Insert Elements - Tools4Revit

Since we are postaholics today I figured I would repost Revit3D.com's introduction to a new tool for revit (Tool4Revit) that is. I watched the video and thought it was great. This is an example of a software that is truly taking advantage of the massive database that are the bones of Revit.

• Link to Revit3D's Blog Post
• Link to Tools4Revit Video Demonstration - Insert Elements
• Link to Tools4Revit Video Demonstration - Change Parameters
• Link to Tools4Revit Video Demonstration - Analize Data
• Link to Tools4Revit Video Demonstration - Legends

It will be released in the US on July 13th. Contact Greg at Revit3D.com for information and let him know you heard it here. Not sure of the price and if there will be any student pricing...

I guess this is what happens when you stop two bloggers from blogging for a week. A day full of 5 or 6 posts.... good stuff.

Revit, "Industry Standard..."

I know this is an older topic and has been blogged about but I skimmed over it at the NYTimes website and something caught my eye... A quote...

"Architects routinely use modeling software, but the latest version of Digital Project would enable them to try extreme designs for skyscrapers. While acknowledging that the Gehry software is impressive, Carl Galioto of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, a firm that has designed many skyscrapers, says that it is hard to learn and three or four times as expensive as a conventional modeling program. Revit Architecture, the industry standard from Autodesk, is listed at $5,495 on Autodesk’s Web site...

Architects and developers agree that software to measure a building’s ingredients will gain value as governments tighten rules about buildings’ effects on the environment. “You can ask a model to show you what shadow a building casts, or how far materials have to travel to a job site,” says Phil Bernstein, a technologist with Autodesk...." Read More...

So the New York Times is stating that Revit is the industry standard? Interesting.

Architecture Cardio

I remember being in Design Studio a few semesters ago and one of the "jury" architects during a design review made a major issue of a fellow students placement of stairs. He brought up lots and lots of different reasons why and why not to put the stairs where they were. He did not bring up this reason though...

"Architects can participate in the cultural fat fight by making simple changes to the design and location of staircases within buildings, say medical researchers.

"Changing stair design to encourage their use requires a set of interventions on both architectural and legislative levels to create physical environments that support active living," according to an article in the June issue of Southern Medical Journal.

Research suggests that light to moderate physical activity is effective in motivating people who are currently inactive and obese. The authors of the research, led by Ishak A. Mansi, M.D., of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, point out that ordinary daily physical activity contributes the most to total energy expenditure.

But current approaches to stair design pose a problem, they say. "Stairs are frequently hidden from entrances, with only small signs denoting their locations, typically in connection to the fire exit."

Simple interventions can encourage people to take the stairs. For example, a study performed at a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention building found that playing music in stairwells and displaying motivational signs significantly increased the use of stairs. These and other measures to make stairs attractive, safe, and readily accessible could help to make buildings more "physical activity-friendly," the authors write. They suggest several ways to make stairs more inviting, including widening them, lowering the stair tread height, and adding music, lighting, and air conditioning to stairways..." Read More...

Related Link:

• Book : Richard Farson, The Power of Design: A Force for Transforming Everything

Hmmm... We have programs that simulate light, energy, heat, sound, structure, and so on... I wonder if we could create a program that would simulate how people would react and interact with out intelligent building model? Autodesk PeopleTect? BIS - Building Information Simulation? BIMulation?

I coin the idea if someone writes the program!

Time to Grow

Excellent post on the Design Intelligence blog... Quick Excerpt:

"...Nevertheless, it is time to look at a new growth attitude. Here I’m talking about growth in quality, growth in green, growth in regenerative systems, and growth in our personal human relationships. At last week’s National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) annual meeting in Chicago, there was a good deal of chatter about systematic, stratetic processes that are being put in place that will result in sustainable delivery systems. SOM’s presentation on the Chicago 2016 Olympic proposition was a case in point. With the marketplace changes, architects and designers can create not just incremental gains but exponential leaps by recognizing how professional practices are adding value to future opportunities. New and higher mental set points need to be established that focus on the changing marketplace. You will discover a richness of opportunities just below the surface...

The unexpected lesson from NCARB in Chicago: It’s time to dislodge your professional practice from the rut and into the tango that is integrated project delivery...." Read More...

This is why I started this blog. This is why I am so passionate about the use of Revit, BIM, and IPD... even for a student... We will come out of these economic times holding the BIM and IPD flags with parametric, intelligent, building models.

Apparently, NCARB even thinks so...

House Bill and LEED?!

Greg over at Revit3D.com did some great investigation (well... reading) of the Energy Bill that you might have heard about in the news recently. I decided to read some of it as well thanks to his link and as stated on page 298:

‘‘(A) Effective on the date of enactment of
the American Clean Energy and Security Act of
2009, 30 percent reduction in energy use relative
to a comparable building constructed in compliance with the baseline code;

‘‘(B) effective January 1, 2014, for residential buildings, and January 1, 2015, for commercial buildings, 50 percent reduction in energy use relative to the baseline code; and

‘‘(C) effective January 1, 2017, for residential buildings, and January 1, 2018, for commercial buildings, and every 3 years thereafter, respectively, through January 1, 2029, and January 1, 2030, 5 percent additional reduction in
energy use relative to the baseline code." Read More...

Anyone familiar with LEED would know that this few paragraphs sound like they came right out of the reference guide. How does this relate to you, Revit world? Do a search on this blog and google about programs such as Ecotect, Integrated Environmental Solutions, Green Building Studio, and and other analysis programs...

Now do a search on the formulas and calculations involved in determining the energy usage of a building the OLD way... yeah... what makes sense?

Revit not Stimulating??

Yet another Revit post over at Archinect.com . The same user who started the "Revit Sucks" thread (refer to my old post) started another post. Here is a little glimpse of the conversation:

Posted by Danger:

"So, after the initial frustration of getting started in Revit (see previous thread, "Revit Sucks") I am just finding it to be a BORING way to work...

...The sluggish work flow, odd command sequences and wrist-kinking point-clicking...are tiresome and distracting...I often losing track of what I was doing in the first place...

As someone who "thinks with their hands" I find this interface disturbing and dull...I believe there is something inherently STIMULATING about DRAWING (even in AutoCad) ... Although It is nice to work in 3D sometimes, I think there is an advantage to the abstract thinking and simplified problem solving done in 2D...

Any comments or thoughts?"

Posted by Me:

I guess I have to respond to this thread given that ff33 has dropped my name... plug my site next time you drop my name ff ;) (www.therevitkid.com).

First, since it was the last post I read there is one thing that Wurdan said that got me. The comment about "Drawing is dead". I can't see how people say such a thing. I find myself drawing just as much, if not more, when using Revit in the design process. I cannot see how that argument would hold.

Secondly, to respond to the initial post by Danger:

I have some thoughts. What program DO YOU USE? Do you like CAD? I can't quite figure it out. You must not use AutoCAD if you think Revit involves "wrist kinking point-clicking".

I love the reactions you grab in your threads and I truly do enjoy reading everyones opinions on the subject. I have to fully disagree with Revit not being "stimulating" and being boring. I used CAD at my firm for six years. Going Revit is the most stimulating thing to happen in the office.

Revit forces the user to think and visualize every little command you make. Every wall and every component has an effect in every view. Forcing the user to think about every action that is made and its reaction to the building as a whole is stimulating in itself. I would like to hear your rebuddle as to HOW 2D drafting could be more stimulating...

Great conversation and I enjoy reading everyones thoughts."

Click here to view the entire thread.

Thought I would share with my readers and maybe you all would like to join in on the discussion. I began this blog in hopes of opening dialects such as these...

Jeffrey A. Pinheiro, LEED AP

I passed! Thank goodness it is over.

What a doozy of an exam. I took the entire week off from work to study and still did not feel comfortable taking the test. Fortunately, it all paid off.

Now that I am officially a LEED Accredited Professional I believe my duties to the Revit world shall partially revolve around LEED. Ultimately, this site always paralleled the ideas of Revit and how they can be implemented to further increase the efficiency of a very inefficient industry beginning in the classroom. In this case, I guess I have always sort of revolved Revit around the ideas and practices brought about by LEED. Unfortunately, the studying is not over because I must learn the new version of LEED (v3.0)... but the tests are!!!

Please be patient as we return to our regular programming. Soon enough I will be back into my posting schedule of at least one a day.

Thank you everyone for still reading the blog and emailing me with your Revit questions. Let's LEED the way to a new direction in the AEC industry together.

Jeffrey A. Pinheiro, LEED AP

LEED and Revit.

I am dedicating this entire week to studying for the LEED Exam. When reading through the LEED Reference Guide I cannot help but notice the parallels between using Revit and the LEED system. A perfect example I ran into today was while reading about the LEED Credits SSC8 - Light Polution Reduction, and the many LEED credits that have to do with energy.

There are even specific instruction within the LEED instructed the project team to use "computer generated simulations" to perform things like energy analysis's and light analysis's. HELLO! If the architect uses Revit a major part of that process is done! I will dissect this a little more after the test is over.... until then... let the reading, flash cards, and practice exams continue!

Bare with me on the lack of posts... I will be back in action shortly!

Autodesk Green Building Tools

Going Green is Easier with Autodesk's Green Building Tools

Everyone says "green" these days. It's very in to be Sustainable and
LEED certified is nearly a given with the crop of government projects
and new government incentives. But how do you analyze your building
before it's built? Autodesk(R) Ecotect Analysis(TM) and Autodesk(R)
Green Building Studio(R) offer BIM-enabled Sustainable design, allowing
architects and designers to make decisions early in the design process,
look at multiple options and choose the best one for the job in a
quick, visual format.

Join us for a complimentary hour-long overview of Autodesk Ecotect
Analysis or Green Building Studio to see how these programs can help
you with solar, thermal and acoustic analysis as well as ENERGY Star
scoring, daylighting and energy and carbon results.

Avatech's LEED-accredited technical expert will show you how these
tools can be used in your everyday workflow to provide a better, more
intelligent energy-efficient model.

Ecotect Analysis Webcast
June 25, 2009
10:00 AM ET
and
2:00 PM ET

Green Building Studio Webcast
June 26, 2009
10:00 AM ET
and
2:00 PM ET

Register Now

Click here to view in your browser.

Tutorial - Roof Dome - Conceptual Massing

Cool tutorial over at Revit Clinic with a great video.

I want to go through an approach for creating a domed conceptual mass in Revit 2010, with parameters attached for height and width.

See the tutorial here.

Tutorial - Do Not Break at Inserts.

Cool little tutorial over BIM and BEAM.

One of my users was trying to create some openings touching the bottom of a wall foundation with continuous footing. The methods that he used to create the openings were... Click here to check out the tutorial.

The LEED Scramble.

You may have noticed my posting slowing down a bit. The reason for this is simple. LEED! I had no idea how much time it would consume. I have been studying every night now for a few hours and the cram period hasn't arrived yet. Appearently I am not the only one doing so. Greg over at Revit3D.com found one of the best study guides I have seen yet. It's visual and very helpful.

• Link to Revit3D post.
• Link to LEEDVisual.com

Thanks Greg and thanks to my readers for still following the blog everyday. I promise the posting will pick up after the next two weeks. Stay tuned for more!

BIM Promotes Sustainability and Effects Design Culture.

I found a couple great articles revolving around BIM that I wanted to share with you all. The first is a four page article by B.J. Novitski. It is worth reading and has some great images. To summarize I will quote his conclusion:

"The perfect ideal of BIM may not be attainable, but pieces of it are definitely coming together. Projects—and the environment—are benefiting from more cohesive teamwork and a greater degree of interoperability among software systems. Architects are receiving better, earlier energy-related analysis; engineers are providing more focused expertise during design; builders are reducing waste in construction; and facility managers are increasing the efficiency of their operations. And many of those experiencing the benefits of technology and teamwork have visions of still more capabilities and benefits in the future."

Read the Entire Article here.

The second article is written by the President of HDR Architecture, Inc. HDR is an A/E/C (Architectural, Engineering, and Construction). Get used to that acronym because I have a feeling it will be more and more popular in the years to come. The article explains how HDR adopted BIM and its influences on the firm.

Read the article here.

Soft Shadow Techniques - Tip

HOK posted a great tutorial following Zach's post about soft rendering. This techniquw is explained by HOK:

What this actually does, is turns off the sun (as its night time ), but keeps the sky image map and the low level ambient lighting. As noted by Zach, to achieve the best results, it's worth setting your render quality to "best" to get the best shadow depth you can. Setting your render to "best" will obviously result in long render times, so it's probably worth doing a few low resolution renders in the first instance to be assured that the settings will work for you.

Check out the Post Here.

Dinner with Phil Bernstein, FAIA

Last night I had dinner with Phil Bernstein. For those of you who may not know, Phil is the Vice President of Autodesk's Building Industry Strategy and Relations. (Thanks to Greg over at Revit3D.com for the connection.) The topics Phil and I discussed will most assuredly be the subject of my next few posts.

Not getting into too much detail (I will leave that for some further posts) we had a great dinner accompanied by intriguing conversation. From my perspective it was fascinating to see inside of the oh-so-powerful Autodesk. Stay tuned for what I hope will be very different ideas and perspectives for this blog.

Thanks again Phil for your time and dinner.

Here are some links:

• Autodesk Site for the Division Phil Leads
• My Post filled with Videos of Phil

Tutorial - Glass vs. Glazing

Lots of the emails I have been receiving tend to revolve around rendering.  Many of them are about the plague of "dark renderings".  This video was the result of two emails I received where custom windows were built.  

The problem with the custom windows were the glass was a tad thick (around an inch to an inch and a half) and the render material was set to "Clear Glass" and not "Clear Glazing".  This is all very application specific, but it is definitely something that you want to keep in mind when creating glazing and rendering in Revit.  Enjoy and I hope it helps!

Topics Covered:

• Rendering Materials: Glass and Glazing
• Rendering Comparison of Curtain Walls
• Rendering Comparison of Cubes

Click here to view the tutorial - Glass vs. Glazing

 

BIM Fusion Forums.

I found this site via a few links that fed my site. Looks promising. Only 145 members so far. I figure my readers and I could become members and help with the advancement of the BIM Discussion. I urge you all to sign up and start discussing!

From the Website:

Many people have been asking what the goals of BIMFusion are, who created it and who is funding it. The goals of this site are simple, to develop an online community in which any professional in the AEC or related discipline can join to discuss, assist and encourage Building Information Modeling (BIM) for FREE.

This community is designed to be a collaborative environment in which all professionals can come together to assist each other. An online community that provides an environment where people can come together no matter what their discipline or the software they use to gather information and make useful contacts to assist in their effort of project documentation and delivery.

BIM Fusion - Where BIM is Everything and Everything is BIM

The Student to Student Revit Guide - Part 9 - Sill Plates and Rim Board

Continuing the Student to Student Revit Guide I would like to respond to a question I recieved from numerous peers.  The question is somewhere along the lines of:

"How do you create a SILL PLATE?!"

Here is my answer:

The Student to Student Revit Guide - Part 9 - Sill Plates and Rim Board

Sketchup and Left 4 Dead!?

I am not a major "gamer" per say... but I have been playing Valve games since the first Half Life and Counter Strike. This is not Revit or BIM oriented... but could it be one day? Imagine using an intelligent building information model and importing it into your favorite first person shooter. Talk about experiencing your project... killing zombies enters the workflow of BIM. Could this be the start of BIG (Building Information Gaming)? I coin that term!

Credit to Digital Urban for the post.

Here is a link to Digital Urban post.

Here is a link about how to Export a Revit Model into Sketchup

Here is a link to the L4D Post.
Today we are opening the beta of the Left 4 Dead Authoring Tools to the public. It is available as a free download for all owners of the PC version of Left 4 Dead, and can be found under the "Tools" tab in Steam.

The L4D Authoring Tools include modified versions of the same tools we used to produce Left 4 Dead.

Using the L4D Authoring Tools, you may create your own campaign maps, character skins, 3D models, sound effects, and music and load them into the game.

Here's what's included:

Updated version of Hammer, the source level editor
Updated suite of command line compiling utilities
Updated Particle editor
Updated Faceposer
Example maps, common infected, props, and explosives
This release also introduces a pair of plug-ins for SketchUp, a 3D modeling program you may download for free. You may use these plug-ins to create building blocks and props that can be imported into Hammer for use in game levels.

New Blog Feature. - Intense Debate.

In an effort to increase conversation between readers and myself I added a great feature to the comments of the blog.  The feature is called "Intense Debate":

IntenseDebate provides many new features meant to inspire discussion and easily follow the conversation.

In order to better organize the discussion, we've implemented comment threading which allows users to directly reply to one another.

Users also have an identity that spans across all blogs powered by IntenseDebate. Along with this is a reputation value, based on the quantity and quality of the comments users make, meant to give an overview of a user's commenting history. Quality is determined by the users through comment voting, which also serves to move the best comments to the top.

With all of our comment systems being interconnected, we make it easy to track users and their activities across all blogs using our system by providing email and rss notifications.

In short, IntenseDebate has completely transformed the commenting experience.

Many of you have commented in the past and I encourage you to continue.  You will notice the plugin when you post a comment.  I hope this feature will open up new doors for the blog, almost acting as a forum in ways.... hmmm... a Blogurm?  Bliscussion Board?  Haha... enjoy and comment away.

I have many new posts planned for the future.  Been very bust with graduation and studying for LEED... Stay tuned!