Posts from "Product news" category

BIM & Classification in the AEC Industry

Structuring data – classifying it – is key to unlocking the full value of BIM. It’s about clearly communicating design intent in order to more accurately budget, plan and build an asset (and then more efficiently manage it over its lifetime). Without classification, data is easily misunderstood and sometimes just not usable. Well-classified data has increasing value.

In the past, the classification of building information was both less important and more difficult. It cost a lot of time and effort but often yielded little value. That has changed. Classification is becoming ever more important. More valuable. And easier.

Projects today generate more data. And AEC increasingly relies on that data to automate processes, make better decisions and operate devices. Look at all the add-ons for Revit and other platforms, the CNC machines, robots and VR/AR devices. The Internet of Things.

Moreover, the teams that undertake building projects are becoming more complex. Architects and engineers are creating models for use by cost estimators, consultants, contractors, fabricators and so on in multiple other organizations and countries.

In each case, all the actors – people, software, equipment – need a common language, an agreed-upon data structure. It could be international standards. Or national classification systems. Or custom ones. That depends on the project. But if BIM managers don’t decide on classifications and model creators don’t implement them, everyone suffers. In fact, today many projects do suffer from mistakes and delays due to a lack of classification. Instead of a valuable “common data environment” they have a costly “chaotic data environment”.

We’re talking about effective data exchange. Harmonization. Interoperability.

So what’s the value created by classifying BIM data?

Framing CLT panels in Revit: Tutorial #1 [VIDEO]

As we recently announced, our Wood Framing CLT add-in for Revit is available for the first time ever as a free trial.

To make using the software as smooth as possible, we developed an improved workflow for designing CLT walls, roofs, and floors. And we’ll be releasing a series of tutorials to make it even easier to follow along.

Without further ado, here’s the first tutorial. Stay tuned for subsequent CLT videos!

CLT Panels in Revit: Tutorial #1

Custom marks for rebar in Revit

Reinforcement in Revit has several parameters (rebar number, type, diameter, etc.) that can be included in tags and used in documentation. But standards governing reinforcement marking are sometimes fancier than the options provided by Revit, so different add-ons are created to perform specific tasks. In this case, we’ll take a look at our Sort Mark tool, which has gotten some new options in the latest update that make making custom marks even easier.

Updates for MEP Hangers Revit add-on: Configurations window, new UI & more

For years, MEP Hangers has had an engine and interface similar to our Revit add-in for structural engineers, Smart Connections. Now, the time has come for MEP Hangers to have its own look and logic.

Check out the new features and graphical changes in the latest update of MEP Hangers. The tool that makes placing hangers and supports in Revit a breeze.

For current users

But before I cover what’s new, I want to start with a disclaimer for our current users:

The new MEP Hangers update is coming for Revit versions 2023-2020, and with the update all your configurations for hanger insertion and element splitting will be automatically converted with no backwards compatibility after being used or opened. It will be possible to access these configurations only with the latest version of MEP Hangers.

If you are using several versions of MEP Hangers and one of them is for Revit 2019 or lower, we would recommend making a copy and keeping it in a different location. Otherwise, you will need to recreate those configurations.

The same applies for company configurations saved on a server. If you’re using Revit 2020 or higher and you find your configurations not working, then someone in the office might be using the same configurations (probably located on a server) and has the latest version of MEP Hangers. To fix this, simply update the software, and it will be able to read those configurations.

Now, let’s look at what’s new.

How to start creating frames with CLT panels in Revit automatically [WORKFLOW]

As you may already know, the user interface of our Wood Framing CLT add-on for Revit was recently enhanced to make the workflow more intuitive and the UI overall easier to use.

What you may not know is that we are now making Wood Framing CLT available to trial for free!

That being the case, we want to make it as simple as possible for you to try out our CLT solution on your own. In this blog post, I’ll go through the basic steps to follow so that your use of the software is as hassle-free as possible.

Note: Since these instructions are meant to simplify testing of Wood Framing CLT, I have used our sample configurations and families throughout.

Just keep in mind that all these sample rules can be modified to your own needs and standards.

New feature for Smart Assemblies Revit add-on: Rebar images for schedules

Creating schedules in Revit is a useful way to display information from your model and prepare documentation. Flexible and suitable for multiple construction sectors, schedules can be managed using tool functions to distinguish and highlight relevant data.

From a structural perspective, when information needs to be displayed graphically, Revit users can show rebar shapes as images in a Rebar Schedule. Creating rebar schedules in native Revit that contain certain rebar images is a tedious process, though, as a typical Revit model consists of rebar elements of many types and properties.

That’s why we made a new feature to automate the process of making rebar images. The function to ‘Create Rebar Images’ is part of our Smart Assemblies Revit add-on, and it offers several, easy-to-use options for creating rebar images with just a few clicks.

How to launch AGACAD’s Revit add-ons via Dynamo

The visual programming interface of Dynamo enables designers with the tools to extract, manipulate, and move Building Information Model (BIM) data in ways that make optimized workflows accessible. Dynamo for Revit opens up an unprecedented parametric approach to projects.

With Dynamo as a visual programming tool, algorithms are connected to Revit’s parametric database, which determines conceptual design development via formulas, algorithms, and geometric functions and integration with Revit for optimization, automation, and documentation.

Revit users who design, build, operate, and maintain built environments often utilize Revit plugins to manage BIM data and enhance workflows. Now, it’s possible to engage the functionality of AGACAD’s BIM Solutions and Tools4Revit Add-ons while using Dynamo. Here’s how!

New features for Smart Browser Revit add-on: UI, Excel export/import

Quite a few updates are in store for our Smart Browser Revit add-on this year. Those updates will affect all three professional modules of Smart Browser: BIM Manager, Team Lead, and Team Member. To showcase what’s new, we’ll take the main module as an example, Smart Browser BIM Manager.

By way of reminder, BIM Manager module contains two tools: Smart Browser and BIM Tree Manager. Let’s look at what’s new with each, starting with Smart Browser.

How to renumber precast or other type walls by model line quickly in Revit [WORKFLOW]

When making drawings in Revit, it’s important to be consistent and maintain some kind of system. The same goes for modeling and numbering. Our Sort Mark add-on is valued by many Revit users because it lets you number any Revit elements you want, saving you time and headaches.

There is one thing I would like to point out, though, that users might not know about Sort Mark app. It’s possible to renumber elements sequentially by drawing model lines and using them as a reference for numbering. Previously this feature worked fine with point-based elements, and now it works with walls too.

I’ll show an example of renumbering precast concrete walls, but this workflow can be applied to wood or metal framed walls too. Step-by-step instructions are below the video.

New customizable Revit families included with MEP Hangers tool

Requirements for placing hangers on MEP systems are becoming more common, as design contracts and national regulations begin mandating a particular level of detail (LOD) for BIM projects. Since Revit doesn’t have a built-in feature to place hangers on (non-Fabrication Parts) MEP services, a third-party solution is usually needed.

Even with an app, though, creating hanger systems can still be challenging, especially when you work with large projects and face situations where a custom hanger solution is needed – either an adjustment for a current hanger, a custom hanger, or a specific multi-level structure.

AGACAD has a solution that tackles all those issues. Our MEP Hangers add-on offers rule-based hanger placement and customizability for all your MEP projects in Revit.