B4 - Automation of Clash Detection Report Generation Using Dynamo

Project Description: “Design Project - Write a code in Dynamo that generates detailed clash detection reports; synthesizing data between Revit and Navisworks and exporting a formatted document with meaningful information regarding model clashes.”

Some of the inspiration from this project came from the desire to learn more about automating certain tasks that would make my job easier. This spring I will be going on my third and final co-op as a BIM/VDC Co-op at CRB in Plymouth Meeting. I will be developing project documents, inspecting designs to be within industry standards and regulations, and coordinating interdisciplinary problem-solving during project development. I would love to be able to walk onto the job in April and be able to offer suggestions on automating certain practices directly related to my job. Also, as we have seen in multiple lectures now, the AEC industry is in the middle of an innovation hotspot and the use of technology and automation on the job increases every year. My main goal for the project is to explore the Dynamo interface and familiarize myself with its capabilities.

My project would automate one of the more common responsibilities of a BIM coordinator: clash detection in BIM models between elements and trades. While this is only the tip of the iceberg of what construction technology is capable of, it is one of the most used functions of integrating BIM into projects. Clash detection identifies problems early in the design phase, where its financial, schedule, and quality impacts can be minimized; however, clash detection is tedious and often has the BIM coordinator adapting model files back and forth between several software and manually running analysis programs. This is incredibly inefficient and could benefit greatly from automating the task using Dynamo.

I imagine the most difficult parts of this process will be learning how to accurately import and export data using Dynamo and developing a workflow for moving a Revit model from the Revit platform to the Navisworks platform efficiently and accurately. I am excited to, at the very least, familiarize myself more deeply with Dynamo, Revit, and Navisworks before starting my co-op this spring. Hopefully I can be successful in developing this workflow and potentially benefit future-Spencer on co-op.

Comments:

Andy,
I am very excited to see what you and Mike come up with for this project. I have used BIM as a general contractor, owner's rep, and designer and have seen first hand which features are most useful to which users. I am interested to see the research that the two of you come up with and see if it matches my personal experience.
https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/bp-4-final-project.html

Abigail, Ina, and Varsha,
One thing to keep in mind with your project is the capacity of a robot's ability to think for itself (although with AI progressing like it has, this may no longer be an issue). A robot is capable of performing very complex tasks with the proper programming, but if the user tells the robot to do something incorrectly, the robot will perform those incorrect directions to the best of its ability. Technology in our industry is only as good as the training the end-users have received to capitalize on it.
https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/b4.html

Andre,
Code compliance and regulations are some of the most frustrating components of the design process. I am interested that you've chosen to focus on life safety and general safety aspects of a design. It is a trade in construction that can pass or fail a project during the permit acquiring phase. With very clear guidelines and checklists for this aspect of design, it makes sense to code a program to check for those regulations rather than going through them by hand. I am excited to see the end results of this attempt to automate a critical part of project design.
https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/code-compliant-automation-through-dynamo.html 

B4 - How Intelligent Building Technology Can Increase Efficiency in Building Mechanical Systems

For this project I’ve chosen to research the different types of intelligent building technology that impact mechanical system efficiency. Smart Home technology as well as other forms of sensors and software have been introduced to us slowly throughout the class and I wanted to delve deeper into how those really impact systems design. I chose this topic specifically because I am a mechanical engineer and want to be more informed about the systems and technologies I can expect to see in my upcoming career. Pasted below each section are some links to articles I think will be useful in my paper.

I plan to discuss three forms of intelligent building technology in my paper. The first being using BIM, specifically Revit and other software systems similar to Revit. There are a lot of different add ons and data packages emerging in 3D building modelling software that specifically address energy analysis in the different building systems. Not only is it helpful that these exist at all but it’s important that they are user friendly and effective. If engineers use those types of analysis tools accurately and often the building system efficiency could increase greatly.

(http://aecbytes.com/tipsandtricks/2015/issue76-revit.html)

The second technology I plan to research is sensor integration. There are many different types of mechanical sensors that are currently being used or in the process of being integrated that can help system efficiency. These can include pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow sensors or even occupancy sensors. I plan to look into how some of these sensors are being used now and how future advancements will improve their performance in the future.

(http://www.sens2b-sensors.com/news/item/honeywell-launches-new-media-isolated-pressure-mip-sensor-platform-for-hvac-and-industrial-market)

Finally I will be researching different building management systems. An HVAC system is only really as good as its controls operation and data management systems. Without them the systems can not run at peak efficiency. I will be researching how these systems are utilized and what technological advancements are emerging for future optimization.

(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610218306969)

I expect one of the main challenges to be finding technology that is not only related to intelligent buildings but is also practical in its applications. Additionally, determining what exactly is "optimized and efficient" can be subjective and will need to be defined clearly.

Amanda, Mike and Brian: https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/b4-project-description_3.html

I think your project topic is very applicable, particularly at this time in the world. Everyone is very focused on environmental impacts and green initiatives it will be helpful to read into all the different BIM technologies that are helping with that. It's good that your highlighting the decrease in cost too because clients will need to see benefits that are more than just environmental efficiency.

Andre: https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/code-compliant-automation-through-dynamo.html

It's so cool that you're looking at this from an electrical perspective; not many people choose to address those systems but they are arguably one of the most important when it comes to systems design and intelligent buildings. Emphasis on code compliance is really great. Speaking from experience as a mechanical engineer manually checking if something is compliant is a tedious task that can arguably waste a lot of time.

Cory: https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/cory-christopher-modular-construction.html

Modular building construction is a great concept to look into it definitely looks like its developing into the up and coming accepted construction format. Its good that you're addressing both the pros and cons as every advancement is not perfect, maybe even look into some technologies that help mitigate the downsides? This sounds like its going to be a pretty interesting paper.

Code Compliant Automation Through Dynamo

For my term project, I am planning on automating a handful of tasks that will satisfy basic code compliance from an Electrical Engineering perspective as well as handle a few tasks that would be otherwise tedious. The code compliance automation tasks include the following:

• Adding fire alarm strobes to rooms with an occupancy of 2 or greater, and a certain area
• Adding fire alarm speaker strobes to rooms with an occupancy of 2 or greater, and a certain area
• Spacing ceiling mounted speaker strobes through common areas and corridors meeting code required spacing and visibility
• Making sure all outlets within a 3' radius of sinks are GFCI type
• Laying out conference room receptacle layouts to comply to new NEC code requirements

These tasks will be the primary focus of the project. I would also like to automate the following convenience tasks:

• Adding room tags in a newly created view
• Tag receptacles and lights with circuit tags
• Add plus designation to all receptacles modelled above the standard mounting height of 1'6"
• Space Wireless Access Points
• Layout a typical office layout

I will be creating a one floor basic office model with a handful of offices, open office area, cafe, conference room, corridors, and restrooms. I will then develop the Dynamo script that will handle these routines. It's possible that I will need to split these tasks into two or three separate scripts in order to avoid the Dynamo graph from becoming too cluttered. This will help keep the Dynamo script from crashing which would crash the Revit file. For practical purposes, this/these script(s) need to work smoothly so that they could, in theory, be used on larger projects at design firms. 

I plan on starting by sitting down and putting together pseudo code for each task that will better help me map out and execute the development of the code. Once the pseudo code is developed I can then translate it to actual Dynamo code. I will be documenting and logging my progress as I go including how long it takes me to complete certain tasks as well as including my pseudo code and plans in my report.


https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/b4-mika-awai-project-description.html
Hey Mika,

I think this is a very interesting project design given the climate in the industry and the push to make buildings more sustainable, doing an analysis of the available software would prove to be very beneficial. Especially if it would make designing to LEED that much easier.

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/course-project.html
Hey Michael,

I'm very interested to see where this project goes and what the finished product looks like. I think that this model could be incredibly beneficial not only from an owner's viewpoint but also from a design viewpoint. This would greatly affect the materials chosen for the building envelope, which mechanical systems are chosen, and where energy consumption can be improved.

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/bell-blog-4-project-information.html
Hey Dane,

I was also very interested in this topic and considered looking into it as well. The process seems geared more towards architectural design in that it iterates through different forms, shapes and materials easily, but I wonder how this could be applied to iterating through envelope designs and other engineering elements of building design. I really enjoy the thought of being able to expand and increase the speed of design option development with this process. I'm looking forward to seeing where this project goes. 

B4 - Stephen Pettit - Project - Revit Families

For the term project, I will be designing two Revit families of mechanical equipment. I have decided to design an automatic pump packaged unit, and a rooftop unit. The equipment chosen has many components, and would give me good experience with developing Revit families. I have chosen this project because I know this exercise will benefit me in my career. At my co-op company, they design their own Revit families to their standards. I have not had experience in that part of Revit, and I believe that this project would strengthen my Revit skills. Revit is used frequently at work, and I want to be able to be proficient enough that I stick out at my company. Revit is starting to get more popular at my company, and there is a handful of people that are proficient with it. I want to be able to expand my skills to make myself more versatile in my career.

I chose the pump package unit and the RTU because I am somewhat familiar with them. I often run into those equipment throughout my projects. My goal is to create detailed enough Revit families that have adjustable parameters that suits different needs. Another one of my goals is to learn more about the equipment in detail, and the equipment operates. In addition to the Revit families, I will create a general building, and insert the equipment inside the building.

Comments:
https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/cory-christopher-modular-construction.html
Cory,

Modular building construction is a great idea. The construction industry is getting more involved with prefabricated elements. I definitely think you should talk about how they would transport elements such as a whole room or whatever aspect you touch on. Transportation is important in my opinion, and that is why I think that robotics and construction is starting to become a building option.

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/course-project.html
Michael,

I really like your project idea. I have no experience with Kaggle, but I like the idea of creating a model that will determine future outcomes based off past outcomes. I am excited to see how your project turns out because it something that is very important in the building industry. Characteristics such as loads, temperatures, and other weather measurements are crucial for project accuracy. I agree as well with your statement with how building owners will have a better idea with energy consumption on renovation projects.

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/02/b4-term-paper.html
Jake,

I find this topic very interesting. This topic intrigued me because I used to have family that lived in Dubai, and I am aware that they are great in the building industry. I am excited to see how far Philadelphia is from the advancements of Dubai, and how both areas can improve in their current advances. It might be a good idea to consider the current issues with what both areas are dealing with, and how they are planning to overcome those issues. Also, I am interested to see what kind of job openings will be available in those areas in the future of robotics, drones, etc.

Blog Post #4 - Project Description

Group members: Vishist Jain, Anchit Jain, Pritesh Prajapati

Initially, our project was focused on investigating sustainable technology that emphasizes environmentally friendly practices during the design and construction process. However, after further discussion, we decided to switch the tracks towards modeling. Many of the topics associated with intelligent building are prospective, which may or may not be successful in the future. Much of the landscape around the intelligent building is pending, waiting to flourish to its full potential. In some ways, it is limited by current technology power. As a group, we wanted to explore, learn and discover technology that is already present that we have not been familiar with. In our case, Revit is an intelligent building software that is already being utilized in the industry by the majority.

The project will be a set of finished construction documents that will include a model of a residential 2 story building along with a structural document. The document will have every detail, section, elevation necessary for real construction. The products utilized in the construction document will also be available to purchase. We plan to use Revit for the majority of our tasks including analysis and formulation of the structure. The structure will also comply with the building code as per our understanding. If we lack information, an educated assumption will be conducted in order to deliver a finished project. Since we do not have any experience with Revit in the past, there will be challenges and will require self-learning as we progress along with the project. We plan of documenting every step as well as recommendations for improvement.

Varsha,

Robots in construction is an interesting topic for intelligent building. You mentioned a lot of positive aspects of robotics in construction such as efficiency however, it would also be interesting to see counter-arguments against robotics aswell. In terms of union-dominated industry, would robots entry face resistance from people who may lose their job. Just something to think about.  

Dane,

I look forward to your project. Generative design is something that I'm not familiar with. From the way you describe, in my opinion, the efficiency of structures will skyrocket. It's just absurd that no one has been utilizing this technology to the mass scale. I do not have many recommendations however do keep project untestable to someone who isn't an expert. 

Amanda,

There are many BIM software on the market. However, there are differences between them. I look forward to knowing them. I do have much knowledge besides Revit so it would be interesting to see what the other players have to offer.

Group E - Week 4 Discussion

Overall, our group decided that AutoCAD and Sketchup are helpful in producing rough drafts, then ultimately using them as references to create a more comprehensive, polished final product in Revit. That's not to say that this is Revit's only use, though. 3D visualization is vastly helpful. Minute details, such structural member connections, are easier to view in 3D in Revit than in 2D in AutoCAD. Revit makes section cuts easier once the geometry is in place. In summary, Revit combines many of the best features of other drafting programs into a comprehensive 3D modeling software.

Group B - Week 4 In Class Discussion

In our group, we believe that interoperability is a current issue within BIM/Revit. Although Revit was created to resolve this problem, it only helped to a certain extent and more issues arose. It is advancing much faster than people can learn and quite expensive for the licensing and training. Furthermore, the models are not compatible in different Revit versions. For instance, Revit 2019 model will not work in Revit 2018 program. 

Group C - Week 4 Class Discussion

Some possible future advantages of Revit/BIM are:

The future possibilities of BIM are endless, and I don’t think we can ever fully predict what that future might look like but already BIM is helping to improve the transfer of information from all parties involved in the design process. I think BIM will allow everyone to spot interferences earlier in the process and allow for the most economical design possible. As more and more companies dive into the realm of BIM it will become second nature and there will be even more information in one single location that everyone on the project team can access.

Improving Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, BIM significantly affects expanding proficiency during the design and construction periods of a project. A construction project designed with BIM assists subcontractors with recognizing areas for energy improvement and utilization all through the structure. Utilizing BIM energy examination in these circumstances improves energy effectiveness and diminish material waste, and making a progressively feasible environment.

One of the greatest advantages of Revit/BIM in the future to engineers and architects is collaboration. It empowers designers, owners, and builders.

BIM will accomplish something other than offering architects a look at the structure's physical features. It's a mutual information asset where architects and collaborators can store the entirety of their thoughts, ideas, and make complex estimations on the fly. Future architects will be utilizing this work process to design superior buildings that are effective and forward-thinking.

Group A - Future Problems of Revit/BIM

• Many future problems include extensions of current issues. 
• Resistance from professionals in the AEC field. Engineers are reluctant to implement BIM tools without proof of concept and execution (trust in self vs trust in data).
• Fast-changing technology makes it difficult to keep up
• Lack of incentive from companies to do formal training of new technology (financial burden, investment of time, resistance to change workflows)
• Worries about accountability of design and execution by giving control over to automated processes and how that affects the public. Also, how does the use of automation inhibit innovation of design? When does making work simple become too simple?
• Data waste and inefficient use of Revit as a database is a large factor in problems with BIM implementation
• "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality persists the AEC industry

Revit vs. The World

Revit, in most firms in the country, has become the go to industry standard for construction projects nowadays. In my own professional career I have found myself using it much more often than any other drafting software I’ve had access to. This also is partially due to my specific field. If my field was architecture I might use programs such as Sketchup much more often, but from an electrical engineering drafting perspective Revit is the leading standard. Second to this however, is AutoCAD. Both software is made by Autodesk but while AutoCAD does have 3D design capabilities, Revit is geared more for 3D design whereas Autodesk is geared more for 2D design; specifically in the ACE industry. With both being created by Autodesk, there is a lot of integration between the two software which has provided a lot of people a smooth transition from a CAD workflow to a BIM workflow. Instead of forcing everyone to jump over to Revit overnight, the software includes a lot of great features to link in CAD files for adding things like drawing details that the engineer has used for decades that they don’t want to update and things of the like.

In my experience, I’ve primarily used this integration between the two to import lighting fixture schedules, typically from lighting designers, into Revit projects. A lot of the time, fixture schedules are done in Excel primarily for ease of use purposes and then linked into a CAD file. This avoids having to use AutoCADs horrible table creating process and allows for a cleaner more efficient workflow. And smaller firms, like a lot of lighting design firms are still using AutoCAD to do a lot of their work. Sometimes linking the two can be an aggravating process if not setup or done correctly.

Revit also allows for you to import files from Sketchup, however this is typically done differently than how AutoCAD files are imported. As I mentioned, CAD is primarily 2D related where as Sketchup is a 3D software similar to Revit. Because of this, the two can interface very differently. Especially considering that they were not both made by Autodesk. A lot of people will you Sketchup to assist in family creation due to its ease of use in creating 3D objects compared to Revit. At least in my opinion. But what is also very common is architects using sketchup to do their massing and then exporting it to Revit to assist in the modeling process.

There are a handful of other drafting software like Civil 3D and ArchiCAD that can probably interact with Revit, but I have no experience in this process, just the ones listed above.

Liam Ossenfort

Hey Liam,

I enjoyed reading your post because one of the things I always found super interesting about Revit was its use of parameters and how the software organizes them. They allow for a lot of control in different ways between changing something that is an instance parameter versus something that is a type parameter. And getting a better understanding between the two has helped me immensely in my work flow.

Brian Mynaugh

Hey Brian,

I thought your post was interesting because I agree that this is the most difficult part of what the future has in store for Revit/BIM. I've noticed in the company I work at which is rather large in comparison, is that we even have people refusing to change their workflow and adapt to the new programs simply because they don't want to have to relearn the process. And those that have HAD to adapt either complain constantly or only use it as a 2D drafting software which is not at all what it was made for.

Michael Manley

Hey Michael,

I enjoyed reading this post because it points out some of the amazing uses of BIM in the future. This technology offers a wide range of advantages for how we do work in this industry and it will hopedully make the process much easier and cooled with a lot of the VR simulation based technology.

B3: What are the possible future problems with Revit/BIM?

What problems could face us using Revit in the future? I didn't think of this question before because I thought that any problem or issue we have now is going to be solved with all the technologies we have. That's why there are updated versions approximately every year. The current problem that I can think about is that Revit and some other software are not available for everyone. People who are using mac can't download Revit because the company doesn't provide one for Mac users. It is only for Microsoft users, why? Would this issue going to stay till the next decade? Hopefully not! 

The other issue that may be considered is that there is only one version of Revit which is used worldwide. This is great, but every state or country has different building codes, restrictions, and limitations. Although I think engineers should be aware and review this part, but I would recommend that they add this to the program.     

BIM/Revit year over year is becoming more realistic that people can’t differ between both. There are more features that are added and developed. If you remember the Paint program that was on our old computers, do you think children still use it now as we did? Today Microsoft has developed that old tool to Paint 3D program, you can see the difference between these two programs. Paint is the only painting tool that I used when I was a kid, but know there are a bunch of them with high quality and resolution. What problems could BIM have in the future? If there weren't enough options in designing, the creativity of designing using these tools could decrease. This could happen when engineers rely on these programs and limit there designs on what these software provide.  BIM can do work faster than humans, but it is controlled by us. Therefore, we shouldn't rely on and fully trust the computer's work without reviewing it because it could have some errors.   

Michael,

I believe that in future more simulations will be updated and also more models that are close to reality. The idea you have might sound crazy at first, but nothing possible. There are programs where you can design and decorate your house without even paying a cent so you can see if it fits or not. Sometimes you imagine things that you think it is going to work but when you do it and pay for it, you realize that you wasted your time and money on something that didn’t fit the place, and you didn’t like it. Therefore, these programs can help in these cases. In addition to the VR and XR human-eye resolution products, this can also be used in the construction field in the future or something similar to your idea.

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/future-of-bim.html

Walker,

I’m interested to know how BIM improved the communication between fields. I know that Revit can combine structural, mechanical, plumbing and architectural systems together, but this is all in the same field. Do you mean the environmental field, for example?

When you mentioned that there are benefits from using BIM and drawing plans by hand, I was wondering if there is a tool where we can draw plans and sketch by hand then these plans could be transferred to digital plans. If this tool doesn’t exist now, maybe it will in the future.

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/walker-elders-b3-advantages-of-revitbim.html

Reece,

In my experience, while my job interviews all of the companies and firms that I had applied for asked about my AutoCAD skills. In addition, the firm that I worked in used AutoCAD although they knew about Revit, but it seems that it is a new tool. Honestly, I don’t know how to work on something other than AutoCAD. However, I think this will change in the future corresponding to me or to the firms where Revit going to replace AutoCAD, but we need some time for this change.

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/blog-post-3-how-does-revit-relate-to.html

B3 - Revit x AutoCAD

Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) is a concept that emerged in the 1960s. The 2D design software did away with manual drafting and made making calculations, visualizing design and working a lot faster and easier. CAD was first only utilized by those who knew how to program computers, so hand calculations and designs were still completed during the transition period, but by the 1990s, most companies were implementing CAD and engineers were tasked with learning and using it. AutoCAD and Revit are two major platforms for computer aided drafting and are very similar programs, though often used in different ways.

AutoCAD, under AutoDesk, has been around for a while. It was first demonstrated and released in 1982 and was the first CAD program to run as a desktop app on microcomputers that did not require the use of mainframe computers to run. Since AutoCAD was one of the first, it remains a known name in the industry. I was taught AutoCAD my freshman year at Drexel and used it a lot during my first co-op. Certain companies in the transportation industry require the use of one CAD software over another, so we were required to use AutoCAD for the projects we were working on, even though the versions had kinks.

Revit was developed in 2000 and was actually acquired by AutoDesk, the same company that runs AutoCAD, in 2002. It is different from AutoCAD’s 2D interface because Revit is made for 3D modeling.  Additionally, Revit has the capability to track information throughout the structures’ life cycles and is a great companion to BIM software. My industry does not utilize Revit as much, as far as I know. Highway and roadway design work is mostly done in 2D with cross sections that would show a third direction. Revit and programs like it seems to be integral to the architecture industry.

Many companies and engineers themselves often vouch for AutoCAD over other programs because it is easier to continue using something that you have always been working with, especially if there is nothing inherently wrong or bad about using it. I had coworkers who told me they did not want to learn a newer version of AutoCAD, and refused to work with it until they had to. Although I have never used Revit in the industry for a complete project, using it to complete my assignment for this class proved Revit to be simple, user-friendly, and intuitive. I immediately felt comfortable with using the program. If engineers were simply more open to embracing change, better programs can be utilized, especially Revit and its connectability to BIM.

Comments:

Michael,
You are totally right to bring up lack of continuity in the industry for programs like these. The fact that there is no industry standard makes it so complicated to share files, plans, and develop models across the USA or even in one's state. It is easier for companies to keep doing what they have been doing for years and say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but like you said, the benefits of converting to program like Revit or BIM outweigh the desire to remain using the same program.
https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-current-problems-with-revitbim.html

Stephen,
I remember having issues in AutoCAD where the model would take several minutes to load and will often be an un-updated file. We also had to run files through a converter sometimes if the format was from an older version of AutoCAD. Synchronization issues are truly annoying and cost time and money to fix. If there was a way to make the files "smarter," such as saving automatically after a certain period of time or being able to match versions with another, it would be a  lifesaver.
https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/b3-current-issues-with-bim-stephen.html

Michael,
I tend to forget that virtual reality can be used in a productive sense, rather than just in gaming. The ability to view a 3D model right before your eyes is revolutionary. Think of how that would change teaching: you could see how a beam deflects under loads and how that would look in the bigger picture, you could walk through a building to check if everything looks okay before even thinking of construction. I love the idea of making changes in real time through VR, it would save a lot of time to do so.
https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/future-of-bim.html

Liam Ossenfort B3 - Current Advantages of Revit/BIM

After reading the article titled Revit Parameters Part 1 – Concepts, I familiarized myself further on the advantages of parameters and families within Revit. Parameters represent the “I” in BIM, for it has the ability of storing information that can be scheduled, exported or viewed as properties of an object (height of a door, width of a wall, etc.). Parameters are simply placeholders for data, so they should be appropriately named. Families in Revit include parameters as well, making the generation of different schedules significantly more efficient when compared to traditional CAD software.

Revit’s use of parameter types, both Instance and Type, removes the need to frequently check schedules because of its exceptional coordination. From viewing the Instance parameter of a door within its properties, several values and a mark are unique to that door and that door alone; since each door is automatically assigned a mark on the initial creation of a schedule, Revit allows the user to alter the mark, but will not allow duplicate marks. This is advantageous because it creates an easier layout to follow due to custom (or even utilizing the default) marks. On the other hand, Type parameters are the same for all (in this case) door types.

Revit also has immense Project and Shared parameter capabilities. Project parameters may only be used on a current Revit model or project, but Shared parameters may be stored in a file and can be exploited by many users on many different projects. Although this description entails Shared parameters to be more useful and dynamic, Project parameters are both easier to use and are more efficient for tasks like creating zones for various rooms and generating zone schedules; Project parameters also require far less upkeep and maintenance. Both Project and Shared parameters provide their own sets of advantages, consisting of versatile and robust means to standardize stored data regarding all Revit instances or families.

Comments to Others:

Michael Sciarra

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-current-problems-with-revitbim.html

Michael, you raise a valid concern regarding the conversion from 2D modeling to 3D modeling; for any new and innovative technologies there will be a steep learning curve to get a handle on the new software, but that is apparent with the release of any new technology, and is often an expectation when making upgrades to systems. I do see the concern on machines being able to handle new software, but with the current state of hardware components, the majority of "base-line" machines, especially within existing firms and not regarding casual users, can now run high demanding programs due to the power of the technology we can now fabricate, so I would not see this as a primary concern.

Michael Manley

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/future-of-bim.html

Michael, I could not agree more with the notion that Virtual Reality is going to be the next big implementation of BIM products. The functionality and versatility it could provide in the design and presentation of projects is exciting to think about. With technologies like “Virtual Tours” already being used, adding Virtual Reality to the mix creates even further immersion into various projects. I also enjoyed your discussion on the potential of selling buildings with this feature; utilizing something like Virtual Reality could sway a client into loving a project more than if just a simulation is presented on the computer.

Madeleine Walker-Elders

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/walker-elders-b3-advantages-of-revitbim.html

Madeleine, after completing Assignment One I experienced 3D building modeling for the first time, and it was advantageous compared to regular 2D modeling; utilizing various views aided me in seeing where I was heading with my project. I enjoyed how you incorporated an environmental factor into its benefits, saving paper on sites and progressing on completely digitizing documentation and data. Although digitizing all necessary documentation seems like a flawless solution, something to account for with this is the technology required to access this data as Dr. Fiori had also mentioned, for if there is an issue with the technology various issues may arise with viewing the needed data.

B3 - The Possible Future Problems with BIM/Revit?

The Possible Future Problems with BIM/Revit? 

The field of engineering and technology is ever-changing. New technologies and softwares are constantly being introduced in order to optimize construction and facilitate the creation of complex and innovative geometries. This leads to the constant modification of BIM tools and the introduction of new ones. 

This, however, creates the problem of adaptability. Engineers tend to resist change. We tend to stick with the methods we were taught in class and what others have been doing for a long period of time because we know how it works and that it actually works. Being engineers means we have more of a scientific outlook, we need the proof to support an idea. Thus, it limits our ability to try new concepts and methods of doing what has already been established.

The problem is, BIM is not waiting for us to decide to get onboard. It is changing and will keep changing. Thus, it is important to start implementing and teaching it in order to keep up with its changes. Learning the new softwares that are being released to aid BIM is vital to creating new integrated and efficient structures. Good use of BIM technologies will not only allows us to save time and money during design, but it will also allow us to expand our imagination of what is possible in the realm of buildings and structures. 

Furthermore, another problem that may arise with BIM is how much control engineers and designers will be willing to give to robots and AI. Accepting the future of BIM involves putting more trust into algorithms and robotic construction. According to Bill Allen, the CEO of Evolvelab, in the future, instead of Building Information Modeling, BIM with become Building Information Optimization. He explains how “rather than manually drawing walls, doors, and columns for what we think is a good design, we will feed the computer “rules” instructing it to give us a building’s optimal footprint, structural load capacity, and thermal performance” (Allen, 2019). Thus, this entails giving a higher level of trust to robots and artificial intelligence to produce the decision and analysis for us. 

Works Cited

Allen, Bill. “The Future of BIM Will Not Be BIM and It's Coming Faster Than You Think.” Autodesk University, 16 Oct. 2019, www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/article/Future-BIM-Will-Not-Be-BIM-and-Its-Coming-Faster-You-Think-2017.

Comments:

Reece,

You make a good comparison between Revit in Autocad in their compatibility with other softwares. I think one of the biggest problems with engineering softwares is that you have to spend too much time translating on file into another platform. I agree with the need for a single software that is able to manage all aspects of modeling in order to save time and simplify modeling.

Ina,

I agree with you in that Revit requires a lot of patience and good communication skills when working in a team. I think you brought up one of the biggest issues that we students face when using Revit as we have to sync our projects and constantly be changing in between software versions.

Andrew,

I like the point you made about how spending less time figuring out how to get the systems to work thanks to integrative design will lead to more innovative creations. I think this is something to look forward to as it would make the engineering industry a more collaborative community between professions. I had not though about the benefits BIM would have for the contractors but it is a good point to note that more detailed reports would be beneficial and would lead to better installations and construction of proposed plans.