This article captures the semi-annual update of the main developments from AEC technology vendors in the last six to seven months, including an overview of the 2014 version of Nemetchek Vectorworks that has just been released, the latest developments from Assemble’s cloud based platform for extracting data from BIM models, a new mobile app called Field3D for viewing IFC models, a new EnergyPlus integration that boosts Sefaira’s energy analysis capabilities, the latest developments in Newforma’s suite of tools for project information management, a new TurboSite plug-in for AutoCAD from IMSI/Design, a new way to view SketchUp models on the iPad using Viso3D, updated Revit add-in tools from CTC, and finally, the developments in ArchVision’s RPC content creation and management tools.
Say “NO!” to Hollywood BIM: An Advanced Integration of the BIM Process at a Builder
In this article, Antonio Ruivo Meireles, who is the Innovation Manager of Mota-Engil, a large building company headquartered in Portugal that has more than 20,000 employees worldwide, describes a more advanced integration of the BIM process implemented at his firm, in contrast to the “Hollywood BIM” implemented by most builders. He discusses the BIM implementation strategy followed at Mota-Engil in detail, along with the key pointers that emerged from it that should be helpful to other construction firms adopting BIM . There is also an extended discussion of the main benefits of BIM for a builder, based on Mota-Engil’s experiences with it.
URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2013/BIM_MotaEngil.html
Revit 2014
This review takes an indepth look at the new version of Revit, the key product in the 2014 Autodesk Building Design Suite, to see what additional BIM capabilities it can provide to AEC professionals across all the three design disciplines it targets: architecture, structure, and MEP. These include several improvements made to the core Revit platform for enhancing user productivity and efficiency including displaced views and the ability to apply temporary views to a display, improved modeling and editing of stairs and railings, several structural and MEP BIM improvements including better visibility and greater control over the structural analytical model and the ability to divide MEP systems to make them easier to work with, and a new engine for point clouds that makes them faster to work with and provides greater control on their appearance.
VDC in the Cloud – Journey to LEAN Construction
This article by Chris France, former CIO of Little Diversified Architectural Consulting and President of Advance2000, follows up on his popular AECbytes’ articles on BIM and the Cloud by looking ahead to what he sees as the logical next step in AEC technology — VDC in the Cloud. Unlike BIM, which is primarily focused on design, VDC (virtual design and construction) addresses means, methods, schedules, costs, safety, logistics, inventory, manufacturing, etc. This article discusses the key business benefits of VDC in the Cloud, including Lean Construction, Agility & Mobility, Collaboration, Cost Reduction and Leveling the Playing Field.
URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2013/VDC_Cloud.html
Technology Product Highlights from AIA 2013 Expo
This article captures the technology highlights from the recently concluded AIA 2013 Convention and Expo, including some major developments from Autodesk, including enhancements to the conceptual design app, Formit, that was introduced at the last Autodesk University, and a new application for design scripting called Dynamo, Affinity 8 from Trelligence, form.Z 7.0 and bonzai3D 3.0 from AutoDesSys, the new IESVE for Architects from IES, the launch of Vectorworks Cloud Services, the new release of SketchUp from Trimble, and the upcoming TurboSite for Google Glass from IMSI/Design.
Newforma Model Viewer
This review explores in detail Newforma’s new Model Viewer for viewing and navigating model files published from Revit in Newforma Project Center. It is part of the Newforma Building Information Management module, and is a dramatic development for Newforma Project Center, integrating it with Revit much more closely than in previous versions. It adds a toolbar to the Revit ribbon that allows Revit files to be easily published to the Viewer, and is closely integrated with Newforma Project Center as well as Newforma Info Exchange, allowing the extended project team to link the relevant model views to action items, change orders, RFIs, etc .
URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/review/2013/NewformaModelViewer.html
ArchiCAD 17
This review explores the latest release of ArchiCAD, version 17, from Graphisoft, whose key enhancements are the ability to automatically clean up junctions between construction elements in the entire model based on the intersection priority value specified for different building materials; real-time 3D cutaways that can be created by multiple cutting planes, providing very specific interior views of the model; background processing support for faster generation of complex model details; the ability to link vertical building elements to a specific story, allowing them to be automatically adjusted when the story height is changed; expanded IFC support; and several additional productivity enhancements.
Bentley ProjectWise and Autodesk Vault Collaboration AEC — AECbytes Survey Results
This article captures the results of a recent survey conducted by AECbytes comparing Bentley’s ProjectWise with Autodesk’s Vault Collaboration AEC for data management and collaboration in AEC. The results are shown in three categories: the first capturing the overall responses; the second showing the responses for those who selected ProjectWise as the solution implemented by their firm for data management and collaboration; and the third showing the responses for those who selected Vault Collaboration AEC. This enables a quick comparison of Bentley ProjectWise and Autodesk Vault Collaboration AEC from an implementation perspective.
URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/feature/2013/ProjectWise-Vault-Survey.html
A Level of Development Specification for BIM Processes
In 2008, Jim Bedrick published an article in AECbytes entitled “Organizing the Development of a Building Information Model” in which he introduced the concept of LOD. At that time, the acronym stood for “Level of Detail.” Since then, a lot of work has gone into the LOD framework by organizations including the the AIA California Council IPD committee, the AIA Contract Documents Committee, and the AGC’s BIMForum. The concept has evolved into “Level of Development” and it is discussed in depth by Jim Bedrick in this follow-up article.
Autodesk’s 2014 AEC Portfolio
This month Autodesk released its 2014 product portfolio, comprising of some new products and updated versions of its existing products across all of its “Design and Creation Suites” for the three main industries it caters to: Manufacturing, Infrastructure (including Buildings), and Media and Entertainment. This article explores the new 2014 Autodesk Building Design Suite that is targeted towards the AEC industry. It looks at key updates to existing products like Revit and Navisworks as well as new products that have introduced in the 2014 release, including AutoCAD Raster Design for vectorizing scanned drawings, and Autodesk Recap for working with point clouds.
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