To More You Know: Don't forget the FREE Stuff!!!

Autodesk Labs

http://labs.autodesk.com/

Autodesk Labs provides free technology they are currently testing, not to be mistaken for beta testing.  They are relevant tools to the industry, and they look for feedback from clients to verify whether or not the tools would be good for to put out or add to existing software products, like Revit.  Project Vasari and Photofly both are on the site, and functionality from Project Vasari have been added to the Revit platform because of feedback and excitement.  

Autodesk Seek

http://seek.autodesk.com/

Autodesk Seek was created to share Manufacturer specific content created in Revit to the AEC community.  Free to the AEC community, many clients have benefit from using the Revit Families up on this site.  Each Revit platform has a direct link to Autodesk Seek.  There are guidelines and technical requirements for Manufacturers.

Green Building Studio

https://gbs.autodesk.com

Green Building Studio is a web-based program that comes free for clients on subscription using any of the Revit platforms or Ecotect (there may be others, but those are the ones I am familiar with). 

More information on: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?id=11179508&siteID=123112

This program is a whole building analysis software that assists in qualification for LEED 8.1 Daylighting credit, water usage and cost, Energy Star scoring, natural ventilation potential, carbon emission reporting and more. 

Revit Extensions

https://subscription.autodesk.com

All three Revit platforms have extensions available.  I find those for Revit Structure to have the most extensions that will provide an immense amount of efficiency for the client.  The Reinforcement Extension alone will help any client looking to model the rebar in more than one element at a time.  The Wood Framing extension (also beneficial for Revit Architecture), Freeze View extension, and many more are fantastic!

Engineers Can Save Time Using Green Building Studio (GBS)

The Green Building XML schema, better known as "gbXML", was developed by Green Building Studio, Inc. back in 1999.  The first version of the gbXML schema was published in June of 2000...since then, it has been integrated into a range of CAD and engineering tools to facilitate the transfer of information.  


Mechanical engineers may use several different applications for their heating and cooling load analysis, energy analysis, code review, etc.  Manually entering in the information about a building, especially since the building design will change quite frequently, can be extremely time consuming.  There are two ways to save time, reducing the time it takes to manually enter in data:


1) If the architect is using Revit Architecture, they can export their model as a gbXML file.  If the engineer does not want to yet import the architect's model into Revit MEP and begin their project, they can request the gbXML file from the architect.  If the engineers are on subscription with Revit MEP, they have the ability to bring this file into Green Building Studio (GBS) then use it to export the model information to several of their analysis programs, including Trane Trace 700, eQuest and EnergyPlus.


2) If the analysis is done after the engineer creates his model by linking in the architect's Revit Architecture model, he can himself export his model as a gbXML file and bring it into Trane Trace directly.  However, to bring the model into eQuest or EnergyPlus, the engineer must still bring the gbXML file into GBS.


Revit Architecture does not have as much information embedded in their Rooms as Revit MEP has embedded in their Spaces, as seen in the images below:


Revit Architecture Room Information

Revit MEP Space Information

When a gbXML file is imported into GBS, the program will identify additional information based on the location of the project.  When exported from Revit Architecture, more information is defined through GBS because of the lack of information in the Rooms, versus Space information brought in from Revit MEP, as shown in the images above.

When the engineer is ready, select the Export and Download Data Files Tab:

This will bring the engineer to the location where the types of files to be exported can be selected. 

Notice this includes the gbXML file to use when the original file was brought in from Revit Architecutre, as well as the option to create a DOE-2 file for eQuest and the EnergyPlus file type.

Whether you chose to utilize any of the tools in Green Building Studio itself or not, the program can lend a hand in bridging the gap between Revit and analysis tools you already use.  If you have any architectural models created in Revit Architecture and have already completed, or are close to completing the project, test the workflow of using GBS.  Compare the results you obtained through manual data entry with the results of the digital interoperability...you may be surprised!
Need more information?  Check out Getting Started with Green Building Studio Web Service.