ARCHIBUS Smart Client Extension for Revit: Web-based Integration of Facilities Data with BIM Models

Integrate facilities and infrastructure data with BIM models over the Web for comprehensive building lifecycle management and reporting

Benefits

• Provides an intuitive, graphical bi-directional link to Revit using Web Services, enabling an easy, incremental approach in transitioning to BIM technology
• Supports all facility management elements in BIM models
• Puts BIM data to work immediately for building operations-related processes
• Connects seamlessly to ARCHIBUS applications for increased productivity and data accuracy

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has enabled a richly detailed and collaborative approach to the way buildings are designed and constructed. What it lacks, however, is a way to easily scale to the portfolio-level and connect with business data. ARCHIBUS Smart Client Extension for Revit addresses that need with a true BIM 4.0 application designed from a facility manager’s perspective. It provides quick access to Revit graphics and COBie information using Web Services to connect Revit models to ARCHIBUS enterprise data. This gives users a 4-dimensional view of an organization and its processes. In addition, the Smart Client Extension implements rules and workflows that coordinate the bi-directional data exchange and updates the BIM model itself, to keep everything in-synch.

There's more information available on the ARCHIBUS website.

ARCHIBUS Overlay for Revit: BIM Capabilities That Improve Building Lifecycle Management

Link drawings to facilities and infrastructure data bi-directionally, synchronizing updates to each environment for improved accuracy and productivity.

Benefits

• Expands capabilities into Building Information Modeling (BIM) to improve lifecycle management
• Increases accuracy of information through visualization and simultaneous updates to Autodesk applications and the ARCHIBUS database environment
• Improves productivity by expediting the creation of working drawings with a suite of ARCHIBUS architectural drawing and design tools

The task of separately managing drawings and alphanumeric data is often an inefficient duplication of effort. Ensuring a facility or infrastructure drawing also contains information on associated assets and people is critical, particularly with the inevitable updates and changes that can occur on a daily basis. The ARCHIBUS Overlay with Design Management for AutoCAD® & Revit® seamlessly integrates drawings and alphanumeric data with Autodesk's AutoCAD®, AutoCAD® Architecture, and Revit® Architecture environments. The result is a single, unified information environment for managing facilities and infrastructure that improves productivity and data accuracy, while leveraging your existing investment in Autodesk tools.

There's more information available on the ARCHIBUS website.

Keynote Browser from Kiwi Codes

"Kiwi Codes Keynote Browser enables users to easily add, edit and delete Keynotes. It also allows users to compare the Keynote file against all Elements in any Revit project, checking for assigned, non assigned, and broken Keynote links (where broken Keynote links are elements with a Keynote number assigned that no longer exists in the Keynote file)."

There's more information available on the Kiwi Codes website.

Sheet Counter from Kiwi Codes

"Sheet Counter is a simple automatic sheet counter for Revit 2013 which counts how many sheets are in the project and numbers the sheets ie sheet 23 of 97.

"You can remove, exclude or add sheets and Sheet Counter will automatically renumber the sheets for you."

There's more information available on the Kiwi Codes website.

Element Renumber from Kiwi Codes

"Easily renumber any Revit element that has a “mark” value, including doors, windows walls etc.  Also renumber Viewports and Grids.  Add Prefix and suffix to mark values.

"Remove all duplicate “mark” values in a selected category in one easy step using Category Renumber."

There's more information on the Kiwi Codes website.

Free Column Splitter from StrucSoft Solutions (Updated)

From the Autodesk App Store...

Splits one or multiple structural or architectural columns by point(s), level(s), or reference plane(s) with specified gap offsets.

Select how to split the column

Click 'Settings' to change gap offsets

Upper textbox will leave a gap offset to the top column.
The lower textbox will leave a gap offset to the bottom column.

About This Version
Version 2016.1.2, 6/3/2016
Added Autodesk® Revit® 2017 support.

The free Column Splitter add-in is brought to you by StrucSoft Solutions Ltd.

There's more information available on the Autodesk App Store.

Updated 10/22/2016 with the latest available information.

Further Reading

Roundup – Add-ins from StrucSoft Solutions, Including Some Free

Free Family Categorizer from Kiwi Codes

"This tool takes all the families located in the specified folder and sub folders and organizes them into Category named folders in the target directory."

This free add-in may be downloaded from the Kiwi Codes website.

Innovaya Composer for Revit

Innovaya Composer for Revit is an add-on program for Autodesk Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, and Revit MEP . It imports the Revit design element information into Innovaya project model and exports the model into an .INV file, which can be read by all Innovaya applications, including Innovaya Visual BIM, Innovaya Visual Quantity Takeoff, Innovaya Visual Estimating, Innovaya Design Estimating, and Innovaya Visual 4D Simulation.

There's more information on the Innovaya website (although the page link only indicates support up to Revit 2011, Innovaya's homepage has a blurb about Revit 2013 support).

AEC-APPS - Community Driven Apps

"Hold on to your hats! AEC-APPS, the brainchild of CASE and SOM, will launch a private beta in the next few weeks. AEC-APPS is a community-driven collection of apps specifically for the design, construction and maintenance of buildings. If you, like us, are overwhelmed by the constant flux of new software and plug-ins for the AEC industry but want to keep updated on tools important to you and pick up a few new ones, AEC-APPS will allow you to do just that!"

For more information, see the AEC-APPS website.

CloudRender

CloudRender™ enables faster rendering by utilizing cloud computing allowing you to continue working in Revit.

• Render and work in Revit, simultaneously
• Utilize high performance computers on the cloud
• Show complete top quality renders
• Keep client appointments
• Upfront pricing

CloudRender can be downloaded from the Limitless Computing website.

Tekla Interoperability Downloads

Reliably exchange data between Revit and Tekla Structures with the free Import from Tekla and Export to Tekla add-ins. These free add-ins may be downloaded from the Tekla website.

ReVVed - Free Add-ins from PKH Lineworks

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.

The free ReVVed add-ins can be downloaded from the PKH Lineworks website.

Credit: Luke Johnson's What Revit Wants blog. 

Free Super Shared Parameter Loader from Case (Updated)

"The stock parameter loader is a huge pain for many users and offers very little power when dealing with large sets of parameters. This tool allows you to load multiple parameters at once. You can also visualize the parameters in their group associations as well as their data types. The CASE subscription version for this tool supports filtering as well as adding new parameters to the file from either parameters that exist in the current model or from user entry. Family parameters are only support by the subscription version.

"Installation is handled from within the CASE Add-In Manager!"

This free add-in may 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.

100,000 Pageviews and Counting...

The Revit Add-ons blog surpassed 100,000 pageviews all time in October. Thanks to all of you who have contacted me over the months to let me know that you have found this blog to be a good resource; it makes the work worthwhile, and it's rewarding to see that the monthly pageview count continues to grow.

ARCxl Details and Planroom

"The ARCxl Details and Planroom is a large non-proprietary library of pre-configured construction details and detail components.  ARCxl also offers a planroom for security protected document management, distribution, tracking, and bidding.

"The library is provided to improve the efficiency of its users by offering details and components that may require very little or no time to modify for specific project use.  It is a general purpose library that covers those detail types most frequently used in the detailing phase of construction documentation.  It is impossible to provide the infinite number of possible construction details that might be used in architectural projects, but a user may create a near infinite number of different details by combining details and components from the library.

"The component library is organized by division and section numbers.  When logged in you may download components to your download folder or bar and simply drag and drop them from there into a view.  

"Details may be added to projects using one of three methods.  Cut and paste from an open detail file, use the “Insert Views from File,” or “Insert 2D Elements from File” commands.

"Ordinary search terms are so general they require trial and error yet still only narrow the number of detail choices to hundreds or thousands.  We have provided very specific pull-down menus to efficiently narrow a search.  Details and components may be seen in a preview image with written description.

"The ARCxl planroom is provided for the easy upload, distribution, and management of construction drawings, specifications, addenda, and planholder lists.   The ARCxl planroom is secure and includes the ability to host public and private jobs.  It has a job calendar, thumbnail sheet previews, and full sheet image viewing with pan and zoom supported by all major browsers.  Architects and engineers posting projects may use the service at no charge.   Bidders may purchase and download orders by the sheet or by the set as determined by the design professional responsible for bidding procedures.  Bidders may print, forward for printing, or work directly from digital files.

"Note:  The app is provided free of charge and is non-expiring.  Users may download one detail and up to 10 component families from the library in a 24 hour period.  To increase your access to the library low cost annual subscriptions are available.  There may be costs associated with customized Planrooms as described on the ARCxl Planroom pages and by our support team.  Use of the Planrooms is currently only available to users located within the United States."

This free add-in may be downloaded from the Autodesk Exchange | Apps website.