipelines, regulatory timelines, and where the next building boom happens. If you work in residential design or build, this is the legislation to understand.

July 15, 2026Episode 932 min

Practical AI for Design

Todd Rogers, Senior Associate at Walter P. Moore, returns to The CADDle Call to cut through the AI hype and talk real-world use in civil design. We dig into how AI tools handle the constant variability of civil projects, where trust levels differ between architecture and civil teams, and what's actually working for automating tasks like surface cleanup, QTO, and point cloud classification. We also cover the Autodesk Assistant rollout, how other AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude are being tested at Walter P. Moore, and where AI stands on design analysis and code compliance checks. A grounded, practical conversation for anyone evaluating AI in the AEC space.

June 17, 2026Episode 846 min

Procore and AI

Procore's Field COO Kris Lengieza joins The CADDle Call to talk about how AI is actually changing construction work right now, not someday. We cover the new Procore AI agent builder, why field workers have been left out of most tech rollouts, and how firms are running more projects without adding headcount. We also address the fear of losing institutional knowledge to AI and what separates the construction companies pulling ahead from everyone else.

May 20, 2026Episode 736 min

What's New in Civil 3D 2027?

In this episode of The CADDle Call Podcast, we sit down with Tim Yarris - Senior Product Manager for Civil 3D at Autodesk - to break down everything you need to know about the 2027 release. From AI-powered design tools to brand-new civil engineering features, Tim walks us through what his team has built to make your workflow faster and smarter. We dig into Autodesk's exciting Technology Previews, including the daylight feature line and the AI-enabled Autodesk Assistant, and discuss what "Technology Preview" actually means for everyday users. We also explore how Autodesk is thoughtfully integrating AI directly into design products, productivity upgrades across the AEC Collection, and what's new in AutoCAD 2027. Whether you're a Civil 3D power user, an AEC professional, or just curious about where Autodesk is headed, this episode is packed with insight straight from the source.

May 6, 2026Episode 635 min

Autodesk ReCap Pro 2027: Game-Changing Features You Need to Know

In this episode of the CADDle Call Podcast, we sit down with Ramesh Sridharan - Director of Reality Solutions for ABI at Autodesk - to break down everything new in Autodesk ReCap Pro 2027. We explore how reality capture is evolving in the AEC industry and what the latest ReCap release means for professionals working in BIM, construction, and civil design workflows. Whether you're a contractor, engineer, designer, or BIM manager, this episode will help you understand how to leverage reality capture tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration. If you're looking to stay ahead in construction technology, digital twins, and laser scanning workflows—this is a must-listen.

April 22, 2026Episode 531 min

Construction Site Safety with SiteDocs

Construction sites are among the most demanding and dangerous work environments on the planet and keeping everyone safe takes more than good intentions. In this episode of the CADDle Call podcast, we sit down with Adrian Salcedo, a member of the Safety Committee for the Associated Builders and Contractors of New Jersey, to talk all things construction site safety. We'll dig into why safety documentation matters far beyond regulatory compliance, and how software tools like SiteDocs are helping both field crews and office staff streamline the process without slowing down the work. From ease of use in the field to customization across wildly different project types, Adrian brings real-world experience and practical insight to the conversation. Whether you're managing a rural highway project or a high-rise in the middle of a major city, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on how the right systems, combined with solid training and smart planning, can make every job site safer for everyone on it.

March 25, 2026Episode 446 min

Geotechnical Workflows in Civil 3D & ArcGIS

Geotechnical and subsurface work has long been one of the most challenging areas for civil engineers working in tools like Civil 3D, but that's changing fast. In this episode of the CADDle Call podcast, we talk with Michael Davidson from Esri and Devrez Karabacak, head of the GeoDin product team, to explore how these platforms are making underground data management and subsurface analysis more accessible for design professionals. Together, they cover how ArcGIS and GeoDin connect with Civil 3D to help engineers tackle the underground challenges that so often blow up budgets when reality hits in the field - including the core features of both platforms, real-world workflow integration, and where civil-GIS collaboration is headed next. Whether you're a site designer, survey professional, or civil engineer curious about geotechnical workflows, this episode gives you a practical look at the tools reshaping how the industry handles what's beneath the surface.

February 25, 2026Episode 333 min

AUGI in 2026: Growth, Community & Innovation in AEC

In this episode of the CADDle Call Podcast, Eric DeLeon, President of AUGI, shares what’s new for 2026 - including updates to the AUGI community, AUGIWORLD magazine, the podcast, and AUGI CON. If you’re in the AEC industry this is your inside look at where the industry’s leading user community is headed next.

February 10, 2026Episode 222 min

AEC Tech Resources That Actually Help

In this episode of The CADDle Call Podcast, Jim and Rocco break down the free construction and AEC technology resources ZenTek Consultants has built to help firms work smarter, not harder. They explore ZenTek’s Resource Center, industry blog, software tips & tricks, training events, and extensive YouTube library, all designed to help construction, engineering, and design-build teams improve workflows without adding more software or cost. If you’re looking to strengthen CAD management, estimating, project management, or overall construction technology adoption, this episode highlights where to find practical, real-world guidance that supports better decision-making and long-term growth. Perfect for owners, executives, and operations leaders in construction and AEC firms who want clarity, efficiency, and better use of the tools they already have. Check out all the Resources at https://zentekconsultants.net/ and click on "Resource Center".