Autodesk Updates Revit-Based Solutions for MEP Engineers

Autodesk has updated its Revit platform for building information modeling (BIM) software applications, and has expanded it's portfolio of solutions that address the building industry's evolving requirements for productivity and efficiency.

To even more closely align products with customer needs and requirements, Autodesk has modified the names of several Revit-based applications. Revit Architecture 2008 (formerly Revit Building), Revit Structure 2008 and Revit MEP 2008 (formerly Revit Systems) software products support new ways of working for architects, designers, drafters and engineers, helping them to predict, analyze and deliver better building performance.

Revit MEP 2008 delivers BIM for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering market with improved features to support building performance analysis and better decision making. Revit MEP 2008 is available as part of AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite, which combines Revit MEP 2008 for systems information modeling and AutoCAD MEP 2008 (formerly Autodesk Building Systems) for MEP documentation.

Important features in Revit MEP 2008 include:

• Fully parametric change management increases coordination and maximizes the efficiencies of the Revit-based workflows across the architecture and engineering teams.


• Automated exchange of engineering design information improves communication and minimizes design coordination errors between MEP engineering disciplines, as well as with the architectural and structural engineering disciplines.


• Integrated building performance analysis for sustainable design through a direct link to the Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), Virtual Environment -- providing reportable building analysis data including annual energy requirements, whole building carbon emission output, occupant satisfaction, day-lighting and thermal analysis capabilities.


• Improved management of linked model information and improved DWF file specification support.


• Google Earth Plug-In for publishing Revit models to Google Earth mapping functionality.


• Better interoperability with Autodesk 3ds Max animation software to helpdrive design consensus across project stakeholders.


• Revit MEP 2008 also delivers new features to enable sustainable design with analysis of materials, quantities, energy use and lighting. With enhanced gbXML (Green Building Extensible Markup Language) functionality, designers can quickly perform energy analysis and study building performance using tools such as those from Green Building Studio, Inc. and IES Ltd.


• Construction documentation enhancements such as dependent views for split drawings, dimensions and element visibility.

Revit MEP Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration

Collaborating in an all-Revit environment will greatly improve the coordination of building components through its internal management of the project database. This tutorial provides some guidelines on how to undertake effective multi-disciplinary collaboration in Revit.

Collaboration Guidelines

Revit consists of three discipline-specific platforms: Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, and Revit MEP. Each team member must be working on the same platform version and product build to effectively collaborate. Revit is a forward compatible product. Therefore, the design team should know the current compatible platform versions.

The current compatible Revit platform versions are recommended below:

• Building 8, Structure 1 (MEP application was not developed at this time)
  
• Building 8.1, Structure 2 (MEP application was not developed at this time)
  
• Building 9, Structure 3, Systems 1
  
• Building 9.1, Structure 4, Systems 2
  
• Architecture 2008, Structure 2008, MEP 2008

It is recommended that product build numbers should match in each product. The product build can be located in each product's Help menu by clicking on About Revit… The same build should be issued to all team members in the same firm or errors could occur when trying to Save to Central when using Worksharing.

Collaborations Tools and Methods

The linking of each other's models using Revit's Copy/Monitor feature provides immediate visual feedback on what the other members are doing. The benefits include:

• The ability to see the each other's data in full context of the project
  
• The ability to graphically control the linked data to enhance how it is viewed.
  
• Support for Coordination Monitor and Interference Check.

The Coordination Monitor is the most intelligent tool for collaborating in Revit when utilized properly. The benefits include:

• The ability to choose components of the linked model to monitor for change.
  
• Multiple modes offer flexibility to Monitor and Copy/Monitor objects.
  
• With Copy/Monitor, elements from the linked model can be copied into the host project automatically creating a monitored relationship.

The Interference Check provides immediate feedback on component collisions. The benefits include:

• The ability to check interferences within a single project or linked models.
  
• The ability to check "On Demand."

Project Structure

Effective collaboration can be achieved in a single model environment. However, it is recommended that the models be separated from one another to gain full advantage of the collaboration tools provided in Revit.

Workflow Relationships

Each discipline creates a relationship based on their individual workflows:

• Architect/Structural Engineer: In this relationship, the structural engineer will leverage the architect's model using Coordination Monitor's Copy/Monitor mode to create copies of building components from the architect's model and to monitor it for change, as well as to establish a quick structural model of the project for their workflow. The architect can then use Interference Check to verify that architectural elements are not conflicting with structural components.
  
  
• Architect/MEP Engineer: In this relationship, the MEP engineer will link the architect's model to position components in context. The Coordination Monitor is used to leverage the architect's rooms and levels. Analysis parameters are added to the room elements. However, levels are necessary to copy/monitor rooms. The architect simply links the MEP model to show system elements in context to architectural elements.
  
  
• Structural Engineer/MEP Engineer: In this relationship, both parties benefit from interference detection to avoid collisions between structural and systems elements.

Based on these recommendations, the diagram below represents a suggested use of Revit's collaboration tools between each program/discipline.

1. The Architect will link in the Structural model and utilize Interference Check.
   
2. The Structural Engineer will link in the Architectural model and utilize Coordination Monitor.
   
3. The Architect will link in the MEP model and utilize Linked Models.
   
4. The MEP Engineer will link in the Architectural model and utilize Coordination Monitor.
   
5. The Structural Engineer will link in the MEP model and utilize Interference Check.
   
6. The MEP Engineer will link in the Structural model and utilize Interference Check.

Here are some overall guidelines on workflow procedures to keep in mind:

1. Use the Coordination Monitor only when necessary. Overuse of the Coordination Monitor could slow the linked model's performance. Some relationships need only be set up as a monitor, not a copy/monitor.
2. When Worksharing is invoked, be sure to follow these recommendations:

• Coordination Monitor should be set up to Central File if both files exist on the same LAN. All updates should occur when the Local Files are not being used.

• Open the project and Detach from the Central File when distributing the model to other consultants. The detached model should then be attached to the consultant's Central File.

Stage 1 - Leveraging Models

Architect to Structural Engineer

1. The Architect will send the architectural model to the Structural Engineer.

2. The Structural Engineer opens the delivered model and reviews its elements.

• Levels: Do they make sense for use in the structural model? Do the bubbles vary from the company standard?
  
• Grids: Do the bubbles vary from the company standard?
  
• Columns: What type of columns are available? Are the columns continuous or split?
  
• Walls: Are there structural walls needed in this project? What kind of walls were used?
  
• Floors: What kind of floors were used?

3. The Structural Engineer starts a new project.

4. The architectural model is linked in. This is accomplished by File > Import/Link > Revit. Use the Origin to Origin positioning method if shared coordinates are not being utilized.

5. The visibility settings are changed to view the architectural model.

6. The Structural Engineer selects Tools > Copy/Monitor > Select Link and then selects the architectural model.

7. The Design Bar changes to reveal the Copy/Monitor tools.

8. The Options button is accessed to reveal the Copy/Monitor settings for Levels, Grids, Columns, Walls, and Floors.

9. The Structural Engineer monitors or copy/monitors the elements of the architectural model that are required to begin the structural model.

10. The structural model will continue being developed.

Architect to MEP Engineer

1. The Architect will send the architectural model to the MEP Engineer.

2. The MEP Engineer opens the delivered model and reviews its elements.

• Levels: Are necessary for copy/monitor of rooms in the MEP model? Do the bubbles vary from the company standard?
  
• Grids: Not really necessary.
  
• Columns: Not really necessary.
  
• Walls: Not really necessary.
  
• Floors: Not really necessary.
  
• Rooms: Are there rooms available?
  

3. The MEP Engineer starts a new project.

4. The architectural model is linked in. This is accomplished by File > Import/Link > Revit. Use the Origin to Origin positioning method if shared coordinates are not being utilized.

5. The visibility settings are changed to view the architectural model.

6. The MEP Engineer selects Tools > Copy/Monitor > Select Link and then selects the architectural model.

7. The Design Bar changes to reveal the Copy/Monitor tools.

8. The Options button is accessed to reveal the Copy/Monitor settings for Levels, Grids, Columns, Walls, Floors, and Rooms.

9. The MEP Engineer monitors or copy/monitors the levels first.

10. The Options tool will be accessed again to review and set the room options.

11. Several of the room's parameters can be copied from the architectural model.

12. The rooms can be copied by phase if necessary.

13. After setting these options, the rooms can be copied using the Copy Rooms tool on the Design Bar.

14. The MEP model will continue being developed.

Stage 2 - Monitoring Models

Structural Engineer to Architect

1. The Structural Engineer will send the structural model to the Architect.

2. The structural model is linked in. This is accomplished by File > Import/Link > Revit. Use the Origin to Origin positioning method if shared coordinates are not being utilized.

3. The Architect can run Interference Check at this point but might elect to monitor the levels and grids to access additional features of Coordination Monitor.

Stage 3 - Coordinating Changes

The Architect

1. If the architectural model changes, this will initiate a warning dialog from Revit.

2. The changes can be viewed by accessing Tools > Coordination Review > Select Link.

3. Coordination Review will open revealing the alert. As the host, the Architect can post a comment regarding this coordination issue.

4. The architectural model is saved and sent to the consulting engineers.

The Structural Engineer

1. The Structural Engineer will receive the new updated architectural model.

2. It should be saved in the location of the previous version.

3. The structural model will then be opened.

4. Revit will immediately alert the user of a Coordination Monitor issue.

5. The Structural Engineer will access Tools > Coordination Review > Select Link.

6. Coordination Review will open revealing the changes.

7. On the In a linked project tab, the Structural Engineer can review any comments made by the architect.

8. On the In host project tab, the Structural Engineer can initiate an action.

• Postpone / Do Nothing: Leaves the change to be addressed at a later time.
  
• Reject: There is a difference in the host file and its associated monitored element. The change made to the element in the host file is incorrect and the associated monitored element needs to be changed.
  
• Accept Difference: Accepts the change made to the element and updates the new relationship.
  
• Modify, Rename, Move: The command name changes based on the action. The change is propagated to the host project clearing the queue.

Stage 4 - Interference Checking

The Structural Engineer to the MEP Engineer

1. The MEP Engineer will receive the new updated structural model.

2. It should be saved in the location of the previous version.

3. The MEP model will then be opened.

4. The MEP Engineer will access Tools > Interference Check > Run Check.

5. In the Interference Check dialog, the user can choose objects from the current project and compare them to that of a linked project.

6. The Interference Report dialog will display all instances of conflict.

7. These items can be revealed in any available views by Revit. One by one, they can be addressed.

8. The report can be refreshed to see if the conflicts were resolved through Tools > Interference Check > Show Last Report.

9. The goal is the message below.

This process continues over and over. Each discipline can function as a united team to deliver the full conflict-free building information model.

Autodesk Partners With Integrated Environmental Solutions to Enable Building Performance Analysis on Revit Platform

Autodesk, Inc. announced that it is partnering with Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd. (IES) to further enhance the Revit software platform for building information modeling (BIM) to support sustainable design. At the 2007 AHR Expo, Autodesk will demonstrate a prototype of how the IES building performance analysis tools might be used in combination with Autodesk Revit Systems to generate accurate building performance analysis data. Such data can improve the decision-making process and empower architects and engineers to design better-performing sustainable buildings.

"The design of more sustainable and energy efficient buildings is key to mitigating the impact of climate change and to decreasing building operation costs. A critical part of Autodesk's further development of building information modeling is to expand the ability for our customers to conduct multiple types of analyses on their building information model," said Jay Bhatt, vice president, Autodesk Building Solutions. "Building performance analysis will help architects and engineers design more sustainable buildings and we're excited to partner with Integrated Environmental Solutions to bring these capabilities to the Revit platform."

A growing number of architects, designers and engineers are turning to the Autodesk Revit platform for BIM to meet these challenges. Through the combination of the Revit platform with building performance analysis tools that can examine the implications of alternative design strategies, take into account physical, climatic and environmental factors, and analyze energy use, lighting and materials in the Revit building information model, designers can help achieve higher operational efficiency and building performance.

Autodesk and IES are working together to provide robust building performance analysis capabilities to the Revit platform through a workflow between Autodesk Revit Systems, Autodesk's BIM design and documentation software for mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) engineering, and the IES software suite. Through a demonstration at the AHR Expo, Autodesk and IES will display how these two software applications could be used in combination to conduct multiple building performance analyses including thermal analysis, load calculations, daylight assessment with LEED reporting and solar studies. These comprehensive analysis capabilities could help design teams better and more thoroughly understand the complex thermal, light and airflow inter-relationships within their design, allowing them to make more informed design decisions, minimize risk and optimize building performance.

Dr. Don McLean, CEO of IES Ltd. commented, "Through the support of building performance analysis tools such as those in the IES suite, we hope our partnership with Autodesk will help the industry meet the demands for sustainable design and increase the value of building information modeling."

A Comprehensive Portfolio of Software Solutions for the Building Industry

With the right combination of leading-edge technologies, decades of proven industry experience and unparalleled, worldwide services, Autodesk offers the most comprehensive portfolio of products for the building industry. Ranging from the most advanced technology for building information modeling (BIM) to the most widely adopted design and documentation solutions, Autodesk supports information and management needs throughout the building lifecycle. Building solutions products include Autodesk Revit Building, Autodesk Revit Structure, Autodesk Revit Systems, Autodesk Architectural Desktop, Autodesk Building Systems, Autodesk FMDesktop and Autodesk AutoCAD Revit Series.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070130/sftu006.html?.v=82

Exporting Autodesk Building Systems Designs to Revit Systems

The first step in linking an Autodesk Building Systems MEP design to a Revit Systems project is to use the Export to AutoCAD functionality included within Building Systems. This feature saves all design data as AutoCAD entities (such as lines, circles, arcs, and blocks), which can then be read and understood by Revit Systems.

Creating a Design with both 2D and 3D Views

Autodesk Building Systems, through its use of intelligent objects, automatically creates 2D and 3D representations of the MEP designs which can be viewed by other AutoCAD-based applications, as well as Revit Structure. Use the following steps to create an Autodesk Building Systems drawing with both a 2D and 3D display for use in Revit Systems:

1. With the MEP design open in Building Systems, create a new layout and then two viewports.
2. In one of the viewports, set the view to Plan. Use the built-in display configurations of Building Systems to set the view to either 1-Line or 2-Line.
3. Set the second viewport to an Isometric view.
4. With the layout page still current, use the Export to AutoCAD feature.

Use the Export to AutoCAD feature in Autodesk Building Systems to export an MEP design for use in Revit Systems. Note the Export to AutoCAD feature exports all linework/objects in the Building Systems drawing, regardless where the linework/objects reside. Therefore, before using the Export to AutoCAD feature, detach the external reference of any structural floor plan. This will enable only the Building Systems data to be exported.

The exported file contains two block representations in model space; one in 2D and the other in 3D. These blocks represent the Display Configuration Views that were currently active in each viewport of the layout prior to export. Furthermore, each block representation is on its own layer (named for the layout viewport) as well. When linking this file into Revit, users can control the appearance of the floor plan and 3D views by working with the visibility of these layers. The exported file contains the 2D and 3D representation of the MEP design in model space.

"Systems" in Revit

There are a variety of MEP systems that can be created in the new Revit Systems. I wanted to break each disipline down to all the different systems that are available to be created.

Starting in the Mechanical Duct disipline, you can create supply, return and exhaust systems for your duct and equipment. You can create the system by placing your equipment, and then selecting that equipment and selecting the system you want it to be assigned to in the Options Bar.

In the Mechanical Piping disipline, you can create Hydronic supply, Hydronic return, or Other. You would create these systems in the same manor as the duct systems.

In the Plumbing disipline, you can create Domestic Hot Water Supply, Domestic Cold Water Supply, Sanitary and Other systems.

Finally, in the Electrical disipline, you can create a variety of systems. Power, data, telephone, security, fire alarm, nurse call, controls and communication circuits can be created by selecting the equipment and devices that are placed in your drawing, and assign them to a system.

The thing about Revit Systems, is that you design these systems as if you were installing and connecting the systems in the field.

You cannot create additional systems like you can in the Style Manager in ABS. And there is limited equipment that can be assigned to these systems as of now. For example, there are Fire alarm, data and telephone devices that come with Revit Systems, but no security, nurse call, controls or communication devices yet. You will need to create new Families and assign them to those systems.