Chicago Presentation: BIM, COBie and IFC

In Chicago, the BIM/IPD Group is making big strides promoting Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). Come show you interest and support this month!

"Designing Building Information Models for Building Owners"

Kristine Fallon Associates, Inc. (www.kfa-inc.com) will present a major research project on structuring Building Information Models (BIM) correctly to produce both Construction-Operations Building information exchange (COBie) and IFC Facility Management model view outputs.

Building owners are driving adoption of BIM that delivers on the promise of seamless data transfer from design through construction to operations and maintenance. However, this is technically difficult to achieve.

The US Army Corps of Engineers funded KFA's research to provide deeper insight into the possibilities, pitfalls and technology issues.

KFA will also share insights into GSA's recently published BIM Guide for Facility Management.

Advanced Solutions, Inc. (www.advsolinc.com) is sponsoring food and beverages for the event on Thursday, February23th starting at 5:30 pm at AIA Chicago's Board Room, 35 East Wacker.(www.aiachicago.org). The event is organized by the Chicago BIM/IPD Group at www.LinkedIn.com

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!

The More You Know: BIMAssist for Revit

Many people are familiar with the extensions for Revit from Autodesk.  For Revit Architecture, Revit MEP and Revit Structure, they have been available since June 20, 2011.  If you have not downloaded them already, I hightly recommend you do, as many of them will help you considerably. 

In additon to the extensions for Revit from Autodesk, several channel partners have also created add on tools.  Advanced Solutions has the BIMAssist Tools, available FREE to our Revit Subscription clients.  The utilities include the following:

• Case Update
• Door Mark Manger
• Fire Rating Coordinator
• Match Instance Parameters Feeatures
• Note Block Creator
• Room Phase Replicator
• Room Renumber
• Room Surface Parameter Extractor
• Sheet Number Update
• Space Synchronizer
• Text Find and Replace Features

There is a short video for each utility, or you can find them on our YouTube site.  In August, we will have two webcasts during which ASI Application Engineer Brenda Thomas will demonstrate each of the twelve productivity enhancing utilities of BIMAssist™ for Revit®.

Optimize Your Productivity with BIMAssist for Revit on Tuesday, August 2, 2011

or

Optimize Your Productivity with BIMAssist for Revit on Wednesday, August 10, 2011

About Advanced Solutions, Inc.

Advanced Solutions, Inc. is an award-winning Autodesk Gold Partner in Manufacturing, Architecture, Engineering and Construction, Authorized Autodesk Training Center (ATC) and Authorized Autodesk Consulting Services Partner (CSP). For more than 24 years, the company has focused its business model on helping customers realize industry-leading return on investment with their 2D and 3D design software. Beyond the box of software, Advanced Solutions helps customers gain a competitive advantage through innovative design software work flows, enabling customers to realize higher revenues and improving their operational efficiency. For additional information about Advanced Solutions, Inc., please visit our website at www.AdvancedSolutions.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Civil 3D and ATC are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

eTransmit is Now Available on Autodesk Labs!

As some of you are familiar, Autodesk Labs is a free website Autodesk created to explore and develop technology for you, the user of Autodesk software: http://labs.autodesk.com/

Recently, they have made eTransmit for Revit available, allowing you to:

1) Copy and detach a Revit model and associated files to a single folder for internet transmission. T

2) Locate dependent files automatically and include them in the transmittal folder, reducing the possibility of error.

3) Choose to include related dependent files such as linked Revit models, CAD files, DWF markups, decal images, and external keynote files.

4) Transmit models that are using file-based worksharing or server-based worksharing.

Learn more at: http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/revit_etransmit/

Remember, this technology preview will only be available until December 31, 2011! 

Revit Structure 2012 Visual Improvements: Analytical model

Many improvements have been made to Revit Structure 2012, including the visual enhancements of the analytical model.  Although it continues to be built at the same time as the physical representation of the model is being created, now, the analytical model can be viewed separated.

We now have an added command in the View Control bar, a visibility specifically the analytical model:

This will now only show the analytical mode without having to use the Visibility/Graphics dialog.  Also, the analytical flooring will now highlight the whole face of the element, instead of just the outline of the element:

However, you CAN go into the Visibility/Graphics dialog box and find a new tab for the Analytical model!

Work more efficiently with the analytical prtion of the Revit Structure model! 

Learn about the Basics of Revit Parameters

Written by David Kaldy

There are 3 main types of Parameters as well as 3 subtypes, or ways the main Parameters are executed within a Project or Family.

The 3 main Parameter types are:

1.    Family Parameters – Non schedulable, and do not appear in tags or schedules. These are typically used as visibility Parameters, as well as dimensional values that do not need to be scheduled.

2.    Shared Parameter – Established from a Shared Parameter file, are associated only within the Families that utilize the Shared Parameter (unless the same Shared Parameter is also added as a Project Parameter), and can be viewed in schedules and tags.

3.    Project Parameters – Established within a Project, which add Parameters to entire object categories and can be used in schedules, but cannot be used in tags. Project Parameters can be generated from Shared Parameters and cannot be added to Families.

The 3 subtypes, all of which can be made from any of the 3 main Parameter types:

1.    Type – Appear in the Type Properties palette of elements and apply to all Instances of an element within a Project.

2.    Instance – Appear in the Properties palette and apply to only currently selected elements in a Project.

3.    Reporting (Instance) - Used to reference and display measurements within Families. Note: Can only be added in the Family Editor. These can be set up as Family or Shared Parameters.

A couple of notes about Shared Parameters:

-The Shared Parameter file can be created within a Project or a Family.

-Ensure the use of one Shared Parameter file. This helps with reducing duplicated Shared Parameters with the same name. If there are duplicate Shared Parameters (which can also occur from making a new Shared Parameter file every time a Shared Parameter is needed) then this can potentially cause duplicate Parameter fields to show up in schedules, and tags may not function correctly.

-Some Manufacturers add Shared Parameters to their content. It is best practice to swap out these Shared Parameters with Shared Parameters that you made in your Shared Parameter file, prior to loading that Family into a Project.

Revit Architecture Suite 2012 Upgrade: Feedback from a Client

I wanted to forward my thoughts so-as to help others going forward with Revit Architecture Suite 2012.

My thanks to NVIDA, PNY, Newegg, Microsoft, Apple, and Autodesk for I tried their patience as they worked with me through various issues required for this year's upgrade.

 

Original Specifications:

• Apple Mac Pro 3.1 2-2.8ghz XENON E5462 - 6gig RAM - 8800gt video
  
• 2 hd's - 1T mac o.s. 10.5.7, 2T Vista 64 bit SP2
  
• Revit Arch Suite 2011 with files to 100meg in size
  

 

Suggestions:

• Use Autodesk website for correct video drivers (makes a huge difference)
  
• Once files are over 100 meg in size, forget it - also renderings only to 300dpi max and file size to 2meg
  
• Get use to system crashes due to known video card issues - so save often!
  
• It will take a long time to open Revit and update files from previous versions
  
• Big Tip:
  Place all of your content on a separate HD and load Families as you need them. Once you have finished your model, purge content for it will save you ALOT of time rendering
  
• Do not even try to load Autodesk 2012 anything with these specifications - it isn't anywhere, anything close to a productive environment. RAM is the biggest thing the 8gig listed as a minimum has to be a mistake - try 16gig or better
  

 

New Specifications:

• Same Mac Pro 3.1 2-2.8ghz xenon E5462
  
• Upgrade to 24 gig ram - PNY Quatro 4000 video
  
• Upgrade to Windows 7 64-bit
  
• Upgrade Revit Architecture Suite 2012
  

 

Note: Bootcamp needs Vista to 7 utility and PNY Quatro needs a driver from the manufacturer.

 

Improvements:

• Files larger than 200meg run fast
  
• Renderings done in 1/8 the time or better
  
• No system crashes with added benefit of multiple applications open i.e. Adobe Photoshop
  

 

Investment: Autodesk renewal $725; upgrades listed $1500; original Mac Pro $2800 = $5025

 

Lessons Learned:

• If you are doing anything beyond VERY simple small file models in Revit, you will need a professionally build computer (Call HP or Apple)
  
• There is no such thing as too much RAM, so forget about the 8meg RAM minimum, you really need 16meg RAM minimum
  
• High End workstation cards are worth every penny!!!! Gaming cards are just not designed for what Revit does; check Autodesk for support drivers and you figure this out very quickly - so in short you must now pay to play or rather work (Call Newegg for upgrades)
  

 

I also want to thank Joanna for her patience and ability to listen, and then deliver Autodesk Products with exceptional service vital for my company's success.

 

*The information above has been given by Ross Billiter - AIA, ALA, NCARB of Ross Billiter Architect - Architechstyles, PLLC. Any views or opinions presented in this blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Advanced Solutions, Inc.*

 

Ross Billiter - AIA, ALA, NCARB

Ross Billiter Architect - Architechstyles, PLLC

Durham, NC

www.architechstyles.com

www.rossbilliterarchitect.com