BIM Execution... again

Because it came up at work today, and because it's FroBack Friday let's link to a valuable tool for discussing BIM LOD requirements.

BIM Execution How-to

Revit Technology Conference North America (RTCNA) 2014 Recap

Gangsters in Chicago

As the Twitter Hashtag #RTCNA slips from it's spot in the trending list, as 100's of BIMmers discover that,  yes, that was there last clean pair of socks, as we start to gather elusive receipts for our expense reports, I offer this stroll through the world of the RTCNA Reviteer. It's not always pretty, but everyone has fun...

So, what's RTC like?

<--Yeah, it's kinda like this-->

What's it all about? It's about Learning. It's about Sharing. It's about Teaching. 

And it's a about change...  as a matter of fact, the title of our Keynote this year was "The Future of Authority. Leadership in the Midst of Change."

Basically, we all get together and try to change our industry (and maybe even the world) by thrashing on Revit (OK,and each other) in creative and entertaining ways.

Inverse Kinematics (look it up) in Revit.
"Even the developers didn't know it could do that."

Scott Brown's "Friends don't let friends 'Split face and Paint' class about Revit for Interiors

Troy Gates teaches us to manage our models with Macros

Andy Milburn makes stuff others say can't be done

More coolness from Andy

Marcello says this is the swan song for the Revit Cow. Going into retirement.

Learning from our surroundings.
The Swag Bag charger instructions were an awesome example
of  "communication."

The people are what really make this event.  I was stunned when the attendees were asked to raise hands if they were there for the first time and about 80% of the hands went up. Very nice to see.

Old friends and new.  

possibly the best beard of RTCNA

Beauty and the Beast...?

Brain trust...

I think we need a rule about this much Revit knowledge
being in the same place at the same time... 

Gangsters were everywhere in that town.

Careful, that thing might go off.

They let anyone in here

In short, as much as learn and as much as we teach, we are all recharged by the company we keep-

Oh, and there was bowling... ;)

I love this post...

... but it never got much attention.

Hydronic Baseboard in Revit MEP (waaay back in 2009. I wonder if it still behaves the same?)

Tame that BIM...

From the beginning, this site has been my attempt to make BIM, VDC, construction modeling, 3D, 4D and all the rest just a little more accessible.  In short, I hope when asked "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad BIM?" you can answer a resounding "Not ME!"

In that vein, I'd like to introduce BIM Tamers. They are here to whip your model into shape and support efficient and timely model creation and use.

Check out the introductory video below and sign up to learn more here.

Throw back Thursday (a day later...) it's all about Parameters.

With classic Big Bad lines like :

Skillful use of parameters are the difference between BIM and parametric modeling. Get some information in that model, by Jove. But, beware, not all parameters are created equal!

and...

Pretty straight forward stuff really. Keep your mind organized while deciding what kind of parameters to use. Definitely do not listen to The Pogues while creating parameters. Save them for hardcore geometry modeling. Maybe spin some Yo-Yo Ma. Relaaaaax.

Parameters: Family vs. Project vs. Shared Family vs. Shared Project is worth a gander.
Have a great Memorial Day folks. Take a couple minutes and remember why we have Monday off.

Retro Friday: BIM Execution How-to-

I'm bringing this to the top because I hear people talking about it almost daily.

BIM Execution Plans (BxP)are the foundation of you successful use of BIM. I'm given pause by how regularly they are just slapped together because they were "required on the project."

This is your roadmap folks. This is what you will point back to when the going gets tough.

• When you have physical conflicts in the field, you will point to the model.
• When you have conflicts in the model, you will point to the matrix that show what trade takes precedent in that situation.
• When you have conflicts of interest and personality, you will point to your BxP. Or at least you should. You won't be able to if you didn't take the time to assemble it in a meaningful manner.

The document mentioned in the post below isn't about how to fill out your Modeling matrix, or who should do what task when. It's about how to have a conversation about these things. Consider it the form work for your projects foundation.

BIM Execution How-to  April 10, 2012

Your map to sucessful BIM projects

Retro Friday- The BIMWashers are still with us.

A post on the Linked In group "Epic BIM" (founded by the guys at Epic BIM, funnily enough) prompted me to look back at a blog post from waaaay back in 2009.

Sad to say, I could have written this post yesterday. I'm not pointing that my writing hasn't improved (that's a given) just that I still see these attitudes today.

I'm actually kinda surprised how many people are still in the "adoption" phase of some sort of BIM process. Even more surprising are those that are still debating the value and consider it the next "fad."  Eh, big ships are slow to turn I guess.

Enjoy some "vintage" Big Bad BIM...
BIMwash- the new snakeoil?

Revit Technology Conference North America an Abridged retelling

Note:You would think I could have gotten this posted sometime yesterday, but as I was proofing I got involved in some good API conversation with Matthew Nelson (BIM Manager at Evergreen EDC @MattBeNimble) then lost WiFi and just never got to hit *post*  Better Late than never.

My plans to blog daily from RTCNA were shot down by spotty WiFi in the hotel room. I never had more than 15 mins of continuous connection.  Anytime I went to the lobby, I was far to involved in Revit/BIM conversations to think about how to capture the event on the blog.  Even now, as I sit in the hotel lobby, some of the best Revit minds in the industry are having off the cuff brainstorming and collaboration sessions as they wait their time to leave. Twitter tells me that the airport would be just as conversation rich.  So, I will try to capture the conference in a few paragraphs for now and expand later.

As far as sessions go, per usual, they were the top live learning resources on Revit and BIM in the wild available.  I did walk out of one class, but that was made possible by realistic representation of the course by the instructor.  They stated that "if you have ever done this task in Revit, you're not going to learn much here and anything you haven't seen before you could pick up from the handout." Great attitude at an intermediate to advanced technology conference.

Frankly, if you could only go to one Revit related conference a year, I would recommend the Revit Technology Conference closest to you. Seriously, The caliber of presenters, and the sessions offered will inspire the motivated beginner to seasoned professional alike.  I won't go into sessions specifics, but Revit cows and elephants, Data mining, Curtain wall modeling to fabrication and hacking Revit to bend to your will were found around every corner....

Vancouver and specifically Westin Bayshore had a lot to offer. Being a intimate event (440 registrants as opposed to close to 10,000 at Autodesk University (I'm sure if I'm far wrong on that number someone will let me know)) allows for a smaller venue with rooms and conference center within easy walking distance.  The RTCNA committee and Sponsor IMAGINiT snagged a great place for the Friday evening party- The Vancouver Aquarium.  Dolphin Show, open exhibits to wander, even tables nestled among sea-life exhibits.  Good times.

Anyway, more to come... In the mean time, enjoy the sealife--

Revit Technology Conference North America (Day 0 Recap)

A Bad BIM, a Twice Roads Fool, a Revit OpEd, a Revit Tyeten, and a Revit Kid walk into a bar...

Wait, is this a joke?  Well, maybe... but it's also Revit Technology Conference North America 2013 (hereafter known as RTCNA) in beautiful Vancouver B.C.

Just about everyone has cleared customs or snuck across the border (as the case may be,) presentations were polished up into the wee hours of the morning (as bottles of spirituous libations were polished off (or so I've heard.)) and as the sun rises the AEC world waits anxiously to see how it's face will be forever altered.  Ohhhh, the hyperbole.... Seriously though, looking at the speakers list, the attendees, the topics and the venue, this conference is shaping up to be stellar.

It was great to touch base with old friends and new last night. I look forward to catching up with others as the week goes on.

My advice to get the most of this conference is directly hijacked from Aaron Maller; "Conference hard, play harder, swim faster, caffienate, and screw sleep. Sleep is for quitters."   Oh, and stay away from #TerminalD  ;)

See you around the hallways everyone. Let's do this.

3 ways to quickly Crop a 3D view in Revit...

Being able to navigate the model quickly in 3D will make you more efficient and put you ahead of the game compared to your coworkers who only work in plan and section.

The power of 3D views are often over looked by those who don't use them regularly and aren't comfortable navigating them or setting them up to show pertinent information.

In the video below you will find 3 ways to quickly crop a 3D view in a Revit model to the area or object of interest.





Note: This is a training video used by our staff at Devenney Group Ltd., Architects.

Visit us at Devenney Group