3D Rooms Highlighter

From the Autodesk App Store:

Description

Lists all Rooms, Areas, Spaces, Zones and System-Zones. Highlights the selected spatial elements in 3D View. Generates Masses for the selected spatial elements.

Key features:

• Highlights selected Rooms, Areas, Spaces, Zones and System-Zones in 3D.
• Highlighting doesn't generate temporary elements in the model, so it's realtime even if hundreds of rooms are selected.
• Uses uniform colors or Autodesk® Revit® color schemes (supported in 2021 only).
• Temporarily fades the model to improve highlight visibility.
• Automatically updates the displayed rooms list and the highlights when the user modifies the model (room geometry or parameters).
• Generates Mass elements for the spatial elements, copies the room name to a custom parameter of the Mass.

KMT Link — Link an Excel File to Revit and Create Thousands of Unplaced Rooms and/or Spaces in Seconds

From the Kemet Solutions website:

If you are reading this article, it possible that once you needed to create Rooms or Spaces in Revit from an Excel file, and update them again; if this is the case so please continue reading because the solution is here!

Project Space Program and BIM

Starting a new project in Revit requires several elements to be prepared in order to start modelling a correct BIM model which meets the owner’s requirements, one of these elements is the Project Space Program.

A Project Space Program contains all the requirements from the project owner, it can be simple and it can be really complicated, all depends on the project size. Specially when the owner changes their program throughout the project life-cycle phases, these updates sometimes are endless, which impacts one of the main BIM uses “Programming”.

Test Fit – Dynamic Planning Software

Recently, we posted about a Dynamo solution from Clifton Harness for rapidly creating test fit solutions for buildings (and, though we didn't post about it until late in the month, it was #2 in our latest What's Hot list). We didn't realize until today that Test Fit is available as a software service.

Test Fit – Dynamic Planning with Computational Design

Over on the EvolveLAB website, Clifton Harness has posted about a "test fit" Dynamo solution. It combines algorithms for placing firewalls, staircases, and units. The result is downright impressive:

Check out Clifton's post here.

Dynamo Program Checker QA Review

From the Architect Machines website:

Program Checker QA Review

By Ryan Cameron

Create a series of rooms from scratch. Excel template file import included with formula’s to check Pass/Fail of program area.

This script is designed to compare what’s in the Revit model rooms (areas) and fill in the blank program requirements inputted by the architect or the owner. (Based around 10% +/- allocated building program)

Read more on the Architect Machines website »

Dynamo Building Program Generator

From the the Architect Machines website:

Building Program Generator

By Ryan Cameron

This script will generate colorized placeholder families that represent volumes of spaces.

Read more on the Architect Machines website »

Product Roundup: Add-ins from Egan BIM Resources

From the Autodesk App Store:

Egan BIM Resources

Egan BIM Resources is a company dedicated to helping Revit® users be as productive as possible, reducing repetitive tasks while ensuring accuracy and consistency.

Consulting Services

• Custom Development  
• Application Development  

Egan Bubble Diagram
App for Autodesk® Revit® that draws filleted Filled Regions to correspond with Rooms or Areas in the current view | Trial | 400.00 USD

Egan Parametric Graphic Scale
This app provides a Parametric Graphic Scale for Autodesk® Revit® that automatically updates each viewport’s view title | Trial | 20.00 USD

Case Study: Dynamo for Space Planning

From the Dynamo website:

Use Case 1: Dynamo for Space Planning

Dynamo helps architects at Shepley Bulfinch plan buildings and iterate through designs by automating the flow of data.

Programming, or space planning, is an essential part of the early design process in architecture. The size, shape, purpose, and adjacency between each space play a crucial role in determining the overall form and function of a building. Traditionally, the process to organize the data and geometric consequences of building program requirements involves the time-intensive task of translating information from multiple digital formats into a Revit model. Shepley Bulfinch uses Dynamo to automate the data handling part of the process.

Egan Space Planning

From the Autodesk App Store:

App for Autodesk® Revit® that imports a text file program into re-sizable Cubes that can be arranged as desired, and then draws walls around the Cubes and places rooms.

What you can expect from the Egan Space Planning application:

Overview

The app is intended to help the user work in an intuitive and graphic way during early design. It allows for multiple rapid, lightweight iterations and reduces repetition and tedium in plan development. Help keep track of program spaces during the design process and provides constant, graphic display of program reconciliation. The app also provides a rudimentary bubble diagram at each step along the way.

See “Usage” below for expanded information on the following sections.

Import Space Program Into App

The app will import a user-defined space program in CSV format. Changes to the program can easily be made and re-imported.

Import page

Egan Bubble Diagram

From the Autodesk App Store:

App for Autodesk® Revit® that draws filleted Filled Regions to correspond with Rooms or Areas in the current view.

What you can expect from the Egan Bubble Diagram application:
Overview:

The app makes the process of Drawing Diagrams quick, easy and painless, allowing for the effortless production of multiple iterations. The app:

• Draws Filled Regions with an adjustable, user defined radius.
• Provides an in-process look, as opposed to the rigid, finalized appearance of the Revit® Color Scheme.
• Can skip over small jogs in the walls to give a smoother appearance, if desired.
• Works with all Rooms or Areas in the existing view or only selected ones.
• Draws different boundary line styles within the view.

The app is also excellent for quickly producing Bubble Diagrams of the existing layout for remodeling projects.

Draw Filled Regions For Rooms

Product Roundup – Add-ins from Xinaps (Updated)

Originally published on July 17, 2015.

Updated on January 18, 2017

• Updated branding from Vabi to Xinaps
• Added company description from the Autodesk App Store
• Added Accessibility Evaluator
• Added Fire Safety Assessor
• Removed Artificial Lighting Organizer
• Removed Thermal Comfort Optimizer

From the Autodesk App Store:

We have been developing our plugins with architects in mind since the foundation of Xinaps. Our Apps analyze and visualize data from Revit® models in order to facilitate making better-informed design decisions. International building regulations are getting stricter and BIM is becoming the industry standard in more and more countries. Staying up-to-date with these trends, we put flexibility at the heart of our software. The apps help you meet local building standards in early design stage right within Revit®. It is also time to automate some parts of your workflow. You can now do that more easily, faster and yet just as reliably as with traditional methods. With Xinaps you design better-performing buildings, one app at a time.

Founded in 2015, we are a forward thinking team that creates smart building checking tools within design software because we believe the building design process needs to be simplified and optimized. Our clients play an active role in tailoring the features of all of our products. Hand in hand, we work hard on shaping innovative architectural tools right within Revit®. Enriching design solutions for AEC professionals.

Xinaps Accessibility Evaluator
Xinaps Accessibility Evaluator™ App automates accessibility model checking of the indoor floor area your building, including spatial adjacency analysis | Trial
☆☆☆☆☆ (0 reviews)

Archetris Schema Plugin – Programming, Stacking, Blocking and Space Planning

From the Autodesk App Store...

Archetris Schema is a cloud-based app developed by architects for architects to support early stage design tasks. Schema has modules for Programming, Stacking, Blocking and Space Planning allowing designers and planners to focus on the specific task at hand with tools specific to that task. The Programming module was created specifically to support architectural programming and includes only the features you need for architectural programming. The Stacking module... you get the point. Each module works on a single set of project design data, ensuring consistency and eliminating the time and errors inherent to data re-entry. The Schema integrates with Autodesk® Revit® via a plugin available on the app store and the Archetris website.

Free Space Planning Massing from Excel Add-in for Revit

From the LMNts website...

In continuation of the progress we’ve made in space planning with Grasshopper, we’ve seen a need for something similar for Revit.  When we first adopted Revit as our production platform we tried to solve this with a simple mass family that had parameters tied to a schedule, but it still required a lot of manual input in order to get the information into Revit.  Part of this data input could be mitigated with third party plugins, but there was still some functionality that we found lacking.  Regardless of the somewhat clunky workflow, the results could be quite good.

Our next push for programming in Revit consisted of developing a plugin in-house that we could mold to our needs and workflows.  What we’ve ended up with is a plugin that consists of four commands.  Two work together to import and modify mass elements based on an Excel file, while the other two are independent mass related commands.

Whenever you’re bringing data from one platform to another, formatting of that data is always going to be important.  For this tool the most important rule for formatting is that the first six columns are always the same.  There’s an Export function in the command to create an empty file with just the headers to aid in this, though if any thing is off, be it column order, capitalization, or spelling, the command will be unable to process the information.

Beyond that, the formatting is fairly flexible.  To create a mass, it just needs a ROOM NAME and ROOM NUMBER.  If any of the other pieces of information are missing it will still generate something.  For DEPARTMENT and ROOM TYPE, the last specified value is remembered, so it doesn’t need to show up in every line.  If QUANTITY is missing, it assumes a single element, and if PROGRAM AREA is missing it sets it to zero and makes the resulting box a 10′ x 10′ cube.  You are also free to add additional information in subsequent columns that can be mapped to other parameters or ignored.

When the command runs, it will layout the resulting families by each DEPARTMENT/ROOM TYPE with a 10′ spacing between each component.

The last two commands will facilitate working with the masses after they’ve been brought in.  The Align Masses command will take a selected set of masses and array them in a line, horizontally or vertically with the ability to sort and control the spacing.

The Mass to Room command will map the information in the mass family to similar parameters in a room object, and place that room within the boundary of the mass’s footprint.

There's more information available on the LMNts website...

dRofus Adds Built-in Model Server

dRofus is an advanced, easy-to-use, software for integrated program management.

dRofus 1.5 beta

PRESS RELEASE

dRofus – now with a new and powerful, built-in IFC model server !

Our Project & Enterprise customers now have access to the latest version of the dRofus beta. This version allows them to load all their design files into a model server for instantaneous visualization and program validation. And, believe it or not - this feature is provided without any additional license cost.

This latest beta has an embedded, special edition, model server from Jotne EPM, - one of the leading providers in the world of this technology. (http://www.epmtech.jotne.com/jotne-epm-technology-as.241684.no.html)

This makes it easy to visualize and validate a project across multiple design models. For the first time, users of dRofus have access to the latest design models and validation reports between program and design without any additional file handling. This allows for the opportunity for several new and improved work flows, better quality control across models and increased interaction with the stakeholders of the projects.

Embedding a model server in dRofus also opens a large market among owners who wants to export project requirements and validate the design entirely through the use of an open data standard, IFC.

This new functionality in dRofus can change the way the industry thinks and works regarding the relationship between program and design, as all parties gets simultaneous access to the same updated data and design models throughout the project.

There's more information on this new release of dRofus here.

Credit: the HOK BIM Solutions blog.

CodeBook: "Shaping the Memory of Complex Buildings"

CodeBook provides total visibility across the entire building life-cycle.

Everyone involved in the definition, design, procurement, construction and lifetime operation of a complex building benefits with CodeBook at the heart of their operational environment.

CodeBook is a PC-based software management tool. It interfaces with the latest releases of all leading third-party design, CAD and BIM applications, including Revit® AutoCAD®, MicroStation and ArchiCAD.

Increased attention is being paid to the idea of ‘cradle to grave’ – in response to the challenges of climate change and the growing attention on whole life financial cost. In response, CodeBook manages building information from concept to demolition. It carries the origins, structure and life of the building, allowing changes and adaptations to be tracked in real time.

Crucially, CodeBook allows building owners and facility managers to inherit the complete data from design and construction teams – and to utilize it as part of their own management toolset.

CodeBook was launched in 1993, created by an architect to link textual aspects of a design to the graphics. This single information model has proved invaluable to the substantial teams involved in the construction of numerous complex, large buildings. CodeBook anticipated Building Information Modelling  (BIM) and Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) by many years, but its advantages go beyond both in its scope and value. CodeBook becomes the repository of knowledge of a building. No other application offers similar benefits.

There's more information available on the CodeBook International website.

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

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.