Revit "Super Users" AMA - Replay

 

Well... that was fun!

Last night marked the 50th episode of "BIM After Dark Live".  To mark the occasion I was joined by 6 other previous guests and Revit "super users" all with their own Revit super powers.  ;)

We took questions and discussed an array of topics for almost 2 hours!!  

Some of the topics included:

- Phasing, Design Options, and more.

- What feature we wished would be in the next release of Revit

- Linear light fixtures...?

- Interior design (tagging wall materials, etc...).

- PyRevit... Lot's of PyRevit

- What versions of Revit we all started on.

- Shared Coordinates (and coordinate systems)...

... and so so much more...

This was, honestly, just a great time.  Not to mention, the chat was on fire.  Literally, the 7 of us could not even keep up with the discussions, questions, and more...  

Thank you all who joined us live.  For those who didn't, continue reading to view the replay!

I've also listed all of the guests previous appearances on the show and whatever links I could scavenge together mentioned throughout the 2 hour session! 

How to Filter Walls BY LEVEL in Revit

 

This "Community Quick Tip" talks about one approach to filtering walls by their levels.

File this one under, "why can't Revit just be able to do this?!".  In this tutorial we mix a little Revit and Dynamo to show you how you can filter a Revit wall by it's host/base level.  Something that is NOT possible out of the box...

I know, crazy... Right?  

Well, hopefully this tutorial will help!

Continue reading to see my approach to this out of the box Revit limitation...

Architects, Developers, & BIM: Test-fitting with the TestFit Team (Replay)

 

I remember seeing a GIF of TestFit a few years back on Twitter.  It showed a 3D diagram of a simple apartment looking building and a parking lot around the outside.  The site was pulled in one direction and the building grew,  changed shape, and the parking lot reconfigured as it was stretched... 

Mind blown.

Fast-forward to today, TestFit is a platform that blends architecture, building codes, crowd sourced input, real-estate developer knowledge, BIM, and generative design to completely disrupt the early stages of a project development.

On this episode of BIM After Dark Live I was joined by Clifton and Nat to not only discuss how an application like TestFit interacts with your Revit models, but also about how an understanding of what developers value and an acceptance of co-creation tools will ultimately benefit you as much as them...

The conversation was awesome, the questions were great, and Nat showed us how you can bring a TestFit building into Revit ... yes, those are Revit Walls, Floors, Roofs, etc... Automatically!

Continue reading to view the replay and see it in action....

Interactive 3D Revit Models in Power BI (w/Nate Miller) - Replay w/Links

 

On yesterday's episode of BIM After Dark Live I was joined by Nate Miller to talk about Revit, Power BI, and an application he built that gives you the ability to interact with 3D models IN a Power BI dashboard... Nate is the founder of Proving Ground, and has a long history of creating useful applications for architects, engineers, and contractors including LunchBox, Rhynamo, & Slingshot. Nate will be joining us to talk about some of his new projects that deal with how Power BI can interact with 3D modeling programs (like Revit & Rhino). Tracer, his suite of applications that let you export Revit data, import it into Power BI, and generate an interactive 3D model (in Power BI) is sure to be a game changer for data analytics, visualization, and more...

We had a great conversation, Nate showed some awesome stuff, and there were excellent questions from the audience...

Continue reading to view the replay and the links mentioned (and to try out Nate's dashboards!)...

Dynamic Data Images with Revit and Power BI (Synoptic Panel) (Replay w/Links)

 

On this episode of BIM After Dark Live I demonstrated the process of connecting Power BI visual data to 3D model images created in Revit... Essentially, this is the next best thing to actually having your models IN Power BI... We'll get to that next week... ;) If you are wondering what this could look like, check out this link and click the images of the building on the top right... See how you can interact with the image and the data dynamically?! That is what I will show you in the episode... Topics Covered: - Exporting Images - Exporting Revit Data for Power BI

- Making a "smart" layered SVG file (Adobe Illustrator) - Using "Synoptic Panel" in Power BI -Importing Revit Data into Power BI - Tying it all together...

Continue reading to view the replay and links mentioned...

Revit and Drones - Mapping, Point Clouds, and More...

If you missed last night's episode of BIM After Dark Live, do yourself a favor and check out the replay below...  If you're an overall technology junky/geek like me, you

Drones and Revit are two technologies I have been trying to figure out how to connect for a couple of years now.  Recently, a colleague of mine introduced me to a technology that makes it all possible.

In this episode I walked through how I was able to take a $600 (Black Friday sale drone) and map out an existing building, export it to a point cloud, and bring it into Revit...

Oh, and so so much more...

Like this really cool looking image...

Continue reading to see what I am all jazzed up about and to see the links (software and hardware) mentioned...

BIM for Everyone - Assemble Systems & Revit

 

On last night's episode of BIM After Dark Live I introduced Assemble Systems and ran through some of the more valuable features of the platform. 

I wasn't expecting it to be as interactive of a discussion as it was (as seen from the live chat log below).  But, I think it shows the interest and value of Assemble Systems... Pretty cool!

In the episode I  introduce you to Assemble, but I also used real-world examples to demonstrate how Assemble has removed the barriers of entry and given access to BIM for everyone at Turner Construction.  

Some of the topics we discussed were:

- Learn about the way conditioning and filtering a model SHOULD be in Revit...

- Model based quantity takeoff that anyone can do.  Seriously, anyone.  Even “old man Phil” with the drafting board and French curve on his desk.

- Model version comparisons for dummies.

- Model based constructability reviews that don’t require a fancy laptop or a “BIM kid” to help.

- 3-Click model based production (work-in-place) tracking even your most “old-school” superintendent can do.

- Creating real-time and dynamic dashboards to analyze model data.

Continue reading to view the replay and see the links mentioned... 

DynaMaps and Revit - Adding Context to Your Models (w/Mostafa & Paul Aubin)

 

On last night's episode of BIM After Dark Live we welcomed Mostafa El Ayoubi.  Mostafa is an architect and civil engineer.  He is the creator of Dynamo packages like DynaMaps and Data-Shapes.

This episode introduced the genesis of the DynamMaps package and it’s foundations as well as some workflows showing how to get site geometry inside Dynamo and push it to Revit will then be live demoed.

Also, this was another "crossover" with Paul Aubin and the ChiNamo users group!

Topics Included:

- Introduction to DynaMaps

- Installing the Package

- Step by Step demonstration of how to bring in buildings, topography, roads, and trees from open source data to your Revit models.

Continue reading to view the replay and learn how to install and use DynaMaps today!

The Dynamo and Grasshopper for Revit Reference Manual (Replay)

 

On this episode of BIM After Dark Live I was joined by a very special guest, Marcello Sgambelluri. Marcello was on the show a few months ago and mentioned a book he was writing... Well, that book is now available! "The Dynamo and Grasshopper for Revit Cheat Sheet/Reference Manual" is 272 pages of pure awesomeness. Marcello includes hundreds of working Dynamo scripts and their working counterpart in Grasshopper (for Revit). We talked about the book and how knowing BOTH of these tools expands the functionality of Revit for you.

We also had a little fun when I did an example of a practical use of one of Marcello's scripts in Dynamo followed by Marcello demonstrating how to do the exact same thing in Grasshopper/Rhino... Super cool!

Continue reading to view the replay and download the sample files from our demonstration (including the Rhino, Grasshopper, Revit, and Dynamo files...)

Calculating Occupancy in Revit, Automatically

 

On the latest episode of BIM After Dark Live I was joined by Dana De Filippi to talk about automatically calculating (and tagging) occupancy loads in Revit.  Dana is a co-host on the BIM Thoughts Podcast and a BIM technologist within the field of architecture and kicks all kinds of Dynamo butt.

Dana shared the workflow she developed that will automatically (and accurately) calculate your occupancy loads and place them into tags for you!  Something I know you all just love doing manually ... ;)

Topics Covered:

- Creating and using Area Schemes in Revit

- Constructing key values and using conditional formatting in Revit schedules.

- Use Dynamo to collect Revit and Excel Data

- Discover how to integrate user selection of different code requirements.

This is a DO NOT MISS for all of my fellow Architects out there (and FP engineers, too!)...

Continue reading to view the episode and download the sample files Dana was so gracious to share!

pyRevit - The Ultimate Guide

 

pyRevit has been gaining momentum as a solution for many common problems Autodesk Revit users run into daily.  From advanced "purging", to colored tabs, sheet creation, and more, pyRevit has become a staple in my Revit Add-In arsenal.

And it should be in yours, too.

On this episode of BIM After Dark Live I was joined by Ehsan Iran-Nejad. Ehsan is an Architect and the creator of the pyRevit add-in (among other things) and he introduced pyRevit to you,  highlighted some of the great built-in features, and demonstrated the power/simplicity of building your OWN custom extensions.

Topics Covered:

- What is pyRevit?
- How to download and install pyRevit
- Shift Clicking for Settings
- Using the Pick Tool (even if you've used it before, I bet you'll learn something new here).
- Using the Sheet Management and the Batch Sheet Maker
- Using the Keynote Manager (AWESOME!)
- Using the Wipe Tool
- And some new features and functions coming soon...

Oh, and did I mention... Ehsan made Paul Aubin fall off his chair... yup... you have watch to see why.

Continue reading to view the episode and see all of the links mentioned (including a ridiculously awesome BIMBOX discount)...

Tips for Deploying Dynamo Scripts w/John P (+ Datasets)

 

On yesterday's episode of BIM After Dark Live I was joined by the one and only SixySecondsRevit (aka John P). John is a Design Technologist at Parallax Team and is also the creator of one of my favorite Dynamo custom packages (Rhythm). John will be talking about his approaches to handing off and deploying Dynamo (for Revit) scripts. This is huge! Once you've created the greatest script ever, understanding how to share it and let other users actually use it is the next big step... Some things John and I discussed... - Drop down considerations (for Revit versions) - Grouping ideas

- Dynamo Templates!!!?!? - Showing View Extensions to Help - and more...

Continue reading to view the episode and download the datasets...!

3 Steps to Beginning Your Dynamo Journey, Today (+ Special Offer)

 

Well, that was fun!  It has been a while since I talked in depth about Dynamo. 

On the latest episode of BIM After Dark Live I walked through the 3 steps it takes to start learning Dynamo (click here to see all of my related posts about Dynamo).  These steps help you get into the right frame of mind and give you a starting point when entering the Dynamo world... 

There were also some great questions from the audience and even a cameo from some of the Dynamo superstars (like our good friend, John...).  

Let's Talk Topography: Creating Site Models in Revit

 

Wow, I can't believe we are already at Episode 25 of BIM After Dark. Live!  It's pretty wild to see what a simple virtual happy hour has turned into over the last 6 months.  Thank you all for tuning in (live or after the show) and staying engaged!  

On this episode I dive into the world of modeling topography and site components in Revit.  I go over all kinds of need tricks, tips, and hacks that will help you create site models with a little more speed and a little less frustration...

We talked about:

- The Auto-Clicker Method
- The rarely used "Site Settings" Dialogue
- My secret way of making striping, retaining walls, earth retention, and underground utilities!

Continue reading to view the episode and the links mentioned...

Connecting Revit to Power BI : An Introduction to Visualizing Model Data (Replay)

In this episode of BIM After Dark Live we explored the data inside our Revit models...

We spend so much time modeling, making documents, and making pretty pictures we tend to forget about the "I" in BIM.  The information.  In this episode I demonstrate some simple ways you can start visualizing the data in your models with Power BI.

Topics Covered:

- Exporting Revit Data into Power BI friendly format(s).

- Introduce Power BI and make some visuals using our Revit data.

- Update the model and refresh your data dashboards.

- Use Dynamo to export a true "multi-category" schedule.

- Show how I created a construction cost estimate dashboard to track a project's budget.

I'll give you the power of data visualization... What you do with it, is up to you!

Continue reading to view the episode and see all of the links mentioned...

The Future of AEC Automation (Dynamo and Beyond) with Michael Kilkelly from ArchSmarter

Last night marked our 10th episode of weekly live Happy Hours!  I am humbled with the response this weekly show has been getting and I thank you all for tuning in (live or the replay)!

This week Michael Kilkelly from ArchSmarter joined me to talk about the future of automation with the AEC industry and show some of the great stuff he is working on (from Dynamo to Refinery, and computational design tools!).  There were some great questions and Michael introduced some thought provoking concepts...

Continue reading to view the replay and see the links mentioned...

Rhino, Grasshopper, & Revit (w/Marcello Sgambelluri)

The great Marcello Sgambelluri joined me again during last night's happy hour and it was one to remember.  First, YouTube decided to go down 10 minutes before we went live!  Luckily, everything was up and running we were only a few minutes late.

By the way, if you have missed any of the Happy Hours live, you can get notified by either subscribing to my email list or subscribing to my YouTube channel... And, if you have missed the last 7 episodes you can see them all here...

As for last night, well, Marcello demonstrated how "Rhino Inside Revit" works and we discussed some of the ways we believe this technology will benefit the AEC industry...  Yes, we are talking about running Rhino (and Grasshopper) inside of Revit... Super cool... Of course, Marcello also made a few 3D animals as well...

Continue reading to view the replay and see all the links mentioned in the episode...

My Revit Laptop - Balancing Performance, Portability, and Price

If I am being honest, this is a post that I have been avoiding for many years.

Why?  Because I know there are going to be lots and lots of opinions about it.  I also know how fast computer hardware changes and updates.

But, I have decided it's time...  (Maybe my skin has thickened up after 11 years of blogging and YouTube comments... ;)).

At least once a week I get an email, comment, or message that goes something like this, "Jeff, what laptop do you recommend for Revit".

After 12+ years of "Revit-ing" and using countless laptops I think I finally found one that I am willing ad confident in enough to share with you all.

Continue reading to learn about the laptop I use, and why, for Revit (and adjacent software)...

2020 ... New Century, New Revit Kid?

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Wow... 2019 felt like it flew by.  I would assume that figuring out this whole father thing has something to do with it.  And yes, that is my little man, Jacob, and I knocking glasses and bringing in the new year in style.

This year I will be making some major yet exciting improvements to this blog, the tutorials (new and old), and my courses. I wanted to take a moment to tell you about my plans for 2020 and "The Revit Kid". 

Dynamo "Happy Hour" Replay with John and Aaron from Parallax Team

Last week John and Aaron of Parallax team got online and chatted with my about Dynamo.  I just realized now I sent out an email with the replay link but did not post it here on the blog!  If you missed the conversation check it out here (or click the video above)...

We had a ton of awesome questions and the Parallax team dropped some solid knowledge bombs (as usual).