BIM Collaboration with Autodesk Navisworks - Review

Paul Aubin has a new book out!

I was fortunate enough to receive an early review copy from Paul of his new book, "BIM Collaboration with Autodesk Navisworks".  The review copy could not be better timed.  I started a new job as BIM Manager of Turner Construction here in Connecticut.  As you can imagine, Navisworks will be open just as much as Revit on my laptop.  I was looking forward to reading Paul's latest book (co-authored with  Darryl McClelland).

I was not sure how "basic" or "advanced" this book would be.  I have quite a bit of experience in Navisworks running clash detection, selection sets, search sets, etc...  I would consider myself a bit of a veteran.  I was delighted when I got through the book and had a page full of notes with tips and tricks picked up along the way!

Revitworld Magazine - First Edition

I've always imagined that a magazine dedicated completely to Revit could be feasible but would be quite the challenge.  Well, David Christie, along with Isla Christie, are up for the challenge!  Together, they have released the first edition of Revitworld.  A free online magazine dedicated to all things Revit!

The first issue features some neat tutorials, laptop reviews, a Q&A, and other interesting articles.  The magazine has a nice feel as I flipped through and contains a great mix of text and images.

Continue reading to view the first issue of Revitworld and continue following Revitworld for new issues...

Using Revit with Google Cardboard (Virtual Reality Goggles)

I am not sure why Autodesk did not make a big deal or announcement about this but man is it COOL!  If you log into Autodesk 360 Cloud Rendering you will notice a few new features under the "Render as" option:

Having heard of Google Cardboard (and messed around with Oculus Rift) I was really interested to check the new "Stereo Panorama" out.  So I did what any technology geek would due and purchased a set of Google Cardboard goggles on Amazon.  Concurrently, I ran a few test renderings of projects I already had in the cloud... 

Case Study - Revit for Design Competitions

If you follow current events in the architectural world then you may have heard about the Guggenheim Helsinki design competition.  The Guggenheim foundation hosted an open competition to design a new museum in Helsinki, Finland.  Incredibly, over 1700 designers submitted from all around the globe.

Among those 1750 submissions is a a design by team number "GH-124686905".  That team consisted of my good buddy Derek and I.

A year or so out of school we both decided we wanted to start taking part in some design competitions as a way to expand creatively, build a better portfolio, and maybe even get a commission (hey, you never know).

Of course, Revit was our program of choice.  I wanted to share some images with brief text from this experience because there are very few articles (if any) demonstrating the power of Revit at such an early stage as a design competition entry. Continue reading for more images and examples...

Real World Dynamo Uses by CASE Inc.

Dynamo is here and it is not going anywhere.

I am constantly asked what the difference is between Grasshopper and Revit (and why so many students are using Grasshopper).  Well, it's comparing apples and oranges!  Then Dynamo hit the streets.  At first, that made my answer to the aforementioned question more difficult.  Well, William Wong, over at CASE, beautifully spelled out the differences in a recent article.

If you're reading this post then I have a feeling you may have heard about Dynamo (and have been hearing more and more about it).  Well, William's article not only spells out the difference between Dynamo and Grasshopper but he also uses three real world examples in which Dynamo enhances, automates, and even manages quality in Revit.  That's right, he isn't showing you how to make an inverted hyperparabaloid using Dynamo... These are real-world examples from the trenches.

Absolute must read article... Continue for the link...

BIM After Dark - Volume 2: A Week in Review(s)

I released the second installment of my BIM After Dark series about a week ago.  Volume 2 focuses on the creation of Construction Documents using Revit.  I should not have been surprised with the overwhelming response to this series because you chose the topic!

Either way, I am still in shock of the fantastic response.  First, the series has already sold 184 copies of various packages.  Second, the initial feedback has, again, reminded me why I still create content for this blog after five years.  It is difficult to retain the proper perspective about what this website is and where it came from after so long and I thank you all for doing so.

Finally, I sent out a few advanced copies to some of the people I have always looked up to in this tiny little Revit blogger niche and asked them to send me their own feedback on Volume 2.  The first two I'd like to share with you are the opinions of Paul Aubin (who has a new book out that I will be reviewing very soon) and Michael Anonuevo (of Little Details Count).  Continue reading for links and excerpts...

BIM After Dark - Happy Hour #2

To celebrate the release of Volume 2 I am going to host the second BIM After Dark Happy Hour. In the first ever happy hour I attempted to design and render an entire house in 1 hour... I just about did it!  See for yourself!  I could not believe over 150 people showed up live to hangout!  So cool!

For the upcoming Happy Hour I thought I would show some examples of tips and tricks from BIM After Dark - Volume 2 revolving around construction documentation.  I would also like to save some time to answer your questions live!

 So grab your favorite cocktail and meet me online this Monday, January 19th at 4PM EST.   

Click here to join the Google+ Events Page. 
Click here to watch the stream live on YouTube.

BIM After Dark - Volume 2 is Live! Plus, Launch Sale and Bundle Deal!

The second release of the BIM After Dark series is live today!  A little about Volume 2:

BIM After Dark - Volume 2: Productivity

The less clicks you take, the more money you make...

If you feel like you are not getting the return on investment you should be when using Autodesk® Revit® for construction documentation, look no further. BIM After Dark - Volume 2 demonstrates just how efficient Revit® can be in the production phases of your projects. From setting up views to wall sections, this video series will teach you how to take full advantage of your Building Information Models and efficiently create a set of construction documents.

If you want more information be sure to sign up for the free sample video on the sales page and, also, check out Paul Aubin's recent review of Volume 2!  Thanks Paul!

Launch Day Sale:

For today only, save 20% off on any BIM After Dark package (Volume 1 or 2).  This offer expires at midnight tonight, so take advantage now!

Use offer code "volume2day" during checkout to save today only!

Click here to download BIM After Dark - Volume 2 now and save...

Click here to download BIM After Dark - Volume 1 now and save...

Some of you have emailed me asking about a bundle deal with both Volume 1 and Volume 2.  Well, if you have been waiting to buy them together, today is the day!  Remember, I've also added a new eBook to Volume 1!

Click here to buy the BIM After Dark - Volume 1 & 2 Bundle (Save an additional 20% today!)

Already purchased and downloaded BIM After Dark?  Do me a favor and tell your friends:

Click here to Tweet about BIM After Dark - Volume 2.

Revit Tutorial - Flat Roof Crickets and Documentation

Flat roofs in Revit are a mystery to many people. Similar to a lot of elements in Revit, there are many ways to go about flat roofs. Additionally, people get extremely creative when it comes to the crickets on flat roofs.

My two favorite approaches to creating a flat roof cricket in Revit are either creating an adaptive component or modifying the sub-elements of the roof. I know, some of you may be thinking that the modify sub-elements tool is like voodoo black magic... Well, it's not that bad!

 In fact, it is actually pretty easy after you've used the method a few times. Of course, the more complex the roof is, the more complex the method becomes (and the adaptive component comes in handy).  Continue reading for a tutorial extracted directly from BIM After Dark - Volume 2 (which will be released this Thursday!)...

Revit Tutorial - Overhead Line Trick

When it comes to being productive and efficient in Revit finding little ways to NOT have to update annotative elements is key.  For example, if you use a detail line set to "" and simply draft the canopy above a first floor entryway you will have to adjust that line work EVERY SINGLE TIME you move  or adjust the canopy.  I have created a little trick to make those overhead lines automatically updated with your canopy.

How does it work?  Well, it's pretty simple...  The "above line trick" means that overhead line you see in the first floor entry of your canopy above is the actual edge of the canopy model element. 

Want to learn the trick? Keep reading for a tutorial extracted directly from BIM After Dark - Volume 2 (releasing soon!).

BIM After Dark Happy Hour Recap and Volume 2 Release Date

In case you missed it, Friday was the very first ever BIM After Dark Happy Hour.  The event went very well!  Not only did 149 people show up live, but some of you tweeted me photos of your cocktail of choice for the event!  Awesome!  Here is a photo of my drink of choice (Ramos Pinto White Porto).

Continue reading for a replay of the live stream.  In the wake of my first eBook launch I decided to try something very ambitious during the live webinar.  I attempted to design and render a building in 1 hour.  Sadly, I ALMOST did it.  I set the rendering settings a bit TOO high and the rendering finished about a minute after the webinar ended (see above for the final rendered image).

Free eBook! - DESIGN:BIM - A Guide to Utilizing Design in the BIM Process

DEISGN:BIM - A Guide to Utilizing Design in the BIM Process

Last week marked the one year anniversary of BIM After Dark - Volume 1.  As I have stated before, I could not be happier with the success of Volume 1.  I mentioned in this updates post that I planned on re-launching Volume 1 with some additional content.  Well, here it is!

Customers who purchased Volume 1 emailed me asking if I could create a breakdown of my design process (from sketches to final presentation boards).  Well, I finally did!

"DESIGN:BIM" is a simple, easy to follow, guide that takes you through how I use Revit within my design workflow. Additionally, I would like to invite  all of you to a free LIVE webinar/hangout this Friday to celebrate BIM After Dark's first year!  During the webinar I will be demonstrating some of the techniques I've documented in the eBook and Volume 1.  Also, I will be announcing the release date for Volume 2 at the end of the webinar!  Don't miss it!

Click here to download your free copy today and sign up for the webinar today!