Are you ready for Revit and all that comes with it?

Even though my primary job is as a BIM consultant, that doesn't mean I don't have things to learn from my clients...the architects and engineers I get to work with everyday! Primarily about workflow and streamlining processes between disciplines, especially when they are not in the same company (which so many are not). After numerous fruitful visits to engineering client sites the past few months, I found that they became even more successful when we also met with the architect on the project. Initially, my goal is to make the transition from AutoCAD to Revit as painless as possible, those of us that have been doing this for a while know that many factors define a smooth transition.

Even with basic training, the timing of that training is very important...too early before starting the first project, and you tend to forget what you learned...too little time before you start the first project and you don't have time to experiment, make mistakes, and ultimately feel comfortable delivering your model to your consultants. Training itself is important. Personally, I think it is important for clients to begin playing on their own, whether watching short videos, going through tutorials, or just being bold and experimenting with the software. But please, begin to enjoy it. Working in Revit can be fun, but if you have no desire to learn it and will have a bad attitude about it, please, don't start. I have found that the learning curve for anyone that doesn't want to learn it is longer...if you ever reach a comfortable place at all.

After you and your colleagues have had some time with it (making sure you are writing down questions and concerns as you go), have a meeting with your reseller. Talk about it. Ask questions...lost of questions. If you have a good service provider, their goal is not to sell you a bunch of boxes of software, but teach you to ultimately be self-sufficient...we have all heard the phrase "Catch a man a fish, he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime." the goal should be to teach you to fish. Next, have company specific training. Bring in a set of Construction Documents; make sure they know what your deliverables look like...because, let's face it, right now, that is the goal. The Little BIM. Getting your deliverables out the door.

Let your channel partners help you.  As much as you, as an architect or engineer, love seeing your buildings built, standing strong and beautiful, I love when a client completes their first successful project in the Revit environment.  And even more, when they come back to talk about expanding their services, using conceptual energy analysis, improving their workflow with their structural analysis software products, and pushing the limits with visualization.  There is a reason I went into this business...and I am so happy I did!  Hand over those lemons, I am way past making lemonade...

Autodesk Univsersity Class: Got Green? Using Autodesk Products to Reduce Energy Consumption

I am very excited to announce that I have been chosen this year to speak at Autodesk University!

AB3691: Got Green? Using Autodesk Products to Reduce Energy Consumption

"In this class, we will explore how you can use Autodesk products to efficiently and effectively create more sustainable building designs. We will discuss using Project Vasari from Autodesk Labs to create different conceptual mass shapes and perform very early energy analysis to determine the most efficient profile. We will incorporate the masses into Autodesk® Revit® products to create simple energy models and utilize the central location to manipulate the information for further analysis. Next, we will use Autodesk Green Building Studio to determine and reduce energy costs and consumption based on rotation, materials, and system definitions. Finally, we will use Autodesk Ecotect® to visualize shadows, the effect of sun paths and solar radiation, perform daylighting analysis, and determine the need for shading devices."


This year, Autodesk University is returning to The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event runs from November 29 until December 1, 2011, and general registration is now open. Don't forget to register by October 11, 2011, and save $500! 

Also, get Autodesk Certified at AU for Free!  If you have already acheieved 2011 Certified Professional status, you only need to pass the 2012 Associate exam to upgrade to 2012 Professional status.

The More You Know: Don't Forget the Free Stuff!!!

The More You Know: Don't Forget the Free Stuff!!!

Adding Symbols on Revit

When working in Revit, there will be times you will be required to add Symbols. 

Go to the Start Menu and type in "run":

Type in "charmap":

The Character Map will pop up, and you can use it from there:

Note that Revit does use True Typefont...

Autodesk Building Information Modeling (BIM) Solutions Help Make Cities ...

This is not the future...this is now...

ASHRAE Viewer for Revit MEP

Whether you are using Revit MEP 2011 or Revit MEP 2012, you now have the ability to experiment with a new plug-in from Autodesk Labs: the ASHRAE Viewer for Revit MEP! 

1) Place a VAV Box and draw duct from the Supply opening, making sure you include a fitting.  I selected to simply decrease my Supply Duct from a 12" x 12" Rectangular Duct to a 10" x 10" Rectangular Duct.

2) Select the Fitting.  In the Add-Ins tab, there is a Select Table button, that will allow you to see the different Fitting options.  If it is incompatible, it will ignore the change, so make sure you are selecting a compatible fitting using the different Categories provided.

3) Once done, you will note in the Properties Pallete, that the ASHRAE Table value has been updated.

Note: You can also simply view the Fittings without applying them to your project:

Download from Autodesk Labs today and begin expoerimenting on your own!

What Analysis Programs Work with Revit Structure?

Although this is posted on the Autodesk website, I continue to get the question: What analysis programs work with Revit Structure?  To begin, Autodesk has two tiers to their partner program: Professional and Premier.  The difference between the two is that when you are a Premier Partner, you provide the following, in addition to the base requirements:


Technical Resources Premier Partners are required to have technical staff available to interact with Autodesk technical personnel so they can work together to ensure that the link between Autodesk Revit Structure and the Partner’s application is optimized.



Assigned Account Manager Autodesk seeks to have a primary point of contact with Premier Partners in order to streamline critical business decisions and to explore joint business development opportunities with the assigned Autodesk Account Manager.
 
The following are partners (and links to their websites) with Autodesk for interoperability with Revit Structure:
 
Autodesk Structural Engineering Premier Partners

Adapt
ADAPT-Builder Suite—structural concrete design software


BIMware
BIMware Extension for REVIT - Dead and Live Loads



CSC
Fastrak Building Designer—dedicated steelwork building design



MIDASoft Inc
midasGen – structural steel and reinforced concrete design for buildings



RISA
RISAFloor and RISA-3D


SOFiSTiK
SOFiSTiK Structural Desktop Suite—finite element information modeling



All Other Partners with a Bi-Directional Link to Autodesk® Revit Structure
CSI
ETABS—integrated analysis and design of building structures



Dlubal – RFEM
RFEM—finite element analysis software



GRAITEC
Advance Design, VisualDesign, Arche, Effel and SuperSTRESS – Structural Analysis and Design software



Nemetschek Scia
Scia Engineer—finite elements analysis



Oasys GSA
Oasys GSA—structural analysis and design



Prokon
ProDESK—structural analysis and design



RAM Structural System
RAM Structural System—building analysis and design software



SOFTEK
SOFTEK Structural Office—steel and concrete analysis and design



SPACE GASS
SPACE GASS include linear and non-linear static, dynamic, response spectrum, buckling and cable analysis.
Structural Integrators, LLC.
Revit Structure STAAD.Pro interface



Lastly, remember that for the whole month of February, if you "Like" Advanced Solutions Facebook page, you will be entered into a contest to win 3 FREE months of PILOT Training ...
 
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The 3/50 Project

http://www.the350project.net/connections.htmlAlthough this began as a Revit project, this has become a project of Building Information Modeling and the Green initiative.  One aspect of the green initiative is about more than being green in the AEC industry, but also being "Green" on a daily basis.  Have you joined the 3/50 project?  It is important to grow with your community and back them up!  Follow the 3/50 project...it is just as important as turning off your lights regularly.

East Coast CAD has come through!

One of the issues I have come across regarding the full story of Building Information Modeling is getting a digital information to the fabrication machines.  However, now East Caoast CAD has come through and provided us with "new software to provide an integrated design to fabrication workflow for Autodesk Revit MEP 2011 and AutoCAD MEP 2011"!!!

With this initial release of MEP Fabrication to support Revit MEP, it also represents the first release of EastCoast’s patented “Design-to-Fabrication” process.



Search Amazon.com for duct fabrication

A Tiny Apartment Transforms into 24 Rooms

Roombook Extension

About a week ago, I posted on the ASI AEC Blog about the Roombook extension for Revit.  Although it is a great tool for more detailed quantity take-offs and estimates, BIMReality makes a good point of additional potential, including LEED calculations and Facilities Management.  I think the possibilities for this tool are more extensive than the obvious.  I look forward to see how far we can really take it!

New Year, New Job, New Blog, New Outlook!

Happy New Year!  I know I am late, but better late than never!  The end of the year was like a rollercoaster, and I have landed and wonderful job working for Advanced Solutions as an Application Engineer.  A lot is the same, a lot is different, and I am looking forward to 2011! 

The first thing I did is start an AEC blog for Advanced Solutions:

Building Block and Puzzle Pieces

It's a new year with new opportunities and new challenges...let's conquer them together!

Search Amazon.com for sustainability by design