BIM - for real

Great Resource!

2011-11-06T10:21:00.001-08:00

Hey all, just wanted to throw this one out there as well. This is a great free tool from the folks over at Tekla that allows for models to be viewed, organized, run a clash report, collaborate and analyze.

Gotta say, I'm a fan!

http://www.teklabimsight.com/

Smacked Between the Eyes

2011-11-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

For starters, I believe that folks who have worked in the AEC industry for anything longer than two years are a bit jaded and think the world "works" a certain way. But every now and then I have discussions, read something or attend a presentation that shakes those constructs up and makes me look at things from a completely different angle.

Recently I gave a presentation to a very smart group of military professionals from the Facilities and O and M side and I was excited to see from the industry's standpoint of Design, Construction and Operations where their heads were.

A number of their questions were very well thought out and they listened very carefully to what I was telling them about BIM enabled processes, VDC technology and an integrated means of delivering projects. I wrote down the following three questions because they hit me square between the eyes, (and for those who know me that's saying something).

1.) Why doesn't the industry understand that everyone uses information for different things and that at some point that information simply isn't useful?

I asked for an example and they said, "well for example right now we get both the native file models and the federated or composite Navis file at the end of the job and inevitably the clearance blocks in front of equipment are still there, remnants of 4D scheduling information and extremely detailed model components with a large amount of model parameters are delivered to us as well." "We spend quite a long time cleaning the models up that we get at the end of a job to use for Facilities Management and Operations, which is quite a bit less and there seems to be a disconnect there."

Epiphany number one. Pull information through the process. Begin with the end in mind and adopt a LEAN methodology of finding what the next user needs and eliminate the rest. We aren't still reading books about how to make fire, we just turn on the stove. All information has a shelf life.

2.) In the military, everyone on your team is responsible for a task and each team member relies on each person to complete it. What accountability measures do teams put in place to make sure all of the team members are pulling their load?

Ideally it starts with picking the right team members from the beginning, just as I'm sure you pick certain team members for each mission. From there, we plan on how we are going to execute the work over time and have routine "checkups" to make sure we are getting there.

So what if someone isn't delivering, are they off the team?

Well...not quite. So contractually they are obligated to deliver, but in the event they decide not to, there are some measures we can take to get them back on track, but it often takes a while to completely remove them from the team.

Sounds pretty weak

Yeah, there's definitely room for progress to be made for sure, but I believe that integrated project delivery methods will continue to improve projects. In fact, there's been a lot of examples of this being successful already. I believe if the team is mutually responsible for delivering the project, there is a lot more at stake and the "blame game" that's plagued the industry really becomes somewhat of a moot point, because everyone has to get across the finish line.

Sounds a lot better

Epiphany number two. Weaknesses in project delivery aren't a secret. There are a lot of informed Owners out there, all with the same goal of building their project without falling short. It's much better to align with this understanding instead of attempting to look "smarter or more experienced". Smart teams are winning projects. Others are going out of business.

3.) Why can't you guys just make a Google for Facilities Management? Google did it for the whole internet.

Great question. I believe there are a lot of companies working on it, us among them that close the information life cycle loop. A lot of this is because Architect, Engineers and Construction Managers are learning quickly that they are not all knowing as much as they think they are. There is an exciting dialog occurring for open minded professionals with Operations and Maintenance colleagues as well as energy managers, software companies and communities to learn how to best understand the impacts a building actually has on the environment and what information is useful as a byproduct from design and construction to help it along.

Epiphany number three. Constant innovation is at the nucleus of any good team. The Japanese have a concept for this called "Kaizen" or the idea of constant improvement. In the book, The Toyota Way this is explored quite in depth. Even when you think you've figured it out...there is still room to improve and innovate.

Wait...What?!

2011-11-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

Lately there has been a great trend that we are witnessing first hand in the subcontracting community....the rise of subs who "get it."

I can remember about 8 years ago having a discussion with a leading subcontractor in the industry who essentially told me that he and his mechanical firm were NEVER going to make a move into the virtual environment. Lo and behold I ran into him at the Denver Airport about a month ago and we got to talking.

Apparently he had completely forgotten what he had told me years earlier and was excited to tell me how they had fully integrated BIM and laser scanning tools for their organization! It's amazing to see how time can transition attitudes (and memories!).

This of course got me to thinking and I began to think of all the subcontracting companies I have seen over the years transition into a 3D CAD/BIM environment. While there are still some holdouts, for the most part the question any more is really who DOESN'T have BIM technology integrated into their operations. This is an exciting time for the Design and Construction community, especially since we are now in a much better place of BIM use and understanding of the processes then we were before.

Next I'll give a brief write up on how to get subcontractors to install their systems correctly in the field.

USC Presentation Today

2011-07-08T09:00:00.001-07:00

Great topics and fascinating discussion on bim, but more importantly a great talk in application development and information management and sharing.

Good talk from Mario Guttman from Perkins and Will on custom programming and pushing the boundaries of Revit out of the box.

http://arch-pubs.usc.edu/extreme-bim/

Promising AR Technology on Business Cards...for Now

2011-06-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

Pretty exciting technology that integrates q-symbol scanning viewed through an application, such as Daqri (www.daqri.com)

Augmented Reality Business Cards

Would be great to see these integrated into building components some day!

BIM for real is now Mobile!

2011-02-13T14:03:00.001-08:00

Alright folks, I have established that a blog on technology shouldn't be limited by my use of technology!

That said I will now be posting from the "many exciting" places I go in the world, but mainly airports...

Thanks!

DuPont BIM Resource

2011-02-12T20:09:00.001-08:00

If you all haven't seen this yet, it's really pretty impressive. We're testing it out now to see how well it works...Looks like it should be a pretty strong tool. And I don't care that much that it's laden with Tyvek plugs!

http://www2.dupont.com/Tyvek_Weatherization/en_US/applications/architects/BIM/BIM_Studio.html

Death to BIM

2011-02-12T19:54:00.002-08:00

Love those dramatic intro lines!

Here it is a new and unique concept for us all to begin to marinate on. What do all of the following have in common?:

a.) Architects

b.) Structural Engineers

c.) Mechanical Engineers

d.) Electrical Engineers

e.) Plumbing Engineers

f.) Fire Protection Engineers

g.) Interior Designers

h.) Planners

i.) Construction Managers

j.) Subcontractors

k.) Facility Managers

l.) Owners

m.) Real Estate Agents

n.) Industry Standard Agencies

o.) Code Compliance Agencies

p.) Consultants (acoustic, specialty, etc..)

q.) Other

And the answer is... Please enter your answers in the following comment field I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with...

-Sidebar, there is in fact a point to this exercise and not one in futility that we'll dig into a follow up post

Qualcomm Presentation with Kimon Onuma

2011-02-12T09:18:00.000-08:00

Maybe some might find this interesting. This was a presentation given and hosted by Qualcomm in San Diego, CA with Kimon Onuma from Onuma Planning Systems .

Presentation Link Here

I really enjoyed the dialog and it was interesting to begin shifting the space from BIM, BIM BIM to a bigger and broader concept which is information management and "connecting the dots" both digital and physical to create value and results.

As always, look forward to your comments and feedback.

Have a great weekend!

Interesting BIM Video from the NYC Transit Authority

2011-02-12T08:58:00.001-08:00

http://construction.com/video/?fr_story=561a9e61f88c4993cc8cafd14d98fd0257119e4e&rf=bm

Interesting video coming from the transit and infrastructure end of things. I'm beginning to think there needs to be a new acronym for Building Information Modeling!

Autodesk University Debrief

2010-12-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a great week AU was!

So AU (as always) was a great opportunity to catch back up with colleagues and meet some new folks as well. I have attached some pictures from the keynote as well as the link for the keynote video here and will be posting my presentation in a seperate (but related) blog on information management and the idea that we are all becoming information managers.

Great presentations by Eddy Krygiel and Alex Ogata from HNTB on BIM Project Management, interesting look into a relatively new virtual collaboration tool Autodesk Vault (link here) and attended an interesting hands on lab on Autodesk Mudbox (link).

Also seemed to have gotten snagged for an "informal" interview, video link here for those interested.

Speaking at AU this Year

2010-09-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

For those of you attending Autodesk University this year (http://au.autodesk.com/), I will be giving a lecture presentation on BIM to FiM, which has been of particular relevance to the industry and to a number of other folks, who have become interested in the tools out there, what they can do and what are the best practices for linking BIM information to FiM model information.

I should have three case studies completed by then for everyone to gain a perspective on what FiM entails and how to leverage it

Course Details here ....on page 90.

If you happen to make it, feel free to swing by afterwards and we can chat.

Look forward to seeing many of you there at the event!

AECOM Acquires Tishman

2010-07-26T08:50:00.001-07:00

Interesting article about AECOM's acquisition of Tishman. It seems to be a trend with the rise of Design-Build firms using BIM and a race to acquire more and more of the "One-stop-shop" Design-Build firm market.

iPhone BIM app

2010-06-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

Good morning all!

I was over on BIM Workx and read about a cool new app for the iPhone. Basically as I'm an Apple addict if it's new, shiny and has an Apple logo on it, I'll buy it...or my wife will want one.

That said, Ian Keough has developed a neat new app to view Revit models on your iPhone with...complete with (drumroll please) intelligent objects! The app is called goBIM and costs $5.99. I have to admit I have been playing with it for about the past two hours and once you get used to the interface it's a cool little tool.

Ian is also releasing the app for the iPad with a bigger screen to better enable in-field functionality on projects using BIM. Stay tuned there.

Site is here. (http://go-bim.iankeough.com/wordpress/ )

Cool idea, great tool and no post for a while so hopefully this kick starts your Tuesday.

BIM RFI's

2010-05-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen -

No post for a while, but that' because we've been doing great things!

To begin we have trained over 300 field staff. No small feat.

With some of the best questions I have ever been asked.

One of them was in regard to how to handle RFI's that have been coordinated through the BIM collaborative process. And of course there are a couple of answers to this question.

1.) The first answer is that if you are fortunate enough to work on a project that is IPD or has contract language integrated into the delivery method such as Design-Build or CM at Risk, that streamlines the approval process, many of these teams can approve changes to the model on the go, as they occur.

This is a dream scenario. Unfortunately it's often not the case that the engineer and subcontractor are one and the same. It's great though when you work on a job that as you are going through a series of clash reports, 4D clash reporting, sequencing simulations, etc..the mechanical team, electrical team and so on can approve the changes on the fly. It's amazing how much paperwork and communication time can be reduced.

This is really where the industry is headed for a number of reasons, the biggest of those being cost savings and time to coordinate a project.

Anyways, moving on to answer #2.

2.) In most cases, we are working with a setup that has the engineer and the subcontractor as two different entities with separate interests. While this is the most common way of doing things there are some real inefficiencies in this process, but there are ways to minimize the amount of legwork required to get model changes approved as fast as possible.

Example - you have 4,200 clashes on a CM at Risk job coming from the engineer that you need to coordinate with the subcontractor to fulfill their contract requirement of "fully coordinated shop drawings."

Do you issue 4,200 RFI's to the engineer? Hardly. Besides having a field engineer who you will probably drive to become an alcoholic, there is a better way of processing these changes.

Solution - begin coordinating the clashes via a GoTo Meeting or in house model coordination session. At the end of every week submit all of the changes to the engineer for approval as a BIM submittal to approve the changes you intend to make. This fulfils the requirement to have the engineer sign off on revisions to the design, while streamlining your effort to issue RFI's. Continue until zeroed out...and hopefully prior to construction. Har har.

Finally there WILL be issues that cannot seemingly be resolved via BIM coordination, because for some reason or another the systems just don't fit as designed or someone hasn't thought everything through. In this case, highlight the issue and forward on to the Project management team for resolution as an RFI so you aren't driving yourself crazy trying to be Superman(or girl) and jam everything into the space.

The basic idea here is to maximize the results, minimize the work everyone has to do and virtually coordinate before the shovel hits the dirt.

As always, comments welcome!

Great Letter from Kimon Onuma

2010-01-26T08:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a great and well written letter from Kimon Onuma, explaining the current dangers the AIA and the architectural community at large is facing...or not facing depending on how you look at it. I especially like the part,

"Imagine if authors and screenwriters depended on Microsfot for their creativity. Would they wait for the next version of MS Word to be able to put out a new novel? Do they look to Bill Gates for creativity beyond that of creating the software that they use to write that screenplay? That is where most architects are, we are looking to the software vendors to give us the answers..."

Interesting read and spot on accurate read to say the least.

Changing the Title of the Blog

2010-01-25T09:45:00.000-08:00

Much to my oversight, the title of the blog has been Revit - for real for some time and in reality Revit is about 1/7th of the piece of the pie to making BIM work, but initially I set out to have a Revit tutorial blog. However, as life would have it my direction and the direction of this blog has taken a different path.

That said, I give you the brand new revised title, completely lacking in originality, but clear in purpose.....

BIM - for real...much better.

ConstrucTech Article

2010-01-25T09:02:00.000-08:00

Good morning all!

I had a couple moments prior to the Holiday break to write an article as requested by the folks at ConstrucTech magazine. Of course, this got me to thinking about how to make the article unique and somehwat valuable to the AEC industry at large instead of the usual "What is BIM?" that we've all heard.

After talkig it over with the folks here at Barnhart, we thought it would be a good idea to go through the books and look at exactly how much the BIM department costs to each job. This then sparked a whole new idea that we should look at BIM from a business perspective and that it would be good to look at BIM from the business side of it's use. Since this first article, I have now been asked to write up four more that further outlines the "Business Case for BIM".

I encourage you to check out the first article at your leisure here or better yet order the magazine, which has the included graphics.

While it expands on the already well known McLeamy curve it was very interesting to look at the use of BIM from the GC's perspective during the construction process. Again, the bulk of effort/money is spent up front in pre-con coordination and use, however it ramps up again prior to project closeout, in the preparation of the As-Constructed BIM which added an intersting twist.

We are also looking at how we can be more cost effective on medium to smaller sized jobs as the delta between these types of projects and the larger jobs is significantly less. We are even looking at training a small batch of Superintendents into "Super Users" that limit the amount of effort (time and money) that we need to bill towards these smaller projects while maximizing the value and pre-existing expense.

Article two, will be about balancing people with software and measuring internal efficiency.

iPhone Model Viewer

2010-01-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

So I first purchased my iPhone a couple of months ago after buying one for the wife is chasing the little one most of the day and it gives her some semblance of sanity in its ability to email, message and take vids and pictures.

After about two months of use, I don't understand my life before it. Needless to say I get over the copious amount of dropped calls (thanks AT and T) and data charges, provided I'm able to surf the net, check emails, text using voice recognition and find a good spot for diner using the urban spoon app.

Recently while perusing the seemingly endless array of apps available I ran across a 3D model viewer app called NaviCAD and of course I have downloaded it and yes you will love it and forever forget the .99 you paid for it like I did. I used some of the Google models available under the gigantic Google warehouse and it works for simple models great, more complex models seem to slow it down a little, but I'm viewing models on a phone!

Of course this instantly put me into "what if" mode. What if we were able to walk through models on site using our handhelds? What if a facility manager could pull out his blackberry and it locates him in a 3D building using GPS and he can scan an object with it and it will tell him everything he needs to know about it? Ah, the mind runs wild...

On a side note, my wife and I are designing and preparing to build a home here,which I have uploaded to Google warehouse and I can't wait to show her what the design looks like using this app.

Now if only there was an app to keep my daughter from climbing on everything....

Interesting Technology

2010-01-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

I recieved an email from Houston Neal with Software Advice about a pretty slick technology that allows a user to view a BIM simply by moving his head. Apparently Apple has filed for a patent using this motion sensing technology and the engineers there at Apple think it has legs. It looks like it still might have some development to go, but what a cool concept!

Link here

Eventually it would be great to see technology that allows us to use a hybrid, head motion - voice activated command system as well, to make navigating models in the field and other "non-desktop" applications easier.

Check it out and let me know what you think. Would this be helpful or is this a bell and whistle technology? Either way it could be interesting!

Rendering - Post Holiday

2010-01-04T16:24:00.000-08:00

Amazing that I'm posting the day after a break like the one we've just had!

Nonetheless I wanted to encourage everyone if they haven't tried the latest version of V-Ray lighting plug in for 3DS Max Design 2010 to do so ( www.asgvis.com ). Pretty incredible rendering and lighting settings, relatively quick output and the real time map scaler is a life saver.

That's really about it. No other tutorials other than I strongly recommend any time you export Revit files out to 3DS Max or 3DS Max Design to change your export options settings from polymesh default to the ACIS solids. This will save you a couple of redos and hopefully give you the ability to better select layers and faces to edit your material pallettes.

I'll probably post a couple of tips as we get into cranking out a rendered "non-flickering" animation. Stay tuned...

Let me know if you've used Vray. Liked it? As always, tips or tricks are always welcome.

3D Coordination vs BIM Coordination

2009-11-17T16:14:00.000-08:00

To start this post I would like to ask the question,

"How can we BIM better?"

I'm using BIM here both as the software that enables the process and the process itself. After having worked in this industry for a number of years now, I have a couple of process change ideas that have been rolling around for a while that I would like to add to the discussion and of course hear everyone's thoughts on.

Who thought design models were ever a good idea? It has been my experience that you could keep the MEP and FP engineers from working on a project until the shell and structure is designed to a high level of completion (approximately 90-95% complete) and then hand it off to a sub/engineer hybrid team or a subcontractor with an engineer on staff to make it work.

This would save a heck of a lot of time and ultimately make for a better coordinated design in between architectural and structural, which is often lacking. Additionally it would give the architect the time to look at the major issues such as seismic bracing, material specifications and LEED requirements affecting the structure and give the engineers enough information to know the constraints on their designs and the potential impacts of decisions from the start.

Frankly, I feel sorry for the engineers work on a "typical" design project as it seems like its a never ending routine of shift, explore, test, change and then receive more detailed information and in the end there are so many time constraints to deliver the "final product" in that the engineer often is forced to issue incomplete documentation and adapt a "design intent" strategy for delivering docs.

My thoughts here would be implement a Core Phase and a Systems Phase immediately following.

(And no I don't buy the clear space (above ceiling or in a raised floor) argument, this could easily be handled and probably better handled after a sophisticated design is given to an engineer worth their salt as well as become an additional profit center for them.)

Just an idea, but I 'd love to hear your thoughts as always and facilitate the discussion for a better way to facilitate faster more efficient design collaboration.

And have a great Thanksgiving!

Moving Components and Files in Navisworks

2009-11-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

So I heard a Navisworks presentation recently where the presenter either didn't understand, goofed or didn't have his third cup of coffee (which I think we all can relate to), but said you can't "move" objects in Navis. So to quickly set the record straight, yes you can move files and components both in Navisworks but it's not like moving an item in Revit or other modeling software.

Tranlating items v translating files

So we've all seen Navisworks and have appended models to create a composite model like so.

Click on all images if blurry for higher-res

All Images by Brad Hardin, barnhart-heery, inc.

But what a lot of folks might not know is that once you have created your composite model you can select either an entire file and translate it or you can select an individual component and translate it. Keep in min that we are working in an .NWF file format. I'll talk later on why .NWD file translation is wonky.

That said to translate an entire file, highlight on the Selection Tree and right click on the "File Units and Transform" command as shown below.

This then pulls up the transform dialog box that allows you to enter in transformed coordinates and essentially move the entire file by entering in fett, inches or metric units depending on your system.

While I don't recommend this tool to set up the alignment of your files, it is awfully handy when trying to relocate the entire elevation of say Fire sprinkler lines or a "what if" sturcture scenario, etc... Handy but usually our job as "BIM folk" is to change bits and pieces of a total design and make shifts here and there to reduce clashes and resolve design issues. Which takes us to transforming components....

Transforming components is not that complicated either. However ,I would recommend a process interjection here. If you haven't used the "measure" tool in Navisworks then I will introduce the newbies to it. If you are a seasoned vet and have this under control then I would recommend skipping ahead to the next paragraph that begins with "This image below..." (kind of like choose your own adventure).

To begin, if you want to move components in Navisworks, typically you need to know some measure of distance to enter as it isn't as easy to move components around as it is in Revit to measure the distance from one system to another to find out "clear space".

The image below shows a clash in between an electrical conduit sleeved slab penetration and a deck mounted utility light. In this case, I always look at moving the "LCD" - "least common denominator" which in this example is the lighting layout as the conduit sleeve needs to stack for all three floors of this design, instead of jog. So we're moving some lights. But how far Brad? How far are we moving those lights? Well I'm about to tell you.

Open the Measure tool from your dialog box, looks like this:

Then click on one end of the conduit sleeve (with snaps turned on...hit Help if you don't know how to do this) to the other end.

*Note - Keep in mind this is to find a ballpark measurement, if you want to get really exact in Navis, I recommend selecting your zoom tool and then right clicking on your view cube wheel and selecting orthographic instead of perspective and aligning your view to the dimension you need.

As you can see from the image below the sleeve is about 6.11" Which we will round up to 7", since there is no equipment to the left of the light and transform the light 7" to see if this clears our clash.

By highlighting the component, in this case the light, and right clicking, I will select the Override Item - > Override Transform. This will bring up a dialog box that looks like the image below. Here I will enter 7" in the Y direction that I wish to transform the object.

Click OK and "Voila!" now you can see that the light has shifted (not the entire file) and that we are visibly clear of the previous clash.

This type of quick review and alteration is a "Must Know" for the BIM Manager and one that comes in pretty handy when doing a live coordination meeting or doing some quick "what-if" scenarios among other things.

Let me know if you have anything to add to the tutorial as input is always welcome and have a great rest of the week!

Two Posts in the Same Day!?

2009-10-20T09:04:00.001-07:00

I know what you're thinking...here we go two months without a post and now, bam two posts in the same day?! Crazy I know.

Moving on. It seems lately that everyone is in the HAVE TO GET WORK mode lately. And of course this is completely understandable and justifiable. I know we have been cranking out proposals and RFQ's right and left, while still managing all of our other projects. But every now and then I find myself at a point that is very rare...I call it the "Between Things...Thing". (While this is not too technical of a term of course, those who follow this blog or know me, also know that I think too much seriousness takes a lot of the fun out of what we do and doesn't really help in the end.)

Some people call the BTT (Between Things Thing) down time, EBAY time, check your 401k time, write on your blog time, update your LinkedIn profile time or time to visit with coworkers and talk about The Office season finale.

For a BIM Department...the BTT (Between Things Thing) is gaps in time between issuing clash detection reports, coordination emails, 4D updates, model builds, redesigns, RFI's and field coordination reports that can be used to increase your efficiencies to continue to complete this work even faster.

Here's the deal, every week my team and I have a meeting (a Lean meeting of course we have to practice what we preach) and I outline the standard/tutorials that need to be completed in the BTT gaps. These can include everything from BIM Project Startup Checklists to Coursework for our guys in the field to use to BIM specification customization. All of these continue to expand our ever growing standards and reference library.

I have included a sample snippit of a standard we distribute to team members who want to review the model clashes and 4D of a project with Navisworks Freedom here

While this current library of standards is growing into quite an impressive document/book, the intent is to begin using it for:

- New hires - both in the field and in the BIM Division to better acquaint themselves with how to do things the right way and limit "over the shoulder time"

- Executives - to orient themselves with our processes and technology

- Marketing - to stay away from "Hollywood BIM" and make sure we are promising what we can deliver

- Ourselves - believe it or not from time to time we forget things and this has served as an excellent reminder on more than one occasion.

BIM Projection Spreadsheet

2009-10-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

So I've been a little further behind than I anticipated...anyways to expand on what we were discussing earlier, I have been digging a little deeper lately into more of the project management end of what it means to be a BIM Manager.

To that end I have posted here a spreadsheet in Google Docs that shows how we are linking our weekly time sheets to our monthly projections / expenses. While some of it looks like it got lost in the translation, I think you'll get the general concept.

Probably one of the biggest hurdles we've had in our current implementation is billing against project budgets that are slim to nonexistent. The course of action I've taken to resolve it, is to get involved earlier in the process of estimating/bidding or establishing the GMP on negotiated work to make sure that we have a justifiable and accurate budget in the job so we aren't making PM's unhappy campers.

Currently we are using this type of spreadsheet (though in Oracle) to track our cost histories for each phase of a project to validate future BIM enabled construction projects. While I know a number of companies bill their BIM Department to General Ledger, I've found you still need to know just how much a certain size of project will cost in the overall project framework which ultimately affects that bottom line.

I've made it a point to start discussing with the PM's at the beginning of each month exactly how many total hours we anticipate billing towards their projects. Although at first some of them love to kick and scream a little bit after a while they really appreciate the communication and more importantly the value add to their job.

Some more posts coming soon!

Setting up a New Division

2009-07-25T23:01:00.000-07:00

First of all, apologies for not posting for quite a while, you will start to see much more frequent posts now that things are a bit more settled...

Settled you ask?

Well, it's been a whirlwind couple of weeks, however we have officially relocated to the west coast to be closer to my wife's family and we are truly enjoying the beautiful weather, beaches and people. More importantly the new challenge of setting up a new BIM division in the San Diego market!

Stay tuned as I will continue to upload standards, tasks and challenges as I undertake this journey once again and hopefully it will be helpful to the folks who have emailed me about being tasked with setting up a BIM department and making it work! Coming soon: How to measure BIM profitability vs. time lost on an employee and project level...oh yes this will involve spreadsheets.

Lucia digs the sand

Top Ten Architecture Modeling Mistakes

2009-06-08T14:19:00.001-07:00

We've all heard it before. "The architects models are worthless and unusable." So here's my first crack at a top ten list of things architects need to avoid when modeling that inhibit further progress when dealing with contractors and consultants (i.e. structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, GIS and so on)

Top ten modeling mistakes architects make:

1.) Alignment - This is uber important. Especially when using the model for IES, CFD or other analytical tools. Floors connect to walls, parapets extend past roof lines, footings align with slabs or are integral to them. Oh yeah and windows and doors need to be modeled as constructed. Unfortunately a 500 lb aluminum storefront window can't bear on only the substrate and exterior finishes.

2.) No generic modeling. Or at least don't share the models until they have material and intelligence otherwise the models are distributing maybes and kind ofs which don't help any body and in reality can really confuse the team.

3.) Model as constructed. Walls are not 150 ft tall. Floors are not 1700 ft long without joints. Pre-cast panels are just that, panels. Also when concrete floors and deck pans are modeled they need to be modeled to their exact dimensions. Also ceilings have wire supports, which can easily be worked around pipes for the most part, however pipe hangers, duct hangers and other supporting appurtenances need to be modeled. Use best judgement.

4.) Don't use design options. A lot of tools will not recognize the difference between design option 1 or 2 when exported and lump everything together. Separate files work here and in reality work better at an early stage.

5.) Align and orient all structure to grid lines and exact locked and constrained dimensions. This saves on time (moving a grid line as opposed to 100 columns) and makes the modeling inherently more accurate.

6.) If a floor replicates exactly a number of times use groups and copy. You can always ungroup if the program becomes more complex.

7.) Don't model the structure if you have a structural engineer on the team who is doing BIM. The engineer's model is what should be built and tested, not the architects. Link it in, save time and if you need additional structure create a separate workset that you can send to the engineer to update his model.

8.) Limit 2D info. BIM is nice in the fact you can click on a component and it will tell the user what it is and that you can model as needed.

9.) Control your levels and families. Family creation needs to be created as accurately as possible and with flexible sizing options. This is the only time I encourage an architect to use a generic block and then go back later and change it to a worthwhile family object. Also learn how to model families correctly, these are often the biggest propagator for "blank" clashes. Levels need to be limited. When there are too many different objects hosted to too many differing levels it will get very confusing during the analysis phase unless there is some system put in place that makes sense to the team.

10.) Don't send junk. if the model isn't finished, if it's not usable and if it's not coherent it won't be to anyone else.

Thanks to Jeff Woodward from Midwest CAD who came up with this idea and I hope this helps begin a dialog.

Feel free to add on if you can think of anymore, these were just the "biggies" off the top of my head.

Great to hear from so many people!

2009-05-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all of the notes, emails, suggestions and atta boys about the book. Please keep the input coming so I can build on this and make the next one even better.

Composite Model Strategy p.2

2009-04-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

So here's the second part of the post, the how to. I know most have you have heard of WAN and LAN networks, however, what I'd really like to start talking about is how this works within the framework of a BIM collaboration. For those of you who haven't checked it out, I strongly recommend looking at Riverbed Technologies, who essentially has developed a system of network WAN optimizers that allow for multiple users across multiple networks to access and update a single file minimizing the drag on your local (LAN) machines. Although there is quite a large investment involved in the Riverbed and Steelhead systems it does allow users to collaborate using a single Revit model file across the internet. Also it makes it super convenient to enable its use with mobile devices in the field and encrypts the data to meet pretty tough security protocols.

Another new technology to come to the forefront of late is the BIM server. You can apply to test drive this new plugin here. What's great about this technology is that it allows users to upload and download the latest iterations of BIM files in IFC format from a centralized location. Although this technology is relatively new, it holds the most promise in that it is being developed as a free resource for the industry to plug into and the fact that it has been developed to IFC standards as a baseline makes it a very promising technology.

Image copyright and from www.bimserver.org

Book Comes Out in One Week!

2009-04-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! It's been a second since my last post, but as many of you know this was due in large part to writing my book. This book will be released on Amazon may 7th and should hit bookstores on May 9th.

Please feel free to hit me back with responses, questions, dialog and suggestions as this is the first iteration of the book, I would really like for the future editions to address what the issues are that you and your teams face and continue to develop upon this first edition.

Best!
Brad

Composite Model Strategy p.1

2009-03-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

I recently was asked how to use architects models if they're "trash". While it seems like a good question and easy to ask if you aren't an architect, I have been asked the same from engineers and fabricators by contractors and heard from the architects, what kind of model is the contractor looking for?? Basically everybody is asking why they can't use each other's models. Here's the deal (generally speaking).

- Engineers (mechanical) are using general architecture models to run CFD and daylighting analysis. Here's what's important to have right in the architecture model. First, floors align with the exterior walls, no gaps and if the floor bears on the exterior wall verify it aligns with the internal structure of the wall and doesn't penetrate or overlap the exterior wall finish, otherwise...no go. Next the roof needs to align with the parapet wall, same rules on the exterior finish.

- Contractors are using models for just about everything depending on who you're working with. This means more things than I can probably include in a blog but here is my best shot.

1) Model it right. If the interior walls are 9'-6" high and then diagonally braced to structure above. Model the walls at 9'-6" not to structure. It helps on estimates, clash detection and just about everything else. Accuracy is the first step to a good model.

2) There is no generic modeling. And architects and engineers everywhere say "but what if?" and "won't the contractor lock me into my material selection?"

There are a couple of answers to this and why I say there isn't any generic modeling. First the relationship between the architect and the contractor needs to change. Desgn-build and IPD are great starts to a reformed process, I think that we are probably going to see even more integrated forms of delivery soon. This of course means that a brick wall, can turn into a rainscreen, which can turn into metal panel. This is the very nature of design and construction... things change. So model as the design is being envisioned. The estimating contractor will be making assumptions on construction type and materials anyways, might as well better inform the assuptions being made. If you're wondering why contractors are calling models "worthless" this would be one of those reasons.

3) Design models don't work. BIM isn't CAD. If you're building a BIM to provide a construction tool that helps better coordinate the project than build the model to a level of constructable detail that a GC can use and build from start the dialog with the contractor to find out what they need as well. Construction is a team sport. Otherwise use CAD or use BIM to just generate your CD's, but don't sell it as "doing BIM."

4.) More detailed models replace less detailed models. For example, structural models supercede intial architect structural models. Detailed structural models/fab models supercede structural models.

Well this is a start.... I'll continue this when my daughter isn't needing to go to bed..turns out she's not as into ESPN as daddy...what's up with that?!

Yep Econonomy Isn't the Best...

2008-11-25T07:18:00.000-08:00

But what value can you put on the BIM Manager or Virtual Construction Manager during these tumultuous times?

It seems as though BIM professionals are still in hot demand. Specifically on LinkedIN and the upcoming AEC Fall Conference BIM job fair. I guess this is a blog / input from everyone as to what your take on everything BIM - wise in this current economy is.

I was thinking about the current state of things in our own industry after I read this great article in WIRED about how an economic downturn = opportunity for innovation. (If you're there read this article too, it's about some kid who made a 200 million dollar company over selling gold on World of Warcraft...scary)

I think that there seems to be a lack of innovation within the BIM world recently. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seemed there for a while it was one software innovation after another, from Green Building Studio to IES to Vico. Maybe our industry is refining its practices, maybe the industry is making the move to ONE BIG BIM or maybe everyone's checking their 401k accounts and hanging on to the counter at the local bar.

In all though, it feels that the BIM industry continues to thrive and push forward. However, there were recently a significant number of layoffs in the Kansas City area and I couldn't help but think the mistake some of these companies are making. While I can't look at all of their budget sheets and judge or make decisions based on how they handle their HR department, I can look at the talented field of people who are now looking for nothing but BIM jobs.

It's a veritable hey day for architecture and engineering firms that were singing the blues about lack of experienced and knowledgeable personnel in the market!

Here's the catch...you need to hire them now. The personnel available now will NOT be wanting to go back to their old, under paid, repetitive jobs. In fact, employers should really think twice before laying off the BIM Manager as they might cost twice what they were paying him before to get him back IF he wants to come back.

Considering the average BIM manager is pulling about 95k and the average Sr. Project Architect is pulling 89k, this validates not only the need but the direction of the industry.

My advice to employers, hang on to your BIM department if at all possible.

My advice to those laid off, congratulations. You are now one of the most sought after professionals in the industry.

As always, thoughts and comments appreciated...

It starts...interoperability and singular modeling

2008-11-19T06:44:00.001-08:00

So here's some exciting stuff...INTEROPERABILITY!

Recently had a great meeting with some of A-desk's software development task force and found that there is light at the end of the tunnel....hopefully.

So here was in essence the discussion we had.

The first topic of discussion was interoperability. The question came up how important is it? Where we see it being effective and why?

Umm...where to start? Does this meeting involve beer? If not why not?

Moving on.

Interoperability affects all of our professions. Currently, it cripples a lot of the day to day tasks that should be a LOT simpler than what they are. As any BIM Manager or Virtual Construction manager worth their salt will tell you there's always a solution. It just might take half the day to get it there.

During this discussion, I brought up an epiphany I had after talking with a buddy of mine who is a programmer for Apple, Joseph. Joseph is a super smart guy and I revere the fact that he has started up two very successful software companies sold them and continues to work for Apple because he likes the "environment". (I personally prefer the environment in Cancun, but to each their own) So I thought I would throw this issue of interoperability at him.

After asking the question, Joseph thought it was hilarious for some reason! I asked him what was so funny and he said because they faced the same issues in his industry years ago. Apparently Windows' take on interoperability between systems was that they had the "best" solution for PCs out there and that they didn't need to conform to any of the Apple software protocols.

So Apple made their existing systems not only interoperable with Windows but every other "highly used" system available. This included both Unix and Windows software, web interfaces and so on down to the printers and the Ipod. He went on to say that Apple took the stance of change the industry, by example and as a result (sans current economic downturn) saw a revenue growth of almost 200%! With the mantra of, "Plug it in and it has to work. No matter who made it."

Joe also went on to talk about how the answer (in dumbed down terms for me) was filters. He said computers should do the work, humans should make the decisions. Taking data and pushing it through an analysis filter such as (his words) NavisWord, (Joe if you're reading this I have to give you a hard time!) and viewing the results directly in the native format.

Whoa...I thought. Native format huh? He said "Yeah you know whatever you created the file in is inherently where the most data and toolsets reside otherwise you wouldn't have been capable of creating it. He said the key is the same base language otherwise you end up with a Tower of babel situation. In programming if the language is C++ than the entire team knows how to work with it. This doesn't mean that designers have to use the same software that database programmers use or that interface programmers use. What we're talking about here is use the tool that makes it easiest for you, so long as you can get the information in the end to C++. It's not rocket science man....everything needs to talk the same language. In the end after you push it through these filters, fix it, test it, filter it, fix it, test it for about 30 times you end up with a useable product."

Now I'm just a lowly BIM guy, but it seems to me that there are some direct parallels here. The fact is that BIM as a deliverable needs to remain in the native file format. (Revit, Bentley, ArchiCAD) however, filters such as clash detection, energy analysis, estimating bring value to the table as they accomplish testing tasks that the native software isn't capable of. Lastly, exporting the product in the form of animations, stills and graphics are a snapshot in time and shouldn't be relied on other than visualizataion and better communication of the idea.

In the end, the Autodesk boys were sitting there, with that aha look on their face. Hopefully they go back to the rest of the team and expand upon Apple's model that interoperability isn't "optional" it's a way to be more profitable! Of course, we are talking about the software industry and sometimes that takes a while....

Also I wanted to thank Joe for his take on the interoperability issue.

Brads Take on Parallel Modeling

2008-10-31T11:27:00.000-07:00

Recently I was asked why I try so hard to keep a singular model in Revit using the architects', MEP and structural information when I could just as easily create my own.

Great question.

My answer was, "Because there is only one google."

Needless to say this slightly confused the person asking the question who couldn't seem to draw the parallel I was trying to make.

I further elaborated on this concept and point.

BIM is not CAD.

BIM will not and should not be forced to function in the same way we have been using CAD for the past couple of decades. The old CAD way had us managing hundreds or thousands of CAD drawings that were somewhat organized in a format we pray can be managed later in the project when due to schedule constraints the project manager throws thirteen new and strange people to draft on the project. Where more often than not they are inputting loads of information that is incorrect, contradicts other drawings or the specs and then wonder why document quality stinks.

CAD is a series of information silos. No I don't care about xreferenced drawings.

BIM is not an information silo.

So to get back to my point. There is only one google.

Google is a great example of one source of user entry, input and extraction that streamlines and manages the information for the user in a useful way. Currently valued at over 158 billion dollars, even in a time of recession, (people need information now more than ever..) there is something to be said for the value this tool creates. That said there is no separate site for any of the following:

- Google for Engineers
- Google for Architects
- Google for Construction Managers
- Google for Subcontractors
- Google for Field Personnel
- Google for Estimators
- Google for Owners
- Google for Code Compliance
- Google for Sustainability
- Google for Facility Managers
lastly...

No specific Google for BIM Managers, Virtual Construction Managers....either

The real value and appeal of Google is a single source of information.

A fundamental screw up in the way our industry is heading is not working together to begin building an actual honest to god usable tool. It's easy for us general contractors to get in a rush, think we're more important than the rest of the team and fail to understand the value of educating the team above to create BIM's correctly as opposed to wasting a lot of time and resources of the course of the next 111 projects with the same team or same members.

Conversely, GC's need to gain an understanding of what is important to the team members to see from us (GC's). Turns out no one on the team knows it all and the better we can facilitate answers for the team the better results.

....just like Google.

Beginning of the Consortium and the Cassagnes Rating

2008-10-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSORTIUM for REALLY AMAZING PERIPHERAL DEVICES
(CRAPD)

So Brian (a gifted and talented gadget guru/BIM expert) and I got to thinking it would be a good idea to take a break from talking about BIM for a moment and delve into how we got where we were and whose shoulders we are now perched upon.

Thus, we are going to begin a satire filled series on Fridays called Technology vs. Man.

This analysis will take an in depth look at how,(in the history of mankind) technology has helped, hindered, hurt, humiliated or in the rare case delivered a moment of hopeful euphoria. As such we have create the CONSORTIUM for REALLY AMAZING PERIPHERAL DEVICES. We hope you understand this consortium is open to the public for commenting and further non-gratis studies.

In this session we will look at the very beginnings of technology...the Etch a Sketch:

Simplicity+Function=Beautiful Device

Say what you will about technology, without the introduction of the Etch a Sketch into the area of "kick-ass" technology, we at the Consortium doubt very seriously we would be where we are today.

Invented in 1950 by André Cassagnes the Etch a Sketch was originally called the Telecran ("tele-screen"). As a dedication to Cassagnes and his life changing invention we will rate all further technologies on a Cassagnes scale. This scale will be rendered out of 512 and will indicate the level of "kick-ass"edness, thus inherent in the device.

Image of "Kick Ass" Cassagnes..

Moving on, Cassagnes' device receives a 511 out of 512. The -1 one rating is because the name "Telecran" should have been used and thus fully and completely "kicking ass". That said 511 is still way beyond any rating thus far...clearly and thus elates us everyday we get to use this wonderful device.

THE INNER CIRCLE

The Etch a Sketch works by having the inside surface of the glass screen coated with aluminum powder which is then scraped off by a movable stylus, leaving a dark line on the light gray screen.

The stylus is controlled by the two large knobs, or "Knobbies" one of which moves it vertically and the other horizontally.

To erase the picture, the artist turns the device upside down and shakes it. Doing this causes the styrene beads to smooth out and re-coat the inside surface of the screen with aluminum powder. The "black" line merely exposes the darkness inside the device.

While many might question the rating we at the "Consortium for Really Appealing Peripheral Devices" or simply CRAPD; we stand firm behind Andre's glorious device. One because we used it as kids and secondly we couldn't think of any other device that perfectly balances form, function and simplicity quite like the EAS.

TOP SECRET

Filling in large "black" areas will allow enough light through to expose parts of the interior. This is of course top secret information and available to only the true students of the EAS (Etch-a-Sketch).

NEXT GEN TECHNOLOGY

Many people fail to realize that the Etch-a-Sketch was father to another device, the Animator.

Visionary Machinery for the Space Age...or Animating Peeling a Banana.

Released in 1986, the Animator reaches a level of "kick assedness" rarely seen from the Consortium. Walking a fine line of yin and yang, form and technology, and unadulterated pleasure the animator defines the form and function of the modern day laptop/mobile device.

While single handedly wowing the industry the Animator burst onto the scene only to be quickly taken off as scientists scratched their collective heads in awe and disbelief and scrambled to develop laptop technology....A coincedence?

Scientists diligently finding the innerworkings of the Animator

We think not.Literally...

The EAS and Animator essentially defined to laptop designers everywhere what their product is supposed to do and how it is to function.

TWENTY TWO YEARS!!!

That's how long before the modern day the animator existed for this reason we compare the following:

VS.

Sure the modern animator has some more bells and whistles than the Original Animators functions as follows-

- ON/Move

- Animate

- Save

- Draw

- Next

- Reverse

- Recall

- Erase

But these functions pretty well sum up the functions of our modern day laptops and tablet PC's anwyays! So here here!! To the Animator and its Cassagnes rating of 511.544!

Congratulations! You sir are an innovator, a pilgrim and a true champion of modern technology!

Custom Revit Schedules / Parameters

2008-10-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

So I was asked to submit a sample page from the book and unfortunately at this time I can't do that (soon very soon), HOWEVER I can submit a tutorial for everyone regarding customizing Revit schedules that very well might be in the Book!

Keep in mind this is just one of the many tutorials (that might be in the book) and maybe I'll post another couple of tutorials from the book before it's release so everyone runs out and buys it! =)

I really appreciate the positive feedback from everyone looking forward to using the book and moreover I'm really excited to put something out there that doesn't just theorize any more about BIM in regards to the field of construction, but really starts to dig into the processes that are necessary to make BIM work.

So here is how to create a custom Revit Material Schedule to generate recycled material percentages from a concrete floor to be used for LEED reporting later. This involves creating a new schedule field so make sure you take the time to create it correctly, keep it stored on your Imperial Library and it will be available for every project after that!

Best,
B

Custom Schedule Tutorial

For this tutorial we will create a custom floor schedule in which we will input a custom field to indicate the amount of recycled content percentages of our building and derive a total volume of recycled content of our floors. To begin let’s open Revit. (helpful if you already have a revit file with floors in it- the book provides these models)
Click on View ->
-> New Schedule/Quantities...
-> From the category window select “Floors”
-> From the Fields tab add Family and Type, Area, Level, Volume, Perimeter, Comments
-> Click OK to create the schedule
Now that our schedule is created we will need to add a new Parameter and add a Calculated Value to that Parameter so that we can show the recycled content in the concrete floors.
-> Right click on your Schedule and select View PropertiesUnder the Other field select the Fields category again
-> Now select Add Parameter…
-> Under the Parameter Properties change the Parameter Type from Project parameter to Shared Parameter, this will allow us to export this schedule and can be used for other materials other than floors. This should make the Parameter Data fields inactive.
-> Click on the “Group parameter under:” pull down menu and select “Materials and Finishes”Now click Select…In this window click Edit…Click on Create… at the top right of the window Under File Name enter “Recycled Material Parameter”
-> Click Save
-> Now under the groups category select New…And Type in “Recycled Content”
-> Click OK On the Parameter group pull down select Recycled Content
-> Click on New… under Parameters
Under the Parameter Properties fill in the Name:Recycled Content. Under discipline enter Common and under Type of Parameter: enter number.
-> Click OK until you are at the Schedule Properties window.Now under the Scheduled fields you can see that there is a Recycled Content category we just created. While this seemed like a significant undertaking the fact is that since we made the Recycled content a shared parameter we will only have to do that once as it is now an option for future projects saved on Revit’s Imperial Library. Now to calculate the total amount of recycled content of the floors we will need to add a Calculated Value…
->Click on Calculated Value from the Schedule Properties window and enter “Total Recycled Volume” under the name.
-> Select the Formula setting-> Leave the default settings for Discipline
-> Under the Type pull down enter Volume
-> Under Formula: Input “Volume*Recycled Content”Before we completely exit the Schedule Properties window
-> Click OK until you are out of the element properties window click on Formatting and select the field Recycled Content. Now click on Field Format…Uncheck default settings and under Units select Percentage. Under rounding select 0 decimal places and under Unit Symbol select the “%” sign.

Finally click OK until we are back at the Floor Schedule.

Start inputting the percentages of recycled content and away you go! You'll now notice too that the calculated percentage is generating the total amount of recycled content for the floors.

Also since this is now a grouped parameter in your library it can be used for doors, walls, ceilings and so on.

BIM and Sustainability

2008-10-12T18:49:00.000-07:00

So it's late and I had to take a break from writing about BIM and sustainability in my book...to write about BIM and sustainability on my blog?? eh? Regardless, I just finished dancing around the room to Mos Def putting my 3 month old daughter to sleep so I figured I'd spit out a few words about some interesting work a colleague and myself are doing in regards to sustainability as it relates to construction.

So Hiromitsu (a sushi loving buddy of mine) and I talked as he is currently working outside of Tokyo on a large scale mixed use development and was talking about some of the nuainces that seem to be fundamentally different between projects in Japan and here. That said to begin we don't bless a site with Buddhist monks to evoke teamwork and prosperity, but based on the current economic crisis, perhaps we should! But moreover he was talking about how they are using BIM to protect a wetland area they are working around. While some of this seemed over the top, I'm sure the native egrets greatly appreciate it:

- Motion activated cameras notify the site superintendent on his hand held tablet PC when the said area is breached.

- When it rains on site the superintendent can use the web enabled site security cameras to verify that his site is draining correctly and that the water runoff is not flooding the protected area from his i-phone. (maybe apple will take over the world..hmmm..)

- Every piece of installed lumber, steel, concrete, panelling, flooring, etc...has imbedded recycled content schedules that table for green building reporting later in the BIM.

- They are monitoring on site energy use by having all off hours site security lighting on motion sensors and unplug all construction equipment at the end of the day.

So that said I was pretty impressed. Of course, I had to let him know about my latest little contribution to the world of sustainability and the image below says quite a bit:

That's right... an eco-friendly jobsite trailer. Now what you might ask, does a green job trailer have anything to do with BIM? Well the simple fact is that I designed this puppy in Revit and calculated the southern orientation for daylighting and views, those solar panels on the top were modeled for correct angle here in the midwest (also to make sure we could clear overpasses), the composting toilet (no it doesn't stink) was modeled to show were outside vents would be and were shown on the plans and the interior is clad in completely reclaimed wood panelling, that had some great pattern to it, which of course was modeled.

At the end of the day this trailer is net POSITIVE ENERGY! So it can essentially be rolled out into a field virtually anywhere the sun shines an average 40% of the time during an 8 hour period and it will operate completely sustainably. If the sun doesn't shine, which hasn't happened yet, the wind generator mounted to the side kicks on and hums through the evening and night hours completely recharging the system batteries. Funny story is when they were setting it up for the local tour we had 6 laborers all plugged in to the trailer to set things up and all had power tools, drills and saws working away and we never dropped below 20% usage. It was funny when I asked a worker if it felt good to be completely off grid and he smiled and said he wanted to install the system on his house!

Facts you can use for your next cocktail party:

- Jobsite trailers on average run 24/7 during a job and use in a month enough energy to power 8 average sized homes

- On average jobsite trailers have about 1/4-1/2" of insulation.

- Jobsite trailers account for about 700-1200 dollar energy bills every month on a construction project.

- Through increased windows and motion sensors the typical job trailer could save about 40% in energy costs.

That's what I got tonight...back to work. Have a great week!

Sample pages are coming..in the mean time, NavisWorks rendering

2008-10-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

So recently, we have begun upping our game in the BIM department to renderings, animations and you guessed it rendered animations in an effort to bolster our image in marketing and business development. If you haven't yet, I would encourage everyone to take a gander at the rendering tools now in both Revit and NavisWorks if you haven't yet.

There are a couple of sites out there that allow users to sign up for free and download preconfigured lighting assemblies for renderings such as http://lightworks-user.com/ while some of the exterior ones worked great, some of these just ran my machine into the dirt, so be sure to save prior to copying in an .lfa. Also for some reason more libraries are available to you once you create a free account.

That said create an account log in and use someone else's hardwork for once!

Shameless Self Promotion

2008-09-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

BIM and Construction Management book by Brad Hardin / me.

This is the real deal. Writing this book took a HUGE effort, but I'm really looking forward to seeing it help the construction community and further the cause for BIM by defining purpose of the effort, defining the time it takes to accomplish these processes with tutorials....

That's right.... I said it, tutorials. Everything from estimate model linking, schedule animations (linking to the ever moving CM's schedule in real time), sequencing animations/clash detection, clash detection and how to use the reports to actually get clashes resolved! Also has a bunch of best practice forms, including Information Exchange Plan/Agreement and Model Sharing Responsibility Plan, to be used with AIA A195 and/or ConsensusDOCS and so on.

I really wanted to write a book that answered a lot of the questions the industry seems to keep asking so we can get the pebble kicked down the hill. While this book is sort of an beginning to intermediate discussion of BIM and Construction Management it should be pretty helpful to the gurus out there... Yes even you Aaron..the BIM Wizard/I think I'll write Revit Plugins using their API's in my spare time...

3D = ok

2008-09-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

So this blog is a brief discussion on why it's great to receive 3D fab shops, especially if the engineer is using Revit or any other BIM tool. To start, one of the latest projects we have been working on used correct 0,0,0 reference points all the way across the board! Even our civil had the model in the right place! We had a great kickoff and coordination meeting, which helped and we tackled quite a few of the issues regarding,

What is our project's reference point?

What is true elevation vs. level elevation?

And how in the world do you model a giant sombrero? (this last one was for fun and the answer was with sweeps)

Here is where it got fun, our subcontractors were all using 3d in one form or another. Cue drum roll........model overlay!!

So forget the old way of maybe having an MEP model or trying to cram in a thorough clash detection using the fabricators model towards the end of the project. This time we had all pistons firing. And Brian and I had been dying to try this, thus, we loaded into Navis, the engineers model first (which we had worked through the clash detection on) then we loaded in the fabricators model.

Next words out of our mouths, "Holy buckets!" this is off here this is off there...etc. Also finally got a chance to use NavisWorks' "reverse" clash detection tool that let's you know when one model is not aligned to another by the defined tolerances! (I recommend the old F1 button to learn how to do this correctly but it helped us out immensely.)

I digress... The end result of this was that we found the fabricator had taken some "shorter runs" that worked out fine and saved the project money in length of ductwork runs and some that didn't because the engineer required a longer drop, certain friction for their flow rates, etc..

So ductwork got cut by about 23%. Reran the clash using the approved fab model and went from there.

I love collaboration.

Autodesk and Bentley Thoughts

2008-07-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

Great question. Basically, a non-profit government organization with hardly any funding and a volunteer base (that I’m a part of) is in one corner and an 800+ pound gorilla with an unlimited budget is in the other (that I’m on the R and D team for). I think what a large portion of the industry doesn’t seem to understand is that IFC will be fine to use…in 5 years, but in five years what they develop will be obsolete. Of course, the best solution would be to develop an Interoperability Standards group that is an honest-to-goodness company that consults with these corporations on a full time basis, otherwise the NIBS groups will never be nimble enough to catch up with the rapid development of the software.

Also Revit, Bentley and ArchiCAD have spent a decade developing their software and aren’t about to just give up their profit as they are corporations and are ultimately responsible to their shareholders.

In regards to Bentley, I think it’s probably the best decision they’ve ever made and I’m sure their image of being “the interoperable software of choice” market perception will go up. Between you and me Autodesk has been positioning to purchase Bentley for some time, but from what I’ve heard the asking price is outrageous. So this might be a little friendly positioning on the part of Autodesk to steal market share away from Bentley users, the ol’ if you can’t buy ‘em join ‘em thing. Hard to say, either way though IFC’s aren’t there yet and the software industry will continue to define what “standards” of transfer protocols are best. NavisWorks was really the best IFC software available, but we all know how that ended up! =)

Just a couple thoughts…either way it doesn’t make it easier for NIBS or the IAI.

Planetreuse.com

2008-06-02T07:16:00.001-07:00

Don't know if you guys have seen this site yet, but what a great way to find reclaimed materials for LEED MR credits!

www.planetreuse.com

I recieved an email that said they would be creating a way for architects to input desired materials and quantities in July as well as providing Revit models showing quantity, sizes and built in material information on large enough orders.

Nice.

Sketchup to Revit

2008-04-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

So I got asked the question how do I take a sketchup model and turn it into a Revit file?

To back up the first question I would ask is really? Because you can model everything in Revit much more accurately, and very quickly as well as keep Revit your primary modeling software that you're using for the job. Secondly, Sketchup is generally used for pretty pictures, easy graphics and 3d manipulation so for the most part I model in Revit and then export to Sketchup to make my pretty pictures...However, I can show you how to send it to either program either way.

From Revit to Sketchup:
Open your 3D view

File menu

Export -> CAD Formats

Click on the Options...

Specify under Solids (3d Views Only):

Export as ACIS Solids

(The only advantage I've seen with Exporting Polymesh is when you are exporting/importing complex model geometries and mostly this is used in MAX, Maya or Rhino for vertices editing)

Name your file, and hit Save

Crack open Sketchup

Once you're in Sketchup

File->

Import ->

Then specify under Files of Type ACAD Files .dwg

Then hit Open.

Alright so the next thing you notice is that when you click on your model it highlights the whole shootin match so click on your model right click and hit explode.

Now you can start painting up your Revit model in Sketchup.

Running a little low on time so to export from Sketchup to Revit, you need to have Sketchup Pro I've found to make it work best but essentially you need to go to:

File ->

Export ->

3d Model... ->

Specify ACAD files .dwg

Then Import the geometry into Revit.

The cool thing about this import is that you can replace the model walls with Revit building components to save you some time.

I copied the following below from the Revit Tutorials.

To import SketchUp files:

In the Revit project, create a mass or in-place family. See Creating a Mass Family or Creating an In-Place Family.

Click File menu

Import/LinkCAD Formats.

In the Import/Link dialog, navigate to the folder that contains the SketchUp file.

For Files of Type, select the SKP file type.

Select the desired file, and click Open.

SketchUp (SKP) files can be imported directly into a Revit Architecture mass or in-place family. For more information, see Large-Scale Massing Studies in SketchUp.

TIP:Make sure you import the geometric data needed for the Revit Architecture capability that you plan to use. For more information, see Suitability of Imported Geometry.

For additional information on working with SketchUp files in Revit Architecture, see Integrating SketchUp and Revit.When importing SketchUp files, consider the following:

Two-sided surfaces: If a material or color is assigned to only one side of a surface in SketchUp, Revit Architecture applies the material or color to both sides of the surface by default. If there is material on both sides of the surface, Revit Architecture applies the Face 1 material to both sides. If faces are flipped and painted differently in SketchUp, they may not display the correct material in Revit Architecture.

SketchUp properties: The following SketchUp properties are currently not supported in Revit Architecture import:

Texture Image Maps, Transparency, “Smooth” Curved Surfaces, Text and Dimensions, Raster Images, and saved “Pages”.

Cut planes: Imports cannot be cut by a cut plane unless imported into a cuttable family category. See Cuttable and Non Cuttable Family Categories.

SketchUp and Massing: Not all SketchUp imports are appropriate to massing. See Suitability of Imported Geometry.

Scaling: Groups or components that have been scaled in their entirety with the SketchUp Scaling tool may be incorrectly scaled when imported to Revit Architecture. Exploded SketchUp models should import at the correct scale.

Thought This Might be Interesting

2008-04-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

I got an in-depth questionnaire email and was really impressed by a student at KU who asked the following questions about BIM, who showed an understanding of BIM and was asking some great questions... my answers were as follows:

Research regarding BIM in the Construction Industry:

Please answer the following questions to the best of your knowledge. Thank you for your help and time.

Do you see more companies (construction and/or engineering) integrating BIM into their work? Why?

There are definitely more companies beginning to adopt and integrate BIM technology in their businesses. The basic reasoning behind this shift is a fundamental understanding that BIM will save them time, money and be more marketable to clients. There also is a large shift in thinking within the construction industry, specifically towards being able to communicate more effectively, which ultimately saves costly changes due to inaccurate information.

How does BIM help McCownGordon in: 1) Design 2) Estimating 3) Construction 4) Post Construction?

1. In the design phase we use it a couple of ways. The first is that we use the model to create business development models. These models are what we use to visually quantify the cost of the project to an owner. So when we submit a budget we also submit a 3D representation of the estimate. We also begin to run our clash detection reporting and issue those reports at key meeting dates in tandem with resolution responsibilities.

1-2. I think that design and estimating dovetail into the other. However, in the estimating phase of the process we begin in the schematic design phase and begin tying or “mapping” model components to our estimate. This begins to streamline the process for us when we receive a new model, we can utilize that same mapping to update our sf and assembly costs. Also with a BIM model we have the ability to visually quantify in a 3D environment, the components we have or have not assigned costs to, which boils down to more accurate estimating.

3. Currently we are using the BIM model in the field as a visual communication tool. However, we are currently working with a software company to move into a mode of in field digital RFI’s complete with model markup. In addition to RFI and document management, we use the model to produce sequencing videos, staging plans and keep a single model current and accurate throughout the construction process so as CO’s and field changes occur we are keeping the model accurate.

Post Construction, we have really seen a value to the owner in a 3D BIM as-built of their new facility. Facility Managers are beginning to understand the value of a single source of information. Depending on the project we will digitally store the OandM Manual in the BIM as well.

What do you think are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of using BIM verses the Traditional Methods, in estimating and bidding?

Biggest advantages of using BIM is in estimating and the biggest disadvantage is in bidding. In a way, that’ really the best answer for this question. BIM is not actually a piece of software you can buy, it’s a process. And as a process it’s a fundamental restructuring of the way the construction process currently takes place. True BIM integration engages all team members early on in the project so that the model/documentation is more coordinated. Thus estimates are more accurate because of the time we get to make them more accurate, contingencies come down and everyone has project buy in.

In a bidding situation, BIM really becomes a quantity verification tool and much less of a resource to the team.

Where do you see BIM heading in the future of the construction industry?

Great Question! I can tell you that currently there is software being developed that will start to automate a BIM’s LEED reporting instantly, that “widgets” or “plug-ins” are going to be more and more common (Especially in Revit software) and that overall we are going to see a huge need in the field of Virtual Construction professionals. I have had this talk with some of the older pros in the industry and it always boils down to the question, “Is the way you are practicing your work now the most efficient and most profitable way possible?” I think that until that answer becomes yes BIM will continue to lead a revolution in the industry, and hey let’s face it there are only so many ways you can draw a line right?!

How do you think BIM can be improved for the future?

BIM will eventually become open source. The reasons I say this are that currently we need approximately 10 different pieces of software to make a true BIM integration work. Teamed with the costs of this software, you never want to underestimate the power of entrepreneurs. I think eventually everyone will start to see the disadvantage of holding proprietary UI’s and software and that more companies will still see the potential to collaborate themselves and create a single software solution. Part of this is being done in Japan now and hopefully it isn’t too much longer before a similar solution is available in the States.

Living Future - beyond green

2008-04-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

Wow! If you guys haven't had a chance to check this event out you should. http://www.cascadiagbc.org/news

Basically it's the Canadian Green Building Council and the USGBC that put this on and it'll rock your house. I went to give a presentation with some colleagues Brad from BNIM and Dimitri from Cannon in San Francisco on BIM and Sutainability and I think I learned more than I taught. If you thought you were green, you're not...and after attending one of these you'll understand why. I've never seen a group of such learned and passionate backgrounds talk about how to FIX our planet.

Yes that's right! Not the "Inconvenient Truth" make you feel bad, scare the shit out of you, but more of a how creative can we be? How can a building not only be low/no carbon, but how can a building restore the environment??

Creativity and information is the key guys.

I know in our day to day routine we sometimes get caught up in making sure we are "Virtually Constructing" the world, but we also need to make sure that we are keeping an eye on the bigger picture of how can we make this world a better place and how can we be more open minded as a generation than the one previous to us and listen to those brilliant moments of creativity.

Check it out though, good stuff...

Enough to Kill a Lesser Man...and BIM

2008-04-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

So here's the skinny. BIM is it. I was thinking about this on the plane on the way home from Vancouver, Denver and Topeka... and came to the realization that the future of BIM could easily contain the following items.

- I got to thinking about how we address life safety issues once a person is inside of the building, but how great would it be for Emergency and Rescue personnel to access a buildings layout like they would a map. Granted this won't work for the Pentagon, but what a great way to access information just like GPS.

- BIM Google. C'mon everyone's thought about it! You're looking for that special track light fixture on your 450,000 sf project but can't remember what conference room it's in...or you're doing a stdium and where exactly is seat 415 in Section N?

- When do we get to use the software company's hardware, like we use a search engine's processors? We pay enough.

- Exactly how useful are new CAD Techs/Revit Modelers? Maybe you've had a different experience but so far it takes a trained person to model elements correctly that has a bigger database of knowledge to know how the bits and pieces fit. And seeing as the more you model the quicker you get I'm not sure the old "Make it look like this." will cut it in the future.

- Revit widgets. Need to check your LEED daylighting and views report based on the models current orientation? BAM Need to run a clash detection on your linked up model? BAM

Yep too many pieces of software currently...I think people are going to get sick of buying all of them, thus enters the entrepreneur!

- Lastly, I view the current debate on the need for open source BIM software as a little similar to the current Barack and Hillary debate. Someone needs to be steering this ship. I have sat in on countless conference calls with NIBS and although I'm down with the idea, we really need to be talking with the software companies to let them know that we'll still be buying their product because we know and love the interface, byut everyone needs to play in the same sandbox already!

Revit and Innovaya Mapping Tips

2008-04-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

Here's something we ran into not too long ago. So head's up when you begin mapping materials in Innovaya:

Keep in mind that the "One Time Takeoff" will not save or remember any mapping

If at all possible try to tie all model components to an "Assembly Takeoff" and make a running tally of the items that need to be added to your timberline database so you can add these later.

Keep all of your exporting phases and scopes seperate. You can merge these files later in Timberline and it will remember where it came from.

EVERYTHING needs to have a unique name if it is in any way different from it's other components. For example, a 3'-0"x7'-0" door in Revit will insert both into an interior wall and an exterior wall the same. However, the costs for these two doors will be much different and they will be grouped together in Innovaya accordingly. A simple 3x7 HM Ext Door title to differentiate the two works fine.

Create seperate estimates that are the same name as the phase you are taking off from Innovaya, you'll thank me on your first update.

That's what I got, keep it real...

Integration Mantra

2008-02-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

So I have been asked to do a couple of consulting gigs in the midst of oeprating a BIM division, writing a book and still finding time to do late night nacho runs @ 12:30p (please refer to fruitcake, champagne stains and bim for reference).

I had a great lunch yeterday with Harvey Phelps from Virtual Building Logistics. Harvey's a smart guy and a BIM guru as far as I'm concerned. Currently he's completing mutiple, huge international BIM consulting projects and still finding time to take lunch with fellow colleagues. We talked through some of the biggest issues not only about firm integration, but software that is currently being developed. Here's sort of my quick recap of thoughts on firm BIM integration that we have both experienced in one way or another:

1.) BIM doesn't work - people make it work. There is no way you can load BIM on to a machine plop anyone in front of the machine and hope that it will somehow make your life easier. In fact, it will make it harder for a while, let everyone know this.

2.) BIM is an investment. The easiest way I can explain this is almost like your 401k, "Will you realize the profits immediately?" Don't know...probably not. "Will you reaize your investment 6-8 months down the road when you find 188 clashes that equate to over 2.3 million in change orders?" closer. "Will you realize that investment when you can provide a greater service to your AEC team in improved communication and collaboration?" bingo.

3.) BIM will not tie your shoes. We use this phrase here in the office when someone thinks that BIM can solve every construction related problem there is. It's just not true. And let's be honest, BIM is still developing. There isn't a "one software works for everyone and will fix everything solution." I'm sorry NIBS, but IFC doesn't hold intelligent objects! Really it's good if you like blobs...it's my hope that the corss pollination of software gets better.

4.) Start small. A colleague of mine was recently tasked with integrating BIM into his large construction company. He gave me a ring and asked me what the best methodolgy was. He was thinking of training all 16 different satellite offices via web meetings. I told him he was crazy.

5.) Train yourself. make sure you know and learn and continue to learn as much as you can.

6.) Second, start a small intense training of a BIM team. These will be your disciples and you're backbone, when you get uber-busy. Believe me it happens.

7.) Third, multiply yourself. If you're trying to make BIM work in a large corporation with multiple locations, I have news for you, there is only one of you. So begin coordinating with management new hires or existing personnel who you have good rapport with and begin deciding and coordinating moves and location leaders at these other locations to train and maintain a BIM program, after your core department has been developed.

8.) Have a plan. Dedicate three weeks to do nothing but write out a plan that includes a schedule, key timelines and make it generous. Also include in the plan, facts, statistics and reasons why the company is implementing this new strategy. People will question it. And be prepared to be called nerd until you get it to make their day to day routine more efficient and then be prepared to be called buddy.

9.) Stick to the plan. Get management to review it and get the plan signed so that when you are tasked with training that everyone knows they need to be there, because it will be like herding cats.

10.) Learn more. Attend conventions, seminars and technology expos to learn about what's out there, if it could be helpful to your company and have a committee that reivews the new stuff and presents a software plan annually to the ownership.

Repeat...

Autodesk buys the world

2008-02-13T05:25:00.001-08:00

As I'm sure it's relatively old news by now, Autodesk has now announced plans to purchase Green Building Studios. This cues in perfect for my friend Eddy Kriegel, his book 'Green BIM' and the 4x8 plexi glass 'Minority Report' style display Autodesk is using on all of their marketing and promotional materials for the upcoming LEED Desktop.

Anyways, I think in the end it's going to be an old fashioned showdown between Autodesk and Google with Adobe getting thrown into the mix...yeah I said it and don't think you haven't thought about it either! I'm actually in town today and tomorrow so I think I'll load up the ol' blog before I head out next week.

Old News...New News?

2008-02-06T14:35:00.000-08:00

I was giving a brief tutorial to a couple of gents and ran across the ol' color scheme and they were beyond excited about this tool. And frankly, it's one I had kind of forgotten, so as a refresher...to make a color schema and plan.

First - Create a new floor plan - typically new and duplicate of an existing as you want to name this differently."Color Level 1, level 2 etc..."

Second - is go under the Room and Area tab to the bottom and select the Color Scheme Legend - then drag and drop this onto your new plan view.

Third - is begin imputting the information into the Room Properties (department, finish, occupant, etc...) if you haven't created rooms yet you will need to in order for the Legend to populate.

Lastly - You can edit the colors and scheme by clicking on the legend and then clicking Edit Color Scheme...

And in theory, you should end up with something that would otherwise take a while coloring up in photoshop or illustrator.

New Resource + New Tutorial

2008-01-30T08:40:00.000-08:00

Alright so today is a two-fer. First of all I wanted you all to be aware of a nice little publication I became aware of this week from Constructech that deals with nothing but IT, BIM and Construction specifically.

http://www.specialtypub.com/constructech/

Second thing, is some construction scheduling/sequencing and how it works with Innovaya (I'll do the NavisWorks tutorial at a later date).

For the most part if you are using Primavera products or Microsoft Project you are in the clear in regards to Innovaya. If you have some other proprietary scheduling software you might be in a pinch if it can't at least export to one of these programs. Hopefully I'll get the demo video up tomorrow so you all can take a gander at the interface and how the platform works.

Till then...

Collaborative Meeting

2008-01-25T07:41:00.000-08:00

WOW! Thanks to everyone for coming out to the colaborative lunch! What a great crowd! I am going to follow up this little note with a video showing how Innovaya works as I demostrated, yesterday I think i'll just continue making archives of the information we go over each week and post it here.

Thanks again for coming out and what great emails!

Revit Cut and Fill Volume

2008-01-22T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here's a nice little trick for finding Cut and Fill Volumes on a Site using Revit.

Revit Architecture can report cut and fill volumes on a site to aid in determining the costs of landscape modification during site development.

Revit Architecture reports the values by making a comparison between a surface from one phase and, from a later phase, another surface whose boundary lies within the earlier surface. For example, Revit Architecture can comparea toposurface created in Phase 1 and a toposurface created in Phase 2 that lies within the boundary of the surface from Phase 1.

When you select the later surface and click Properties, you see the following instance properties:

-> The Cut value is the volume removed (where the lower surface is lower than the earlier surface)

-> The Fill value is the volume added (where the later surface is higher than the earlier surface)

-> Net Cut/Fill value comes from subtracting the cut value from the fill value.

Brads Heads Up for the day

2008-01-21T08:19:00.000-08:00

Don't know how many of you all are headed to the national AIA convention in May, but here's a great two day forum that they will be having discussing BIM and IPD which is where this ship is headed.

http://www.aia.org/ev_tap_may2008_conf

Should be pretty good. Longer blog tomorrow on how to manage keynotes linked to spec numbers and/or how to identify and estimate from Revit using Innovaya on a TI project we got going on. Depends on how much coffee I have...

Section Perspectives Do Help

2008-01-07T14:52:00.000-08:00

This is a quick demo of section perspectives and how they help visually spell things out to an owner. We put this video together to explain the space we could recapture by moving a basement wall back 5' for potential meeting space. I gotta say this worked pretty well!

BIM and Project Modeling

2008-01-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

So I had an interview with Ed Goldberg from Boston about BIM and how construction companies are currently utilizing their BIM's and how they are interfacing both with the software they have and with the project team as a whole. I was kind of shocked to learn that fully "collaborative modeling" like our shop has set up isn't that common, in fact, it's rare.

I've been asked a couple of times why we do it differently, why we choose to do single / same model coordination. The reasons are simple, but ultimately BIM in and of itself is really only part of the greater pie.

With technology advancing (finally) in the AEC industries, I don't think we are about to see a slow down in the amount of information and coordination that affects the teams decisions and coordination. Ultimately, I think that by setting up the flow and management of information correctly now we won't have to reinvent the flow of processes the next time.

Secondly, I know the opportunity for improved communication and growth is a real need. The opportunity in using a singular BIM forces the issue of communication and coordination. Just as your "forced" to model walls to exact dimensions, BIM pushes the team to collaborate and define, just where are those construction joints? how is this panel going to be constructed? what is the necessary aesthetic for a space? what is the owners program and can we design those spaces first?

What we've started to see, is yes it's the "harder way" to construct a BIM. And that's the point. The point is to make sure that everyone involved has access to input and share the same information regardless of the others undertanding of what that teammate might need.

When we start to see overlap and questions pop up of "Well how are we going to get the ductwork through that? etc..." is when we know we are in some way creating savings.

Stale Fruitcake, Champagne Stains and BIM

2008-01-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you all, but I am dragging in a major way today. Maybe it could be because it is currently -1 degrees outside and my body got accustomed to watching soccer games on the couch over the break. Regardless the show must go on, so I'm going to post my first video tutorial tomorrow in anticipation of nothing blowing up or the file being so large no one can view it.

Thought I'd let every one know that I (my fiancee) will officially be bringing another life into the world come mid-July.

And yes I've already created a 3dBIM model of a crib design as attached. Still working on the design, but in the end this thing is going to be an elephant! After production, maybe I can post a video on MTV called "BIM Cribs." It's late.

Six Phases of Revit

2007-12-27T09:04:00.000-08:00

Alright Aaron this ones for you...

Six Phases of Revit Copyright 2003 Chris Zoog

Phase One - Initial Excitement!!!"Holy Crap! Look what I can do with this thing!"

Phase Two - First bump"Hmmmm...? Why won't it do what I want? That's not how I do it in (insert other cad software here)!"

Phase Three - Creamy Middlemmm... things are going more smoothly, now......mmmmm"

Phase Four - WTF stageThe family editor "eats you up and spits you out"!

Phase Five - The EnlightenmentThings really begin to click! You understand why things are happening in your model, and better yet how to control them and avoid problems. You have conquered the family editor.

Phase Six - Zen of RevitYou have mastered nearly all things Revit. You "know" what Revit "likes", and what it "dislikes" during model construction, a sixth sense, really. You spend your time exploring and tweaking advanced scheduling, OBDC, external parameters, AR3. You have a template to beat all templates, families for every situation.

Master Builder Meet Master Craftsman

2007-12-26T05:06:00.000-08:00

So I'm sure most of you have had the chance to read Michael Tardif's article,
http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek07/1221/1221rc_face.cfm and if you haven't you should, I believe the discussion needs to be started.

Of course, I had a couple of thoughts on it. The first is that we are dealing with stronger and apparently incorrect symantics when the demeaning term "master builder" is used. The article goes on to say that the title "captain or quarterback" might be better suited terminology, I think although it wasn't clear what he suggested be a better nomenclature for the new and emerging digital age of architects.

When it comes down to it we are talking about titles in names, but names are still very important. The reason why I still believe the terminology "Master Builder" to be the more effective of the two, (although I have still to hear a better terminology), is really simple. When you get down to the root of what we do and how we work everyday it's who we are.

The name architect was derived from the Greek arkhitekton (arkhi, chief + tekton, builder"). And if you really dig into the history and prolific artists of our profession, very few architects were just architects. Many were sculptors, painters, and musicians, many wrote poetry, studied photogrpahy and film. In essence, our profession has always been an artistic expression of form and use in the landscape. If you don't believe this and can plug your computer into a USB port in your head to avoid any apparent artistic impression then I am apparently incorrect, (however it could stilll be viewed as artisctic.) I digress, what I do know is that I have colleagues right now working for LucasFilms and Pixar creating 3d worlds that are increasingly becoming just as real as the worlds we percieve and walk around in and for certain are more real and intelligent than any BIM model to date. Realize that I'm talking about the digital landscape, the one we draw/model in every day to better communicate to our team mates how to build our creative visions and interpretations of space and form. Not too much of a stretch when you think about it, and I would strongly caution against not realizing the basic core of an architects need to build and create. To me captain is way too vague and frankly reminds me of a ship or Hunt for Red October scenario and I won't even start with quarterback.... as my Knasas City Chiefs haven't done too well this year.

Ultimately, what we are getting down to is a return to Master Architects. This is my suggestion. Just as Master Craftsmen, from a variety of trades perform the work and bring to fruition the vision of the artist/architect, so should the architect be realized. There is a reaon that in unions you go through the ranks as apprentice, journeyman, and foreman/master mason master carpenter etc.... It is because with experience and training you achieve a level of undertanding and a more proficient use of your time and leadership abilities. I believe that in our profession we do two things wrong here:

1.) We for some reason put an age limit on how quickly one advances in experience with years.
2.) We have so many titles at different firms that no one really knows what the other does.

The first is sort of a fundamental misgiving in our industry that with grey/no hair and experience you become more achieved as an architect. Although I undertand the basic concept and notion, what most people fail to realize is that the generation x and yers (generally speaking) are quick studies. For the most part, we don't need to draw a wall section 13 times to understand it. And as a result, we are starting to see more and more successful younger firms who have abandoned the 5-7. 7-10 and 10+ experience pattern have gone out on their own and fused technology and innovation with their practices to achieve results that might not have been possible in other firms. Ex. (David Adajaye, FACE NY and ElDorado KC)

He suggested Brunelleschi was a good example of a "bad" master builder. And of course this fella, if you've done your homework, wasn't exactly a "team player", but what I would like to see in our profession is a new and increased pride in what we do and produce. To be realized again by fellow professionals and contruction leaders as knowledgeable resources that increase productivity and make the building process go more smoothly and *gasp* even fun is my vision for the profession and believe me it has very little to do with my egocentric desire to take over ther world and have everyone worship me as our ego-less colleagues suggest.

And for heaven's sake Captains?! How about we all give each other tele-com names like Network Operations Technical Specialists and give each other mindless tasks like putting cover sheets on the TPS reports!

PS> Good architects are the ones who guide and direct the process encouraging collaboration among the team members. Great architects know that there is no other way but through teamwork and increased capabilities through collaboration and communication brought about by technology to make a project successful.

Revit Blog Info

2007-12-22T18:21:00.000-08:00

I received a bunch of questions about how to create a multiple trade coordinated model if the design team isn't using BIM and then how to use the model for phasing and estimating. We've officially been through this process now about 7 times and what I have found works best is that if at ALL possible, talk your ownership or IT director to get a combination of a fiber optic data line we are getting one of these after the first of the year and let me tell you we have seen these things in action and they are sweet! Forget kilobytes/per second or megs/per second these new lines can actually transfer TERABYTES of data/per second! This starts to quickly put an end to the connect ability issues of being able to network everyone's computers together. This technology costs quite a bit as you can imagine every month and is really up to the amount of field personnel you have networked and the amount of data and connectivity that you need to transfer on a daily basis. Right now I believe Verizon in particular is moving into this market in relation to land lines.

The second option is zip and data transfer software called RiverBed. Essentially it makes a typical T1 line run about 5 times as fast when transferring data. The software automatically zips and then unzips the data to increase transfer speeds.

Regardless, what works best is the ability to have all Revit users be able to save to a central file at the end of each working day. By hosting the model on a server either at the architects or contractors office the need for additional models and copies is eliminated. Additional revision information can be tracked and logged in the model

and I'm going to have to continue this later because I have to go watch a movie now with the newly engaged Ms. Revit for Real....

BIM until it hurts...

Alright alright...sheesh

2007-12-19T06:43:00.000-08:00

OK OK....due to an overwhelming request of emails to apparently know my name and email. (didn't know i was that popular!...i'm flattered!)

You can contact me either by commenting or by emailing me at:

bradthearchitect@yahoo.com

I also am a gemini, like long walks on the beach and my social security number is....haha.

Interesting Thought for the Day

2007-12-19T06:09:00.001-08:00

So I was sitting on the couch last night when i was completely wrapped up in a great discussion on information with my new fiancee. As we talked, I began to realize the fundamental shift that is taking hold of the global marketplace. Historically speaking, society began as an agrarian society, where foodstuffs, grain, livestock etc... were what was considered valuable and to a large extent the land/real estate owners who produced these goods were the ones who realized the profits after the harvest.

Of course we made a couple other shifts, (please excuse my abridged version of macro economics) but to me the next significant change was the shift to an industrialized society. In this society, the owner of the factory reaped the rewards of profit. Raw materials and products were transformed through an industrial process into usable components or machines that made life easier (in theory).

So with the development of tools and technology, that not only changed the face of the agrarian markets (combines, balers, etc..) but also began to automate the industrial processes we began to see another shift which moved us into technology and the digital age. By utilizing the technology and letting the tools do the work for us we began to see less and less of a need for dedicated workers in each of these market segments.

Enter education.

Now with the ability to learn and further all fronts in technology, science and innovation the last couple of hundred years have been nothing less than astounding. And everyone drones on about the exponential path that technology has been on. However, what's really interesting to think about is the new process of gathering, processing and selling....you guessed it...information. Almost in an agrarian sense, companies are making billions of dollars off of harvesting data and presenting it to a user in a processed format. Don't believe me. Try this website.

www.google.com

Google makes billions off of sifting through enormous amounts of data and presenting it to a user in a processed format that makes it usable. Now how does all of this tie to BIM you might ask?

Buildings contain enormous amounts of complex documentation, think about even with a good completed set of documents, how much information is still missing. I think we have really only begun to scratch the surface of where BIM will take us. When you begin to think about the enormous opportunity software developers have in this new and uncornered market to make information easier to input, extract, gather, and visually represent I think we will start to see our industry change significantly in the next 10 years if not sooner.

I was joking that we might even have google for buildings in the future where I can enter a keyword into a search engine and scan the BIM for relative components such as poly-iso insulation and see where it's located in the building.

Just a thought.

Integrated Project Delivery

2007-12-13T07:06:00.000-08:00

Yep it's here.

Finally we are starting to see a significant change in the way we all work together.

Integrated Project Delivery or IPD (as our industry likes to create acronyms) has become a new method of project delivery that really starts to grasp the full potential of Bim and true integrated practice. A couple of books out there such as "Integrated Practice in Architecture" by George Elvin and "Construction Partnering and Integrated Teamworking" by Gill Thomas and Mike Thomas really start to dig into the more in depth part of the discussion, but I'd like to give you all a brief rundown of what it really means.

I wanted everyone to know what Lean Construction and Integrated Project Delivery means. As we start to use BIM technology more and as the industry starts to change we will see more and more knowledgeable owners asking for better project delivery methods.

Know that we are currently driving to be able to provide this type of delivery method. Recently we have even been requested to use this method yet, keep in mind that it will be a learning curve for everyone in the process.

First of all, Lean Construction was initially a concept developed by Toyota when they noticed that the amount of material, time and resources that they lost in the design to construction phase of their automobiles was almost 50% of their project cost. In essence, Toyota then developed a collaborative team approach right from the initial design meeting. This involved ALL players. From the engineers who were designing the engine, wiring, and computer systems to the interior designers who were designing the buttons, knobs, dashes etc… And what they saw was a huge increase in profitability (about 34%). I have heard that the typical project cost for a single car is somewhere in the neighborhood of 13 million dollars give or take. Needless to say when profitability increased by 4.5 million a car, they integrated it as a company standard.

In addition to management savings there were two more areas that increased the bottom line. The first was they began to notice as the teams worked together more and more that the amount of staff actually needed was significantly less (almost half) because the teams started to refine the process of knowing what questions to ask their teammates. This freed up other personnel to assist in other efforts or projects and again drove up the profitability of the project. The second area of savings was the amount of material. Toyotas own internal green effort was established to try and eliminate product waste. So while the teams were designing, the manufacturers (in the meetings) of the materials were able to produce their product based on the design to save waste. The example I heard was that instead of using a 4x6 standard piece of vinyl door covering that they switched to a 3x4 piece that worked just as well and again reduced cost and almost eliminated waste.

This concept then carried over to the construction industry. And the best definition I could find was as follows:
Lean construction is a “way to design production systems to minimize waste of materials, time, and effort in order to generate the maximum possible amount of value (Koskela et al. 2002) ”. Designing a production system to achieve the stated ends is only possible through the collaboration of all project participants (Owner, A/E, Constructors, Facility Managers, End-user) at early stages of the project. This goes beyond the contractual arrangement of design/build or constructability reviews where constructors, and sometime facility managers, merely react to designs instead of informing and influencing the design.

This is the opposite of 'business as usual' in the construction sector, where people do things on project after project in the same old inefficient ways, forcing each other to give up profits and overhead recovery in order to deliver at what seems the market price. What results is a fight over who keeps any of the meager margins that result from each project, or attempts to recoup 'negative margins' through 'claims', The last thing that receives time or energy in this desperate, project-by-project gladiatorial battle for survival is consideration of how to reduce underlying costs or improve quality'.

In essence Integrated Project Delivery and Lean Construction are synonymous terms. Both involve bringing all players to the table at the beginning of the project and both involve using the other teammate as a resource to create a “PROJECT FOCUSED” team as opposed to a Profession Focused one. In Australia, they call this “Project Alliancing”. Recently, I was lucky enough to work on a couple of projects that involved the entire team in this type of method and to be honest it was the most fun I’ve ever had. Both in learning what information contractors need and how the architect wants the design to look (not to mention shrinking the paper trail and endless phone calls).

The best example I can give of this collaboration was in a large scale projecte that dealt with local and international architects and us as the contractor, when we sat in a meeting recently where the American architect mentioned we would be drawing bathroom partition details. Our PM/contractor laughed and asked “Why?” The architect responded by saying, “So you guys know how to install them.” Our PM/contractor had obviously been through this before and his response was a series of questions that smacked the architects in the forehead, “Have you been trained in how to install those? Are you holding the warranty on the partitions? And lastly are you willing to take the phone call and go fix the product due to incorrect installation?” Our International architecture team kind of chuckled and the PM then said, “Please just dimension their locations and mounting heights and let me worry about installing them.” This sort of collaboration saves everybody on the team time and money and ultimately allows us as a contractor to have input in the actual construction, staging and phasing of the project from the beginning instead of trying to figure out how to do it later.

Iit is pretty important that you all know what we can start to expect from owners more and more. Also keep in mind that BIM is really the platform that allows this sort of collaboration and delivery method most effectively. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions, but keep in mind this is not “Design-Build on Steroids” but rather a totally new project delivery method.

Model To BIG??

2007-12-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Here's a helpful tip for those of you doing those hundred plus million dollar, multi-phased projects. When you notice that you're model is starting to drag (views and pan movement are chunky) close out of the project and try this:

File-->

Open-->

Now select the model you want to open, and in the bottom right hand of the open screen you;ll notice a pull-down menu that asks

all

editable

last viewed

specify

slect the specify option and you can then tell revit which specific worksets you are working in and thus shrinking the amount of file size and load time it takes for you to open and work in the model.

Internal Teaching Tool

2007-12-05T07:23:00.000-08:00

Teaching tool...not finger pointing right? the new release of architecture revit 2008 has a nice little tool added called show history which allows you to see who has edited the model along the design and construction process. Refer to the image below, but it's

File -->

Show history -->

then select you're Revit model in question. This will help especially if someone had a computer crash and you're trying to find out who still owns elements that need to be relinquished or saved...

Revit BIM and the unmentionable

2007-10-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

I wanted to drop a quick note to everyone to let everybody know that as a whole this is what I am starting to see as the trends emerging in the world of Revit/BIM, as well as the fundamental changes that I believe will occur over the next two years in the architectural profession.

1.) FMI group in the 2007 annual owner survey says that the biggest problem owners have with architects are incomplete documents.

2.) Contractors surveyed replied that overall the largest problem that contractors have with architects are incoherent CDs and communication.

3.) Lastly the American Census Bureau now reports that over the past twenty years the entire AE industry as a whole is declining in perceived quality/value, technology use, and profitability.

Where we are at is a crossroads in our profession. I have said it before, and it couldn't be truer in our practice as architects and designers we are beginning to get away from the reputation and perception of master builder and are now being perceived more and more as "design professionals," with little or limited knowledge of the actual inner workings of a building and a total disconnect witht he actual construction process.

Here's where I'm headed...the Superdome in Louisiana, (the one that stood up to Katrina) was built using 31 pages of working documentation and was constructed in less than four years from 1971-75.

35 pages.

270,000 s.f., a complex laminella beam structure, advanced modern design and multiple trades.

How many pages would that take today?

Here's the tougher question. Why?

With BIM technology where it is and the professionals that form the very foundation of the AE communityI seriously question the practice of over-documentation. The CYA approach to design and construction is dead. Here's why:

Contractors don't look at your drawings. Gasp. I know. Be offended be scared. But you should be hacked off and wondering why the bathroom partition mounting detail that took you three days to draw won't even garner 2 seconds worth of the contractors attention. I know this is shocking and I know it was a detail in the standards library, but it is yet another point on the ever growing space in between what information architects thick need to be on drawings and what information the construction crews actually use to build. How it is actually built using the contractors "means and methods" to get it done, needs to be second knowledge to architects. Second to the necessary design language needed to create a better and more healthy and environmentally friendly world to live in.

I got asked this question five years ago when i was six months out of school by a contractor, "Why (when it is the contractor's responsibility to use the means and methods of construction they see most fit) the architect is detailing the head jamb and sill detail for a window they have not been trained to install, don't know the tools necessary to install it and will not be responsible for carrying the warranty on that aluminum storefront framing?" I asked what was important to show and the contractor looked surprised and just answered "Tell me at what depth you want the window to sit in the wall...you could even show it in elevation."

Think about it.

Engineers drawings are worthless. Ok so that might have been a bit harsh let me rephrase and say that engineers who draw information that is completely different from the MEPS subcontractors calculations and shop drawings...they're useless. Why waste time drawing what won't be built? The entire idea of a drawing is to graphically represent to the constructor what is to be built and installed. By using BIM, engineers now have the tools to grab the responsibility and rewards of a truly coordinated model and potentially stop many of the issues before they hit the field. The question that I've heard a couple of times now is why are subcontractors drawing in 3D and my engineers (who are supposed to be more techno-savvy) aren't?! Ask your ductwork subcontactor on your next project, it's scary. Also ask the steel fabricators too, sometimes they'll have 3D models they're using as well that might possibly help you link into your revit model and use for interference checking.

Confused? Wondering why the information is going to the CNC machines more detailed and accurate then ACAD lines? You got me too. Seems that it would be a whole lot more useful to the entire AEC team if either the subcontractor was brought on board in the documentation phase or that engineers stepped up and created BIM's of their portion of the project.

Collaboration = Success. I don't think I need to elaborate on this point any more. I think we've seen that the current way just doesn't work. The endless trails of phone calls and emails are bordering on ridiculous. Not to mention using old technology to meet today's needs! We have the tools and those who have chosen to use them are seeing the rewards.

So what's the new thing then? Anyone can complain about all of this, what works?

Integrated Project Delivery (US), Project Alliancing (Australia) or BIM Huddle, BIM Pit etc... Although some of these differ in detail the fundamental delivery concept is the same. Integrate the team. Will the subcontractor who barely knows how to turn the computer on be competitive in this process? No. Sadly. But more frightening are the firms both engineering and architectural who seem to think that they can wait until the last minute jump into the new technology and still remain competitive to their counterparts who have already used a successful implementation strategy. Will these firms be successful? Again unfortunately no. I've had some of the older guys here in the office reminisce about the good old days when CAD just entered the AE marketplace as a tool. Many of the hand drafting firms thought it was a fad or wasn't as effective as hand drafting. I was told many of those firms went belly up when they couldn't remain competitive in the industry.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not spitting on the little guy, but moreover giving the little guy the heads up and maybe even a step forward. BIM will change the industry. BIM has changed the industry.

Right, wrong or indifferent what we are seeing is the profession as a whole start to compete in the global marketplace. Firms in Kansas City are designing hotels in Dubai. New York firms are designing greening methodologies in China. This isn't a secret, but architecture is still a business. I remember when I was in architecture school that the Howard Roark (The Fountainhead, great movie with Patricia O'Neal and Gary Cooper) philospohy was that if you were a great designer clients would come to you, you could sketch some quick lines on paper and magically by the scene's end a building would appear. For the most part, this simply isn't true. If it is true then you are Frank Gehry or Stephen Holl and I am flattered you're reading my blog.

Here's the truth.

Our profession is choking. Am I saying that BIM is the answer to all of the professions problems? No. But what I am saying is that it is currently the only solution that I have heard of lately that even eludes to an improvement in the industry, making it more effiicient and frankly more profitable. I believe in the technology because I have used it. I believe them because as the "Old Guard" begins to retire that we are going to see more and more people file through the ranks of the profession with a working knowledge of relevant technologies. I also have seen the look on a workers face when he "gets" the 3D flashing detail you're able to represent to him, so he can build it correctly.

Tomorrow Integrated Project Delivery....

Revit boat

2007-10-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

For the record, yes you can model a boat for a parade float in Revit....

Just in case any of you weren't able to sleep at night.

Tomorrow's post promises to be much more educational.

Collaborative Website

2007-10-02T18:39:00.000-07:00

all,

apologies for the lack of new content. I have been putting this new collaborative website for the midwest together and doing some other jazz.

Fell free to join and sign the guestbook even if you don't live in the midwest. The first meeting is looking to be huge!

http://www1.freewebs.com/bim-midwest/meetingdates.htm

DWF viewer

2007-09-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

Obviously i don't claim to know it all and from time to time i run across new tools that many people might have known about but not many have used. I got a chance to use the Autodesk DWF viewer this past week. The viewer allows a user to view, orbit, rotate, walkthrough and make comments on the model at any given time. The beauty of this of course is that they can't directly edit the model, but they can click on buildling components to get exact square footage measurements and updated wall assembly and component information.

The real value we are seeing in this is that we have started including not only our ususal 3d renderings of a proposed building or space, but our BIM DWF file and the DWF viewer as well. The funny part is how involved the owner starts to get in the process and how they feel like they are more a part of the team when they can zoom around this thing.

It doesn't cost a thing to download and even from a marketing effort including the DWF viewer and file is a good way to put your firm ahead of the curve.

Revit or Nothing?! Are You Serious?

2007-08-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready to hop on a plane here in a couple of minutes and I was thinking about my past week. I often give presentations and meet with Leaders from the A/E industry to discuss the future of BIM, how our firm is using it and more importantly where they are at in embracing the new technology.

This is usually when I get scared.

I usually hear that we are "experimenting" or "testing the waters" or "we love everything you say it can do, but we don't know if it's for us." This is usually when I calmly take a deep breath and wonder what they are possibly thinking. The resources currently available in forums, books, training and individual click...oh that's what it does!...undo, are there.

Yes they cost money.

Yes it is new technology.

Yes it will make your company more money.

I get asked all the time how can you be so sure?

I have worked on about fifteen projects from start to finish varying in size from multi-million dollar facilities to small school additions and with the software in house and set up properly I have been sitting in the driver seat multiple times as a PM with a good 100% set of CD's in front of me with 15-30 days till the 100% deadline. Then I get asked well what do you do with that extra time?

First of all there is no such thing as extra time.

And secondly, (this is the best part and what we should be getting to)

Coordinate.

I get to go through and refine the drawings to a typically unheard of level. I address constructability issues. I write, rewrite and edit specifications. I take the drawings to a coffee shop, sit down with a contractor friend of mine and tell him to build it in his head and write down his comments (and then pay for his coffee). I have heard comments such as

"It's so nice not to have to write so many issues on a set of drawings! - City Code Manager

How long did this take?! And am I paying extra for this!? - Owner

"This is art." - Contractor

We're architects and yes we're still artists. Master craftsmen (and women). Individuals with a greater understanding of materials and the building process. I guess when you have experienced the full blown effects of a staff that is highly trained and eager to learn and adapt more as well as recieve comments like above you begin to realize that being an architect is much more than scrambling at the last minute, stressing over xrefs, linetypes and trying to remember if you changed something on every drawing. It has everything to do with creating coordinated documents to build off of right the first time.

The time for get it out the door and we'll "fix" it with addendums, doesn't work!

Want to get a contractor on your side? Hand them drawings that make sense, cut the RFI's they have to issue and see how easily you guys get through a change order (if any).

I'm going to get off my soapbox now, but do me a favor and if you have made the switch to Revit or any BIM product: MAKE IT WORK! There isn't any getting around the fact that it "Is the future." You don't see new user groups and blogs popping up every day on how to do the same old thing. To me, the debate isn't do we do it? But rather the debate should be on what does it take for us to get to a point where we can still have CAD project deadlines with BIM coordinated results.

Revit and On-Screen Takeoff..

2007-08-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

This will be a quick one as I seem to be swamped this week at work. For those of you construction or design/build teams out there, I'm sure you're familar with On-Screen Takeoff. We have begun to interface this with our in house Timberline estimating software so that we can use the model for quick generic takeoffs and use On-Screen for all of our finishes and specialty items that haven't been included in the model. So far it seems to be working really well and this hybrid method of estimating really works well for a lot of the area architecture firms through various stages of the design process.

I linked the forum for On-Screen which is starting to be recognized more and more as the industry standard for 2d takeoffs.

http://www.oncenter.com/msg/

Tomorrow I'm going to start a string of tutorials that introduce Revit in a little bit more fun and useful way.

Carry on.

CSI Uniformat Discussion Forum

2007-07-31T06:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a helpful website for you guys if you are interested in the latest release of the CSI Uniformat book. After talking with Bob Johnson, it looks like they aren't anticipating this release very quickly (next couple of months), but it will include fire ratings, UL reference listings and other valuable information within the new format.

http://www.csinet.org/s_csi/sec_forums.asp?CID=1731&DID=13074&ForumId=5&TopicId=44

If you can think of anything else you would want to have on the Uniformat codes you can enter it on the discussion forums or comment on this blog.

Thanks.

Revit Tutorial - Creating a Section Perspective Part 2

2007-07-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

Let's take our Revit Section perspective model to MAX. Based on the previous tutorial we now know that we have our view camera and section box setup. So we can take our 3d view...

And export it as an ACAD .dwg or however you like to export your files to get them into MAX. (I prefer ACAD dwg's because the plane and vertices editing in Max is quite a bit easier.) To do this go to File>Export>CAD Format

On a side note apparently I've switched to color now...moving on. The following dialog box will come up. MAKE SURE YOU CLICK OPTIONS! Before you export your drawing! I guess it's not that dramatic if you're a 3d max/viz pro, but you'll want to change your exporting options to ACIS Solids before you do. Like so...

Alright save the file as an ACAD version your MAX/Viz will recognize. (I've had some problems importing later CAD versions with later MAX versions) Then open Max.

From Max, select File>Import>and then select your file. Select Completely Replace Current Scene and then ok. You should get a nasty message that says your crop box will be ignored and the world as we know it is coming to an end. This is basically to fake you out and if you are a worthy Revit guru you will click OK anyways and open your file. Miraculously your crop box region has been saved and looks exactly like it did in Revit. As follows...

Word to your mother. Now assign materials, work your lighting magic and get a raise.

Lates

Revit Tutorial - Creating a Section Perspective Part 1

2007-07-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

So you want to create a building section in perspective that ooo's and wows the client or your

project manager? Fair enough. To do so let's start by going to an overall plan view, preferrably one that's large enough or has your crop regions turned off to get a full view of your building. From this view create a 3d view from View>Camera on your design sidebar like so...

Now you should as always get a pretty 3d view that shows your building in glorious perspective. From here, we need to go to the view properties of your new 3d view these can be found in your 3d views on the side right click on the view or right click in your new 3d view and select properties. Scroll down and check the box that says "section box"

You should get a view now that looks something like this. Drag and pull the crop box to reflect the view you want to show and then go back to your 3d Camera View, it should show a section perspective of your building. Something like this.

From here you can toggle on and off the visibility of the crop box and apply shadows, etc.. from Revit. In the next tutorial we're going to export a section view to Viz/MAX even though some walk among us that don't believe it can be done!

Have a great Friday!

Revit or Death?

2007-07-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

So I have a brief rant, commenting section on the current track that Autodesk keeps stumbling down. I would say walking, but it's very similar to my 3-year old niece waddling towards a wall at full speed and not necessarily knowing how to apply the brakes or if she should just accelerate on through.

Here's the deal. Autodesk has now released Architecture 2008, Revit MEP, Revit Structure and might soon release Autodesk Contractor. Ok. Autodesk has metaphorically circled the wagons on the building industry. And lately with their acquisition of NavisWorks have made it relatively clear they have every intention of shooting down (or buying) any worthwhile competition. So who is drawing the line and telling them what is worthwhile and what isn't? For example, right now I have to go and buy third party software applications to make Reivt interface with them.

- ESpecs for exporting and creating a semi-comprehensive specification of the materials from the model.

- Innovaya - the only program to create a worthwhile estimate that links to true estimating software such as Timberline (the MC2 plug in is still in development) and project scheduling such as Primavera

- Timberline's software to generate and work in Innovaya.(of course)

- IES or the full version of lighting/energy analysis software. A preloaded version comes with 2008 MEP, but doesn't produce too much worthwhile.

- Lastly, if anyone builds it i will need to buy an atcually useable library of walls that are based off of Revit's decision to use the CSI's Uniformat Code to detail out wall and building component assemblies.

During a User-group meeting last night I just for fun added these numbers up for each station to contain these programs that could very easily be used on a daily basis. (I'm not including Max, Viz, Google Earth/Sketchup Pro, etc... even. ) It's currently 23,000 bucks a station. This doesn't include the required training, or maintenance, support and subscription fees for these programs.

I'm no math whiz, well actually I am pretty good, but at 23 grrr a box, you gotta wonder how many medium to small size firms are going to be able to afford any of this! I just submitted a software proposal to ownership and you could kind of tell I was even a bit embarassed by the cost of all these programs.

I guess where I'm headed with this, is that if Autodesk is truly making the move to be the industry leader in software then they should do it. Otherwise, stop now and let us try and figure out how we're going to pay for all of this. Maybe I'm the only one who sees a huge oppotunity for Autodesk to truly create either an umbrella software package or group packages with these third party software suppliers at an affordable cost.

That's what I got today...architecture software ain't cheap.

Out.

7.24.07 NIBS Posting

2007-07-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

Deborah and Team,

I was in transit when receiving this string and was really excited to see it reach this point. First of all I am a young architect, and I have been working independently with a local group of colleagues, architects and software developers and we have begun going through the somewhat arduous task of creating an in house library of wall assemblies. Keep in mind, anyone can develop these exact same standards and assemblies as they are simply based off of the CSI Uniformat assembly codes, which dovetail into RSMeans components. (We use Revit in house, which defaults to these standards, which seem to work pretty well. Additionally, I have seen that other BIM platforms have similar capabilities and defaults.) Unfortunately in our case, we seem to be out running Autodesk's current capabilities/offerings and have found that we need to streamline our own processes.

So far, the easiest way to compile multiple elements with their own inherent information is into an assembly that contains all of the individual component information linked to that assembly code. For instance, in a typical 3-5/8" stud wall with 5/8" gypsum board each side. The 5/8" gyp bd with a level 4 finish would be a RS Means assembly of 092910.30 2050. The 3-5/8" metal stud @ 16" o.c. would be RSMeans 092216.13 1640. The Uniformat assembly code then contains the Means data for both of these assemblies into an assembly number, (incidentally C1010190) Needless to say this is what third-party estimating programs break back down for you in the estimate as well as how third-party specification writing software create outline specifications from an exported model.

Here's the hitch. The Uniformat code in our opinion needs to be updated to literally contain a significant enough amount of detail to actually be useful. Even the ability to add RSMeans data to the wall type for additional information would be really helpful. We have started to discuss developing an add-on routine that asks a series of questions. So when a wall is to be modeled, (much like some proprietary specification software, but less detailed) questions such as, "Does this wall have vinyl wall base? What width is the base? Does this wall have cove molding? Is this wall fire rated? Etc.." After these questions are answered most walls in the model are able to be generically modeled and simply match the properties of other similar walls in the model. As an architect, when at times I want to just model a building quickly, and I don't want to answer questions. At this point we would model with these generic walls. Generic walls would then remain highlighted or a unique color associated with them to indicate they need to have additional information added to them later. Another option, would be to simply increase the number of pull down menus in the properties to allow us to select "Chair rail - with a yes or no carrot" that we expand on in the specifications to really dig into it.

As far as custom walls, ceilings, floors etc, the basic assembly substrate might have RSMeans or Uniformat codes but then it would be up to the "Modeler" to create these model components upon this framework. For instance 4" wide by 1/2" Recycled Teak Wood Slats are not an assembly identified in Means and probably never will be. Architects in my opinion would still need to input custom information into the documents. The way we have talked about this is much like the "Master Mason" of history. Using the model to construct all of the assemblies and typical information possible but infusing it with the creativity and detailing unique to the architectural profession. Essentially we are the Master Craftsman showing the builders how the building is built (Paper is optional) but with a far greater resource at our fingertips.
Essentially what we aim to create in the model is a useable tool for a BIM capable construction or design build company to use for quicker more accurate estimate and quantity takeoff, export a pretty decent set of specifications from the model and the ability to construct a relatively accurate BIM for 3D views, presentations and construction documentation.

I would personally suggest that CSI "own" the library (since they own the Uniformat code) if they would be willing to annually maintain, update and add additional information to such a library. Perhaps a non-profit group could receive, review and post new assembly data to a larger shared library website. That would be ideal, I know we wouldn't mind sharing our work!
Thanks and kindest regards,

BRAD HARDIN, LEED® AP
BIM Director

Revit Estimating

2007-07-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

I was going to title this blog "your ass-embly is grass", but thought better of it. Also I saw the new Harry Potter movie (don't judge...you saw it too) and all i can say is that A.) Apparently there's no more quidditch at Hogwarts (much to my chagrin) and B.) Dumbledore's blue lightning bolts strangely resembled a Jedi knights... just a thought.

Moving on...Revit now has the capability to work with a number of cost estimating platforms that you might or might not be aware of. The first is, US Cost which titles its software Success Estimator and runs through an ODBC database called Success Design Exchange. The two programs in this blog base their cost estimation off of Assembly Codes inherent in an elements properties. I found that this the easiest way to compile multiple elements with their own inherent information into an assembly that contains all of the indivdual component information linked to that assembly. For instance, let's start with a typical 3-5/8" stud wall. 5/8" gyp bd with a level 4 finish would be a RS Means assembly of 092910.30 2050. The 3-5/8" metal stud @ 16" o.c. would be RSMeans 092216.13 1640. The uniformat assembly code then contains the Means data for both of these assemblies into an assembly number, (incidentally C1010190) Needless to say this is what both estimating programs break back down for you in the estimate.

Our company originally looked at getting US Cost in house however we ran into some major snags in regards to actually creating General Contractor type estimates. The format to be quite honest is geared more towards architecture firms who are interested in creating cost estimates in early schematics and design development rather than full on quantity, labor rates, unit costs, bid day alternates, etc.. To that end, I'm not bashing the software and I'm sure the product can be worked around to be effective for that type of application. It just wasn't what we were looking for. If you want more info their website is:

http://www.uscost.com/designexchange.asp

The second bit of software, is Innovaya. And I think they're really starting to see where the whole movement is headed and definitely getting closer. Innovaya works directly with Timberline cost estimation software to perform more detailed cost estimate takeoffs. They are geared more towards the General Contractor or the architect/engineering/design firm who wants a bit more input into the estimates and the ability to show some of the scheduling and 3D phased items. The program also allows the user who doesn't have the Timberline software to export to excel at any time. The great part about this software is the following:

-Ties in with primavera scheduling software (including Sure-trak)

-They have their own timberline template established that specifies the paths for additional assembly codes to their file instead of spending a month trying to get all of that down

-Has real time scheduling and animation capabilities on-screen to show owners and project managers the different levels of completion once the components of the model have been phased in.

I gotta say we have been most impressed with this software and it's ability to work with everyone in the process, from architect/designer, through project scheduling। We get the demo next week and I'll be sure to let everyone know if it has the bells and whistles it says.

http://www.innovaya.com/prod_ov.htm

the last bit of software is MC2 and in regards to estimating really had the most capabilities as far as breaking the estimate down and estimation flexibility. However, from a BIM point of view they aren't there yet. They apparently are contracted with Innovaya to start work into a comprehensive product that ties into MC2 instead of Timberline, but this product is still in development for release potentially early fall.

Lastly, I have started the somewhat exhaustive process of developing a standards library of many of the basic uniformat assembly of walls, ceilings, floors, doors, etc... If anyone knows of a comprehensive library that is shared I would love to know about it। In the meantime I will be creating quite a comprehensive standard of uniformat assemblies that I can hopefully provide here in a couple of months। If any of you want to start messing with creating and editing the classifications i recommend saving out a copy of the text file located here and playing with it.

C:\Program Files\Revit Architecture 2008\Program\UniformatClassifications.txt

Game on.

gbXML - LEED and Energy Analysis

2007-07-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many of you have started working with Revit and it's ability to export it's data into a gbXML format, but it's pretty amazing to work with. The "Green Building XML Schema" is really pretty effective once you have your model oriented and boxed up correctly. Here are a couple of hints before you use your model to run an energy analysis:

- Button down the hatches - make sure your walls aren't overlapping - and that everything is properly joined- (especially at the corners!) and inserted, including glazing within wall constraints, doors, you get the picture...

- Make sure your roof is accurate. You can model pitch, overhang and thickness really easily. (It's also interesting to play around a little with a roof that only has a thickness and is designated as "Insulation" you can assign r-values as well with your model - depending on how you have your RS Means assembly codes set up.) Make sure there aren't any holes or space between the walls and your roof.

- Obviously, make sure you have your model oriented to the correct "true north" orientation.

- Place in the coordinates of the project location. Revit has a bunch of default places under Settings> Manage Place and Locations...

- And lastly specify the type of project. This is under Settings>Project Information>Energy Data and then specify Office, Restaraunt, etc...

The website to use is http://www.greenbuildingstudio.com/gbsinc/index.aspx

Register and then follow the directions. You will get 5 free "runs" for each new project (usually this is ample, unless you are going for a Gold/Platinum/or Living LEED certification.)

The web based program will provide:

- Industrial energy and resource flow analysis
- Actual and prototype building energy simulation (DOE-2)
- Building energy model calibration
- Resource sustainability analysis
- Whole-building and end-use level energy performance analysis
- Multi-facility energy performance analysis (monitoring and simulation)
- Energy performance class/competitor benchmarking
- Technical potential project screening
- International technology assessment

Make it Greener.

Creating the "Completed Model"

2007-07-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

So boys and girls here we are. Flying around in our Jetsonian cars, using interoceanic pneumatic tubes to feed the hungry and BIM modelling to put together buildings. Kind of. One things for sure unless you have no desire to be profitable or even remotely efficient there will be NO more CAD.

It's like our industry has decided to grow up a little bit and start to matke an attempt at catching the automotive, aircraft and electronics industry. This is all good! We need to start thinking about a building as a built piece of highly functioning equipment. How then do we even start? To what Level of Detail or LoD do the models need to go? What is the extent of intermodel information liability? And why in the world haven't we developed a necessary assembly standard while we have the chance and before everyone and their cousin decide to establish their own? (everyone remembers CAD standards right?!)

I'm going to try and expain where I am in the industry. And how working with software developers, contractors and fellow architects and engineers we are beginning to put together a complete puzzle. But this is just the entry article so for starters I would encourage everyone if you're not already actively involved to join a forum or discussion group. Secondly, join the damn NBIMS, or (BIM standards committee.) It's free and we need to make sure that as we begin to embrace this new technology that we are doing it smarter. The whole anti-Rand, collective is more intelligent than an educated group of technology leaders thing.

Here is a list of websites I encourage everyone to check out:

http://www.facilityinformationcouncil.org/bim/index.php

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture.html

http://aec.cadalyst.com/BIM

http://www.revitcity.com/index.php

To give a brief background about myself and who I am (because i would hate to read a blog by a stranger). I am an architect. I work with a design build contractor in the Midwest and am tasked with integrating BIM into the company. Overwhelming? At times. But here's the thing, after essentially three to four months of web research, webcasts, presentations and tradeshows I am starting to see a completed picture in the industry. Hang on to your hats.

First of all we're behind (United States). You might know this or you might not, but I was amazed to learn in the fast track design build Asian market, models are being shipped around and 2d drawings have ceased to be a standard. Their BIM and "ours" is different. They have started to work with programmers specifically because the modeling platforms (Revit, Bentley, Catia, etc..) aren't responding fast enough to the technology they introduced. Thus, we are seeing an influx in third party software applications in the industry. Programmers are being hired to develop tie in software not only for the firm, but to sell back to the industry (are you listening Autodesk?). Here's what I know is being worked on. Unfortunately, a lot of this is still "in development" but i will let you know as soon as they release any of the programs I have listed below.

Currently wall assemblies in Revit are based off of a Uinformat code, which ties back in to specific components that make up the completed wall system. This is being taken further. A huge standard library of wall assemblies is being built to break down models into even more detail. To keep file sizes small they are loaded in from a server. The wall type is chosen after a series of pop ups are answered that input the information into the model. (For example: Does this wall have a vinyl base? What level finish will this wall recieve? etc..)Does this take more time? Absolutely! But think of the information that could be created in the wall! After asking if the walls are able to be edited and types changed after they are modeled, including the ability to create custom wall assemblies. The response was, one could edit every wall in the project in a relatively short time. Custom assemblies are then created by one or two in-house "gatekeepers", or simply put fellas who know how to insert all of the pertinent information into the script.

The model is then sent to the contractor who can then turn around real time estimates as the assemblies and quantities are already built into the model and the software they are using allows them to take the model and link it to estimating software (Timberline in my case) and produce same day estimates. The contractor takes the model and adds phasing information to walls doors, floors etc... By including phasing and scheduling information contractors and sub contractors can see in 3D what is to be built and by what date. The model will remain with the contractor and will be updated at regular SD, DD and % CD phases. The contractor should not be modeling walls or inputting anything but adding scheduling and phasing information!! This is important because from a liability standpoint the drawings and model information created still lies with the architect to maintain adherence to life safety, ratings, and code compliance issues.

It doesn't stop there. Customized walls are to contain component keynote information. These keynotes are shared to produce Construction Documentation while at the same time keynotes are shipped into a specification writing program. Once again, the model then creates a rather detailed set of specifications (not complete - front end docs, general conditions and other information aren't in there yet). Of course as components are added and subtracted the specs can be quickly updated to reflect this information change.

The architect then recieves information from the MEP, S and any other consultants to create a "completed model." Conflict management is then performed on the model and ductwork that runs into beams, lights that hit structure and pipes that go throught the 13 million dollar glass bottom pool are resolved.

Once construction has commenced, the model is shipped to fabricators who highlight areas of conflict or concern and send the altered model back to the architect or engineer for approval. The architect then signs off on the model change and overlays the new information on top of the existing information in a new and dedicated workset.

Finally, the completed model including all in-field changes and change orders (hopefully not many) are then handed off to the owner as a useful tool for Facility Management. Instead of the 2d blueprints being put in an old boiler room that looks like something from a bad David Lynch film, the model on CD allows the owner to have a constant up to date 3d record of changes, alterations and additions to the property.

Eventually building material websites will get on the ball and provide information that ties in all model components with an associated assembly code, mark, rating, etc...and at some point in the future a cost database website will allow us to link our building components to the web to get real time pricing information as well as directly order components from the manufacturer.

Of course, this just seems like the tip of the iceberg. And a number of these are just programs that are being developed in their infancy, but I wanted to give everyone an idea wof what was out there.

BIM it up and BIM it right.

BH out.

BIM - Jumping in Head First

2007-07-11T14:42:00.000-07:00

This post will be a concerted effort to keep fellow frends and colleagues up to date on our ever changing industry of design and construction. Hopefully, in the next posts that are to follow I will begin to create a substantial dialogue among other users that have helpful input.