A Step Closer to Model Based Code Review

Solibri announces $21 Million dollar technology grant to North American Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to acquire their software for model review.

 Scottsdale, AZ, 10 Dec 2012 - Solibri, the global leader in model-based QA/QC technology, through its U.S. operations has established a $21 million grant program that North American Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ’s) can use to acquire Solibri Model Checker technology and receive assistance incorporating Building Information Models (BIM) into the digital review process. Interested AHJs are encouraged to apply for the technology grant immediately at the Solibri website (www.solibri.com), following the link for AHJ Grants.

Full press release here.

Direct link to Grant Program page.

Revit deployments for Dumb Es*…

I’m an E (an Erik with a "k" if you didn't already know.)  Maybe not a dumb E, but surely an ignorant one.

I have a distinct lack of IT and networking skills (even though my last firm lumped me in the IT Department (much to their amusement and my chagrin.))

That said, the power to be able to configure, update, and install software through “deployments” has fascinated me for awhile. So much power… (cue evil laugh.)

So when I started to hear Aaron Maller (Malleristic Revitation) tweeting about a project he was involved in that made the whole process digestible for guys like me (dummies, not necessarily dumb Es) I was hooked.

That project? The Pragmatic Reviteer has created a web-based course titled;

 Revit Deployment & Management for Medium Sized Offices

I am currently about 1/3 of the way through the current “lectures” and I intend to do a more comprehensive review at the end of learning journey, as well as posting of my experiences using the knowledge imparted, but I think I’d be doing a disservice to you if I didn’t let you in on this excellent series of lessons.

If you are at all involved in managing Revit (content, installs, etc) you owe it to yourself to at least watch the Promo video to see what it’s all about.  If it sparks your interest, the price is very reasonable for the depth to which the topic is covered.

Also check out the Revit Bistro- a collection of small plates and specials from the Pragmatic Reviteer on Udemy (no cost at the moment.)

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The Pragmatic Reviteer- teaching the Big Bad BIM to guys like me (dumb and otherwise.)

* Similarity to a popular self help publisher is purely for comedic effect.

Free Revit (Family Editor) training

I’ve received some requests for recommendations on where to get training on making Revit Families.  How timely that Eagle Point is offering the following class (at a price everyone can handle ($0.00, duh.)

Eagle Point Software invites you to join us for a complimentary training class* on how to create "Autodesk Revit Family Creation with Simple Parameters".
Class Details:
Wednesday, 2/8/2012
11:30 am - 12:30 pm CT
Attend "Autodesk Revit Family Creation with Simple Parameters" to learn:
• How to add parameters to families.
• How to create additional family types with modified geometry.
• How to test the parameters.
Register at http://www2.eaglepoint.com/e/8352/egister-931147782/b8fyw/174138856.
*This is a live, instructor-led class delivered via GoTo Meeting.

Eagle Point- easing the masses fear of the Big Bad BIM

CASE APPS does it again…

Sticking to their promised monthly release cycle, CASE has given us their newest free application: “Reusable and Sharable Selection Sets.”
I’ve only had a few minutes to dig into it, but it shows some real promise.  Select objects in Revit, launch the app and create a selection set from it.  Now you can reuse this set to reselect the items at any time.  Cha-ching, instant efficiency.
The set lives on your local drive, but can be shared with other users as a .txt file (if I understand it correctly.)
This is very similar to the little known (but ultimately useful)  feature that allows you to do exactly the same, but use those sets to create View Filters. I haven't seen how to create a filter from the set, but I could just be missing it.

  Sidenote: I have always found it strange that the Structural platform programmers haven’t shared this little tidbit with rest of the crew.  Why are Criteria based selection sets the only sets available in MEP and ARC?  I can’t tell you how many hours I have spent trying to write they perfect View Filter to select a very specific group of objects.  If I could only select those items and save that set… ah CASE to the rescue.

So, go get it while it’s hot.  CASE- taming the Big Bad BIM.

The Glue that holds it all together…

The glue that holds all relationships together -- including the relationship between the leader and the led is trust, and trust is based on integrity.” –Brian Tracy (Self-Help Author)

At AU 2011 Autodesk announced it’s intent to acquire Horizontal Systems (developers of Horizontal Glue.) The deal is expected to close before the end of Autodesk’s fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, which ends Jan. 31, 2012.

What is Glue?

… Glue brings BIM to the cloud with technology that supports multi-discipline model collaboration and intelligent object data exchange for the building and infrastructure industries. This approach enables architects, engineers, owners and builders across the globe to collaborate in real time in over 40 different 3D formats, while providing a solution to distribute BIM data into external business systems.

So?
I saw a demo of this a couple of months ago.  Horizontal Glue provides for one… web-accessible… model for all players on a project.  One source of truth… One database…  Shared across the web by countless users. 

That alone is worth looking into.  Add to that integral “Clash Detection,” (I prefer the terms Spatial Coordination or Trade Coordination, but to each their own) Quantity Take-off, (QTO (there’s a TLA, they’ve been hiding for awhile) and 4-D scheduling and you’ve got a Cloud based BIM Coordination application.

Throw in RFI generation and tracking, Versioning control, and the ability to handle Submittals and Procurement right in the Model environment and you have a BIM based Project Management solution!!!

Hooray!!!

With Horizontal System’s innovative, cloud-based technology, and Autodesk’s vast range of BIM applications (not to mention their deep, deep pockets) look for good things to come
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Keep an eye out for more Buzz about Autodesk 360.
Autodesk and Horizontal Systems- sticking to the Big Bad BIM

PS: You can find a copy of the full press release here (amongst other places.)

AU 2011: POINTKNOWN launches PKNAIL

Long awaited (by me at least) Point Known launches PKNAIL Pro yesterday at AU 2011 (how appropriate.)

To truly use BIM to full effectiveness there is  a real need for accurate existing conditions capture.  PKNail translates “…measurements directly from wireless laser range finders into a BIM workstation…”

With reality capture such a wide ranging topic, it will be interesting to see where PKNail fits into the continuum.

Now all I need to do is get a trial to evaluate.

POINTKNOWN is clearly NOT afraid of the Big Bad BIM!
http://www.pointknown.com/

Surveyor come Modeler

As Builts… Existing Conditions… Field Verify… All of these require at best a Professional Surveyor (at best, unless it comes out of your pocket) at worst a couple of schmucks with a Tape Measure. Hey, I’ve been on both the "smart" and “dumb” ends of that tape and the whole process can be a frustrating, error filled, slog to get as much information as possible.

Wouldn’t it be an awesome fairytale land if you would just use a device (like a laser or ultrasonic “tape” measure) to grab measurements from a space and have it start to populate a BIM with that information?

Well, it’s no fairytale. POINTKNOWN emailed me today with an update on the surveying-to-BIM software PKNail. While PKNAil isn’t quite ready for commercial consumption, this video on YouTube is quite promising. Amazing actually. I can hardly fathom the time savings of direct to model measurements. I hope there claims of 300% times savings pans out.

Drop by their website for more information.

Edit: Darn, I should check my Blog feed before I post. Steve at RevitOpED beat me to it. Curses, foiled again! ;)

Design in the Cloud? BIM software as a service?

It's Alive in the Labs posted a link to Project Twitch today. Here you can us Revit, Inventor, or AutoCAD without installing it. What? It's called Cloud Computing or Software as a Service and software (in some sectors) is moving to this model.



The advantages are that you can access the application from anywhere (limited to 1000 mi from the server in this preview) and not just at your desktop and the system requirements should be less. Be sure to read about the other limitations of this technology preview. No saving or uploading your files. This isn't for production, it's for "fun."



Given court rulings such as Vernor v. Autodesk, I wouldn't be surprised if ALL Autodesk software eventually moves to a similar model. With a delivery method similar to this ADSK could shut off the service (just like the power company) if you didn't pay your bill or didn't use the product according to your agreement. I think it would also cut down on pirated software, since you would need access to their server to run the software at all.



Could this be the next iteration of Subscription? Hmmmmmm

A new Custom Revit API search engine...

Rod, over at Rod.net has created a custom google search that will narrow down the information returned from google when you're only interested in Revit API (Application Programming Interface.)



Anyone looking for that kind of info should try it @ Revit API Search Engine



From Rod's site:

"Searches through Revit API information sources, predominantly blogs. Email me at rodhowarth257 at gmail (dot)com (sic) with any suggestions! "

Folks like this helps us all. Thanks ROD!!

Service Pack Update 1 now available

Service Pack Update 1 now available for Revit platforms (as i'm sure you have heard.)



RAC 2010 SP1



RME 2010 SP1



RST 2010 SP1



Enjoy.



Make sure you read the READ ME (that's why they call it that, der.)



Note: This is a Service Pack release and not a full install. You must have the full release installed proir to installing the SP.



And yes, this is me "Jumping on the Bandwagon"...

Revit MEP to Fabrication

Technical Sales International, LLC (TSI) seems to be one of the first (if not THE first) to develop an interface to translate a Revit model to fabrication programs such as their CAD-Duct, CAM-Duct, etc. etc.



From the video description:

"we have bridged the gap between Design BIM and Manufacturing BIM by providing a direct path from design files created with AutoCAD Revit MEP 2010 HVAC, Pipe, and Plumbing to truly integrated database solutions CAM-Duct, CAD-Duct, EST-Duct, CAD-Mech, EST-Mech using new FAB-Duct and FAB-Mech software provide by Technical Sales International "

I'd love to get my hands on a demo. Has anyone used this? Thoughts? Comments?

Tools4Revit Roof Truss Generator

I've known about Tools4Revit for awhile, but I had a chance to go to there website and learn a little more today. I saw a thread on the AUGI forum that peaked my interest. If you get a chance, take a look at some of the Demo videos that show Truss+ in action.

This program not only generates the truss system, you can then break the trusses into individual members. As we all know, if it exsists in the Revit model, it can be schduled.

What about details of connections?... Well it does that too. From looking at the videos it seems that program produces a drafting view that documents connections as well as the indiviual elements themselves.

I imagine a truss manuafacturer looking at the construction market today and the direction we seem to be going could make good use of this.

Oh, BTW, it works with Revit Structural and Architectural as well. :)

HMC Architects Selects e-SPECS as Integrated BIM Specification Solution

From an e-SPECS Press Release:

Portland, Maine – September 16, 2008 – InterSpec Inc. today announced that its patented e-SPECS solutions have been selected as the BIM Specification Solution by HMC Architects, one of the largest planning and design firms headquartered in California, with offices strategically located throughout California and Nevada.

Autodesk Completes Acquisition of 3D Geo

Bim on a large scale, think Citywide planning, can be very system intense. In an effort extend the capabilities of their current offerings, Autodesk has completed the aquisition of 3D Geo, a company based in Germany.



Lisa Campbell, vice president, Autodesk Geospatial says,"This acquisition extends Autodesk's ability to help customers visualize urban and infrastructure designs on a city-wide scale. We are looking forward to working with 3D Geo's customers, partners and employees."




Read more here and here.

AutoCAD Architecture: The Unsung BIM application?

The "I" in BIM is the defining factor of what makes a software a true BIM application. Any software that allows you to attach, store, and extract information from a model (whether 2D or 3D), and allows you to present design intent and investigate constructability, goes a long way towards implementing BIM and Integrated Project Delivery. (Notice, I'm not saying that a software is BIM. I'm just saying that it is a tool to help you create BIM and integrate your processes with the processes of other. OK, rant over.)

Given that, I wonder why Autodesk chooses to market its products the way that they do. Revit Architecture (RAC) is the flagship BIM platform in Autodesk's armada of software. AutoCAD Acrhitecture (ACA) is billed as a tool designed to increase the productivity of "Architects who know AutoCAD." No mention is given in the advertising literature about ACA's use for BIM.

Alot is said about Revit's ability to attach parameters (information) to elements in the model and schedule them out. ACA has similar ability. ACA let's you use a ubiquitous file format (.dwg)(remember, interoperability is KEY in Integrated Practice) to produce a 3d model that uses "smart objects" to represent and document the built environment. These objects "know" what they are and how they should interact with objects around them. Doors "know" that they go in walls, as do windows. Roofs are modeled based on complex rules running behind the scenes with limited input from the user. These objects also have information attached to them (manufacturer, material, etc, etc.) and they can communicate that information to schedules created within the program.

I DON'T think that ACA is as robust as RAC in some functions. Sections and elevations aren't "live" you can't select objects in them and modify those objects. When you make changes to plan views, you must update the section or elevation that is produced from them (which could lead to uncoordinated documents.) You can't select objects in schedules and make changes to them that effect the model.

However, all said, ACA is a pretty darn powerful modeling, drafting and information organizing software. Wow, sounds like BIM to me. It is especially useful in leveraging the training and skills of users who are experienced in AutoCAD.

I'd love to hear the opinions of anyone who has used ACA or by its former moniker ADT Architectural Desktop (either in a BIM capacity or not) on real life projects.

AutoCAD REVIT Architecture Suite 2009.1

Autodesk announced to it's Reseller's sales staff that they are coming out with a point release for REVIT Architectural Suite. Currently that suite includes REVIT Architectural 2009 and Autocad 2009.

The 2009.1 Suite will include those applications as well as AutoCAD Architecture.This decision was made to allow those thinking of migrating to a true BIM product can make that move and still keep their old platform for current projects and future projects using existing files.

Ask your VAR for details. More information will be available on the Autodesk website as of Aug 22. Salespeople are being encouraged to market this point release starting now.

The above is my opinion of information given to me by an AutoDesk Value Added Retailer and is not implied to be a release by AutoDesk.

2ND Class no More! (well soon anyway)

Autodesk support recognizes that there is an issue with the system family "basic ceiling-generic." It seems that this family was created early in the development of REVIT and that the "normal" face of this family is the upper surface. The "normal" face is the surface that a "face hosted" object hosts too. This issue has been logged for change. Recommended workarounds were;

1. Mirror the fixtures using the ceiling as the mirror line. (Which is exactly the fix we used. With over 600 fixtures in the project we are grateful for the "select all instances" command.)
2. Create a family, type, or even instance parameter to deal with the situation.

I worked with the family a little yesterday afternoon and after fooling around with the constraints I was able to create a fixture that behaves properly when loaded into a project. It hosts and renders correctly, however it remains to be seen how it connects to an electrical system.

I have attached screen captures to show the issue more clearly. The recessed can and pendant light most clearly illustrate the condition. The rectangular fixtures are recessed and surface mount fixtures.

Paperspace, Layouts, and Viewports... Oh my!

Since paperspace was added to AutoCAD (in R12) users have been trying to wrap their minds around the concept. Long time users were of the opinion that they didn't need it and wouldn't use it (there seems to be a direct correlation between how long you've been using a product and how willing you are to accept new features.) Well paperspace is obviously here to stay. However, it still confuses its fair share of users. While brushing up on my AutoCAD skills through the AUGI Training Program I came across this explanation of the concept in the courseware for a class titled; AutoCAD 103-From Surviving to Excelling at AutoCAD (by Kenneth Leary):

"Paperspace can be explained like this. Imagine you have a blank wall, not a spectacular view is it? You would love to see your new Hybrid car outside so you cut a window in the wall. Now you can see the car, but you can’t see all of it. Cutting a bigger window would work but it’s a lot of effort so you go outside and back the car further away from the window. Now you can see the all of the car and all is good and right with the universe."

I want to take this opportunity to thank the folks who volunteer there time with AUGI. Whether it's moderating their forums or putting together courseware they are an invaluable resource for those of us using Autodesk Software on a daily basis. Thank you AUGI, Thank You.

Is this BIM? Ah, who cares.

(BTW, I have even resorted to cutting a hole in a piece of paper and placing it over a drawing to demonstrate paperspace. It explained panning in the viewport, but even this "visual aid" couldn't explain zooming.)