ClimateStudio — Advanced Daylighting, Electric Lighting, and Thermal Analysis

ClimateStudio is the fastest and most accurate environmental performance analysis software for the Architecture,  Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector. Its simulation workflows help designers and consultants optimize buildings for energy efficiency, daylight access, electric lighting performance, visual and thermal comfort, and other measures of occupant health.

FAST AND ACCURATE

Built on EnergyPlus and a novel RADIANCE-based path tracing technology, ClimateStudio is the fastest and most accurate simulation software on the market. Yes, faster than cloud-based tools. Finally, reliable results at 1000x the speed.

Introducing the Free FenestraPro Envelope Analysis Extension in Autodesk Forma!

From the announcement:

We have just released our first version of the FenestraPro Envelope Analysis Extension in Forma, which is currently available for free in the Forma extension marketplace, to support users to make better informed decisions earlier, and to understand the implication of code, regulations, and guidelines regarding the building envelope in real time.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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Deviation nSpector – Compare Point Cloud Deviation

From the Autodesk App Store:

Description

Quality Control (QC) is an essential phase of every project and there should be no stone unturned to ensure it is at 100%.  

What if you can automate your QC and reduce errors by up to 0% in your BIM models? 

Deviation nSpector is a one-of-its-kind plugin that allows for Deviation Analysis and Error Mapping for your point cloud.  This hassle-free plugin studies through your BIM models and identifies deviations to reduce manual errors in your QC. Deviation ranges can be configured after which analysis is done. On average, if a manual QC takes 60 minutes, with Deviation nSpector you can reduce it to 5-10 minutes. Using Deviation nSpector you can check the quality of your BIM model with 100% accuracy. 

nCircle being the first movers in automation for the AEC sector aims to create succinct systems that optimize the industry. Through Deviation nSpector, we are automating the process of Quality Assurance. Instead of a senior modeler doing the QC manually, by using Deviation nSpector you can negate or enhance this process for an error-free output. You can process selected section only as well as only the selected elements or only the visible elements.  

Do you want your BIM models to be 100% accurate? Does your team spend a lot of time in QC for BIM modeling? 

Deviation nSpector is the one for your team! 

Tally® v2019.12.20.01

From the Autodesk App Store:

About This Version

Version 2019.12.20.01, 1/6/2020

• Compatible with Autodesk® Revit® 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020
• EC3 export capabilities
• Additional support for linked Revit models
• Improved system family support

Description

Tally® is an Autodesk® Revit® application that allows architects and engineers to quantify the environmental impact of building materials for whole building analysis as well as comparative analyses of design options. While working on a Revit model, the user can define relationships between BIM elements and construction materials from the Tally database.

The result is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on demand, and an important layer of decision-making information within the same time frame, pace, and environment that building designs are generated. Tally is easy to use and requires no special modeling practices.

Tally is available for a 10-day free trial, after which a license must be purchased to continue use. Inquiries for non-commercial licenses should be directed to support@choosetally.com .

EasyPower Integrator

From the Autodesk App Store:

EasyPower Integrator is the Autodesk® Revit® add-in that integrates with the EasyPower electrical power system software by exchanging model data, analysis data, and design data between the two programs. The add-in reads the Revit model for power equipment with all the families, types, parameters including connectivity, and circuit details, which enables EasyPower to automatically and instantly create a complete one-line (single-line) drawing with the electrical data needed for electrical analysis. The add-in allows Revit users to export data to EasyPower users. This gives them access to Building Information Modeling (BIM) data within EasyPower. The add-in also imports the results of electrical calculations such as short circuit, arc flash, electrical design, and voltage drop as parameters associated with individual equipment in the Revit model.


This product works with Revit versions 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. EasyPower version 10.3 or higher. An EasyPower Integrator license is required to exchange data with Revit. To try out or purchase EasyPower software, go to the website https://www.easypower.com/pricing-and-demo.

Spider Pro for Robot Structural Analysis

From the Autodesk App Store:

With Spider Pro you will be able to:

• Create rigid links for multiple column-slab joints with diverse options
• Create rigid links for multiple beam-wall joints
• Create multiple drop panels and connect them to the slab using rigid links
• Create rigid links along the length of the bar to connect bars to panels or to connect panels with panels
• Convert selected columns to walls
• Convert all rigid links in the model to bars with the predefined section
• Easily modify the length of the selected bars
• Convert beams to shells with numerous settings
• Easily modify load contour for selected loads
• Easily modify the contour of the panel or opening
• Select panels according to the applied vertical load value. The selection is limited to planar load and uniform planar load on a contour.
• Switch off automatic panel selection in the contour plane for selected load case
• Easily create stairs according to the selected rectangular contour. The contour shall have 4 vertices.
• Easily check the area loads and create colorful load maps  
• Easily change the start or end node for selected bars
• Align coordinates for nodes based on the selected node
• Measure distance between 2 nodes

Catching Up with ElumTools – v2020.1 (2019.7, 2018.12, and 2017.5 too)

The fine folks at Lighting Analysts have been BUSY, and we'll catch up with a number of releases in this article.

2020.1

There's not much information about this version available on the Autodesk App Store or on the Lighting Analysts website, just that it was released on April 19. 2019. Presumably, this version offers the same features as 2019.7.0.12, just recompiled for Revit 2020.

From the Lighting Analysts website:

2019.7, 2018.12, 2017.15

2019.7.0.12, 2018.12.0.9 – Released: 2019-04-19

• Fix incorrect AVF Spatial Map rotation, occurring in certain cases
• DotNetZip version 1.10.1.
• Fix units issue with Metric Exterior Luminaire Families (.rfa files).

UNIFI Core v3.2.1 & UNIFI Web Portal v2.9.0

From the UNIFI website:

Release Notes: UNIFI Core Version 3.2.1 & UNIFI Web Portal Version 2.9.0

POSTED ON MARCH 17, 2019 BY LAURA MCINTYRE

Hey UNIFI Customers,

We’re pleased to announce our latest software update was released on March 18, 2019. CORE 3.2.1 updates include content upload email notifications, improved materials and fill patterns support, and several bug fixes.  Portal 2.9.0 includes the frequently requested API access! Please read below for further details.

CORE 3.2.1 Highlights

1. Content Upload Email Notifications:

Overview:

– Library Admins will now receive email notifications when a content upload request is created

CTC BIM Project Suite 2019 v19.0.4

From the Autodesk App Store:

To purchase the full version of BIM Project Suite through Autodesk App Store, click here

This setup will install add-in tools for Autodesk® Revit® 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The BIM Project Suite is part of the CTC Express Tools family of products, and contains the following tools:

BIM List (free)

This tool is a content management solution providing the ability to browse, sort, search and leverage your families more effectively, helping to enforce company standards.

InstaSys – 4D Scheduling Inside Revit

From the Autodesk App Store:

InstaSys helps the user to review their building construction project with respect to the 4D analysis in a native Autodesk® Revit® environment. It animates the building construction procedure according to its schedule. The building schedule data is attached to the model in the form of phases. The use of InstaSys is possible in building projects where the phasing data is already attached to the 3D model.

Features -

1. The animation is possible in two modes (a) Automatic & (b) Manual
2. Phase grouping is possible, which is beneficial for large projects.
3. The user can set the timing for each phase.
4. The manual mode of animation allows the display of text labels consisting of important information like quantities, cost or contractors firm name.
5. The user can select the font, font size & color for the text.
6. The animation also displays the time schedule.

CTC BIM Project Suite 2019 v19.0.3

From the Autodesk App Store:

About This Version

Version 19.0.3, 3/1/2019

NEW TOOL:  Occupant Flow Analyzer
This tool can be used to help determine possible paths between points, their distances, routes affected by impassible objects and perform occupancy related calculations.

Fire Rating –
Enhancement: All types of detail component families are now listed as options for linework generation
Bug Fix:  Fixed an issue with validation of line-based families

Fab Sheets –
Enhancement:  Now possible to delete sequences even if there are associated increment definitions

Room Data Sheets –
Enhancement:  Added parameter: Cut Plane Offset. This parameter governs the distance between the wall (or wall chord for curved walls) and the elevation cut plane

Room Family Manager –
Bug Fix:  Fixed issue where excess families and other options were not being set

DIY Temperature and Humidity Sensors with Near Real-Time Data Displayed in Forge Viewer

From the BIM 42 blog:

DIY temperature sensor

Feb 24, 2019

I recently had to work with the BMS system of my office building and study how to retrofit it with new web-based technologies. I am by no mean even slightly knowledgeable about these systems, but this gave me a few ideas to explore.

For example, I wanted to measure temperature and humidity in my apartment to understand thermal conditions and optimise comfort in my own home.

I first looked into integrated home monitoring systems, but they are more expensive that I wish to spend on this small experiment. Furthermore, they mostly work with proprietary software solutions and offer little possibility for tinkering.

Instead, I ordered two Raspberry Pi Zero W along with two DHT22 humidity and temperature sensors to build my own Wifi enabled indoor thermometer and humidity monitor. Since I will need to use the GPIO interface of the Raspberry Pi, I ordered the H version of the Raspberry Pi Zero W, with pre-soldered headers. This allows me to connect the DHT22 to the GPIO interface of the Raspberry Pi without having to solder it on the board. Following the instructions from this post in Home Automation Community, I quickly plug the sensor into the GPIO interface of the Raspberry.

Read more on the BIM 42 blog  »

Autodesk Research Seeking Testers and Feedback on Space Analysis with Dynamo & Refinery

From the Through the Interface blog:

Interested in space analysis for Dynamo and Refinery?

By Kean Walmsley
February 21, 2019

Over the last few weeks colleagues in Autodesk Research have been building the foundations for a space analysis package that can be used for generative design workflows in Dynamo. We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in taking it for a spin.

But first, a little background…

We’ve known we’ve needed to get better performance when analysing 2D and 3D spaces since embarking on the original layout of the new MaRS office in Toronto as part of Project Discover: the approach we had worked well – as I think is clear from the results of the project – but it wasn’t in a state that could usefully be shared externally.

Kinship – "Content Management is Just the Beginning"

From the Kinship website:

Kinship

Content management is just the beginning

Everything you need to manage your content, projects and team in Revit®

Find the right content instantly in Revit

Kinship puts your best content at your fingertips. Search your library and projects right from Revit and get instant, context-driven results with beautiful thumbnails and complete family details. Find the content you need by name, category, parameters and more.

SOFiSTiK Analysis + Design

From the Autodesk App Store:

SOFiSTiK Analysis + Design enables you to perform structural analyses of buildings and member design directly in Autodesk® Revit®.

The App provides for a full Finite Element Analysis and design workflow – from model consistency checks to code checking for concrete members like slabs, columns and beams. Structural analyses can be performed in 3D – allowing for realistic simulation of the structural stiffness and optional consideration of the construction sequence. Additionally 2D and 3D subsystems can be adopted in combination with an automatic load takedown. Members can be grouped and accordingly designed in Ultimate and Serviceability Limit States. Calculation and design reports will be generated automatically. Results can be visualized and managed in Revit or be transferred to spread-sheets for further processing using the Export to Excel function.

Together with full support of collaboration features, SOFiSTiK Analysis + Design enables a seamless structural analysis workflow within Revit.

When installed with SOFiSTiK 2018, the app enhances into a Revit interface for the full SOFiSTiK FEA.

PassivLink Lite – Export to Passive House Planning Package (PHPP)

From the Autodesk App Store:

Passivlink is the Autodesk® Revit® add-in that exports data directly to PHPP, saving heaps of time and money to Passivhaus designers.

Imagine all the things you could do if you just focused your expertise on priorities such as design and careful execution.

PassivLink main benefits are:

1. SAVES TIME:

PassivLink exports data directly to PHPP.

All the information is exported exactly on the right cell, by just clicking one icon.

2. LETS YOU FOCUS ON DESIGN:

PassivLink allows you to avoid repetitive tasks, increasing your satisfaction and boosting your productivity.

Ideate Explorer v2019.1

From the Ideate Software website:

What's New in Ideate Explorer for Revit

The latest improvements to Ideate Explorer are added to our 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 versions. See below for a summary of some of the new features, or check out our YouTube What's New playlist.

Warnings Improvements

Ideate Explorer was significantly enhanced in May 2018 to include Warnings data. Learn how to Explore Revit Warnings with Ideate Explorer.

In this Fall 2018 release we have made a number of improvements to better support warnings management:

Read Warnings On-Demand

Per customer feedback, this version has a new option that forestalls the gathering of the warnings data to improve performance for large project files. When this option is selected, the warnings data is only gathered if/when the Warnings tab is active.
This new option can be accessed through the Settings dialog, as shown below.

Free Structural Analysis Toolkit – Interoperability with Robot Structural Analysis

Editor's Note: While we've posted previously about Structural Analysis Toolkit, our old posts are severely out of date so we're posting the current information here to coincide with our new coverage of Robot Structural Analysis add-ins on the Autodesk App Store.

From the Autodesk App Store:

The toolkit includes the following components:

Link with Autodesk® Robot™ Structural Analysis Professional
Use it to perform advanced analyses after transferring a Revit analytical model to Autodesk® Robot™ Structural Analysis Professional (Robot). It is a structural analysis and design software application. It enables you to perform linear and nonlinear analyses of any structure type and shape and to design steel, concrete, and timber elements of a structure.

Link Revit-Robot

ReluxCAD for Autodesk® Revit® v2018.2.3.0

From the Autodesk App Store:

About This Version

Version 2018.2.3.0, 9/26/2018

• Added 2018.2.3.0
• Phase filter for room manager and export dialog
• Added 2018.2.1.0
• Importing and exporting combinationsensors
• Display all sensor detectionranges in the configurator view
• Added 2018.2.0.0
• Interface to ReluxDesktop
• Removed all CEFSharp dependancies

Description

Lighting planning with ReluxCAD for Autodesk® Revit®

Save time through intelligent functionalities – the motto for ReluxCAD for Revit! ReluxCAD for Revit offers all electrical and lighting planners a great deal of added value. The add-on gives you direct access to products from ReluxNet® with more than 100 luminaire and sensor manufacturers. It determines the required number of luminaires for a building efficiently and simply.

Naviate HVAC & Plumbing

From the Naviate website:

Naviate HVAC & Plumbing is a solution for HVAC and Plumbing Engineers. With Naviate and Revit you can take full advantage of building information modelling (BIM). You are ensured a more efficient workflow, with a methodology and working environment that immediately feel familiar.