Conceptual 3D Cost Modeling with DProfiler

Approximately 70% of construction cost drivers are set during the planning and conceptual phases, yet mainstream BIM software does not produce a reliable cost estimate at these stages. Most early budgets are terribly inaccurate, take too long to produce, and provide no visual way to confirm assumptions with the team. DProfiler™ software is the solution to these problems.


DProfiler™ is a first of its kind Macro BIM solution offering all-in-one:

• 3D Modeling
• Cost Estimating
• Energy Analysis
• Site Topography & Cut/Fill Analysis
• Sequencing
• Real Estate Dashboard

Among others, DProfiler™ exports IFC (model & cost), DWG (model), Excel (cost), and PEE (Timberline estimate) to support different BIM workflows. Beck Technology also has developed a Revit Add-In that creates a native RVT (Revit file) from the DProfiler™ model.

There's more information available on the Beck Technology website.

Browse and Manage Revit Families with BIMlist

The next generation in Revit family browsing is here. BIMlist is a Revit family browser that makes organizing, locating, and inserting Revit families fast and easy. Advanced search functionality and administrative controls make BIMlist the most sought after Revit family browser available today.

Quickly Locate and Insert Families

The days of fumbling through network directories to locate Revit families by name are over. BIMlist enables users to locate Revit families with lightning speed. Sort and group your Revit families for logical organization, then browse to the desired family to preview and insert it into your project. Or use the advanced search capabilities to query the data contained within the families to find the specific type of family you are looking for.

Advanced Search Functionality

Rapidly locate the desired content with BIMlist's advanced search functionality. Locate families by searching for specific parameter names and values, and use filters to narrow the search results. Search across tabs, groups, and categories. Use reverse filters for even more precise search results:

GSA Building and Revit Structure Bi-Directional Link

Building design and analysis in one powerful package

GSA Building is the software of choice for structural engineers around the world. It gives them all the tools they need to design and analyse even the most complex buildings.

The complete solution for building design and analysis

With this intuitive software, engineers can design structural models with skeletal frames and two-dimensional finite elements. GSA Building also combines steel and concrete design, footfall and soil-structure interaction analysis in the same tool. For seamless working, GSA is fully integrated with Revit Structure and works to a range of international codes.

Why design concrete slab or wall reinforcement by hand? GSA Building saves time and money by designing reinforcement directly from the analysis results. And if steel beams and columns had to be chopped up into elements for frame analysis, the software puts them back together and designs them automatically. It even analyses how the structure interacts with the ground or predicts the footfall vibration on irregular floors or staircases, whether they’re concrete, steel, or composite.

GSA Building also integrates with BIM applications such as Revit for design coordination across the team.

Designed by engineers for engineers, GSA Building has met the demands of projects like 32 St Mary Axe in London (The Gherkin), the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff and the CCTV building in Beijing.

There's more information available on the Oasys Software website.

Credit: aec-apps.

Manage Revit Families with familyManager from familit

With the Revit familyManager, a tool is available, which saves the users from time consuming searches.

All families, whether local or in the network, can be gathered and managed. A clearly arranged dialogue Layout arranges all that important information, the available family types as well as image viewer and 3D viewer for families converted into dwf files are at a glance.

familyManager runs as an application under Revit Architecture/MEP/Structural. Using double click, families can be opened for editing directly from the familyManager or imported using drag&drop in actual projects. Also individual types from the type list can be downloaded und be put directly into the actual project being used. The existing Revit 'Load From Library' function can be substantially optimized with the adoption of familyManager, furthermore it is possible to quickly establish new types. Revit familyManager includes multi converter for Revit files turning them into DWF format. This way is the user being offered a possibility to access families in perfectly detailed 3D view.

In addition Revit Objects Browser is included. Now you can quickly find out asked elements and change parameter values.

NEW: Executable version of familyManager that runs without Revit.

Manage Revit Projects from Universal Databases with dbManager from familit

The familit dbManager exports element's attached parameters to external database table. The exported elements are linked from the external database into the Revit project.

The dbManager includes many helpful functions to work with Revit projects /modifying, searching, grouping, sorting, zoom, export, import, calculator, selector, etc.

The dbManager supports many database engines: Oracle, MySql, MsSql, Access, XML.

More information on the familit website.

Credit: aec-apps.

b.i.m.m Tools

b.i.m.m GmbH offers a suite of tools for the Autodesk Revit family of BIM products (Architecture, Structure and MEP)

All tools are centrally managed by the b.i.m.m ToolManager. Once you install the b.i.m.m ToolManager you have access to all tools currently available.

Our tools focus around ease of use as well as advanced access to the data in your BIM Model.

Currently there are the following b.i.m.m Tools available for public testing (with English localization):

• FilterTool
• ParameterTool
• Explorerlein
• Helferlein
• DeleteDWGTool
• UpdateTool

More information available on the b.i.m.m Tools website.

Credit: aec-apps.

Clean Up Revit Models with ModelMedic

ModelMedic helps BIM Managers, Architects, Engineers and Designers manage their Autodesk® Revit®  models.



ModelMedic is model analysis software: it quickly and easily finds all the loaded elements - even hidden elements - within a Revit project.

ModelMedic is a diagnostic tool: it shows which elements may be impairing Revit's performance and stability. It makes finding and fixing problems faster and easier. You don't have to be a Revit Guru to spot the potential problems in your model.

ModelMedic is a reporting program: detailed model reports can be saved to PDF, Microsoft Excel or Word for archiving and sharing with all project participants.

ModelMedic is inexpensive: it can pay for itself in just one use by finding problems that could keep you from meeting a critical deadline. Our Multi-pack licenses and unlimited use Site License pricing makes it affordable to deploy ModelMedic to all Revit users in your firm.

BIM-based Quantity Takeoff, Estimating and Scheduling with Tocoman BIM Solution

Tocoman BIM solution offers state-of-the-art software tools for modern design and construction companies. They enable you to increase productivity of your quantity and cost management from the first sketches to the completion of the project.

Tocoman's solution has been used in over 500 construction projects (see examples) during the last 10 years. Our depth of experience with BIM guarantees you a safe path from the 2D processes into e.g. Revit, ArchiCAD or Tekla based quantity take-off, estimating and more.

Tocoman iLink - BIM based Quantity Takeoff

Tocoman iLink is an add-on to your favourite Building Information Modeling (or BIM) application. You can use it to analyze your Revit, ArchiCAD and Tekla model contents, calculate quantities, create Excel reports and visualize the results as Navisworks models. iLink also connects the BIM based quantities with your existing cost estimating and scheduling application when used together with Tocoman Express.

From Autodesk Labs: Structure Generator

Generate real structures from mass objects.




OVERVIEW

Project Structure Generator for Autodesk® Revit® Structure and Autodesk® Revit® Architecture software is a free* technology preview that provides a connection between massing models and objects created during conceptual design and structural elements such as beams, column, walls, plates. With Project Structure Generator, structural engineers and architects, from the earliest stages, can very quickly create and visualize a physical and analytical model of a structure based on the massing model.

WHAT DOES PROJECT STRUCTURE GENERATOR DO?

Project Structure Generator for Autodesk Revit Structure and Autodesk Revit Architecture is a technology preview that provides a connection between massing models and objects created during conceptual design. Project Structural Generator enables structural engineers and architects to:

• Automatically create and visualize a physical model of the structure with mass objects
• Generate variants of the physical and analytical model with structural systems based on the massing model.
• Predict volume and weight of materials used.
• Extend model to Revit Structure or Revit Architecture.
• Extend massing model to structural analysis with Project Storm a cloud based technology preview on Autodesk Labs that allows static analysis to be performed or to Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional software

Download Structure Generator from the Autodesk Labs product website.

ADN Plugin of the month Nov 2011: Revit String Search

Search Revit project elements and their parameter values for a given string.

Download the plugin here.

SDS/2 Connect by Design Data

Design Data and Autodesk® have collaborated to streamline the BIM workflow, incorporating new technology between Design Data’s SDS/2 software solutions and Autodesk® Revit® Structure.

SDS/2 Connect enables structural engineers using Revit Structure for BIM to intelligently design steel connections and produce detailed documentation on those connections. SDS/2 Connect is the only product that enables structural engineers to design and communicate steel connections based on their Revit Structure design model as an active part of the fabrication process. Bridging this information gap between design and fabrication shortens timelines, enhances project communication and ultimately lowers project costs.

As the user inputs columns, beams and braces, connections are automatically designed with their necessary materials, bolts, holes and welds. SDS/2 Connect takes a uniquely intelligent approach in its connection design by considering framing conditions and erectability, automatically performing clash prevention as a part of its connection design. In addition, SDS/2 Connect can value engineer the connections on a project, helping users to design the most economical connections to fabricate and erect. No other 3D product can do this automatically.

Once connections are designed, they can be sent downstream to the manufacturing level. Both member and connection information is preserved and transferred to SDS/2 for detailing with the precision necessary for fabrication. Both the SDS/2 and Revit models are synched so that changes can be reflected in both software packages and updates easily made.

There's more information on the SDS/2 Connect website.

Credit: aec-apps.

Elevation Fix 2012 by Revolution Design

Revolution Design, developers of the previously posted Keynote Manager, Selection Master and Revit workFlow, have released a new add-in named Elevation Fix 2012.

Revit 2012 contains a bug that causes elevation marks to fail to update when their detail number parameter is updated. For a full description please see Steve Staffords (Revit OpEd) blog post here. Special thanks to Nick Kovach for developing a simple solution to this problem and working with Revolution Design to provide it free to the Revit community!


How it works

Download and install this simple addin from the link below and the 'Elevation Fix' command will be available in the 'External Commands' drop down of the 'Add-Ins' tab in Revit 2012. Simply click the command to run it and all your elevations that are currently placed on sheets will be updated, automatically and permanently!

Please note that this is a one time command that updates currently placed elevations. If new elevations are created or unplaced elevations are placed on sheets they will not contain the fix. However, simply run the command again and it will fix these as well.

More information is available on the Revolution Design website.

Revit workFlow by Revolution Design

Revolution Design, developers of the previously posted Keynote Manager and Selection Master, have released a new add-in named Revit workFlow. This add-in features:

autoLink

One of the Revit's greatest strengths in the realm of documentation is the automatic coordination of view callout tags and the views' actual detail location. Change the detail number on a sheet and all view tags that reference that view update automatically. However, Revit had no similar ability with general annotations and text... until now!

Revit workFlow's autoLink function allows you to place simple annotation symbols within a project that reference a view; whenever the location of that view changes the link is updated automatically, no coordination necessary!

• Reference views with a simple annotation symbol.
• Update links automatically when a view is moved.
• Fully customizable autoLink symbol.

Interactive Cloud-Based Rendering with Stadia

Stadia enables architects to generate interactive renderings straight from Revit model data.

Finally, digital representation emerges as a tool of iterative design.


Blazing Fast Performance

Stadia uses patent-pending technology to generate sixty images every second (twice the speed of film) at full HD resolution for a smooth and immersive experience.

Unadulterated Revit

Stadia handles custom materials, complex geometry, and in-house families with no extra effort.

Incredible Lighting Simulation

Reflection, refraction, color bleeding, soft shadows, and color temperature are all realistically simulated from data in the revit model.

Free Add-ins from Case (Updated)

Case, the well regarded BIM consulting firm out of New York, has released several free add-ins for Revit Architecture 2012:

Change and Replace Line Styles

Have you ever imported a DWG file into your model and got a bunch of unwanted line styles? Have you ever wanted to quickly change those line styles to your standard styles already loaded into your model? This little guy does just this!

Revision Cloud Data Export to Text File

As you are all surely aware, Revit does not offer a means to schedule individual revision cloud elements. This tool will export all instances of Revision Clouds along with the revision name, date, and description that they belong to. The view and/or sheet that the cloud element is on is also exported along with the comment data entered directly onto the element. This tool rocks for blasting a quick revision report for your revision related needs.

Door Mark Updater

This little guy uses the room number of the room adjacent to the door to number each door mark parameter. Where multiple doors are along a common room number, the remaining doors are numbered alphabetically suffix of the room number (1001A, 1001B, etc.). You will have the option to update doors by selection, common level, or the entire model all in a single click.

These free add-ins can be downloaded from the case apps website.

Update 5/8/2016: CASE and the CASE Apps website are no more but, courtesy of WeWork, the CASE Apps are now open source. They may be accessed on GitHub.

Credit: RevitOpEd.

Building Programming with dRofus

dRofus is an advanced, easy-to-use, software for integrated program management. The tool is used in a large number of projects in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands and the US.

More and more clients, contractors, architects and engineering firms are adopting dRofus and TIDA.

The program is rapidly becoming established as the standard in the Norwegian building industry.

dRofus supports the key business processes required in construction projects:

• Planning and mapping of areas, rooms and functions
• Room Data Sheet (RDS), registration and monitoring of the requirements for each room ·
• FF&E planning, cost control and procurement of FF&E
• Check and visualization of designed model through IFC

DotSoft Revit Add-on Utilities (for Excel, Word and PDF)

Excel2Revit

Overcomes the limits and problems associated with placement of Excel spreadsheets inside Revit.  It creates and maintains DWG/DXF files of named ranges in Excel that are linked in Revit.  The results are lines, fills and mtext that can plot without problems and are highly portable to others.


Word2Revit

Place Word documents into Revit projects.  It creates and maintains DWG/DXF files of Word documents that are linked in Revit.  You simply select your area of interest and click an icon to create the DWG file.  The best part is that as changes are made in Word the DWG files are updated when the document is saved or closed.

Pdf2Revit

Converts PDF files to DWG/DXF which can be placed or linked in Revit.  Using our conversion tool, if the PDF file contains vector geometry, it will result in highly usable polylines in CAD.  Text annotations become text objects.

Pricing is $95 each with bundled pricing of $145 available when you buy Excel2Revit with Word2Revit.

Visit DotSoft's website for more information.

Revit Integrator for Revit Structural (Updated)

Press release: CSC releases Revit Integrator

23 September 2011

Leading structural software developer, CSC, today announces the release of its ground breaking new BIM integration tool, Revit Integrator. This unique and free tool enables structural engineers and technicians to synchronise models between Autodesk Revit Structure and CSC's steel building design software, Fastrak, and concrete building design software, Orion.

“Revit Integrator is a major step forward for all those companies involved in Structural BIM, giving enhanced control to the technicians and engineers who share, amend and synchronise models”, comments Kevin Lea, BIM Business Development Manager at CSC. “This new functionality will enable synchronisation of models to take place throughout the entire project, without compromising existing or new modelling work.”

Revit Integrator enables engineers to filter groups of structural objects, ignore geometrical changes, communicate end forces, openings and stiffeners, and intelligently map family types between modelling systems. This new tool also highlights what’s been added, changed or deleted during synchronisation, thus enabling engineers to react to changes quickly and reduce the risk of errors.

“The seamless integration between Fastrak and Orion, and Revit Structure, improves project communication and increases productivity as engineers and technicians can report and manage incremental model changes easily”, comments Lea.

Download Revit Integrator for free here.

Updated 1/23/2016: Updated link to point to the product download page on the Tekla website.

Onuma Revit Plugin and BIMXML

While Big Data challenges confront all large
BIM projects and large portfolio owners, some Autodesk®  Revit®  users have successfully employed an elegantly simple Revit plug-in that  uses Building Information Model Extensible Markup Language (BIMXML) to assist data sharing.

BIMXML employs a plug-in that capitalizes on the data cap- tured in the Revit model and allows further lifecycle data management. Data generated from the start of a project is made available throughout the design, estimating, construction, commissioning, operations, and maintenance phases. It uses accepted and proven Big Data management standards and processes.

The Revit ONUMA plug-in employs BIMXML to improve Revit data sharing. The BIMXML plug-in allows projects to be imported to and from Onuma. The plug-in also allows Revit models to be loaded with meaningful data and basic geometry from SketchUp, ArchiCAD, Bentley products, ArcGIS, Google Earth, and other software com- patible with basic Extensible Markup Language (XML) standard code. The BIMXML plug-in to Revit and other programs comes with ONUMA System web-based software, Onuma Editor Pro and Studio Pro. Student versions are available for free.

There's more information on Onuma and Revit here.

Credit: This post includes excerpts from the AUGIWorld September 2011 article "Revit Plug-in Allows BIG Data Sharing" by Bob Smith, PhD, and Michael Bordenaro

Design Review Mobile

Expedite the design review process by viewing and redlining design files in the field. Autodesk® Design Review mobile app enables you to review Autodesk 2D and 3D design files directly on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. View, mark-up, and annotate drawings on the spot, reduce the need to carry around over-sized paper drawings, and enjoy an all-digital design review workflow.



View

• Open and view 2D and 3D DWF files from your Autodesk Cloud account 
• Use multi-touch to zoom, pan, and rotate drawings
• View meta data and other details about elements within your drawings 

Markup & Annotate

• Use simple and intuitive redline and markup tools to communicate changes
• Add text or comments using familiar callouts and drawing tools

Download the Design Review Mobile app from iTunes here.

Bentley Innovations for the iPad

Bentley’s iPad apps are extensions of their desktop ProjectWise platform. These apps extend the core concept of smart sharing, flexible publishing, and dynamic review to the iPad. With Bentley’s iPad apps you can now work from any location. From your office you can author documents, package them together, and transfer them to the iPad. On site you can view those documents, review their properties, and mark up as needed. Finally, you can repackage them and synchronize with your work on your desktop in the office.

You can also download Bentley’s iWare apps to create your own optimized i-models (called “maps”) and i-model packages within ProjectWise Explorer, MicroStation, i-model Composer, and (presumably) indirectly from Revit using the i-model plug-in for Revit.

The iPad apps are applicable for all markets including civil, plant, building, and others. Follow the workflow diagrams below to get started. Enjoy innovative features like 360-degree panoramic viewing, redlining, and synching back with the desktop!

Bentley Navigator for iPad: Panoramic 360-degree navigation of 3-D design models as well as easy review of properties and red-lining of design models.

ProjectWise Explorer for iPad: Create, view, and mark up design models along with project files like PDFs, spreadsheets, and photos.

There's more information on Bentley's iPad apps here.

A Wizard for the Revit .NET API

On his blog, Spiderinnet has posted information about free wizards, coders and widgest that can be used to simplify the Revit API add-in development process.

From the blog post:

It finally comes out a very user friendly multi-page wizard, various needy coders, and many cool widgets for Revit .NET Addins. They have the following features:

• Can specify which Revit version and flavour to work with.
• Can start the specified Revit executable automatically when the Visual Studio project is being debugged.
• Revit API assemblies will be referenced into the project automatically.
• The Copy Local properties of RevitAPI.dll and RevitAPIUI.dll assembly references are set as FALSE automatically to avoid confusions and problems.
• Necessary namespaces are added to source files automatically.
• External application (IExternalApplication) is supported.
• External command (IExternalCommand) is supported.
• Application/command names can be named at will.
• Transaction mode (TransactionMode) can be specified.
• Regeneration option (RegenerationOption) can be specified.
• Ribbon panels (RibbonPanel) can be created.
• Ribbon buttons (PushButton) can be created.

Autodesk Cloud Rendering

The previous Autodesk Lab's technology preview Project Neon has made the leap to a commercial offering as Autodesk Cloud Rendering.

Autodesk Cloud Rendering allows Revit users to send views to the cloud for rendering via an add-in, freeing them up to continue to do other work while speeding up the rendering process.

Autodesk Cloud Rendering is included in Autodesk Subscription for those that have the Premium Building Suite or Ultimate Building Suite on subscription. Cloud storage is limited to 3GB per qualifying license on subscription.

There's more information on Autodesk Cloud Rendering here.

Revit Works: Door Factory

Create Doors & Curtain Panel Doors quickly & easily with the RevitWorks Door Factory add-on for Autodesk Revit®.

The Door Factory not only simplifies the creation of doors, it creates doors that are incredibly easy to use.

Any Revit user, from novice to expert, can create the doors they need quickly and easily.

Save time by creating doors on the fly, as and when you need them, allowing you to stay focused on your design.

Achieve consistency for all the doors in your project.

A free limited version of Door Factory is available. Pricing for up to 5 users is $595, with quantity discounts increasing from there.

More information is available here.

Revit Add-In .NET Template

While this blog is normally dedicated to finished add-ins, Jeremy Tammik, he of The Building Coder fame, has published a Visual Studio Add-In Wizard for Revit 2012 that creates a project starting point with the appropriate references, debugging options, and add-in file already setup. Very cool indeed!

More information here.

IES Virtual Environment (VE)

IES integrates with Autodesk Revit (BIM)

Toolbar enables environmental performance analysis


VE-Ware

Free energy and carbon plug-in for SketchUp and Revit

• Suitable for all building types across worldwide locations
• Easy to use – produce results at the touch of a few buttons
• Data entry and outputs are managed for you
• Uses full technical capabilities of IES’s powerful dynamic thermal simulation
• Based  on real climate data and typical characteristics of buildings and systems

Building Programming with Trelligence Affinity

Extending BIM and Enhancing Interoperability

As an integral part of interoperability and Building Information Modeling (BIM), Trelligence Affinity™ connects the requirements of a building program with the elements of the spatial design, giving you the ability to identify which constraints are being met and which ones are not.

Program

Affinity software starts with tools for architectural programming. You can collect program information in a central place and share it with your project constituents. Instead of managing forms or keeping track of lists, use Affinity project programming as the consistent source to integrate all the information you need to track about your building projects.

Visualize

Affinity’s schematic design tools help you visualize your space program and share ideas with your clients. Visualize the site plan and each story of your building, and lay out the spaces and rooms with Affinity’s easy-to-use graphical tools for space planning. Conduct multiple what-if scenarios together with the owner and design team. Affinity also allows you visualize the building in 3D block diagrams.

Parameter Sliders Add-in for Project Vasari 2.1

The Parameter Sliders add-in provides a graphical interface for flexing parameters on loaded families. This add-in currently only works inside Project Vasari Tech Preview 2.1.

More information is available here.

Project Vasari 2.1

A new version of Project Vasari has been released. Here's what's new:




Ecotect Wind Tunnel - Use the Wind Tunnel feature in conjunction with Ecotect Wind Rose analysis to dynamically simulate the impact of wind speed and direction on your projects. This prototype plugin provides a simplified computational fluid dynamics simulation that provides designers and engineers a ‘virtual wind tunnel’ to gain an insight on aerodynamic effects early in the design process. Main uses for this tool are:

• Exterior Air Flow: 2d and 3d tools provide a highly visual understanding of how air will flow across your building and site.
• Pedestrian Comfort: 3D simulations of key airflow circulation paths to provide an indication of the potential impact on pedestrian comfort.
• Natural Ventilation Boundary Conditions: 3D simulations of air flow across buildings to estimate the external pressure envelope.

WhiteFeet Revit Utilities - A Veritable Cornucopia of Tools

The WhiteFeet Revit Utilities toolset is composed of a collection of small, generally independent, programs that have each been created to address a specific need.  Typically, a project would encounter a problem, or envision an opportunity, that suggested a customization.  A tool was developed to address this need, but in a way that was slightly more general, so that it could be used in other ways and on other projects.

Sheet Manager

Sheet Manager links to an Excel file or (less commonly) an Access database. Based on this data, it creates or updates sheets in Revit as a bulk editing process. The tool can also be used to export data, renumber sheets, and place views on sheets.

It is also useful for maintaining “dummy” sheet lists of consultant drawings, whose only purpose is to populate the sheet schedule.

BIM on an iPad? Speed Up Mobile Collaboration with CadFaster|Collaborate

CadFaster|Collaborate for Autodesk® Revit® enables real-time annotation and co-viewing of BIM models and thus facilitates collaboration. CadFaster|Collaborate for Autodesk® Revit® is designed to enhance the design process in the AEC industry and to improve customer experience.

Challenge:

The architectural design process of a building or a site abroad requires constant interaction with various stakeholders. If the architectural design is done in one country, but the customer is in another, there is no practical way to co-view the BIM models, which translates to frequent traveling.

Solution:

CadFaster|Collaborate enables real-time feedback collection, co-viewing and collaboration. With CadFaster|Collaborate every stakeholder is able to participate in the design process enabling customer reviews and real-time feedback. Possible design flaws can be eliminated during the design process making sure that the customer specific needs and requirements are fully met.

Revit Content from Revit Works

At last...

...components for REVIT software that actually work throughout the whole BIM process.




WORKSHOPS

A Revit project file that contains a selection of pre-built families and variations on components that can be manually swapped to create new families.

The workshops that have been constructed to date are as follows:

• Casework and Interior Joinery 

ADN Plugin of the Month Sep 2011: TransTips

TransTips for AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit, and 3ds Max

This plugin translates the contents of tooltips in various Autodesk products automatically into one of 35+ languages via the Bing online translation service. The translated text is stored in a local cache of XML files, which can also be edited and provided with the plugin, should someone wish to provide improved translations for certain tooltips.

Download it here.

From Autodesk Labs: Project Storm for Revit Structure

Project Storm for Autodesk Revit Structure is a technology preview that provides cloud-based structural analysis to structural engineers as a part of the BIM process. With Project Storm, engineers and designers can extend design models from Revit Structure to the cloud for structural analysis from directly within Revit Structure.

Results can then be visualized and explored within Revit Structure and disruptions to workflows are minimized by performing analysis in the cloud as users continue to design.

More information here.

From Autodesk Labs: Project Spark

Project Spark is a technology preview of a simplified 3D building information modeling (BIM) solution. Using Project Spark, building professionals can create designs efficiently with real-world building objects, produce more reliable documentation faster, and share files with consultants using Revit or AutoCAD-based products.

Project Spark is not intended to support conceptual design, analysis, rendering, advanced collaboration, and API.

More information here.

Jason Grant's Sheet Creator

Jason Grant has created a free add-in for creating sheets more quickly, and for organizing them in the Project Browser using shared parameters. His web site indicates that the source code is included for those that would like to further customize the add-in. Bravo Jason!

There's a video of the add-in in action on Vimeo.

Download the add-in here.

Automate the Preparation of Specifications Using e-SPECS

e-SPECS® automates the preparation of the project specifications from AutoCAD® and Revit® based applications, linking your favorite design program with your specification master documents. e-SPECS is integrated with all versions of MASTERSPEC®, the industry standard for construction specification documents as well as the integration of your firm's Office Master.

e-SPECS integrates the construction documents instantly updating your project specifications as you develop your drawings. Insert a wall, door, window, or any other building object into your AutoCAD drawing or Revit BIM model and instantly update your project manual with the appropriate specifications.

Enter your standard text, keynotes, blocks, hatches, or any other AutoCAD drawing elements or Revit Families, and your specifications stay in-sync, in real time. Any changes you make to the designs will automatically be incorporated into the specification manual. At any time, you can review the "history" of your specification section to see why it was included in the project.

You can also review the Integration Reconciliation reports to get a complete overview of all the drawing elements that resulted in project specification sections. Now with e-SPECS you can even view your specifications directly in Revit and Mark-up those sections collaborating with your Specifier.

More information on e-SPECS is available here.

Link Specifications to Revit Models with BSD LinkMan-E

Welcome to a new world where your specifications automatically integrate with a BIM created in Autodesk Revit. Building Systems Design, Inc., proudly introduces BSD LinkMan™-E.



What is BSD LinkMan-E?

BSD LinkMan-E is a linking software product that allows the user to easily create, monitor and modify relationships between various representations of a building design project - as drawn using Autodesk Revit, as specified using BSD SpecLink-E, and, in future, as estimated using BSD CostLink/AE. This linking software is referred to as LinkMan-E or LME.

The LME user interface is a set of "Dashboards," together comprising a monitoring station that permits a project manager to view the status of project development in the linked applications, check for consistency, and identify discrepancies for corrective action. LME also allows the user to "turn on" missing products in SpecLink-E, based on data from Revit. In short, LME is a tool for coordinating the Revit building model (the BIM) with its specifications and (in future) its cost estimate.

More information here.

Selection Master by Revolution Design

Robust Filter Capabilities with Selection Master from Revolution Designs.
















Selection Master supports six types of filters:

• Parameter
• Level - Level filters recognize level parameter, work plane, reference level, and schedule level so all offset beams, etc. are included.
• Family
• Category
• Phase Created
• Phase Demolished

The Selection Master full interface can be used to create filters based on any of these properties or combine as many filters as desired to refine the set. Find all first floor walls created in phase 2 or simply find every element related to the second floor level.

Eagle Point's Siteworks for Revit

Siteworks™ for Revit® enables architects, designers and planners to shape the terrain for their building sites using grading tools to model pads, parking lots, streets, sidewalks and retaining walls – all within the Revit environment. Siteworks is intended to help these professionals convey preliminary design intent about the building site within the Revit model to help facilitate their collaboration with civil engineers. And because Siteworks runs inside of Revit and uses native families, components and toposurfaces, designs become part of the overall Building Information Model and help with visualizing your conceptual building plans.

Key Benefits

Siteworks for Revit provides architecture firms tremendous time savings in the preliminary design phase by:

• Providing an early-stage design tool for architects to communicate conceptual design ideas about the building site to civil engineers, who will complete the detailed site design with professional civil engineering tools like AutoCAD® Civil 3D®.
• Incorporating grading features directly into the Building Information Model to visualize the building site and quickly iterate conceptual designs.
• Allowing architects, landscape architects and planners to convey design intent and help facilitate collaboration with all project stakeholders including owners and civil engineering firms.

More information here.

Integrate Your Urban Planning, Landscaping and Architecture Practices with Eagle Point's LANDCADD for Revit

LANDCADD™ for Revit® is designed to offer Architects, Landscape Architects or Designers functionality within Autodesk Revit Architecture to quickly and easily lay out site components, as well as produce a landscape design fully integrated into the project. By accessing a wide-range of searchable plants, you are able to customize planting families and then use the LANDCADD tools to locate trees, shrubs, flowers or ground covers into the model. You are also able to layout other landscaping features, such as paths or patios and, not only obtain areas, but also a takeoff of the materials.

Key Benefits

• Save time with integrated tools that allow you to quickly locate your site components.
• Model different alternatives for parking stalls, bollards, lights, planting material, etc., by quickly and easily making updates as the design is reviewed.
• Obtain detailed volume reports for elements such as pavement, sidewalks, and patios with the touch of a button.
• Design interior or exterior planting plans and green roofs by accessing an extensive library of planting families.
• Eliminate the need to transfer drawing components back and forth from Revit to AutoCAD back to Revit since all of your landscape design is part of the Revit model.
• Improve your team collaboration by integrating the landscape design group with your architecture group workflow.

More information here.

Private BIM Clouds with BIM9

The Building Design and Construction industries continue to embrace Building Information Modeling (BIM). With that embrace there is a rapidly growing need for new workshare, remote access and mobility techniques surrounding your BIM data. BIM9 was created to help the industry solve these specific needs.

Do you take the data to the user or the user to the data?

This is a fundamental question in the world of BIM today. The answer lives in the cloud. The challenge is how do you get your design tools into the cloud in a way that works for you. BIM technology tends to have specific needs when it comes to performance. Building owners have security needs that do not play well into traditional cloud technology. Here at BIM9 we have taken industry expertise, combined it with Information Technology (IT) expertise and built the Private BIM Cloud solution to solves these issues.

More information here.

BIM Cloud Computing with Advance2000

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing is a metaphor for the Internet, and describes the way information technology (IT) is accessed. It is another way of saying that your applications are hosted at a separate IT facility - such  as a data center - remotely accessible via a secure Internet connection.

What can the Advance2000 Cloud 2.0 do for architectural and engineering firms?

Cloud 2.0 from Advance2000 provides a high performance solution for your graphical work stations. The increased speed, as compared to traditional cloud computing, allows the you to increase productivity and better utilize valuable resources. The collaborative nature of the cloud, with this next- generation computing model, improves cooperation between designers, architects, contractors, and quality control personnel. our experience providing private cloud service to the AeC market has led us to evolve and grow the Advance2000 Cloud 2.0 to better serve your needs.

What sets the Advance2000 Cloud 2.0 apart?

our service levels, support and 99% customer satisfaction rating. We provide 24/7/365 support, guaranteed system up-time, two-factor bio-metrically secured facilities, and data retention which adheres to compliancy required by business. We provide all the benefits of Cloud Computing without forfeiting critical business functions.

Newforma Add-in for Autodesk Revit

The Newforma® Add-in for Autodesk® Revit® allows you to get more out of an investment in BIM by bringing project information management (PIM) capabilities into the Autodesk Revit suite of building information modeling (BIM) applications.

The Newforma Add-in for Revit streamlines the following project information management processes:

Room and spatial data management

Connect room and space planning spreadsheets with live Revit models to enable programming and Revit modeling staff to work asynchronously on a coordinated project room and space program.

Punch list integration

Connect space and system elements in the model with the Spatial Index activity center in Newforma Project Center to provide a consistent, unambiguous framework for the location of punch list and site observation items throughout the facility.

ADN Plugin of the Month Aug 2011: Wall Opening Area for Revit

The Wall Opening Area for Revit plugin calculates the sum of openings on each wall and stores the values in two shared parameters for each wall.

Download the plugin here.

Revit Extensions for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012

Revit Extensions for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012 are available to Autodesk subscription customers as a single download and installation.

Modeling Category

Excel Based Model Generation

Generates a Revit model based on data defined in an MS Excel sheet, including levels, columns, beams and walls.

Frame Generator

Defines 3D models of multi-bay frames.

Grids Generator

Generates levels or grid lines in a 3D model.

Wood Framing Walls

Generates timber framing for walls selected in a structure model.

Revit Content: All-in-one Revit Families

Why you'll love All-in-One Revit Families

All-in-One Families are advanced parametric Revit® Families and therefore they are more adjustable then any other Families available. These Families are not just advanced parametric, but optimized to be small in file size and big in functionality. They are developed by a Team of Architects and Revit® Professionals to give you the possibility to setup countless objects with just one single Family rather then to use various Families.

Available All-in-one Revit Families include:

• All-in-one Escalator - Travelator Family
• All-in-one Elevator Family
• All-in-one Door Family
• All-in-one Window Family
• All-in-one Sash Window
• All-in-one Bi-fold / Sliding Door Family
• All-in-one Garage Door Family
• All-in-one Seating
• All-in-one Table
• All-in-one Kitchen
• All-in-one Cupboard
• All-in-one Mac Computer
• All-in-one Lighting
• All-in-one Retail Furniture System

More information here.

From PKH Lineworks: ReVVed

ReVVed is a collection of Revit extensions that have been designed with the draftsperson in mind. ReVVed turns repetitive tasks into one click commands. These commands work with architecture, structure and MEP flavors of Revit. Commands like:

• Text Tools - merge multiple text notes into a single note or change the case of notes.
• Component Commander - allows loaded components to be searched and found easier.
• Web Link - opens a web browser to the URL stored in Revit components.
• Polyline - adjust the total length of end-to-end lines. (Like travel distances)
• Open Folder - opens Windows Explorer to the folder where the project or linked file is located.
• Project Commander - store critical information about the currently open project in a handy place.

More information here.