More Revit and Math (Trigonometric Functions)

Cool little tip for roof slopes... Very much like my first Revit Calculus post where I used the arc functions to drive an angle.

As I start to get deeper into the conceptual parametric massing I am coming up with all kinds of cool tips.

Here's a great one.

When you need to constrain reference lines in order to create down stream roof slope parameters. As in 3-12, 5-15, 7-12 etc. . . . You don't want the user to have to input the roof slope by an angle. You want to input the slope as a factor of Rise / 12 as shown below. This involves a little trigonometry. Remember the old tan (x) = opposite over adjancent ?

If not have a look at the images just below.



So we know the Adjacent (12) and the user inputs the Opposite (Rise) but the trick is we have to use the 'Inverse Tangent' to get the actual angle in degrees. Otherwise all we get is the Tan of the angle, not the actual angle itself. So the correct term for Inverse Tan is ArcTan which REVIT accomodates as the built in operator atan... Continue Reading...

Tutorial - Topo Surface 3 (Learning Curve)

Great tutorial over at Revit Structural Learning Curve.

...Since my last posting about Topo Surfaces and looking at water and flooding, we seem to be having more lengthy discussions with the Environmental Agency these days with regards to flooding in conjunction with global warming and climate change.

The Environmental Agency provide us with maps showing the 1 in 200 year Tidal Events + 2070 Climate Change Prediction Depth Grid Maps centred on our site.

One assumes that they obtain levels from the OS Maps and or aerial photographs to build such models. Using Revit we are able to model the Existing and Proposed sites and show them more accurately the flood pattern for different levels of water.

We can also provide them with volumes of water held on the site....

Click here to view the tutorial...

Revit and Calculus - Final... Complete!

View Larger Image...

Finally, finished my final project for my Calculus 1 class... For those of you who are unfarmiliar with the project here are the two original posts in the very begining stages of the project:

• Revit Calculus 1


• Revit Calculus 2

I created a nice power point and presentation. Of course, I recorded it for my readers to benefit from as well! I begin by explaining a little bit of Calculus (given that it was a calculus class) and then wen into all the formulas I used in Revit. I then deomonstrated using these formulas within Revit. The finale consisted of a comlpex surface being driven by calculus. Enjoy!

• Revit Calculus Final Project - Fall 2009, Jeffrey A. Pinheiro, LEED AP

Educating the Future Architect?

An interesting outlook on Architectural education from Design Intelligence:

November 5, 2009
Thinking Ahead: Educating Now for the Profession of the Future
Renée Cheng

Climate change, data-driven technology, and global practice have already radically increased the demands on the architecture profession. New opportunities present the potential to expand the scope of design thinking to address broad social needs. Architectural education must find ways not only to meet the demands of the current era but also inspire future leaders. For educators, our mandate should be to teach students to lead a profession that does not yet exist.


Most current architectural curricula are not well positioned to accept this responsibility. Open up a course plan for almost any graduate professional program and you will find a curriculum divided neatly into two sequential pieces: a core foundation covers the initial requirements before entering a second “open-option” or elective segment (Figure 1a). In both core and elective semesters, the structure is fairly consistent — each semester contains one heavily weighted design studio with two or three lecture or seminar classes (Figure 2a). These lectures and seminars are sometimes called “support” or “non-studio” classes, terms meant to denote a format other than the open-ended lateral design processes that are the hallmarks of the design studio.

Overtly, subtly, or unintentionally, there is a value system embedded in this structure. Students get the message: Spend your time on design studios before non-studio courses and invest in elective studios most of all. Often, prestigious visiting practitioners and digitally facile faculty teach the elective studios while core studios are the realm of traditionally trained faculty and local adjunct practitioners. A typical core studio will have a local site, a known project type, and may require a wall section. Elective studios can be site-less, scale-less, or free from the constraints of gravity. While this may be impractical, these studios serve a purpose to invite speculation, imagine futures, and develop new ways of thinking of the world... Continue Reading...

The Retrofit Game - Play Now!

Very cool and fun idea from Autodesk.

As the eyes of the environmental world focus on Copenhagen this week there is a lot of chatter about environmental stewardship and sustainability. Yet, far too many people are not aware of who some of the biggest culprits are. What if more people knew that buildings are the leading cause of green house gas emissions? What if more people were aware of the enormous opportunities that exist to improve our buildings to make them greener? Regardless of what is accomplished at Copenhagen, all of us can take it upon ourselves to do one simple thing - spread the word!

Autodesk Inc, created RETROFITS for this very purpose: to raise awareness about the benefits of greener, more sustainable buildings. The on-line game – part quiz show and part fast finger action - is the core of the program. Everyone from industry professionals to teachers, parents and students can take part in this entertaining challenge to create a greener, more sustainable building while learning a few things along the way.

See if you can make the leader board, then share it with your friends! There is also a short video and an animated banner free for distribution to all of your social networks.

Our goal is to spread the word about sustainable buildings and you can help!

· Visit www.autodesk.com/retrofits to play the game.
· Check out the video on YouTube
· Tweet and Retweet! Follow @Retrofits09.
· Add a link to your email signature line

Tutorial - Revit to Ecotect (Revitology)

Very simple and watered down tutorial about how to export your building information model from Revit into Ecotect...

• Click here to view the tutorial.

With the onslaught of "Green" packages integrated into the BIM process and workflow, many users do not realize that the essential part of the data starts from the model itself. Of course you need a model to dictate your outcome in Ecotect or Green Building Studio, but the way we manage and set up our model needs to be refined prior to our exportation. By setting up our model at the very early stages of our design, we ensure that our readings in our sustaibable packages are accurate and reliable.

For this blog, we will focus on integration with Ecotect and Revit Architecture 2010. Listed below are the steps accompanied by images to aid in the process.

Welcome New Facebook Users!

I am proud to say hello to all the new readers who may have found there way to this blog via Facebook. The Revit Kid.com! is now being fetured on Autodesk Student Engineering and Design Community's Facebook page (which has almost 20,000 fans).

Welcome to my blog and enjoy!

Don't foget to check out all of the tutorials on the right hand side, subscribe via RSS feeds and emails, and use the search bar (also to the right) to search my 320+ posts!

Tutorial - Exploded Axons (Inside the Factory)

Genious idea...

Exploded Axons

Fall in the factory brings new feature announcements and demos. Features are put through their paces and refined as needed and time allows. A lot of this work will become visible in the upcoming beta so its a good time to turn back on the released product and share some tips and workflows. Why let the other Revit blogers post all the neat tips and tricks?

Somewhere on the mile long list of "wouldn't it be cool if Revit..." are exploded axon drawings.
I can imagine a setting dialog that controls how items separate from their parent elements (windows out of wall, walls off floors ect..) and some in-canvas controls to specify the separation.

You would enter the mode and then drag a control to see the structure produce a refabricating architecture - like image right before your eyes. Very revity and awesome....in my mind.
So given this feature does not exist outside my mind what can Revit do now? Impossible or Possimpible?

Click here for some the basic steps to creating an exploded axon...




Thanks to The Factory for this tip!

Tutorial - Revit to Navisworks (Penn State BIM Wiki)

I finally had space on my hard drive to install Navisworks. Looking up some information I stumbled upon a great resource for BIM, Revit, and 4D... The Penn State BIM Wiki.

• Revit to Navisworks
  
  There is a Revit plugin to export a Navisworks file directly from Revit which maintains much of the data related to the Revit file. This plugin is available in the Tools menu in Revit Building and Revit Structure provided it was installed with the installation of Navisworks. If you are working on your home computer and you have not installed Navisworks with the Revit exporter, you can use one of the AE Computer Lab machines for this export. Note that it is not a standard export option, but instead was developed using the Revit API and is listed in the Revit application as a tool. This function will save the file as a Navisworks .nwc file which can be opened directly in Navisworks.
  
  
• Revit to Navisworks for Clash Detection
  
  Research Goal and Objectives
  
  This workflow will take you through the process of exporting a Revit file to Navisworks to use clash detection. The clash detective tool in Navisworks is a very useful tool to use, and is a great way to use Navisworks and Revit for MEP, structural, or electrical coordination, as well as other trades.

I also searched the word "Revit" in their Wiki and click here to see all the results.

Always great to find more sources of information and students using Revit.

MIT Open Courseware

One of my professors introduced me to this... it is absolutely great!

From Massechusetts Institution of Technology:

Unlocking Knowledge,Empowering Minds.

Free lecture notes, exams, and videos from MIT. No registration required.

MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. OCW is open and available to the world and is a permanent MIT activity.

What is MIT OpenCourseWare?MIT OpenCourseWare is a free publication of MIT course materials that reflects almost all the undergraduate and graduate subjects taught at MIT.

• OCW is not an MIT education.
• OCW does not grant degrees or certificates.
• OCW does not provide access to MIT faculty.
• Materials may not reflect entire content of the course.

How do I register to use MIT OpenCourseWare?

There is no registration or enrollment process because OCW is not a credit-bearing or degree-granting initiative.

Can I get a certificate?

No. MIT OpenCourseWare is a publication of the course materials that support the dynamic classroom interactions of an MIT education; it is not a degree-granting or credit-bearing initiative. However, you should work through the materials at your own pace, and in whatever manner you desire.

How do I find what courses are available? How do I search your site?A site overview is available for MIT OpenCourseWare. You can also browse courses by department or use the advanced search to locate a specific course or topic.

High school students and educators should check out Highlights for High School.
What it takes to support this work

Each course we publish requires an investment of $10,000 to $15,000 to compile course materials from faculty, ensure proper licensing for open sharing, and format materials for global distribution. Courses with video content cost about twice as much, but your feedback about the significant value of these video materials helps to justify the cost. Learn more.

To learn more about OCW, we encourage you to:
Take a tour of the siteRead more about our historyRead more frequently asked questions




There is even a huge section on Architecture.... Very cool. I used some of the videos to help with my calculus.... Check it out for yourself!

Revit Walkthrough - High Quality Rendering

A friend of mine (and reader of the blog) sent me a link to these videos and I just had to share them. I am in the process of contacting the creator to find out some information such as the time it took, etc.. Please, enjoy:

States Adopting BIM

Another great article from Green Source Magazine:

States Adopting BIM
11/23/09
By Allyson Wendt
This article originally appeared on BuildingGreen.com

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) began using building information modeling (BIM) in 2003; by 2007, the agency was requiring basic models for all projects and encouraging more complex models incorporating energy performance and construction scheduling. Now, both Wisconsin and Texas have adopted BIM programs for state construction projects, and other states are considering similar programs.

For GSA and state governments, BIM offers not only a way to get project teams on the same page but also a way to track energy performance, renovations, and other changes over a building’s life.

In Wisconsin, the state began exploring BIM after an executive order signed by the governor in 2006 required all state buildings to conform to high environmental and energy-efficiency standards. In July 2009, after a 13-project pilot program, the state became the first to require advanced models for all state projects with budgets over $5 million and new construction projects over $2.5 million. The state requires building information models from several members of a project team, including architects and structural, mechanical, and plumbing engineers. It does not, however, require the team to work on a single model or even in a particular modeling software—the state accepts models created in five software packages...

...TFC has created a template that allows teams to create a model conforming to the state’s standards with all team members working in that same model. Tisdel says the model will be stored on a state server that project teams can access, and will ensure that all models will be made in the same software—Autodesk’s Revit. Tisdel notes that the agency chose Autodesk products because the majority of firms it works with already have the software, thus lowering upfront costs for complying with the new requirements. If TFC had allowed multiple software packages, he says, “forty years down the road you’d be looking at multiple building models on multiple platforms, and that’s a nightmare.... Continue reading the article...

Wow... I have read thousands of articles similar in the past year, but none actually mentioned Revit. Usually, they mention BIM and BIM software (given the fact that Revit is not the only software that can create a building information model). Very interesting...

Energy Modeler Certification.

Interesting... a whole new career field is being created thanks to BIM, green building, and LEED:

From GreenSource Magazine:

ASHRAE Certifying Energy Modelers
11/23/09
By Allyson Wendt

Beginning in January 2010, building energy modelers will be able to take an exam and become certified energy modelers. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), together with the International Building Performance Simulation Association and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, has developed the exam to test modelers’ abilities to choose, use, and interpret the results of energy modeling software... Continue Reading...

• Click here for more information from ASHRAE.

Hotfix - Revit Architecture, MEP, and Structural

Hotfix - Crash when modifying walls update 2 & subscription advantage pack release

Published date: 2009-Dec-02 ID: DL14215234 Applies to: Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2010 Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2010 Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2010

Revit 2010 Update 2 Build 20090917_1515 Files

	20090917_1515_revit_2010_wall_modification_hotfix_x32.zip (zip - 7588Kb)
	20090917_1515_revit_2010_wall_modification_hotfix_x64.zip (zip - 10226Kb)
	20090917_revit_2010_hotfix_wall_modifcations_readme.htm (htm - 42Kb)

Revit 2010 Update 3 Subscription Advantage Build 20090925_1815 Files

	20090925_1815_revit_2010_wall_modification_hotfix_x32.zip (zip - 7596Kb)
	20090925_1815_revit_2010_wall_modification_hotfix_x64.zip (zip - 10238Kb)
	20090925_revit_2010_hotfix_wall_modifcations_readme.htm (htm - 45Kb)

This hotfix addresses issues related to deleting or modifying walls, a crash may occur.

Make sure to download the correct patch for your operating system (32 or 64 bit) and Revit build number.

The Readme contains the latest information regarding the installation and use of this update. It is strongly recommended that you read the entire document before you apply the update to your product. For your reference, you should save the Readme to your hard drive or print a copy.

Click here to go to the Autodesk Page

Thanks to Alan for bringing this to my attention.

Tippu Sashi - AU 2009 Representative.

Found a great blog today of Autodesks' student representative attending AU. He has a blog for this years AU and last years with loads of pictures:

• Click here to see his 2009 blog and follow him this year.
• Click here to see his 2008 blog.

Tippu, if there is anything I can do to help or support you please email me and let me know!

AU 2008: Tippu Sashi from ITTV - Into Tomorrow TV on Vimeo.

Dave Graveline, host of Into Tomorrow, interviews Tippu Sashi, an Architecture Student from the University of Cincinnati, at the Autodesk University in Las Vegas.

Autodesk University begins!

Today is the opening day for Autodesk University and I am wathcing the keynote address right now by Carl Bass. If you havn't already, go register for Autodesk University Virtual Pass... They have a very easy to use media player with comments, streaming, etc... If you are part of the Autodesk Student Community then you get to stream everything for free!

I am very excited that I can see any class I want. I cannot wait till the day I do not have school and finals and I can attend AU.

I look forward to the sessions and hope they will be a great inspiration for future posts.

1,000,000 Members of Autodesk Student Community.

I was just wondering on Facebook and ran across the Autodesk Student Community page where this message was posted:

The Autodesk Education Community just hit 1 million members! Thanks to all the students and educators who have made this an active and thriving global community.

Wow... I remember looking a couple weeks ago and there was only about 800,000 memebers. What does this mean to The Revit Kid.com? Well, this means that, whether they all know it or not, one million people have access to a fully functioning copy of Revit for FREE! Incredible.

Not a member yet? Click here to access the Autodesk Student Community and Register.

Windows 7 - Student Price

I meant to post this before my other Winodows 7 post but forgot to. For those of you with student email address (ie. Doe@College.edu) you can get a Windows 7 (64 or 32 bit) upgrade for 30 dollars directly from Microsoft!

• Click here for more information and to see if your school is enrolled.
• Click here to register and get your copy now.

This is a great buy and I took advantage of it right a way!

Windows 7 and Revit 2010 - Disappearing Ribbon

I recently installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit on my MacBook Pro through Boot Camp. I have to say the the performance, overall, has been great. Every program, even Revit, appears to run much faster than on Vista 64 bit.

I have ran into one little thing. When using Revit I start to get some graphic errors along the lines of a disappearing ribbon bar, flashing large dimensions, and dissapearing graphics on sheet view. This is clearly a graphic issue and I am looking more into it. I am not sure if this is a Windows 7 problem or the fact that I am using a Macbook Pro. Anyone else have these issues?

My solution so far is to change the theme of Windows to something classic (without Aero and the "flashiness"). These graphical errors are not continuing when I turned off the "flashiness."

Please comment and let's start this discussion.

Tutorial - Complex Formulas in Revit (Inconsistent Units)

As many of you may know I am working on a final project for my Calculus class involving Revit (see here and here). Well, I have been working a lot on that (one of the reasons the posting has been a tad slow) and I ran into a problem that some of you may have or will have.

The problem was due to the complexity of the equation I was creating to drive one of my parameters. Here is the equation:

• Click here to see the original equation.

Now, notice the "MIN" is referring to a seperate dimensioned parameter (therefore, it becomes our variable in a sense) and the remainging numbers are fixed. I used meters in order to utlize fractions better and divisions. Now... I go to apply the formula and get this message. (Inconsistent Units).

Then the frustration begins. I tried many different combinations and ways of typing in the formula and could not working. I did some research and found two blog posts that helped me understand what my problem was. It turns out that my problem was not with the actual formula, but the units. Those of you with some Physic's classes in your background will remember this when I break it down. Here is my example:

First, I think about the type of parameter I am making. It is a length parameter. Therefore, the unit it needs to be in is a Meter (not a Square Meter, or Cubic Meter). Now, I look at just the units of my equation:

• (Meter * Meter Cubed) - (Meter * Meter Squared) + (Meter * Meter)

Which yeilds:

• (Meter ^ 4 ) - ( Meter Cubed) + (Meter Squared)

These cannot be combined and also cannot create a result that is a length paramter (must be just a meter).

Solution:

The solution is very simple. Set up the equation so that you divide out the remaining Meter units you do not want.

• Click here to see my solution formula.

Notice the added division in the formula. Where we yeilded a meter cubed I simply divided the result by 1 meter squared. There you have it. Pay attention to your parenthesise and make sure your result is a single meter.

Happy Thanksgiving!

To show how thankful I am that you are all reading my blog the very next post will be a tutorial... WOOHOO!

Tutorial - Revit Curtain Panel Material Takeoff

A very nice video over on YouTube... I actually received a few question about this so I hope it helps. I think her voice is a lot nicer to listen to than mine ;)

The Revit Kid.com! Multi-Lingual

I have been receiving quite a few emails lately in different languages. Sadly, I only speak, read and write English (although I know a little Portuguese). In honor of my new, or old, international readers I added a widget on the right hand side of the site that will translate every blog post into your language of preference.

Given that I do not speak any of these languages I am not sure how good it really works, so please comment and let me know if it works well.

Stay tuned for more posts and some tutorials on the way. I have been very busy with the final of the semester and the Revit Calculus project in particular.

- Jeffrey A. Pinheiro, LEED AP

Autodesk Bluestreak: Collaborate, Socialize... BIM!

Some of you may have read about Bluestreak on other blogs a while ago... Well, I wanted to give it a try and understand it a little more before posting. Basically, imagine Facebook for the construction industry. Doesn't sound like a horrible idea. Unless, of course, there are quite a lot of "beefs" between the contractors, architects, and engineers.... Well, to me, Bluestreak looks very similar to Facebook but with the addition of a file sharing system.

In todays society (especially with my generation) Facebook (social networking) is slowly becoming the means of communication. I can tell you what half of my high school friends have been up to without even talking to them thanks to status's, pictures, and conversations with other friends. A know at least four or five people who have went out on dates with people they met on Facebook. Our class reunion used Facebook Events solely.

Ultimately, I am getting at the idea of social networking has its benefits. Bluestreak, to me, looks like it is taking this idea of social networking and narrowing it down. Narrowing it from something as broad as Facebook to a single Project. Imagine having a Facebook group for that single multi-family residential project. All of the architects, engineers, contractors... the whole team are part of the group and can stay informed, inform others, and share files.

This is truly my generations model of BIM. I can be at dinner with the family and have a thought run into my mind, or a question... Simply take out my phone and check my groups status's, posts, and files, as well as post a quick status of my own. I like it... The next group project I have in school I will submit the idea of using this for sure.

Here is some info straight from Autodesk:

Design Collaboration for AEC Professionals
Coordinate, analyze, and review designs with project group members

Autodesk Project Bluestreak is a web-based collaboration environment that accelerates building information modeling through the open exchange of design information and ideas between desktop applications, web-based services and people.

Get Involved!

• Log in to our preview today and tell us what you think. With this initial release, you can...
• Create and join project groups
• Communicate with your project group members
• Share project designs and documents
• Quickly respond to project activities

What's Available Now?

The basic building blocks needed to collaborate with your team -- user profiles, self organized private groups, file sharing, activity streams, notifications and comments -- are available now for testing and feedback. To get started and help build the next generation of AEC collaboration:

• Create your account and a project group, and try it out!
• Use the "Feedback" button within the application to give us your feedback and discuss the application with other members of the Bluestreak user community.

Related Links:

• Click here to find out more about Bluestreak.
• Click here to sign up and give it a try!

Job Searching... Where to Start?!

This goes right along with yesterdays post from Archinect. Design Intelligence released a nice write up with their recent newsletter. I urge you all to check it out. There is some great information as well as a list of links as to where to begin searching for Architecture related jobs.

"...Recessions in 1973, ’82, ’87, ’91, ’97, 2001, and now ’08. Does it seem like they get progressively more frequent? Do they now appear to be the norm, with prosperity being a temporary situation? Has stability become an outdated phenomenon? Has economic uncertainty affected our performance? Has everything-due-yesterday rendered us too stressed to do anything today? Has fear replaced hope?

Nope. Media thrive on reminding us of the dismal state of our economy … and lives. Few reports are apt to point out the opportunities and choices we still have, and still fewer to offer any real solutions. We are left with self-doubt, anxiety, and the critical question:

What is wrong with my profession, and when will it improve? When will the (good) jobs return?

This article offers advice to those seeking work in the construction design professions, particularly architects and interior designers. When job hunting, accept that the process will not be linear. Also know that there is no walk-in perfect design job. The key is to find a potentially promising employer, get on board, and then grow into the position. The cast of characters involved, employers and otherwise, is worthy of a novel; no one will make it easy for you. Those new to the design professions are the most at risk; however, they are also in the best state to land a job because the number of positions available to recent graduates is usually highest...

...School vs. Work

Sadly, employers remain at odds with education, particularly in the case of recent grads. Design schools -- if not all schools -- teach us to think outside the box. Conceptual theory and imagination are the seeds of good design, from which a superior reality flows. Architects emerge with essential analytical skills and environmental sensitivity. And they can use computers to fabricate glorious cyber-complexes, underwater cities, and second-generation prairie housing. All this mind expansion is grand.

Unfortunately, most employers want none of it. “Did you finish the egress study yet?” “What is the floor occupancy, and how many toilets do we need?” “What is the square footage of the northeast quadrant of the site?” “Have you checked the ADA requirements for a judge’s bench?” “Make me five copies of the specs, and ship them to Mumbai.”

This is what you should be prepared for. Why? The worse the market, the more nitty-gritty the work. Are you up for it?

Those with work/study experience (such as internships) can be the most conflicted of all, having gone back and forth between theory and reality. During times like these, it’s usually best to concentrate on what was learned on the job... Continue Reading for links, info, and more..."