BCF: BIM Collaboration Format

BCF is the format that might become standard to share issues found in BIM models from one platform to another
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BCF is an open standard to enable workflow communication between different BIM (Building Information Modeling) software tools. I came across this format by the first time while whatching a Solibri Model Checker Demo. It is currently in the process of being accepted as an Open Standard by BuildingSmart. It works together with IFC models, the idea with BCF is to separate the “communication” from the actual model. You can watch a short video about the Collaboration Workflow it would allow:

More info also available here.

Another example of BCF in use can be seen in this video about IFC (minute 41:20)

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MT - Using BIM as a PM Tool: 1.- Introduction

The development of a construction project goes through several stages and requires a wide range of services (Clough et al., 2008). During any project, there will be reciprocal interdependencies between different stakeholders, such as financing bodies, authorities, architects, engineers, lawyers, contractors, suppliers and tradesmen (Ibid.). Another driver in the project-management domain causing an increase in reciprocal interdependencies is the rise in concurrent engineering [CE] (Williams 1999).

To this inherent complexity of stakeholders we must add that construction projects are becoming much more complex and difficult (Chan et al., 2004; Williams, 2002; Alshawi and Ingirige, 2003). The big size of projects is traditionally seen as the cause of project complexity (Williams 2002) although it is argued that it is not the size itself but aspects derived from the size of the project - like number of stakeholders or number of project management tools and methods – that contribute to project complexity (Bosch-Rekveldt et al. 2010).

On the other hand, studies show that while productivity in other industries has increased considerably in the last 40 years, the productivity of the construction industry has actually been steadily decreasing.

Fig. 1.1 – Construction and Non-Farm Labour Productivity Index (Teicholz, 2004)

To cope with the increasing complexity of projects, information and communication technology [ICT] has been developing at a very fast pace (Taxén and Lilliesköld, 2008). This uptake in ICT did not bring yet all the expected benefits to the Architecture, Engineering and Construction [AEC] Industry (Majer et al. 2010), such as an important increase in Labour Productivity. This could be because the human ability to cope with these complexities has not developed at the same rate as ICT (Taxén and Lilliesköld, 2008), or because the implementation of ICT alone is not enough and the industry needs a shift into a new way of working.

In any case, understanding what ICT can do to help industry professionals cope with the increased complexity of projects is key to reach successful project outcomes and could be the key to increase the overall productivity of the industry. Any changes in tools and also in processes that may help the Construction Industry shift its tendency towards higher productivity should be considered and studied in detail.


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Software Currently Certified for IFC Import or Export

A list by BuildingSmart of the BIM tools currently certified to Export or Import IFC files
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If you are into BIM, you know what IFCs are. If you don't, read about it. A lot is written about IFCs as a standard format. And a lot is written too about "what is the best BIM tool?". Well, one criteria you could use to decide which BIM tool is best for you is how they handle IFCs.

According to the following Table from BuildingSmart, these are the BIM Tools that have been certified for Importing or Exporting IFC files properly:

Application	Organisation	Certification	Export/Import	Finished	Pdf
Scia Engineer	NEMETSCHEK Scia	CV2.0-Struct	import	2013091717-SEP-2013
ArchiCAD	Graphisoft	CV2.0-Arch	import	2013092020-SEP-2013
Revit MEP	Autodesk-R	CV2.0-MEP	export	2013071111-JUL-2013
RIB iTWO	RIB	CV2.0-Import only	import	2013090707-SEP-2013
ArchiCAD	Graphisoft	CV2.0-Arch	export	2013041616-APR-2013
Allplan 2013	NEMETSCHEK Allplan GmbH	CV2.0-Arch	export	2013041616-APR-2013
Revit Architecture	Autodesk-R	CV2.0-Arch	export	2013041616-APR-2013
Scia Engineer	NEMETSCHEK Scia	CV2.0-Struct	export	2013041616-APR-2013
Revit Structure	Autodesk-R	CV2.0-Struct	export	2013041616-APR-2013
Tekla Structures	Tekla	CV2.0-Struct	export	2013061212-JUN-2013
Vectorworks	NEMETSCHEK North America	CV2.0-Arch	export	2013053030-MAY-2013

In the list of tools that passed the Building Smart's certification for exportin IFC files are Tekla, Revit, ArchiCAD, Scia, VectorWorks, Allplan and RIB iTWO. This means that they can save their models in IFC complying with the format standards.

The list of programs that are certified to import models from IFC format is smaller and comprises only two programs: Scia Engineer and ArchiCAD.

via BIMequity Blog.

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New version of IFC Exporter for Revit (v2.14/v3.6) available

Update available for the Revit IFC exporters
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Just got this email from Autodesk, thought I'd share in case you downloaded the IFC exporters for Revit I posted about last June.

"You are getting this message because you downloaded a version of IFC Exporter for Revit or IFC Export Alternate UI for Revit prior to September 27, 2013. We have posted an update to the exporter only, which you can get using the links below.

NOTE: There have been reported issues with the earlier Revit 2014 exporter and UI installers. In particular, these could cause a crash on startup for users other than the user that installed the add-int. The latest versions fix this issue, and the IFC Export Alternate UI for Revit 2014 v2.5 installer has had a hotfix. If you or your company have had this issue, please make sure to update the 2014 UI also.

2013:

IFC Exporter for Revit 2013 (v2.13): *NEW*

IFC Export Alternate UI for Revit 2013 (v1.12):

2014:

IFC Exporter for Revit 2014 (v3.6): *NEW*

IFC Export Alternate UI for Revit 2014 (v2.5): *Hotfix for installer crash*

Updates from the previous versions are listed below. Please upgrade to the newest version!

(...)

What’s new for IFC Exporter for Revit v2.14/v3.6:

General

- Minor cleanup to remove extraneous arguments from some functions.

- Remove some obsolete code for old IFCDoorStyleOperation and IFCWIndowStyleOperation.

New Functionality

- Add support for Force properties (Newtons).

Bug Fixes

- Correct flow direction calculation for some connector domains, that would abort export of connector information.

- Export Authorization field in header as a null string ('$') instead of an empty string if it is not set.

- Export correct values for IfcDoor operation.

- Export internal ElementId Revit properties as IfcLabel, not IfcText.

- Export respects visibility settings of curtain panels if exporting elements in the current view.

- Fix export of some schedules with non-exportable fields that would prevent export with exporting of schedules as property sets on.

- Fix some caching issues with some parameter values.

- Protect against abort of export when trying to export some invalid systems in the Revit file.

- Set 2D representations of families to "FootPrint" representation, not "Annotation".

- Use IfcMaterial, not IfcMaterialList, if there is only 1 material in the list.

- Use IfcMaterialList, not IfcMaterialLayerUsage, for more BRep-based host objects.

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Revit 2014 Update Release 1

Available since last August an update for Revit 2014 to fix some issues
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Autodesk Released an Update for Revit 2014 that improves several features of Autodesk's main BIM Authoring Tool:

• Allows Stairs, Railings and Wall Sweeps to be individual entities when exporting to FBX format.
• Improves data integrity of projects which contain RPC elements when exporting to FBX format.
• Improves categorization of parts when exported to FBX format.
• Improves performance when utilizing Render in Cloud functionality.
• Improves appearance of material textures when Rendering in Cloud.
• Improves graphics integrity of linked models when Rendering in Cloud.
• Allows Point Clouds to be visible when unchecking “Show Imported Categories in this View” display option.
• Maintains display order of filled regions which overlap solid hatches in projects that are upgraded to the Revit 2014 format.
• Corrects visual fidelity of objects in printed output which show as “Thin Lines” in drawing canvas.
• Improves consistency of displaying revisions within schedules.
• Improves data consistency of keynote legend when un-checking ‘Filter by Sheet’.
• Allows schedule footer text to follow column alignment.
• Improves stability when pasting elements between two Generic Model adaptive families.
• Improves stability when exporting project to Navisworks 2014.
• Improves stability during the loading of a family when utilizing either “Delete Element” or “Delete Type” option.
• Improves stability when placing details.Improves stability when a crop region is moved while the disjoin option is enabled.
• Improves data integrity during “Save As”.
• Improves stability when creating form elements.
• Improves stability when exiting Revit.
• Improves stability when printing Elevation and Detail views.
• Improves stability while editing groups.
• Improves stability when adjusting the elevation value of Levels.
• Improves stability when navigating in a project which contains linked point clouds.
• Improves stability when using the type selector within the properties palette.
• Improves stability when editing the layout of a schedule.
• Improves stability when adding a schedule to a sheet which has an active view.
• Improves stability when upgrading previous release projects.
• Improves stability when place a view on sheet.

To download the Update go to the following links:

• Revit 2014
• Revit Architecture 2014
• Revit Structure 2014
• Revit MEP 2014

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Revit: Changing Family Type

How to change a family type? Easy and simple.
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Last week I needed to change a family from window type to door type. Why? Well, I had a door to model that actually looks like a window, but I needed to report it as a door on schedules. So I basically wanted to reuse a window family, and was wondering how to change the family type. I got the answer through revit forum on this thread.

The steps are very simple. You just need to open the family file, either by browsing to where you have it stored or by using the Edit Family function from a project when you have that family selected.

Once you are have the family file open, simply click on Family Category and Parameters on the Ribbon.

Here you will be able to see the family type and change it.

Once you've done that, you can reload the family in the project. Now, you will be able to insert it as the new family type you have set.

Easy and simple.
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Revit: Calculating and Scheduling Gross Wall Area

Revit wall area is incorrect if you want it including the openings area. This add in allows you to get the gross area (including openings) correct.
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The way Revit calculates wall areas that have openings (doors, windows, etc) in them is by giving you the wall area minus the opening area. While this might be of some use, if actually you need to get accurate quantities I doubt this will do. The way the areas of the walls should be quantified according to, at least, our local standards is by including the opening areas that are below certain sq meters. Revit can't give you that by default (as far as I know) it just gives you the wall area minus the openings, see the example:

We need to be able to schedule the area of those openings (hello Autodesk??). Recently found an Addin, that allows to do that. It is called AutodeskWallOpeningArea (updated link)and gives you the chance to get this done right. After downloading it and installing it (simply run the .msi file) you will have a new button on your Add-ins tab in the Revit Ribon:

Once installed, simply go to a 3D view and click on the button. It will add 2 shared parameters on your wall families that will account for the openings Area.

The results you get are divided according to an area value you can set. All the openings below that Maximum value are stored as Opening Area Smaller Max, and the total openings area are added to the Opening Area Parameter. Now, you can schedule this parameters and get the Gross area of the wall by playing with calculated parameters. In this case I simply Added wall Ara + Opening Area to get the Gross Total that would be used on a project estimate.

Problems and limitations:

1. The parameters are not dynamically updated, which means that the command must be executed in order to updated the parameter value. Is is a major problem, actually and goes completelya gains the BIM approach of an integrated database, let's be serious, this sucks badly.
2. The Addin must be executed from a 3D view with all relevant elements (walls, doors, windows, openings, etc) visible. Second Major HUGE flaw.

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AutoCAD: Modify the Size of the Breakline Symbol

Control de size of the Breakline Symbol before you draw it.
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For a long time, AutoCAD has an Express Tools Command called BREAKLINE that allows you to quickly draw break lines to show stairs or other elements that should be represented with this symbol. Got a question recently on how to control the size of this BREAKLINE, and the truth is that it is very simple.
To Draw the breaklin you type BREAKLINE an ENTER, then, if you look at the command you will see this text:

At this point and before clickon to start drawing, you can type "S" and press enter and you will be able to modify teh Size of the BREAKLINE symbol. It is as simple as that.

If instead of pressing "S" and ENTER you press "E" and ENTER you will be able to control de Extension of the BREAKLINE, which is the distance that the breakline symbol will extend to each side of the Point you choose to start drawing it and the point you choose to end. See the image:

Need help with this tip? Please Comment!
If you need more info about the BREAKLINE command, you can also check this old post from 2009.

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Revit: Rotating the Section Box

You can actually rotate Section boxes in Revit to cut the model in a non perpendicular angle. How to do it is simple
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If you need to use the section box feature but you want to do it at an angle not perpendicular to the view, you can actually do it. There are some limitations, but you can do it.

If you are on a 3D view, click on the top of the View Cube. When you select the Section box from this position, you will see a rotation symbol on one of its corners. Simply click and drag it to ratate the Section Box.

If at any point you want to reset the section box, you can simply go to the properties of the view, uncheck Section box, and check it again to get it back to be NS oriented.

The limitations of rotating the section box is that you have to be on a Plan view (the top or bottom view of a 3D view works)

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New IFC Exporters for Revit Available for Download

New IFC exporters for Revit available
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New versions of the IFC Exporters for Revit have been published and are available for download. They seem to improve the IFC export for some types of elements, haven't tested them though. Here are the links

2013:

IFC Exporter for Revit 2013 (v2.11)

IFC Export Alternate UI for Revit 2013 (v1.11)

2014

IFC Exporter for Revit 2014 (v3.3)

IFC Export Alternate UI for Revit 2014 (v2.3)

via What Revit Wants

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SketchUp 2013 is now Available

SketchUp 2013 is now available with many new features
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About a year ago, Trimble acquired SketchUp. Yesterday, Trimble announced that the new version SketchUp 2013 is now available for download.

Many new features are available, you can read in more detail about them here, but this is the list:

• Extension Warehouse: Find SketchUp Pluigns in a single location from SketchUp
• Pattern Fills: Better documentation tools to fill section cuts with patterns
• Copy Array in Layout: The same way you copy multiple times in Sketchup you can now do it in Layout.
• Faster Screen Redraw when panning or zooming.
• Speedier Vector Rendering.
• Numbered Pages in the Pages panel: LayOut’s Pages panel now displays page numbers.
• Curved Label Leader Lines
• Dashes in Dimensions
• Smarter Toolbars in Windows
• Exporting a movie from your SketchUp model
• Zoom In More in layout.

It seem like Trimble is switching the focus on the documentation part, with many new features for Layout. It seems that those saying you can do construction documents with SketchUp actually saw something the bunch of us missed, but Trimble didn't. This is great news, SketchUp is by far the easiest to learn, easiest to use 3D Modeling tool out there IMHO, awesome that it is getting more and more options. let's just hope that it doesn't get many more $ added to the license.

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Revit 2014 Books

Revit 2014 Books are now available
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If you already updated to Revit 2014 or if you are starting your BIM modelling path using 2014 Revit Software, you might want to consider some of these books that have been recently published. All of them focus on Revit 2014. Some are more intended for beginners, others for more advanced users. The focus of the books is also split by Specialty. If you know of some more good Revit 2014 books, please do share in the comments and I'l add them to the table.

COVER	TITLE	LEVEL	SPECIALTY	BUY FROM
	Autodesk REVIT Architecture 2014 Essentials	Begginer	ARCH	.
				AMAZON US
				AMAZON UK
				AMAZON DE
				AMAZON ES
				.
	Mastering Autodesk REVIT Architecture 2014	Advanced	ARCH	.
				AMAZON US
				AMAZON UK
				AMAZON DE
				AMAZON ES
				.
	Autodesk Revit Architecture 2014: No Experience Required	Beginner	ARCH	.
				AMAZON US
				AMAZON UK
				AMAZON DE
				.
				.
	Mastering Autodesk Revit MEP 2014	Advanced	MEP	.
				AMAZON US
				AMAZON UK
				AMAZON DE
				.
				.

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