Applied Software Blog

Navisworks and Revit Worksets

2012-02-23T09:05:00.000-05:00

Sorting the objects in Navisworks based on Properties such as System Classification or System Type as assigned by Revit MEP is a common practice. The sorting is used in Clash resolution as well as Timeliner and for visualization. However, at times even the System sorting is too ‘comprehensive’ and since the model was organized by Worksets, why not use Worksets then as our Filter property? Be prepared to analyze your Workset data in Navisworks to determine what the appropriate value to filter will be. The Navisworks exporter from Revit converts the Workset data to Integer values. For an example, the default Workset1 “appears” to always come over as the integer <0> (zero). (NOTE: I wrote ‘appears’ because, so far, every test I have done it has set the Workset1 to the integer zero. But I don’t want to say it will do this each and every time, until such time that I am convinced it will.)

For my examples below, I have an NWC written from RMEP with the standard worksets: Shared Levels and Grids –and- Workset1. While in the Revit model, I created three more worksets: Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing and modeled the systems shown with their respective Workset active. When I exported the model to Navisworks,
I used the settings to write out all the parameters and properties information.

Once in Navisworks, I set my selection resolution to “To First Object”. I found this to be the most reliable over the setting “To Last Object”. I could get a totally different integer for “Last Object” when compared to “First Object”. See the follow pics for reference.

Selected a toilet within the Plumbing workset.
Selection resolution set "To First Object", WorksetID = 369

Same toilet selection in Workset Plumbing.
Selection resolution set "To Last Object", WorksetID = 241

Using 'Find Items' to build a SearchSet,
based on the "Last Object" WorksetID, I do not get highlighted
all the objects that I know are in the Plumbing workset

Using 'Find Items' to build the SearchSet,
based on the "First Object" WorksetID, my entire Plumbing
workset highlights as expected

Little different when it comes to the Cable Trays. Selection
based on either "First Object" or "Last Object",
same WorksetID = 368

But, the Panel acts differently. Set to "First Object",
WorksetID = 368

When the Panel selection is set to "Last Object",
WorksetID = 276

Within my Revit MEP Project, I have five worksets. But, with the export to NWC,
I now have 18 WorksetID designation. Consequently, you will need to examine the
WorksetIDs to determine which integer corresponds to the named workset from your Revit project.

A bridge too far and China.

2012-02-22T14:44:00.002-05:00

What comes to mind when you read the word China? It most likely wasn’t the thought of a Chinese construction firm becoming a direct competitor. China has long been the country where we have sent things off to be manufactured for a significantly lower cost.

Well guess what…. http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2011/06/26/california_getting_impressive_bridge_made_in_china/

If a bridge can be constructed in China, then shipped 6,500 miles to its place of operation, rest assured everything from homes to McDonald’s and everything in between can be constructed in China and shipped to the good ole USA. We in the Construction Industry need to take a hard look at what’s happening and see what we can do to drastically change our businesses.

As the economy grows and your business begins to increase you can count on increased workloads. Don’t just throw labor at the challenge; investigate alternatives to make big impacts on your business and your profitability.

Another interesting look at China coming to America to compete with you. http://www.chinaconstruction.us/

Lego Millennium Falcon

2012-02-22T13:31:00.000-05:00

Having a 12 year old son, I have a deep love for legos. This is just an amazing video.

Enjoy,
Mike Massey

Lego Millennium Falcon Stop Motion Assembly 3d from Francisco Prieto on Vimeo.

BIM vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?

2012-02-20T08:54:00.000-05:00

BIM, to most of us designers, has seemed to be a very slippery slope when dealing with the USACE. Many of our clients have had the same conversation with us (repeatedly) when trying to respond to an RFP. They are continually faced with the frustration of wanting to use Revit, but falling into the trap of still having to deliver the final product in "native Bentley format," as is written in many of those packages. Yet sometimes, just sometimes, we find one or two where Autodesk Products are acceptable, or even mandatory. But most of the time, the conversation always ends with, "Well, what do you think we should do? Is there anyone to appeal to?" No. . . And yes. Let me explain.

The USACE is NOT against BIM; so this isn't an "us vs. them" or "them vs. BIM" situation at all. The fact is that they completely understand the need for it; but need to be very clear as to where it is important, and what flavor of BIM, or CAD, is needed in certain situations. They also have standards that must be adhered to so that FM functionality can be maintained throughout their vast portfolio of buildings. The standards are really based on two primary things: the project type and the 'client.' You see, the USACE handles two major clients for which they procure the buildings and provide FM services: The Air Force (USAF) and the Army. There are also some sub-components that modify how flexible the client may be to the format of the final delivery - regardless of what the designers or the end user (tenant) may want.

There are two major rules of thumb (and a couple of sub-rules) to follow based on the above.

If it is an Army project, you can be 90% sure it will be done in Bentley.

If it is one of the Centers of Standardization (COS) building types, shown in the image below, you can be almost 100% certain it will be delivered in Bentley.
If it is not one of the COS building types there will be room for Revit or other applications. These include projects such at VA Buildings and various others.
Regardless of whether the local base managers in California (or wherever) REALLY want Revit on a project, they still must answer to the lead district that controls the COS.

If it is a USAF project, you can be 90% sure, or greater, that it will be done with an Autodesk product because that is what they have as their standard.

There is also a third rule:

3. The RFP is final. The USACE know what they want and know where they are willing to compromise. If there is "wiggle room" for Revit, it will be in the RFP. PERIOD.

There are 41 COS products divided between 8 USACE Regions. Each Region is the controller of that particular COS and each "Tenant" must answer to the Region that controls it.

That's it. Pretty straightforward and easy to understand, if you ask me. In the end, it is up to you if you want to try to use Revit and then convert the files to Bentley, or if you even want to respond to the RFP.

The USACE has always supplied a vast amount of work for the AEC world, and will continue to do so. Hopefully these rules of engagement will allow you to make better decisions in pursuing USACE work and, in the end, how to work better with them.

Pete Zyskowski

Accessing Non-accessible Parameter Data

2012-02-16T11:13:00.000-05:00

In almost all my Revit MEP classes, when building Schedules/Tags, often the desired Parameter value is sitting there staring us in the face, but we cannot access that data, such as: Elevation -and- the secondary elevation value: Offset. In my reading of other blogs out there, I ran across this article on RevitOpEd:

http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2012/02/pushing-parameters-around.html,

who in turn references:

http://www.whitefeet.com/.

The Whitefeet folks (well...'fella' I should say, Mario Guttman) has provided for PUBLIC consumption some Revit utilities (I like to call these types of addins: Revit Express Tools) that you may find very useful. Particularly the Parameter Tools that will allow you to access and then assign those outta-reach parameter values to your designated parameter. It's pretty cool and mega-thanks to Whitefeet for developing and then giving them away.

This is just a heads-up post, you can learn how to download and use the utilities from the Whitefeet website.

Just the Whitefeet cat alone would win me over to Mario's utilities

dennis

AutoCAD - the best tool for design?

2012-02-16T10:24:00.000-05:00

"I have a new project starting up and need X seats of AutoCAD"

As an Autodesk partner, we hear this almost every day. While a great start to the conversation, using AutoCAD in a manufacturing design environment today is just one small part of the equation.

Using construction as an analogy, you could certainly drive nails with a hammer, and the hammer is a proven, reliable implement; but as tool technology progressed, those builders who preferred to stay profitable (and keep their business) moved up to nail guns to maximize efficiency and improve productivity. And while there will always be use for the hammer, it isn't the primary tool anymore.

Whether you're building furniture, machinery, consumer products or doing space optimization in today's competitive market, if your tool of choice is AutoCAD, Iit's time to take a look in the Autodesk tool shop. With the rapid innovation of design technology, today's AutoCAD is the equivalent of a hammer: a well known and widely used tool. Granted, we in the reseller channel absolutely believe that our "hammer" is smoother, more contoured and will pound the (metaphorical) design nail better than other programs, but Autodesk has a nail gun too - and it's called Inventor. And just as the nail gun replaced the hammer, Inventor brings a more efficient, data driven, photo realistic process that just may trump AutoCAD as the primary tool in your company's workflow...

Design is just one part of your product lifecycle, and our team excels at helping clients move beyond 2D drafting into a more automated, data driven 3D prototyping environment.

In a world replete with 3D technology to communicate design intent, here's the challenge that I'm posing to our clients this year -

Do you really believe you can win more business with a hammer when your competitors are using a nail gun?

Revit to Navisworks – Slicing vs. Level Properties

2012-02-13T15:06:00.000-05:00

In previous posts on this blog, we have reviewed two methods that can be used to slice up a Revit model by Level designation:
1) Using the built-in “3D View For Levels” and
2) Using the “DPR Slicer”.

One reason for slicing up the model is for Navisworks, particularly the Timeliner. Timeliner provides the means to build an animation of the building process. Revit does OFTEN apply Level property information to objects as they are placed. However, too often the Level designation information is assigned as <No Level> -or- there can be no level designation –or- if an object spans multiple floors, it will get associated to just the one floor from where the object ‘started’.

The following slides show a model where Filters/Search Sets were generated based on the properties Level designations.

Highlighting Level 1 showing spanning to multiple floors

Highlighting shows those objects who are designated at Level 2

Highlights are Level 3 designated

Highlights of all SearchSets reveals a roof still to be assigned

Now take a look at how the Navisworks Layers designate the objects based on the slicing from the Revit model. Each slide below shows how the model is sliced up at the physical level designation. For clarification of the view, I did setup the floor plans that generated the 3D View Section Box to put the second floor slab within the Level 2 slice by changing the View Range accordingly. Specifically, the top of the Level 1 slice is <-6.5”> below Level 2, and the Level 2 slice includes the slab by having the offset of the base at <-6.5”>.

The highlight clearly shows a line of separation of the Level 1 slice only

Level 2 Slice

Level 3 Slice

Depending on the level of detail you wish to show in Timeliner, you still may have work to do, breaking up the model with Search Sets and Selection Sets. However, for a quick animation, the slicing method produces an easy generation of the Task List in Timeliner, by using the Auto-Add Tasks \ For Every Topmost Layer –or- For Every Topmost Item.

Now compare the two resulting animations:

Quick Timeliner Animation using Slicing

Quick Timeliner Animation using Filters/SearchSets

dennis

Plant 3D - Rolled Offsets

2012-02-09T08:45:00.000-05:00

I have had a few clients ask: "What is the best way to route a Rolled Offset?" As always, there are several methods to this, but here is the one that I feel works best.

First, start with creating or selecting a construction layer or a no-plot layer. This is just a habit of mine and good practice so that you don't get any unwanted lines showing up on your prints.

Next step is selecting the LINE command... (yes, the standard AutoCAD LINE command) and route your line from the nozzle of a tank or where ever you want to route your line from. Be sure to select the NODE of the nozzle so that some magic can happen later.

Continue the LINE command and draw your 3 sides of a rolled offset box (North/South, East/West, and Vertical Directions). In the example below, I drew my line in the North direction 5' then in the + Z direction 3' and then in the East direction 10'. The other grey lines of the box are there to help you visualize the rolled offset. I then used the line command to connet the opposite corners of the rolled offset (see red arrow)

Lastly, use the LINE TO PIPE (_PLANTCONVERTLINETOPIPE) command to change the AutoCAD lines into Pipe. Make sure you have set the size, spec and line number.

Go to the properties of one of the elbows created to see the Cutback Angle automatically assigned.

Adding stripes to walls in Revit

2012-02-06T08:47:00.000-05:00

A recent question came up on how to add stripes to walls in Revit. One option is to use the “Face Split” and “Paint” tool located in the Modify tab Geometry panel. See image below.

Select the wall you want to split, then go to the Modify Walls tab, Geometry panel and choose the Split Face tool. Reselect the wall you want to split. Then draw the line or shapes you want to split up the surface of the wall.

Once done select the green check to finish. The wall is now split apart and ready for you to apply different materials to the wall. The split tool only changes the surface not all the way thru the wall, the wall is still one entity.

Now we can use the “Paint” tool. Select the paint tool , which is located below the previous tool we used. This will open a dialog box for materials.

Choose a desired finish to “Paint” the surface. You can scroll thru the preset materials or use the search at the top of the materials dialog box.

After the materials have been appled, you can view them in a shaded view, or realistic view.

If you need to remove a painted surface yo ucan do so by selecting the Paint tool, and explanding the dropdown next to it, revealing the “Remove Paint” option. Once chosen, select the portion of the wall you would like to remove the paint from.

Revit Plywood Fill Pattern

2012-02-03T15:56:00.008-05:00

I've researched my options for representing various fill patterns in Revit previously. One has frustrated many users for years, plywood. I manually created a vertical plywood pattern (I've included the code below for your use) and have offered it to my clients. Even though I can create a custom fill pattern as a model pattern in Revit, I am limited to the linework density it can interpret. I hope Autodesk will give a little more latitude in a future release.

Until then this is my breakdown of Drafting vs. Model fill patterns to represent "plywood". I will add that this pattern is usually used for details only, at scales no smaller than 1"=1'-0". It would turn to solid black in other scales.

The reason I created a "vertical plywood" pattern file is because drafting fill patterns do not orient with the object when it is rotated other than the direction it was created in. The other downside to drafting patterns is they are the same size no matter the scale. They are meant to be representational.

Model patterns, on the other hand, will rotate to orient with the object. The other advantage is that the pattern will scale the same no matter the view scale. It can represent layers of material thickness. So it's relative size to the object remains the same and looks different from one scale to the next. The downside of this model pattern is the density Revit can import at. I found no matter how large or small I made the pattern file, I had to increase the import scale when creating the fill in Revit. It ends up being larger than I wanted.

The options break down to two, either you have patterns for different orientations for use as drafting fill patterns or you use a model pattern and live with the limitations on the size of the pattern.

Here is the .PAT file code for the Vertical Plywood pattern I created and used above. Just create a new text file using Notepad, save with a .PAT extension and then copy and paste the lines below into it. Now you have the pattern file for import into Revit.

;;

;; Created by: John R. Ade
;; Created on: 11/12/2010

;;

*plywood-vertical,Plywood

;%TYPE=DRAFTING

90, 0,0, 0,-.1, 1.0

45, 0,0, .0707106781,.0707106781, .1414213562,-.1414213562
135, 0,0, -.0707106781,.0707106781, .1414213562,-.1414213562

I hope you find this useful and will share with your colleques.

John R. Ade, AIA

Green Design Series Part 1: The Human Condition

2012-02-01T10:58:00.000-05:00

I have recently been asked to present to the USGBC in Mississippi about how BIM is/can be a catalyst for green design. My research got me thinking about green design as a whole. Then I thought that a blog series would be a good way to share my research and some thoughts on the topic. This is a way to look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of green design, BIM, technology; and some realizations about human nature as we try to become better.

I was trained in sustainable design during my college days. Things have changed since then. We have BIM, Green Building Studio, DOE Software, IES VE and a host of other applications that take the guesswork and long hours of manual analysis out of the equation. Design has changed since then as well. We have started experimenting with new forms as said technology has enabled us to do so. Whole industries have grown up around "green technology" to aid in making our buildings more efficient, smarter, and carbon neutral.

But I have questions:

Can we believe, or even understand, the analysis?
How far do we have to model to be accurate?
Are new building forms really supporting the idea of green?
Are all of these technologies truly beneficial, cost effective?
How and when?

I also feel that something may be missing: People's comprehension of green strategy and an innate understanding of themselves. I have all of these great tools and technologies at my fingertips to analyze a building's design, but do I really know, without having a solid background in green strategy, what those numbers and graphics are telling me? We are assuming that because we can model a building pretty well then we can model it appropriately to be analyzed and then make good decisions based on it. We are sometimes assuming that throwing thousands of dollars of technology on a building makes it better, greener, when a simpler, cheaper solution may have solved the problem in a more succinct manner. That's what I learned in college: Simple, low-tech, thoughtful solutions based on a basic understanding of the environment that the building was going to inhabit. We didn't have the analysis tools, and I'm glad they're here now, but let's make sure that they don't replace the process they are meant to enhance. I will discuss how great these applications are in a future post, but we'll start the discussion with something that technology can't change, but much of it has been developed to combat: Ourselves.

Let's go ahead and admit it; we are inherently flawed. We are lazy at times, forgetful at others. We are occasionally prone to the idea that we are entitled to something, and our egos will get in the way when we aren't keeping them in check. Coincidentally, these are the things that a goodly amount of our green technology is aimed at neutralizing. Now, I'm not saying that the development of LED or CFL lights is a bad thing. They absolutely use less energy while the light is being used and that is a good thing. (I have not researched whether the production process negates any of the benefits, but that isn't the point right now.) My point is that the problem is exacerbated by the fact that we don't turn them off when we are done because we are lazy or forgetful. So to combat it even further we develop fixtures that recognize when we enter and leave a room, or expensive automation systems that make 'smart homes'. We add to the construction cost of a building to counteract our own foibles. My Kroger has installed sensors in the freezers that turn on the lights when you are walking past the pizzas, tater tots, and peas. In that situation, and in many others, I think it is a brilliant use of the technology; but on a residential or office level, I see it as an unnecessary cost that could be avoided by simply paying attention. These are some examples of many where we take a valid technology and perhaps make it frivolous.

Other times, it has less to do with technology compensating for us, but our own sense of entitlement that can destroy an otherwise useful advancement. How about HVAC? And I'm talking about both sides: heating and cooling. While we develop ever more efficient processes, we have become far more entitled about our comfort than our forefathers. Even though we are more efficient, we are still using more energy. Where in the Bill of Rights, Magna Carta, or any other document about human liberties does it state that we have the express right to be perfectly comfortable at all times? It's not in there. So you may happen to like wearing turtleneck sweaters and think that you look snazzy in them, but then you probably shouldn't live in Florida and keep your AC turned down to 50 degrees year round. The same goes for heating. Many of us may like wearing shorts around the house in winter, but our overdeveloped sense of 'comfort' is impeding our children's ability to have affordable energy in the future. We humans are highly adaptable creatures that can purchase sweaters. We should do so. And we know this. We have seen billboards and commercials stating what the "optimal" summer and winter HVAC settings should be. Yet we still don't (or won't) do it.

And designers, this one is for you - or I should say, "Us." It is so very, very hard to design a striking, warpy, organic building, only to be told that it is a complete tragedy when we are looking at it through a green lens. I have been there. I have even done the analysis on my own building and realized that I have failed on that level. Years ago, I was asked to teach a BIM class to some professors at a design school. Later, the discussion moved to using BIM to help sustainable design. I offhandedly remarked that I wished them good luck because the student's buildings, while striking in their organic warpy-ness, were going to be impossible to analyze well. I also inquired as to whether the students had any training in performing or understanding the analysis. And even worse, they were probably about as non-sustainable as anything I had ever seen when it came to wasteful and expensive construction and fabrication. Now, I support the idea of design school being a place to experiment with, and learn about form and expression. (My wife always tells me that being married to a designer is like being married to an artist with a job.) That's what school is about. At some point though, if your focus is supposed to be on sustainability, you have to deal people a hard blow. Unless you can look into the production, fabrication, and means and methods of constructing an organic building and guarantee minimal waste, overage, and efficient construction of that shape, you are not being green. How many sheets of glass, sheathing, insulation are being cut in odd shapes, only to have the remaning bits be worthless and thrown away? Can it be reused or recycled? Possibly, but can you guarantee it? Is it still an additional cost that isn't necessary even if you can? I'm not saying that green has to be ugly, but I do think that we need to understand that certain aesthetics don't work with it . . . yet. And I can certainly appreciate those warpy buildings for what they are, but don't try to fool me. There better be a good reason for that shape. Otherwise, you're just gratifying yourself. Form and function are still, and always will be, linked.

To end on a positive note, we did find a way to make BIM a teaching utility for green design for the school, and consequently everyone else. If something is that difficult to model in a virtual environment, think about how hard it is going to be to build it. It can be used as a reality catalyst. Think about how much extra waste in cost, time, and material there is by using standard construction means and methods. Think about how much it would take in time and money to develop a more efficient production or construction method, and weigh that against what you are trying to accomplish. Most importantly, weigh yourself, imperfections and all, against the greater goals that we, as designers and people are seeking to accomplish. The design starts there.

pete zyskowski

AutoCAD Text Height AUTOMATICALLY!

2012-01-26T11:12:00.000-05:00

What is Annotative Scaling? Annotative scaling gives users the ability to place text one time in a drawing and have AutoCAD AUTOMATICALLY calculate text height at different scales. If you need to show a room name at 1/4" scale and 1/8" scale, there is no need for you to enter the text twice at two different text heights and on two different layers. With this one example, I reduced the time and number of AutoCAD text objects and layers by 50% using Annotative Scaling. In the image to the right, it is important to understand there are three button used for Annotative Scaling.

The first is the plot scale. This controls the size of any annotative objects like text, dimensions, blocks, and hatching.

The next button controls if you see ANY text for the current scale. This button is tricky. What it will do is show you the text that was put in at the original scale if you don’t have text at the current scale. If this button is off, you won't see any text if it doesn't exist for that scale.

Obviously, we want the text at the current scale not at the original scale. That's were the last button is used. If you toggle on this last button, AutoCAD will automatically scale text to the current scale.

If you’re still a little confused what should be on and what off, I tell people to toggle on both buttons. Place some text, change the Annotation Scale. and watch what happens!

Mark Petrucci

A Point Out Of The Cloud

2012-01-25T14:04:00.000-05:00

Point Cloud Feature Extraction for Civil 3D provides versatile tools to facilitate the processing of point
cloud data. This plug-in includes four main features specifically for Civil3D users as following:

-Point cloud classification
-Ground surface creation
-Point cloud segmentation
-Road feature extraction

Wow! It also adds two new features! Extracting plane boundary as polyline and Export point Cloud objects to PCG files.

The options are quite the same as the release of Shape Extraction for AutoCad but Remember! The big difference is the Polyline option of the Boundary. . .

Now let's creat a Surface Model, and always estimate Tile and Grid size for performance.
Another download and add-on for Civil 3D. . . What more can we Ask For? How about an Easy Button?

Kenneth L. Driscol

Point Cloud Feature Extraction for Revit

2012-01-24T15:55:00.000-05:00

Autodesk Labs has a new tool available to assist working with point clouds in Revit.

Point Cloud Feature Extraction for Autodesk^® Revit^® 2012 software is a free* technology preview that allows you to work with point cloud more easily in Revit. This plug-in automatically extracts useful geometry features from point cloud of buildings and creates basic Revit elements to aid the building modeling in Revit.

WHAT TOOLS DOES POINT CLOUD FEATURE EXTRACTION PLUG-IN FOR REVIT PROVIDE?

Point Cloud Feature Extraction for Autodesk Revit 2012 provides the following tools to facilitate the point cloud editing after it is inserted into Revit:

Crop / Uncrop: Temporarily hide the points outside a rectangle or polygon
Hide Point Cloud: Temporarily hide the whole point cloud object to facilitate the inspection of the feature extraction result
Adjust Axis: Transform the point cloud data so that floor can be aligned with XY plane and major walls are parallel to Z axis

Moreover, this plug-in includes some main features specifically for Revit so that the extracted features / geometry can be smoothly integrated into the BIM workflow:

Datum Extraction: Extract both level and orthogonal grid
Site Extraction: Extract both terrain surface for ground surface creation and building footprint on terrain surface for building pad generation
Wall Extraction: Extract both straight wall layout and arc wall
Floor Extraction: Extract floor from selected points on the floor plan level

Starbucks Now Served in a Cargo Container

2012-01-24T08:48:00.001-05:00

From the marketing front: Not so much a story about Applied, but I was really intrigued by this post on Starbucks reuse of shipping containers. Interesting from a re-use/re-cycle standpoint, but also from a design stand point as well. Click here to see the story. Enjoy!

Volumes with Cloud Optimization

2012-01-23T09:10:00.000-05:00

I just optimized and minimized the construction cost of a 5 mile road in 20 seconds!

Cloud this and cloud that . . . Just kidding, but you should check out the New Vertical Profile Optimization on the Cloud with Civil 3D! Think about this:

The geometric design of a road is a crucial part in any highway construction project. Once fixed, the design determines largely the construction costs.
An optimal vertical road profile, with respect to earthwork cost, follows the ground surface as close as possible. The closer the road is to the ground profile, the fewer earthwork needs to be done in order to cut or fill sections of the road. However, due to design constraints like slope, grade changes, vertical curve length, etc., it is not always possible to follow the ground surface. Finding the road profile that minimizes the construction costs subject to design constraints is a process that we call profile design optimization. Traditionally, the design of road profiles is done manually by engineers using a
mass-diagram. In this approach, the vertical profile is evaluated with an integration of the earthwork volumes between the road profile and the ground surface.
The integral can be plotted by hand or with the help of software. After visual inspection of the mass diagram, the engineer changes the profile and re-computes the volumes. This process is repeated until a satisfying solution is found.

There are several disadvantages using the mass-diagram approach:

The mass diagram does not provide a real cost for a given design.
The mass diagram considers uni-directional earthwork only. It does not account for earthwork that could start on either end of the road.
The mass diagram does not account for different costs, such as excavation, embankment, load, borrow, and waste.
The mass diagram cannot combine multiple surface layers in combination with cut and fills.
The mass-diagram approach is a manual approach that is not able to incorporate design constraints automatically.
Due to timely and budgetary constraints, a final alignment is often chosen from a small selection of possible solutions.

In the cloud-based vertical profile optimization, they address all the above shortcomings of the mass diagram with a new Cloud-based algorithm. To access this service, the user needs to use the Profile Optimization Wizard, which comes as a Civil 3D extension. Lets take a look.....

First we need to provide at least one EG centerline......

Next, we launch the optimization wizard from the AutoCAD Toolbox. Select Autodesk Labs Technology Previews  Profile Optimization for AutoCAD  Profile Optimization

The design speed will be taken in the unit of the Civil 3D drawing (mph or km/h). Design speeds will be rounded on the server side to multiples of 5 when mph, or multiple of 10 when km/h. The server side optimization uses AASHTO 2001 design guidelines for the given design speed. Some of the design constraints can be overridden.

The optimal solution is computed with respect to earthwork and hauling costs. The cost value is given in dollars and is visible in the PDF report. The solution precision is a dollar value that is related to that cost. For example, if the solution precision is set to 0.5 (5¢), the algorithm continues to look for a better profile configuration until the cost for a number of adjustments to the best profile does not change the cost by more than 5¢.

Holy Snap.....Results!

Yes I said Holy Snap.....Results!

Kenneth L. Driscol

Where do you go for Autodesk related news and support?

2012-01-23T09:09:00.000-05:00

I continue to be amazed at the speed and quality of information that is out there in relation to Autodesk. Whether it's a new release from Autodesk Labs, a YouTube video on using Inventor's Frame Generator, or a podcasted Autodesk University class (complete with downloadable PDF syllabi), you can learn so much, yet feel so overwhelmed.

Lately, Twitter has proven to be the most accessible (and controllable) stream of data I've found for tracking new technology and trends within the Autodesk family. You pick and choose who you subscribe to, and as a hybrid Autodesk Manufacturing and Plant news junkie, here are a few Tweeters I'd recommend following -

Autodesk Labs Scott (@scottsh115 ) - Scott Sheppard is the Program Manager for Autodesk Labs, and when new technology is hatched in the lab, he's the first to announce it.

Autodesk Inventor (@InventorTips) - chock full of tips, tricks and news related to Inventor.

AutoCAD Exchange (@ACADExchange) - features an "AutoCAD Expert of The Week" and requests questions for them to answer. There's also an AutoCADPlantExchange (@PlantExchange) twitter page with Plant related news too.

And of course, if you follow me (@TFiteASTI), you can get a smattering of (what I see) as the "greatest hits" from each of these and many more in the tweetsphere.

If you prefer interactive blogs hosted or moderated by Autodesk experts, take a look at all of the Autodesk Blogs that are available (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=4805213&siteID=123112) - this is a great point of entry into the Autodesk blogosphere. I've often found content there that has proven useful for answering tech support questions for my clients.

And when comes down to digging in to the software for "how do I do ____" questions, or confirming functionality within Autodesk products, try the Autodesk Wiki site, located at http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/enu.

HOLD Up! Do We All Need To BIM?

2012-01-20T11:35:00.001-05:00

How can civil engineers more easily predict the outcome of their projects before they are built? How do you create coordinated, reliable design information, while being able to respond to changes faster? How do you optimize designs with analysis, simulation, visualization, and deliver higher quality construction documentation? Starting with surveying and all the way through to supporting construction processes. . .

Look into this article that I created. . .

http://www.asti.com/Resource Library/Articles/Time_to_BIM_7-1.pdf

Kenneth L. Driscol

EXPLETIVE!! Can’t open AUTOCAD! Getting license error!

2012-01-19T16:50:00.004-05:00

Occasionally that will be screamed throughout an office due to the end user getting an error when trying to open their Autodesk program. It can be extremely frustrating trying to figure out what could be the problem. Below is a list of the most common error messages and possible fixes for them.

(-00.00.00) – This is a popular one with the new 2012 software. There are typically 2 reasons this is occurring. Fist, a firewall is blocking access to the clients hitting the server. There are some ports that need to be opened, 27000-27009 and 2080. Another possible solution has to do with IPv6 being used on the server, either disable IPv6 if your office is not using it, or download and install the Autodesk Network License Manager IPv6.

(-4.xx.xxx) – This one simply means that the office has run out of licenses and the end user will either have to wait for a license to open up or someone will have to get kicked out of the software.

(-5.xx.xx) – This happens quite a bit when an office installed a software package with the incorrect product key, typically happens with the basic AutodCAD verticals. Solution is to uninstall/reinstall with the correct product key. The error message means that the feature cannot be found, or the product can’t be found in your license file.

(-14.xx.xxx) – This indicates that a problem occurred with the product finding the HOST NAME of the server, typically there is a possible problem with DNS on the network. If this was working and then stopped working, there might be a corrupt cascadeinfo file. See below on how to fix that.

(-15.xx.xxx) – This means that the server might be down. Verify that the services adskflex.exe and lmgrd.exe are running on the server. If they are not, open Autodesk Network License Manager (LMTools) and click on the start/stop/reread tab and then click on start server. To make sure they stay started, even after a restart of the server, click on config services tab and make sure start server at power up and use services are both checked, and then click on save service. This error can also be caused by the cascadeinfo file being corrupted. See below for fix.

(-18.xx.xxx) – License server does not support this feature. Typically this occurs when an office upgrades their license file to the latest version, but did not upgrade Autodesk Network License Manager. Install the latest version of ADLM.

There are many more error codes than those listed, check out http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Installation-Licensing/FlexLM-Error-Code-Chart/m-p/1438943 for a complete list.

Corrupted cascadeinfo.cas file needs to be deleted. It can be found in the following locations:
Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\Adlm
Windows Vista and Windows 7:
C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Adlm

Autodesk apps – business and pleasure?

2012-01-19T09:43:00.000-05:00

Autodesk has introduced several new apps over the past months, and will likely continue to do so. This blog has shared and explained those apps with you like Design Review and ForceEffect.

Here is a quick breakdown in no particular order, of the other Autodesk ipad, iphone and android apps, some of them for business and others for pleasure…

Pixlr-o-matic – A fun tool for editing pictures, adding effects, flares, tints, and that vintage look.
Fluid FX – Special effect for your pictures. Pinch, pull, and distort
Inventor Publisher Mobile – Interact with 3d assemblies from Inventor
AutoCAD WS – DWGs on the go. Open, revise, measure, and notate. You dont have to be an AutoCAD expert to pick up on this little app.
SketchBook Express – Access project documents and designs securely from anywhere. View DWF files – 2d and 3d. Upload photos and files to the Buzzsaw cloud. Sketch a design onsite, upload it to the cloud to share and collaborate with others.

123dSculpt - Digital clay model sculpting. Create unique designs by shaping and molding objects in the computer.

Learn more about these apps, and others on the Autodesks app website: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=16953811

Just AutoCAD can do BOM

2012-01-16T11:20:00.000-05:00

While at a client meeting last week, my client asked if AutoCAD can create a Bill of Materials. As soon as I heard the question, my first reaction was to write a blog. While he knew it could, he had not done it before. I answered his question but that wasn't my first reaction! I explained to create a BOM, you will need blocks with attributes. Long time AutoCAD users are now thinking of the old ATTEXT command. If you are, stop it. We always had the ability to create a BOM with ATTEXT but there's a better way. Using AutoCAD 2012 and its TABLE command, you can generate a quick and easy BOM. However, don't forget you will need blocks with attributes. After all, what is a BOM? It's a list of parts (blocks) and data (attributes) associated with the parts.

Below is an AutoCAD control wiring diagram with many blocks and attributes. The image on the left is an enlarged view of the BOM I generated in seconds, not minutes. It took longer to write this short blog than it took to create the BOM! Can AutoCAD create a BOM? I have two responses, yes, and it's easy.

Mark Petrucci

Design Review Mobile App

2012-01-16T09:59:00.000-05:00

There was a time when I can remember preparing for a meeting or even going to the plant to discuss design and engineering issues with multiple detailed drawings in my hands and needing someone to aid me in opening doors. However, with today's technology, the burden of lugging around loads of documentation is becoming a thing of the past. With more and more people starting to make the move to mobile devices and discovering the vast world of apps available, I would like to point out one specifically which allows you to view, markup, and annotate 2D and 3D DWF files from your Autodesk Cloud account. It is the Design Review mobile app by Autodesk, Inc. and it is available for the following devices: iPhone 3GS or higher, iPad 1 or 2, iPod Touch 3rd generation or higher, with a minimum operating system of the Apple iOS 3.2.

Links for Referenced Material:

iTunes Store Design Review Mobile App

Autodesk Cloud

Design Review Mobile Support

Design Review Mobile App System Requirements

-Jason Miles

Show off Showcase

2012-01-12T11:34:00.002-05:00

What is this thing we call Autodesk Showcase? It's a real-time 3D presentation program and a rendering program. It does not replace 3DS MAX. While you can create some pretty amazing videos with 3DS MAX, you can get pretty close with Showcase. The advantage of Showcase is the learning curve. 3DS MAX is geared more for the entertainment industry while Showcase is more suited for AEC. See my video below. All objects were created in AutoCAD. Materials and animations were done in Showcase. No other software was used. There is a lot more we can do with Showcase. Please let me know if you'd like to see more Showcase videos.
Mark Petrucci

Breaking up isn’t hard to do: Revit MEP

2012-01-10T09:43:00.001-05:00

In the past I have had to help several clients clean-up, break-up, and troubleshoot Revit models. With my focus being on RMEP, this entry will be from that point of view.

Breakup by Discipline

The process to break up a Revit model is about the opposite as to what we would do in AutoCAD. AutoCAD has a WBLOCK command; Revit does not.

So, take any RMEP model, we will call it ABC_RMEP.RVT, that contains all disciplines. Open the model, SaveAS, for example: ABC_PLUMBING. Now the fun begins. I will make a 3D view and then using the Visibility Graphics, I will turn off all the objects related to Plumbing.

You may ask now, what about pipe? Depends, do you want to have only the Plumbing Pipe in the Plumbing model? If so, then use a FILTER that will sort out the Plumbing Pipe, leaving the Mechanical/Hydronic Pipe “on” for selection/deletion.

Once the other disciplines have been deleted, issue the PURGE command and selectively remove anything that isn’t Plumbing in nature. Save the file again. Lather, rinse, repeat for the remaining disciplines.Once all the discipline specific files have been created, return to each model file and link in the other discipline files, if needed.

This scenario lends itself to maintaining the SHEET views in each discipline’s specific model file. Alternatively, a Centralized model could be maintained that links in all the disciplines and is used specifically for SHEET views, which then would have all the SHEETs in a single file.

Breakup Troubleshooting

In the past I have had to break-up a Revit model to determine where a problem is that is affecting the overall performance of the model. Performance issues that I have run into in the past: 1) Pick a point to place a pipe, wait…wait…wait… After too much time passing, the point finally registers; 2) Zooms and Pans anomalies, for example, the view just plain won’t do it; 3) printing oddities; 4) and I am sure there are others.

In this case, I will use a plumbing example. Similar in steps to the “Breakup by Discipline”, isolate out the Plumbing model. Once saved, run Purge to clean out anything NOT plumbing and save again. Next check the performance problem. If the problem persists, create a 3D view for troubleshooting purposes. Make sure everything is on, no filters overrides, etc. Then, what I do, is first: DELETE EVERYTHING. Wow, sounds radical, but this lets me do a performance test to see if it is anything is in the model causing the problem. After deleting everything, if performance goes back up, then that tells me the problem is related to the model itself and not some other issue. Next, I will reopen the troubleshooting model, create a 3D view, and then go to a TOP view via the ViewCube. Now the fun again, follow a process of deleting a little and test performance, delete a little and test performance. Eventually, if all goes according to plan, you will delete a little and the performance problem will go away. REMEMBER the area you deleted, close without saving the file, reopen the full file again, and delete just the little bit that resolved the problem and test performance.

I have had situations where I had to delete two little areas, so this troubleshooting process can be a challenge sometimes.

ADDENDUM: Jan 12
Thumbs up to Steve Stafford: http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2012/01/revit-has-wblock-feature-too.html
Steve makes a valid comparison about SaveAsGroup being similar to WBLOCK from AutoCAD. The catch for me is the results of the group save. My experiments left me with alot more work to do with the group versus the delete/saveas process. My testing was with a plumbing model that was systemized with a single Cold, single Hot, and single Sanitary system. and all were well connected. The result however, put every pipe, fitting and fixture onto it's own system. I lost all my template settings except those directly related to the objects in the group (no filters, no view templates, etc). So, I thought to link, bind, ungroup into a template and I discovered it made an even bigger mess of my pipe systems, connections were lost, but alignment was perfect. I agree 100% with Steve's comment, "Regardless the hard part isn't Save as...it's carefully filtering/selecting everything." Steve also says, "SaveAsGroup could/would/should work", and again I agree 100% that it 'should', but like many features in Revit, maybe it does nicely for Revit Architecture, but in this instance it doesn't work too well for RMEP. And again, thank you Steve for referencing us. It's these types of conversations that make writing this stuff worthwhile.

dennis

3D Design and 3D Printing - The Future is Now

2012-01-07T10:11:00.063-05:00

For years Autodesk has used catch phrases like "Digital Prototyping" and "Experience Your Ideas Before They're Real" to convey the concept that earlier validation and sign-off on designs can reduce errors, increase throughput, and shorten development cycles.

Early adopters of this concept realized that expressing a design through a 3D model provided the opportunity for differentiation in competitive markets from those who merely provided a pretty picture, or 2D drawings replete with layers of uninterpretable linework. The BIG benefits for companies using 3D (after winning a project) could also include higher margins on projects, shorter time to market, and a reduction in the "gotchas" of unforeseen interferences/clashes within assemblies and field failures later.

So when going about the process of creating new, previously unproven designs, seeing it in 3D is nice, but to the consumer, machinist or builder, the 3D proof is in the printed pudding. The big hurdles in generating a conceptual model have always been the tying up of expensive machinery, manpower and material costs, when in reality, the end user may simply need to get the idea of how a product would look and feel.

As with most developing technologies, cost has been the driving force preventing widespread adoption. While SLA (Stereolithography) 3D printing has been around for over 25 years, it has traditionally been so expensive that companies would outsource 3D parts and generate scaled physical models only when requested by a customer or if necessary to win work. However, 3D printing has finally reached a point where quality and affordability have converged - we're now in the age of desktop 3D printing....

A desktop unit such as the 3DTouch from 3D Systems (link below), uses thermoplastics to heat the material through the extruder (or print head). The extruder then pushes out a very fine plastic thread which is applied layer by layer according to x and y coordinates, building a solid, 3D object, right before your eyes. And with the low cost of these systems, when coupled with 3D modeling software (like Inventor or Solidworks), the point of entry into conceiving, designing, testing and digitally/physically prototyping a design is now achievable for under $10,000.

Still think 3D printing isn't ready for prime time? A recent article on CNET.com (link below) suggests that 2012 could be the year that a "company like FedEx Kinko's will start offering 3D printing as a consumer-level service."

Imagine that - coming up with a design, uploading it to the Kinko's website, then picking up the part a few hours later. It seems that the harmonic convergence of mainstream 3D Design and 3D Printing has now been achieved.

Links:

CNET article - http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-57345836-52/culture-five-predictions-for-2012/

3D Systems printers - http://www.asti.com/Products/Item.asp?Mkt=Com&ProductID=3D_systems&SolutionID=All