3Dconnexion Announces Revit 2012 Support

3Dconnexion today announced much anticipated 3D mouse support for Autodesk Revit 2012 software applications, as well as Autodesk Navisworks 2012, bringing the full range of 3D mouse design benefits to Revit and Navisworks users.
3Dconnexion 3D mice complement the intuitive interface and modeling and documentation tools in Revit software, helping to enhance every design workflow stage with increased productivity and comfort. 3D mice allow Revit and Navisworks users to pan, zoom and rotate simultaneously to deliver superior navigation and more intuitive control, helping to boost productivity and efficiency while aiding user comfort.

I have not personally used a 3D mouse, but I would imagine it would take some getting used to.  Steve Stafford has mentioned this device in his blog and is currently testing it.  But the reviews sound good.  I can imagine a device like this would be benificial in software programs like Navisworks even more than Revit.

More on the Revit Server Extension

To get a better idea about Revit Server, check out this video from the Revit Clinic Blog

http://revitclinic.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/10/10-things-to-know-about-revit-server.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Ftherevitclinic+%28The+Revit+Clinic%29

Autodesk® Green Building Studio® web-based energy analysis software

Autodesk® Green Building Studio® web-based energy analysis software can help architects and designers perform whole building analysis, optimize energy efficiency, and work toward carbon neutrality earlier in the design process. With faster, more accurate energy analysis of building design proposals, architects and designers can work with sustainability in mind earlier in the process, plan proactively, and build better.

• Whole building energy analysis software—Determine virtual building’s total energy use and carbon footprint
• Design alternatives analysis—Consider alternatives to improve energy efficiency
• Detailed weather analysis—Extensive weather data available for project site
• Carbon emission reporting—Emissions reporting for nearly all aspects of the building
• Daylighting—Qualification for LEED® daylighting credit
• Water usage and costs—Estimated water use, in and outside building
• ENERGY STAR® scoring—Scores provided for each design
• Natural ventilation potential—Summarizes mechanical cooling required and estimates hours design could use outdoor air to cool the building naturally

Autodesk Ecotect Analysis includes innovative building energy and carbon analysis tools made available through the Green Building Studio web-based service. The web service provides a user-friendly front end to powerful building energy analysis software. All of the computationally intensive hourly simulations are carried out on remote servers, and the results are provided to you in a web browser. The web-based service will collect data from three sources:

1. Your Revit® software model. All the building geometry comes from your model, including the number of rooms, the connections between rooms, and their relationship to the exterior, exposure, and aspect to the sun; and the shape and total area of built surfaces or openings.
2. Your responses to a few basic questions. In order to explain the building’s use or context, you will need to select a building type from a drop-down menu and enter the project location. You will also have a chance to select a weather station for the project, although the closest one is selected to be the default.
3. Regionalized databases. Based on the above information, the Green Building Studio web service will extract additional information about local weather conditions, construction, and materials. The service will automatically add any information you have not provided, so it can adapt to your requirements as your design evolves.

 Autodesk® Ecotect™ Analysis 2010 software is a comprehensive concept-to-detail sustainable design analysis tool, providing a wide range of simulation and analysis functionality through desktop and web-service2platforms. Powerful web-based whole-building energy, water, and carbon analysis capabilities converge with desktop tools for visualizing and simulating performance of the building model within the context of its environment. Use the desktop tools and web-service functionality together to help create more sustainable designs. This document describes how to access your Green Building Studio web-service account and manage projects, and provides tips to help you get started.

Troubleshooting Revit MEP

A 20 minute video from Autodesk's Harlan Brumm and Jerry Lee Smith covering:

Overview of the Revit MEP Workflow

• Create new project using MEP template
• Save Arch model as central file on server
• Link in models using origin-to-origin
• setting links to be room bounding
• copy/monitor levels
• Setting up views and apply view templates to views
• create levels to account for plenum spaces

Troubleshooting Spaces and Zones

• space not visible in view
• rooms are "unoccupied"

Troubleshooting Revit MEP Performance

• Not following workflow
• not creating logical systems
• large connected duct networks
• complicated families
• poorly connected elements
• Limit color schemes
• place endcaps on open ducts
• ensure flow direction on connectors is correct

AEC Exchange tool in Revit MEP

See Video Demo here

Interoperability and Data Exchange

The enhanced AEC Exchange tool in Autodesk Inventor 2010 simplifies the exchange of data for use in building design. AEC Exchange allows users to publish data files with simplified 3D representations and intelligent connection points for use in building models created using Autodesk Revit MEP, Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk AutoCAD MEP, and Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture software.

http://download.autodesk.com/us/inventor/videos/2010/5-inventor_aec_exchange/inventor_2010_aec_exchange_1300x860.html

Free Upcoming BIM Webcast - "Lessons in BIM Adoption" by Reed Construction

On Sept. 23, 2009, Reed Construction Data will present “Lessons in BIM Adoption: The Viewpoint of an Architect, an Engineer and a Building Product Manufacturer,” a complimentary webcast offering an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities of implementing building information modeling (BIM).

The webcast will feature speakers Dennis Neeley, AIA, BIM Product Manager, Reed Construction Data, Mark Mergenschroer, BIM Development Coordinator, TME, Inc., and Cindy Bremer, Director of Marketing, Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork.

The event will be led by Rex Miller, author of “The Commercial Real Estate Revolution” and “The Millennium Matrix,” and an active participant in the leadership, innovation and technology of the real estate and construction industry.

Speakers will offer candid insight into their successes and challenges with implementing BIM, and explore the issues that are restricting widespread adoption.

“Despite the hurdles that remain for some organizations implementing BIM, the industry needs to embrace this technology at a much faster rate to recognize its full potential,” said Neeley. “One of the best ways to accomplish this is to learn from the mistakes and successes that others have experienced and through this webcast, we hope to provide multiple perspectives and insight into those cases.”

The webcast will be broadcast live starting at 2 p.m. (EDT). It is complimentary for all participants; pre-registration is required. Questions from the Internet audience will be accepted during the live webcast, which will also be archived for later viewing. AIA member architects are eligible to receive 1 AIA CEU credit for attending this webcast.

For more information and to reserve your space at the Sept. 23 webcast, please register at: www.reedconstructiondata.com/bimwebcast.

Complimentary BIM Webcast - "Lessons in BIM Adoption"

Wednesday September 23, 2 pm EDT

Learn about specific details and developments in adopting Building Information Modeling from those companies that have been through the process. Allow experts and analysts to give you insight on some do's and don'ts of BIM.

Create ANY Pipe System in Revit MEP

Martin Schmidt created a video demonstrating how to create ANY pipe system in Revit MEP - that is, you can name a pipe system whatever you want (O2, NO, N, G, Wilma, etc...), and use View FIlters to show/hide as desired.

Great video Martin. Thanks for sharing.

CLICK HERE

What's New Video in Revit MEP 2008