All Things BIM / DC

From our friends over at BIM and BEAM Interface between Revit® Structure and STAAD.Pro Structural Integrators is currently developing an interface between Revit® Structure, and STAAD.Pro. The initial version of the link will be free to registered users of Structural Integrators, and will be a one-way link from Revit Structure to STAAD.Pro. Future releases will provide full bi-directional integration between these two products. In anticipation of the 2008 Q1 release of the link, Structural Integrators is seeking beta testers . If you already own Revit® Structure and STAAD.Pro and would like to be a beta tester for this interface, please go to http://structuralintegrators.com/staad.php

For those Revit users that are also subscription customers, Autodesk has released several new tools that can be downloaded at the subscription site. The second of these tools is the Batch Print Utility for the Revit 2008 product line. The tool can be downloaded after logging into the subscription site and then go down to "Product Information & Downloads" section. There is a link for "AEC Product Modules & Add-Ons". This link will bring you to the download page. The new Batch Print Utility for Revit 2008 subscription customers allows you to print a large number of drawings from you Revit project unattended. For more information, David Light has done a great job documenting the Batch Print and Worksharing monitor and you can find that information on his Revit blog.

For those Revit users that are also subscription customers, Autodesk has released several new tools that can be downloaded at the subscription site. The first of these tools is the Worksharing Monitor for the Revit 2008 product line. The tool can be downloaded after logging into the subscription site and then go down to "Product Information & Downloads" section. There is a link for "AEC Product Modules & Add-Ons". This link will bring you to the download page. From the Revit Worksharing Monitor help file. The Worksharing Monitor for Revit 2008 facilitates the use of Revit software in a worksharing environment, in which multiple people work on one project. For workshared projects, the Worksharing Monitor answers questions like the following: Who is currently working on this project? Is my local copy of the project up to date? When will my Save to Central operation finish? Has my request to borrow elements been granted? Are any issues interfering with my work

RISA Tech has released version 6 of the RISA-3D & RISAFloor link with Revit Structure. This new version now supports a full two-way link which RISA Tech is reporting that you can start modeling in RISA-3D or RISAFloor and then push the model to Revit Structure. Modeling in Revit Structure first is still supported. For more information visit RISA Tech for the link to download the new Revit Structure link.

With the help of a formal colleague and friend Daniel Hurtubise (see his French RevitIt blog) we are documenting a number of Revit Warnings. But the question I get both at work and via this blog is, "What's the Big Deal with Warnings". Which is usually followed by, "They don't prevent me from doing something and my sheets still print". So, I think it is important to discuss how important it is to address warnings sooner than later (or not at all). I think the first and foremost reason to address warnings is that they can have a huge impact on the file size and performance of a project. This is especially true with warnings that have to do with overlapping items such as walls, room separations lines and duplicated instances. The first time you encounter a warning is really the best time to address it. So if Revit thinks you are doing something it does not like, Revit will throw up an alert explaining what it thinks you have done wrong. I'll be the first

In a previous post on Best Practices for Content Creation and Management, we discuss the definition of a family and how important it is to do some planning before you dive into creating or modifying a family. Now that we have the basic understanding, we can start the process of actually creating a family. Rule #1 is to use the correct template. For example, a curtain wall is not a window. This can cause issues with scheduling. Rule #2: What to modify in the Out-of-the-Box templates * Host and Face based family templates should be modified by adding hosts and dimensions * All the family templates should be modified to add company specific parameters (which will be discussed further in Management) As before, I want to make sure I give credit to Daniel Hurtubise of Revit It! and Katherine Meeder, BIM Specialist at HNTB Architecture for all their work in putting together this document.

This can usually happen when are are picking geometry from an AutoCAD file. Revit will report this error when a wall is drawn at an angle at a with a fractional degree, such as 95.1 degrees. To correct the problem, either redraw the wall or change the angle. You can sometimes verify the angle by creating a 3-4 decimal point dimension style. Special thanks to Daniel Hurtubise, aka the Revit Warnings Nazi for his help on documenting Revit warnings. Check out his RevitIt blog. (in French)

This means that you have a wall that is attached to a floor, roof etc. but the wall does not physically attach or touch the roof or floor. This warning can generally be corrected by “detaching” the wall from the floor or roof. Special thanks to Daniel Hurtubise, aka the Revit Warnings Nazi for his help on documenting Revit warnings. Cehck out his RevitIt blog. (in French)

If you are a Revit subscription customer, then the Revit Structure team has uploaded some new structural .rfa content in the Subscription Center for download. The new content includes some AISC 13th Editions steel sections, Joist Girders, many UK Metric families and Finland ones, etc. To access the new content, log into the Subscription Center, scroll down to "Product Information & Downloads" section and click on "Building Solutions: Product Modules & Add-Ons". Under "Structural Engineering Solutions" click on "Subscription Structural Library". For more information, check-out the BIM and Beam blog.

If you are attempting to create a network deployment and it fails this LINK at Microsoft seems to correct the problem in most cases. This problem popped up with the last build and has been discussed on AUGI and Steve Stafford's Revit OpEd.

If you are reading this blog, then chances are you also own either a MP3 player or iPod. And if you do, then you might want to consider looking at an alternate form of professional development, the Podcasts . Podcasts are either audio or audio-video files that are typically free, portable and can provide and alternate form of professional development. There are Podcasts for every subject under-the sun. Some good, some not-so-much. I have listed a few that I think are worth looking at for the AEC community. If I left one out you think should be mentioned, drop me an email at pdavis at hntb dot com American Institute of Architects (AIA) AIA PodNet and AIA-COTE Podcasts McGraw Hill Construction Podcasts Building+Design Construction (bdcnetwork.com) Podcasts AdditionalPodcast Resources Apple-iTunes Podcast Library podcast.com freshpodcasts.com

For all those FMDesktop users hungry for additional learning or information resources, you will be glad to know that there is a Blog dedicated to FMDesktop. As a casual FMDesktop user, I will be honest and say that this Blog by no means satisfies my thirst for information, but it is a start. So, if you are a FMDesktop user or investigating the product, then take a minute to view " FMDesktop & Beyond! " by Shaun Bryant

For those not familiar with Steve Stafford he is definitely one of the Revit rock stars and he has a very informative Blog called Revit OpEd which I am sure most of you are aware of. One of Steve's recent postings was on " Local Files - How, How Often and Where? " is a really good document worth adding to your personal or firms documentation. The firm I work for follows are very similar process that Steve outlines though we have a few twists on his guidelines. I also recommend bookmarking Steve's Blog, he provides some really good information.

Before we get into this, I want to make sure I give credit to Daniel Hurtubise of Revit It! and Katherine Meeder, BIM Specialist at HNTB Architecture for all their work in putting together this document. What is a Family? A Revit Family is the most basic building block or component in a Revit Architecture model. Families are reusable and can be transferred from project to project. You can use System Families from existing Revit projects or templates by using the File > Transfer Project Standards. Component Families can be loaded from family libraries using the File > Load from Library > Load Family. Families can be either 2D or 3D. Families are easily swappable as the project progresses from schematic design quality into the construction document phase. Properly created Revit families can minimize the size of the BIM model file while providing a high level of detail that can be viewed in the schedules, tags and labels. Revit uses 4 types of families: Systems Families (wal

Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd (IES) offers a number of building performance analysis tools that have been integrated with Revit. IES’s plugin  for Revit Architecture 2008 is a free Plugin that provides the linkage between Revit Architecture and both the IES Sustainability Toolkits and the IES . Sustainability Toolkit Features: Sustainability Toolkit enables designers to perform common sustainable design analysis with a  single  button click. Perform quick ‘what-if’ scenarios to establish the most appropriate sustainable and energy efficient approach. The Toolkits are exclusive to Autodesk Revit projects uniquely leveraging sustainability into your BIM project.   You can download the free trial at  http://www.iesve.com/content/default.asp

If you are a BIM or CADD users, then you want to bookmark Steve Stafford's Revit Jobs blog. If you are looking for a position in Kansas City and want to work for a great firm (I have never worked there, but I have friends there), then check out 360 Architecture . BIM Facilitator - 360 ARCHITECTURE BIM Facilitator 360 ARCHITECTURE is a design-centered, client-focused and solution-oriented firm providing full-scope services to corporate, institutional and public sector clients, and private individuals across the United States. We’ve developed integrated expertise in strategic planning, architecture, interiors and graphics to deliver the best overall solutions to our clients and community. We are creative, business-minded professionals devoted to superior project design and delivery. At THREESIXTY ARCHITECTURE, our ability to deliver excellence in design is based on our ability to attract and retain creative people committed to quality design, innovation and professional growth

HNTB Architecture is looking for you BIM Specialist - HNTB Architecture - DC Job Summary Intermediate proficiency level and expertise with BIM (Revit Architecture). This position level may include supervisory responsibilities. Work duties may be narrowly focuses or diverse. Examples of focus may include areas such as CADD management, 3D specialist, BIM Specialist and other areas of specialization. Will be knowledgeable in methods, techniques, and practices of the appropriate specialty. Will help establish, guide and direct BIM systems and processes. Provide leadership and vision to the firm in the area of CADD and BIM. Essential Functions Responsibility for planning and implementation of BIM firm wide. Overseeing, developing and organizing support and training materials for CADD and BIM applications. BIM contact for local Arch Inc offices. Develop and foster relationships with sub-consultants, and user groups. Participate in the development of CADD and BIM standards. Conduct pro