Project Dasher

I just ran across this while looking at some Project Vasari videos for a Green BIM presentation I'm working on.  Autodesk Research is dipping its toe into some really cool next generation BIM stuff that really ties the model (and data) to real world use. Between this and some of the  other stuff going on over there, I think we're going to see some fantastic innovation in the coming years.  Take a look at this video and then go visit Autodesk Research.  I can't wait for some of this stuff to show up in Autodesk Labs.



From Autodesk:

"Project Dasher is a web-based application that helps to augment existing Autodesk® Revit® design models with real-time building submeter and sensor data on electricity and occupancy. Using meter and sensor data, Autodesk Project Dasher aims to demonstrate the value of integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) and building instrumentation to provide building owners more insight into how existing buildings perform in real time and throughout the lifecycle of the building."

PS - Check out the Analytic Drawing project too!  Get ready to really start having fun with 3D models.

Setting Up 3D Section Views

In an earlier post, Mike Massey described Setting Up 3D Views for Levels in your Revit project. I agree that this is a great idea and very useful for creating consistent looking isometric views of each level in your project. Views like this often convey a layout to your client more effectively than a 2D orthographic plan view.

Note: the section box uses the View Range or Far Clip Offset and Crop settings to define the section box.

While designing in Revit we are constantly building our project virtually. This is an opportunity for adding 3D views of the design to the construction documentation. New to Revit 2012, we can lock a 3D view and add more annotation.Consider creating 3D section views from wall sections, stair sections, elevator shaft sections and other callout views, to enrich your documentation. You create these views the same way Mike describes in his post.

Steps for Creating 3D Views from other Views:

Changing Education Paradigms.

Many of you have seen this amazing video already; I stumbled over it again this morning, and its effect is as profound now as it was on the first viewing. This animate was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA's Benjamin Franklin award.

http://youtu.be/zDZFcDGpL4U


For more information on Sir Ken's work visit: http://www.sirkenrobinson.com

Creating pipe Networks from GIS Data Part 1

 This is the first post of a three post series in which I will be covering pipe networks created from GIS data. Using this feature new to 2012 you may have noticed that GIS data in the form of SHP files may not always be what you expect. Especially when you import this data and create pipe networks from it, remember - garbage in, garbage out.

If the original GIS data has the correct object data associated with it, (inverts, pipe size, materials, etc.) the better end result you are going to get. Additionally, you will need to take into consideration the amount of vertices that these pipe lines have in them. If the pipes have many vertices between actual pipe start and end, Civil 3D will place a null structure at each one of these vertices. This may be acceptable if the pipe really does end there, but edits may need to be made prior to import as well as after the fact.  If the data has excessive amounts of vertices, you can easily edit these with a few different options.

First, you have the new AutoCAD functions in which you can hover over the vertex and it gives the option to remove the vertex. This is a quick and easy option if you only have a few vertices to address. Next, is the most efficient option; use the Map Cleanup functions of the MAPCLEAN command. The Simplify Objects option will make quick work of the extra vertices. This makes quick work of entire city blocks of pipe data that hase excessive amount of unnecessary vertices. Finally, you have the option of using the WEED command, which you may recall using with feature lines, but works with polylines as well. I found this to be the least ideal option, but it is definitely worth having available in case you need it. So prior to importing your SHP data as Civil 3D pipe networks, you should review the data you have obtained to ensure that all excess vertices have been addressed to avoid the excess null structures.

To use DPR Model Slicer or not to use?

I have been experimenting with the Revit Add-in DPR_ModelSlicer (which can be downloaded for free from: http://modelslicer.dpr.com/). From DPR’s website, the description of the DPR Model Slicer:

“DPR Model Slicer is a free Revit plug-in which facilitates the creation of 3D Building sections from a Revit model. Inherently within Revit, the only way to separate a model by floor is to filter it by reference levels. Unfortunately, this often results in a product (...), where items modeled as multi-floor elements, such as walls or columns, become associated with only one floor despite occupying space on many floors. During the construction coordination process, this can be a limitation, so it is often desired to have the building model separated into individual floors. DPR Model Slicer makes this process faster. The end result is a model which is sectioned by floors.”

In other words, if you need the model to be broken up by floors,spanning elements such as walls and risers of all disciplines, need to be split at the level designations. Now this can be done manually using the Section Box feature of a 3D View and using the “Orient to View” pointing at a Floor Plan to generate the section box cut. Should the model be only one to three floors, the manual process isn’t too bad. However, if the model is multi-story, the manual process could be quite time consuming. That is when the DPR Model Slicer could be a time saver for exporting appropriately sliced up models to other CAD programs and Navisworks.  Please refer to the DPR website for directions on usage, but an example that I made is below showing the split generated in the NWC export, specifically on the pipes.

A few observations that I have may speed you along should you decide to give the DPR Model Slicer a try.

Civil 3D 2012 Service Pack 1

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 Update 1

In a continuing effort to provide high quality products, Autodesk has released AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 Service Pack 1, which fixes or addresses a variety of issues discovered by customers and by Autodesk's internal testing team. This Service Pack includes all previous hotfixes for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012. It also includes the fixes included in AutoCAD 2012 Service Pack 1 and AutoCAD Map 3D 2012 Service Pack 1. Note: This update applies to all language versions and to versions of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 with previous hotfixes applied. Before applying this update, make sure that any customizations made to the user profile (such as, customizations made to the support file search paths, print file customizations, printer support file paths, redirections, custom template settings, and so on) are exported to a secure location, then imported and reapplied after the update has been successfully installed. You cannot run an automatic uninstall to remove this update. To restore your version of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 to its pre-update state, uninstall AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 and reinstall it. c3d2012_win32_sp1.exe (exe - 28421Kb)

Revit Structure to AutoCAD Plant 3D

Scenario: "My structural dept has designed the building and platforms for the plant design in Revit Structure. How do I get them into AutoCAD Plant 3D?"

This is common, especially since the Plant Design Suite Premium and Ultimate comes with Revit Structure. The workflow is simple. My structural model is shown below in Revit Structure 2012. I simply export that file out as a DWG.

Then go to AutoCAD Plant 3D. If you have a drawing started already, in the ribbon, go to the INSERT tab. If you do not have a drawing started, create one. In the REFERENCE section, you will click on ATTACH in order to XRef the drawing into the Plant 3D Drawing. If the coordinates and scale in the Revit Structure model are the same coordinates and scale as in your plant model, then just accept the default insertion and scale.

Your model should now include your Revit Structure design. You can use the geometry on that model for placing equipment and routing pipe just as you would if you had modeled it all with AutoCAD Plant 3D structural shapes.

Happy Routing!