CASE Expands to the UK

David hinted on a change leaving HOK...
CASE Expands to the UK and Strengthens Role as BIM Educator
David Light will be Director of Implementation and head of a new London-based presence for the firm. Mark Green, who joined the firm in 2009, has taken on the new role of Director of Learning. The launch of the UK office and the firm’s recent appointments signify CASE’s commitment to leading technology innovation through education of the AEC industry.
“With the UK government’s recent BIM requirements on all publicly procured projects, the industry needs as much help as possible to achieve these goals. CASE’s presence in the UK will push these efforts forward.”

AEC (UK) BIM Protocols v2.0 now available

AEC (UK) has produced a good and well written set of standards covering BIM and Revit as well as other Softwares Protocols. Certainly there would be a need to adjust these Documents to other countries or adjust to the local procedures of the industry. But they are a great guide how a good set of documents should look like. 
http://aecuk.wordpress.com/

Navistools - Navisworks SQL database Link

Another interesting development in the spirit of BIM Link, Onetools, FM, Codebook
There are more and more Database plugins available.
BIM seems to move away from the One Database approach to specialised Database Integration, in my view, a commendable development.
Below what the developer has to say
Navistools

Navistools provides a visual portal to Navisworks allowing you to easily link
Navistools provides a visual portal to Navisworks allowing you to easily link, access and manage complete project data and documentation from a Navisworks model which can then be handed over or shared between project stakeholders throughout the design, construction, management and lifecycle phases.age complete project data and documentation from a Navisworks model which can then be handed over or shared between project stakeholders throughout the design, construction, management and lifecycle phases.avistools provides a visual portal to Navisworks allowing you to easily link, access and manage complete project data and documentation from a Navisworks model which can then be handed over or shared between project stakeholders throughout the design, construction, management and lifecycle phases.

ISO/TS 12911:2012 “Framework for building information modelling (BIM) guidance”

BIM Execution plans?

ISO/TS 12911:2012 “Framework for building information modelling (BIM) guidance” is now published and available for use.

Abstract 
ISO/TS 12911:2012 establishes a framework for providing specifications for the commissioning of building information modelling (BIM).
It is applicable to any range of modelling of buildings and building-related facilities, from a portfolio of assets at a single site or multiple sites, to assets at a single small building and at any constituent system, subsystem, component or element. It is applicable to any asset type, including most infrastructure and public works, equipment and material. BIM processes are applicable across the entire life cycle of a portfolio, facility or component, which can span inception to end-of-use. The main user of the framework is the information manager, who utilizes the framework to assist in structuring an international-, national-project- or facility-level BIM guidance document. The framework can also be used for BIM guidance provided by application providers.

Comments from the makers.
This standard was initiated in 2008 within ISO TC 59 SC 13 WG 09. We felt that it represented a missing link : a systematic way for executives, managers and users to share and re-use specific outcomes: it structures the strategic decision on a desired outcome, the managerial consequences, and the required ‘operator’ inputs. The Standard puts stress on the ability to merge such Guidance documents together (to define the BIM execution plan for a project, for example) and to express the requirements in a (potentially automated) testable format .

http://infostore.saiglobal.com

http://www.iso.org

Automated Feature Extraction of pipes now available for Revit

It promises substantial workflow savings of up to 85% 
ClearEdge3D announced the release of its latest product, EdgeWise MEP™ for Autodesk® Revit®. For the first time, users can bring extracted pipes, conduit and other cylindrical mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) elements directly into Revit. ClearEdge3D’s new MEP solution leverages the powerful feature extraction technology of EdgeWise to automatically extract pipe solids from laser scan point clouds.

 http://www.clearedge3d.com/

Autodesk Announces Autodesk Revit LT

Project Spark has been a technology preview at the Labs and has now become Autodesk Revit LT 2013.
It is a simplified 3D building information modeling solution.
The Pricing look reasonable for smaller Practitioners to jump on the wagon.
Read more here.
  news/autodesk-announces-autodesk-revit-lt
  revit-lt-is-announced

Liftdesigner BIM Exchange for Revit

Some Companies just get it
Digipara with their Elevator Architect and now with the export capability of detailed Elevator Model into Revit with native Revit Families....hats off

The new module BIM Exchange for Autodesk Revit enables elevator manufacturers to export and send complete 3D elevator BIM models, which show all elevator components, to architects and builders, who are working with Autodesk Revit software. Due to the new export format, architects can display elevators more precisely as well as perform interference checks between the elevator and the building.


Liftdesigner

Newforma Licenses M-SIX VEO(TM) Platform

This is very good news

I always liked the practical and industries focused approach of Newforma
And VEO is by far the most exiting technology in this field

For me a match made in heaven

Newforma Licenses M-SIX VEO(TM) Platform to Further Integrate PIM With BIM
Integrating Newforma Project Information Management Software With VEO Cloud-Based Model Collaboration Software Further Streamlines AEC/O Project Delivery

marketwatch.com/newforma-licenses-m-six-veotm-

Revit 2013 free Tutorial Videos

I came across a series of Training Videos which I think are really good.

Despite them being in Imperial they can still be useful in the metric world

The Instructor is Jay Polding and I really like the Style of teaching.

Have a look for yourself there are a few free videos for download and the whole course is a reasonable 100$

Revit Architecture 2013 Tutorial Video - Training DVD. Taught by Experts

3D PDF Converter for Revit

3D PDF Converter for Revit is an interesting new application with a flurry of new sharing and collaborating solution going on to the market it will be interesting to watch who will be the main players. Personally I struggle to see the need to spent 99$ when I can share a 3D dwf for free.

 
3d-pdf-converter-revit

New Free Families from the UK

The NBS has released new Revit Content on the National BIM Library 

NationalbimlibraryObject-Types 

Also check out bimstore after a slow start they have some nice new Manufacture’s content

http://www.bimstore.co.uk/index.php 

Revit Architecture 2013 Update Release 1

Finally..and the list is long with Stability Improvements 

Update Enhancement List
 
Revit Architecture 2013 Update Release 1

Use and Abuse of Curtain Walls

Last Year I did a presentation at the RTC Australia and WARUG Perth about the Use and Abuse of Curtain walls.

I have a very affectionate relationship with curtain walls and consider them as one of the best designed features of Revit. One thing however I regret is that we don’t have this tool available as an generic component. It is in principle an ordering instrument and could be used in so many architectural situations. So in the meantime I use and abuse curtain walls for what I want them to be and need them to be.

Several people have asked to share the Tutorial Files so here they are.

Download from here

I share with SugarSync and can only recommend it in my opinion it beats others... if you sign up you get 5 gig free ….and I get an 500 meg bonus 

Cheers

Disallow wall joins on multiple walls at once

This has been a looooongstanding wish of mine as I/we use a lot of Curtain walls and in my opinion 99%of them should always have the wall joins disabled. The same applies for modelling by Trade or for accurate Materiel Take-off Modelling
Now this add-in thanks to krispy makes it so easy... an absolute must in my tool set.
http://krispcad.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/disallow-wall-joins.html

More Free Revit Families

Advanced Cabinet Systems has released a Revit Families version of their Casework Catalog available for download on their website.
Revit-casework-catalog Link

Free Online Photo Editor

For those who don't have the cash for Photshop this is worthwhile a try
It is being developed as part of Autodesk Research in the area of visualization. When you go to the http://www.pixlr.com home page, you see:

New Free Plugin Chamfer Fillet for Revit

I know a handful of people who will be very happy about this on
Chamfer Fillet for Revit
This plug-in can be used to create a chamfer or a fillet between two walls. The command allows you to select two walls and to specify distances along each wall from the intersection of two walls to create a chamfer and a radius for the fillet. The command then calculates the intersection, inserts the third wall representing a chamfer or a fillet, and adjusts the end points of the given walls.
plugin of the month

My RTC 2012 Presentation Downloads

As promised here are the links to my

Presentations Handouts & Datasets from the RTC 2012

Adaptive Families for Everyday use
Project setup for impossible deadlines

3 Days to RTC 2012

3 Days to go to the RTC 2012
....and as always finished just in time 
Hope to see you there...and maybe in one of my presentation.
If you could not make it i will upload it here after the Presentations are over.
Below my Abstracts

Project setup for impossible Deadlines

Today’s projects ask increasingly for fast-track delivery that most often turns the project documentation process on its head.

This presentation will give Tips and Method’s, Suggestions on how to bridge the gap between an ideal linear workflow and the often-convoluted way of real life projects.

The Presentation will focus on:

• Strategies and tips for easy, flexible, and future proof site file setup.
• Why to avoid traditional use of the Boundary as Datum Points
• Learn how to seamlessly interface with civil, surveyor and landscape and export to different Coordinate systems and Project Datum’s
• Strategies how to cope with a nonlinear workflow
• Prepare documentation while still designing
• Tips to keep submissions such as DA,BL Presentations  live and automatically up to date
• Learn the concept and use of Annotation Phases, Annotation Option Sets, Legend Phases
• Don’t Dismiss 2D use it to your Advantage

Strategies and methods that help deliver your project with the pressure-cooker of today’s fast-track programs

Bridging the gap between an ideal linear work flow and the often convoluted way of real life projects

 Adaptive families for everyday use

Adaptive families are a new and powerful addition to the Revit toolset.

There have been numerous great and sophisticated examples of these within the mass environment, such as striking freeform buildings.

This session however is designed to show you the potential of Adaptive Families to solve some of our daily problems and gripes within the project environment.

The course will focus on:

·         As Tent structures/shading devices

·         As Adaptive Curtain Panels

·         As Adaptive Railings

·         As Adaptive Furniture/Casework(fill in the Gap)

·         As Adaptive Structural Elements

·         As Adaptive Tunnels

The course will demonstrate that Revit Adaptive Families are not all about fancy freeform buildings.

Thinking outside the box can leverage this great addition to your toolset and enrich your daily work practice.

Learning Objectives

•  Learn how to use the power of adaptive families in your daily project environment
• See how they can help you circumvent limitations of system families
• See how we can bridge the divide between freedom of design and the constraints of build-ability

  Learn to think outside the box with the use of Adaptive Families

BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work

I just thought I make you aware of this yesterday released useful Paper.

BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work

I believe AIA is working on something similar

The NBS (National Building Specification England) is doing very good work on BIM and other Areas

I think it would be beneficial to align our Australian efforts in BIM and Classification Systems with the English and American Systems and resist the temptation to create another one. 

http://www.thenbs.com/index.asp