Tuesday, June 16, 2009

BIM to the 4th Power!

BIM 1.0
Building Information Model - Authoring Tools
  • Revit Architecture
  • Revit Structure
  • Revit MEP
  • AutoCAD Civil 3D
BIM 2.0
Multi-Model Collaboration
  • BIM 1.0 +
  • Collaborative Model
  • Clash Detection
  • Information Sharing
BIM 3.0
Building Code, 4D, 5D, Energy Analysis and Specifications
  • BIM 2.0 +
  • Building Code Analysis - SMARTCodes
  • Cost Analysis - Building Explorer, Innovaya to Timberline
  • Construction Scheduling - Building Explorer, Navisworks to MS Project
  • Energy Analysis - Ecotect, IES Virtual Environment
  • Specifications - E-Specs
BIM 4.0
Facilities Management
  • BIM 3.0 +
  • Facilities Management - ArtrA by CADPipe

Revit Implementation Checklist




1.0 o Program
2.0 o Develop Implementation Milestones and Schedule
3.0 o Core Team Selection
4.0 o Core Team Training
5.0 o Core Team Develops Office Project Template (Test Project)

5.1.0 o Non-template Related Items
5.1.1 o Export layer text file
5.1.2 o Import line weights text file
5.1.3 o Shared parameters file
5.2.0 o Line Weights
5.2.1.1 o Annotation line weights
5.2.1.2 o Model line weights
5.2.1.3 o Color delineations
5.2.1.4 o Revit grey scale vs. traditional acad screen
5.2.1.5 o Phasing
5.2.1.6 o Patterns
5.2.1.7.0 o Linked DWG Files
5.2.1.7.1 o Linked drawings files
5.2.1.7.2 o Linked with colors preserved vs. colors as black
5.2.2.0 o Plotters
5.2.2.1 o Large format, full size
5.2.2.2 o Large format, half size
5.2.2.3 o 11x17
5.2.2.4 o 8 1/2 x 11
5.2.2.5 o Document printer settings
5.2.2.6 o Adjust line weights and grey scale as needed based on plots
5.2.2.7 o Plot to PDF and DWF send to plotter (identify any issues)
5.2.3.0 o Print Setups
5.2.3.1 o Create print setups in office template for all applicable plot styles
5.3.0 o Tags5.3.1 o Create all office standard tags and load into office template
5.4.0 o Patterns
5.4.1 o Base set of patterns
5.4.2 o Office process for creating new patterns
5.5.0 o View Markers5.5.1 o Elevation markers
5.5.2 o Section (building, and wall section markers, if different)
5.5.3 o Detail bubbles
5.5.4 o Callouts
5.5.5 o Match line callouts
5.6.0 o Leader Arrows
5.6.1 o Text leaders
5.6.2 o Tag leaders arrows
5.7.0 o Dimension types
5.8.0 o Text
5.8.1 o Create types in the office template
5.8.2 o Create text types in the families
(detail components, generic annotations, all tag families, etc.)
5.9.0 o Schedules
5.9.1 o Create working schedules
5.9.2 o Create plotting schedules for all schedules
5.10.0 o Views and Sheets5.10.1 o Create typical levels
5.10.2 o Create standard views
5.10.3 o Create office title blocks (include all variety sizes used)
5.10.4 o Create typical sheets
5.11.0 o Family creation (in template or in library?)5.11.1 o Establish minimal set of working families
5.11.2 o Establish a routine for migration of families from project to office library (See 6.3)
5.11.3 o Determine which families are to be pre-loaded into template and which families are to be loaded as needed from the libraries
6.0 o Establish Office Revit Protocols (Test Project)6.1 o File structure for projects (i.e. correspondence, consultant files, and reference files; usually mimics traditional project file structures)
6.2 o Work sharing protocol
6.3 o Family creation, storage and protocols
6.4 o Family transition from project to office library
6.5 o System family protocols (walls, floors, roofs, etc.)
6.6 o Material and Plant Library protocol
6.7 o Keyboard shortcuts
6.8 o File support paths (paths to Revit standards file)
6.9 o Software upgrading
6.10 o Project phases
6.11 o Project archiving
7.0 o Revisit Item 1.0 - Program
8.0 o Pilot Project Selection
9.0 o Pilot Project Team and Training
10.0 o Pilot Project Development
11.0 o Revisit Item 7.0 - Program
12.0 o Train Rest of Office on Project by Project Basis


1.0 Program
Define the end product. What are we trying to accomplish with BIM? Record existing process flows through the office. Also, identify problematic areas where the software process may conflict with the office processes. At this time, a test project and a pilot project will be selected and the scopes and schedules of these projects will be determined.


2.0 Develop Implementation Milestones
Use outline above as a starting point; identify key areas/milestones that need to be achieved that can be measured quantitatively and qualitatively along with a schedule of estimated completion of each milestone.

3.0 Core Team Selection

This team will ultimately be responsible for the success of the implementation. This group will also be responsible for finalizing the office standards and implementation. This group should consist of a diverse staff base as possible to ensure different perspectives are seen (i.e. principles, project architects, drafting technicians, etc.).

4.0 Core Team Training
Formal software training of the Core Team.

5.0 Core Team Develops Office Project Template (Test Model)

Use the outline above (section 5) to begin sorting out and creating the project template. The project template should be created in conjunction with the test model.

Test Model
A set of typical drawings, small 15-20% reproduced in Revit. Include an area that has both interior and exterior walls, stairs, restrooms and roof area. Recreate each sheet that it appears in the final set of drawings.

This process will get the majority of the bugs out of the template and protocols before they are put into production as well as assist in developing the office template and protocols.

6.0 Establish Office Revit Protocols
The office Revit protocols and libraries should be created in conjunction with the test model (see section 5).

7.0 Revisit Item 1.0 - Program
Revisit the problematic areas identified in the initial programming phase and identify the solutions to these issues. Also, identify any new areas that need to be addressed. Re-evaluate and if necessary, redefine your “end product statement,” or what solutions can help to get back on track towards achieving our end result?

8.0 Pilot Project Selection

Select a project that will produce billable hours to be produced in the software as a pilot project.

9.0 Pilot Project Team and Training
This project can be produced by either the Core Team or a new Pilot Project Team.

Having the Core Team produce the pilot project allows for an already trained team to create a working model that can be used as an example in training future users.

Selecting a new Pilot Project Team allows for new users the get trained and familiarized with the software, the template and Revit office procedures on billable hours, but lacks an example model for them to reference and also can be subject to more billable hours due to the learning curve.

If elected, formal training will begin for the new Pilot Project Team. Also, they will be given basic training by the Core Team on the office template, libraries and protocols.

10.0 Pilot Project Development
Pilot project is developed to put the templates, libraries and protocols fully to the test.

11.0 Revisit Item 7.0 - Program
Another look must be given to the programming phase prior to moving into full production of Revit.

· Was my “end product statement” achieved?
· Were any issues that conflicted with current office procedures addressed and resolved?

If any issues have not yet been resolved, they should be addressed and dealt with before rolling out the software to the rest of the office. This is the time to deal with these issues so new users can focus solely on learning the software rather than dealing with loop holes in office protocols.

12.0 Train Rest of Office on Project by Project BasisNow formal software training can begin on other staff members. Treat the first project for each team as a pilot project. Give them basic training on the office template, and Revit protocols. Also, give them time to learn from the experiences gained by the pilot project/team and to share their views on what is working/not working with the office template, libraries and protocols.