Skema is a new web-based conceptual design tool for architects that aims to “fast forward” the traditional design process to get to the BIM model. It does this through a lot of automation, starting with creating the massing model of a proposed design on a selected site, analyzing it for sustainability, refining the mass with blocking and stacking for schematic design, and finally, converting the schematic design to an LOD350 BIM model which can then be further developed in a full-fledged BIM application like Revit.
I was introduced to Skema at the AIA 2023 Convention last summer and provided a brief overview of it in my article on the conference. I have since had a chance to explore it in more detail, including learning about the recent enhancements that have been added to it.
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Ms Khemlani –
I’m surprised to see that these folks, and maybe you, are claiming an automated transition from preliminary design to an “LOD 350 BIM …”
First of all, according to the BIM Forum, Levels of Development are defined per type of element; not per entire model. It’s a common misapprehension of the LOD concept. I was disappointed see it perpetuated in one of your posts.
Beyond that, there are literally thousands of decisions to be made between preliminary design and a model ready for tender, where most, if not all types of elements, including those not present at all in a preliminary design model, are developed to LOD 350. Even if this software is capable of placing those missing elements and making those decisions, isn’t it doubtful whether it could do so in accord with project requirements without significant input from virtually every member of the design team? Wouldn’t it either make many errors or be needing answers to many questions?
Unless I’m missing something, there is some overselling going on in what I think I’ve read so far. What do you think?
Hello, thank you for writing in with your feedback. Based on my understanding, Skema has a neural network technology that is trained for different building types, and with that, it can read it in few of the client’s Revit designs and create a catalog of layouts and the Revit elements and families that a client typically uses. It then uses these same elements/data to do the conversion from the block-and-stack schematic design to the LOD350 design.
To me, this is exactly what a smart technology solution should be able to do — automate the grunt-work. We should not have to spend weeks creating detailed BIM models when we can create “mapping rules” that can substitute a schematic element for a detailed one, and then let the software do the substitution.