BIM Aficionado: Revit to CAD - Nothing to Fear

BIM Aficionado: Revit to CAD - Nothing to Fear: We are well on our way to our goal of 50% DD on our new 'GA Apartment' BIM project, with a well developed model, fifty sheets set u...

Hotfix - Autodesk Revit 2013 - Spot Elevation

This hotfix improves product stability when placing Spot Elevations within Section Views.

Make sure that Update Release 3 has been applied prior to adding the hotfix. Verify that the build number of Revit 2013 is 20130531_2115.

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.

	Revit2013_SpotElev_Hotfix.zip (zip - 14553Kb)
	Readme (htm - 81Kb)

The Revit Blog: Can't see it in the view? Here's 33 reasons *maybe* why

Repost from The Revit Blog

Can't see it in the view? Here's 33 reasons *maybe* why

Seems like finding missing items in Revit is a day to day condundrum. I have a routine of things to run through but I had never made a list before. This one was sent over to me by a colleage the other day and is Courtesy of Dave Jones' post over at www.revitforum.org 

Highly recommend printing it out or sending it to everyone in your company.

Can't see it in the view? Here's 33 36 reasons maybe why

I found this somewhere online back when I started using Revit and still find it useful. Hope someone else can use it also.

Checklist: 33 steps to being able to 'find stuff'

1. The object or category is temporarily hidden
2. The object or category is hidden in the view
3. The object is being obscured by another element
4. The object's category or subcategory is hidden in the view
5. The object is outside the view's view range
6. The view's far clip depth is not sufficient to show the object
7. The object resides on a work set that is not loaded within the project
8. The object resides on a work set that is not visible in the view
9. The object resides on a work set that is not loaded in a linked file
10. The object resides on a work set that is not visible in a linked file
11. The object resides within a group (detail model) and it has been excluded from the group
12. The object is part of a design option that is not visible in the view
13. The object is part of a linked file that is not visible in the view
14. The object has one or more of its edges overridden to display as ''
15. The object is a family and none of its geometry is set to be visible in the view type
16. The object is a family and none of its geometry is set to be visible at the view's detail level
17. The object is set to not be visible at the category's detail level
18. The element has been placed outside the view's crop region (visible extents)
19. The element is an annotation object and does not reside entirely within the annotation crop region
20. The object's phase settings or the view's phase settings prevent the object from displaying in the view
21. The view's discipline is prohibiting the visibility of the object
22. The object is affected by a filter applied to the view
23. The object is subject to an element override, set to background color
24. The object is subject to a category override, set to background color
25. The object style is set to background color
26. The object is constrained to a scope boxes that is not visible in the view
27. The extents of the object itself don't permit it to be seen
28. The object is a mass, and 'Show Mass' is turned off
29. The object's host view has been deleted (area boundaries)
30. The view's scale is prohibiting the object's visibility
31. The object is a linked instance with coordinates too great for Revit to handle
32. The user has incorrectly identified the link instance to which the element belongs
33. The object is in a link that is not in its correct position
34. Wall is subsumed by automatically-embedded curtain wall
35. Something is really far away from the middle of the project and when the view is zoomed to fit, everything disappears
36. Element is white and its edges coincide with other objects. E.g., GWB ceiling in RCP.

Link to the original Post:

http://www.revitforum.org/tutorials-tips-tricks/441-cant-see-view-heres-33-reasons.html

Posted by James Herndon at 9:08 AM

Inside the Syetem Repost: Introducing the Autodesk Building Performance Analysis (BPA) Certificate Program

Repost from Inside the System

We’re excited to announce that Autodesk has launched the Building Performance Analysis (BPA) Certificate Program. This free online course for architecture and engineering students teaches the building science fundamentals for designing high-performance buildings. Through self-paced online tutorials, quizzes and Autodesk software exercises, the BPA Certificate Program gives students the skills to help drive an industry-wide transition to performance-based sustainable design.
 What’s in the BPA Certificate program?

• Seven modules that include climate analysis, sun path studies, building massing and orientation, solar radiation analysis, wind analysis, and more.
• Clear “introduction to software” section within each of the seven modules
• Small clusters of content and quizzes that students can complete in short amounts at a time
• Case-based examples and questions
• Content focused on energy fundamentals and modeling with detailed Revit models
• Application of Revit-based tools (including Revit, Vasari and Green Building Studio)

This program takes an estimated 20 hours to complete. Following successful completion, students are issued a Certificate and a Badge that they can place on their resume, LinkedIn profile or portfolio. Students will improve and prove their fluency in the strategies and tools of sustainable building design.
Students - register here: http://autode.sk/19ZTv7a

BIMForum / McGraw Hill Prefabrication Survey

BIMForum / McGraw Hill Prefabrication Survey

RTC Australasia 2014 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Pullman Melbourne Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia

Thursday 29 - Saturday 31 May 2014
We are now seeking abstracts from individuals interested in speaking at the event. Note that this current call for abstracts is for the Australasian event only, and separate calls for abstracts will be made in relation to other events. You are free to submit abstracts for a single event, or for all, once the North American & European abstract sites have opened...

Increase your profile in the industry - speak at RTC Australasia 2014. This is your opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise.

Online abstract submissions close on
Monday 14 October 2013.

Click here for further information relating to the call for abstracts.

Beyond Design Repost: BIM 360 Field roadshow is coming your way!

From Beyond Design

You've heard my friend, Pete Billante talk about the cool features in Autodesk® BIM 360™ Field for the iPAD and how they've helped thousands of construction project managers, superintendents, and field engineers to manage quality, safety, and commissioning processes. Now, it is time for you to see the power of BIM 360 Field first-hand.

I'm excited to announce that Autodesk is kicking off a five-city roadshow (in the United States) on BIM 360 Field! The roadshow runs from September 17 to October 17. The first event is in my city (San Francisco) and is taking place in the Autodesk Gallery. By attending one of the events, you will gain a better understanding of how BIM 360  Field enables you to combine mobile technologies at the point of construction while supporting 2D and 3D workflows.
During the three hour event, you will learn how mobile devices and cloud-based services are transforming the construction industry and how you work every day. Each event will showcase a different local customer and highlight how they are using BIM 360 Field in their construction projects. Get answers to these questions:

• How do I manage my field data?
• How can I improve quality, safety and commissioning?
• How can I maximize the benefits of mobile devices in field management?
• What role does BIM play in field management?

Here is a list of dates and cities that we are hitting:

• San Francisco, September 27
• Waltham, October 3
• Ft. Lauderdale, October 10
• NYC, October 15 (To be confirmed)
• Houston, October 17

Register today for an event near you. Tip: search by product name on the registration page (Autodesk BIM 360 Field or Autodesk BIM 360 Glue) for an exact list of activities.

Don't see your city on the list? Not to worry, there are plenty of ways to learn about BIM 360 Field. For example, Microsol Resources is hosting a BIM 360 Field webinar tomorrow (September 10) and it will cover Autodesk® BIM 360™ Glue and BIM 360 Field workflows. We are always adding different types of events to the calendar so be sure to check-in and get the latest scoop from the BIM 360 team.

~Sunny

What NOT to do in Revit - Item #4 - Use the wrong object category

​When working in Revit, real world objects are broken up into several different object categories. For the most part, these make sense. But we can get into trouble when you use a Roof or a Wall object to model something other than its intended purpose.

For example, it is not uncommon for us to want to use a Wall object to create bathroom our module office furniture partitions. Bathroom and module office furniture partitions are walls so why not use a wall? The main reason is related to material and element quantities. If the Revit model is being used for estimating takeoffs, then the estimator without knowing could count the bathroom or module furniture walls as real walls in this takeoff.

The best practice is to create a Revit family for these types of real world objects. Initially it might take a little longer to create, but in the long run, it will provide easier editing and flexibility.

Revit OpEd: Paul Aubin Book Survey Seeks Input

Revit OpEd: Paul Aubin Book Survey Seeks Input: Paul Aubin recently mentioned that he's working on a new book, title TBA . The title is one of the things he's asking about in the s...

Revit: Often Forgotten Tools: Press & Drag

When is the last time you thought about the Press & Drag function? If you are like me, it was probably when I read Steve Stafford's Revit OpEd blog when he discussed Revit 2014's selection features

For Revit 2013 and previous, the Press & Drag (Figure 1) button is located at the bottom left corner of the Revit User Interface. It can be enabled and disabled by clicking the checkbox.

Figure 1 - Press & Drag (Revit 2013 and earlier)

In Revit 2014, Press & Drag has been renamed Drag Elements on Selection (Figure 2). It can be enabled and disabled by clicking on the icon (Figure 2) or by clicking on the Modify dropdown button and checking or unchecking Drag Elements on Selection (Figure 3).

Figure 2 - Drag Elements on Selection


Figure 3 - Turning on and off Drag elements on selection

By default, Press & Drag is checked (enabled). When checked it will allow you to Press and Drag any object with one click. In short, it is a shortcut to moving an object.
Press & Drag can be annoying when you accidentally move an object, when you simply just intended to select the object to perform some other action. If this happens, then you can uncheck Press & Drag. If you still want to move the selected object, you simply have to click a second time to drag (move).
My preference is to always have Press & Drag enabled, but that is a personal preference.

Revit MEP - HVAC - Process

​In my last post, I discussed the "process" I use to for creating Electrical models in Revit MEP. That in turn resulted in a lot of emails about HVAC, Piping and more Electrical questions. So I will start with defining the HVAC process I utilize. Keep in mind, every project is different and project deliverables and staffing requirements need to be accounted for when establishing a workplan for specific projects. This is a general process overview.

These are my process steps for getting started using Revit MEP for Electrical:

1. Develop a communication plan with the other design disciplines, especially the Architects. There needs to be solid and consistent communication about what is going on with the design and the model. You don't want to be spending time designing if the Architect plans on changing things. This is the most important item on the list!
2. Add Mechanical equipment and air terminals to the model.
3. Create the air systems (supply / return / exhaust).
4. Create ductwork.
5. Modify air systems as needed.