EEE = Excitech Experience E-zine

Below are links to the Excitech Experience which is aimed at sharing the latest developments and processes in the industry as seen by their consultants, training team, support engineers and developers.

Excitech Experience follows on from the success of Excitech’s Design Productivity Journal (DPJ) which, for almost ten years, provided one of the most widely read publications covering the application of technology for the creation and management of design data.

Click for Issue 2	Issue 2 - BIM In Construction - April 2012 Not just a trend? BIM for Construction BIM for Infrastucture Structural Detailing David Philp Opinion News, COBie and more! Capita Symonds Case Study
Click for Issue 1	Issue 1 - Building On BIM - November 2011 Making Construction Products Suitable for BIM Improving Revit Data Quality Visualising BIM with 3ds Max BIM at the Forum Driving MEP from design to fabrication News, Autodesk suites and Opinion! Case Study: Pell Frischmann

Here is a link to the Excitech Experience web page
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The “I” in BIM - Borehole Record Viewer

Ok a couple of months ago I posted about construction related Information that is map based and available on the web.

Find the Postcode and Location Plan

Environmental Agency Maps

Geology of Britain Viewer

As a company Scott White and Hookins have been moving towards becoming as environmentally friendly as possible fro some time, and paper free as possible and have created their own database linked to Google Earth than holds all the borehole and site investigation on projects that we have been involved with.

As an ex-Local Authority Senior Structural Engineer we also kept (be it in paper and working towards a GIS system) a complete archive of all borehole and site investigation report submitted to the Authority for reference.

Now you can access a similar level of information directly over the internet using the Borehole record viewer on the British Geological Survey web site

Click on Go to Location

Pop in the post code of your site (here I’m using the Carshalton London House office post code.

Click on the nearest bore hole the ordinance Survey TQ sheet reference pops up with the coordinates of the borehole and its’ depth.

Click view on line and you have access to the borehole records – in this case dating back to 1909

BD Online BIM White Paper - £199 Really!

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Just recieved an email from BDOnline plugging their BIM White Paper which they quote as being "the ultimate resource for architecture professionals battling with BIM adoption in 2012. The report has already attracted significant support and backing from leading players in the BIM community, helping them cut through the bimwash to establish the clear business benefits of adopting BIM".
Buy your copy today for £199 (+VAT)

Click Here to read more

The question is why on earh would you want to spend £199+vat in this when you could put it towards a new ipad? Not as if there isn't enought of this kind of material around for free - try looking at my left hand side panel.

If you DB guys want to send me a free copy to review, I might change my mind, until then the money is going towards the ipad.

Revit Structure - Robot White Paper

Nice post found over at BIM and Beam (keep up the good work guys)

Integrating Autodesk Revit, Revit Structure, and Robot Structural Analysis Professional white paper now available

This paper explores the interoperability between Autodesk Revit, Revit Structure, and Robot Structural Analysis Professional—including recommended workflows, analytical modeling best practices, and the details of the data exchange between the software solutions.

You can download and read the white paper by clicking here!

Cloud Doubts

RIBA publishes BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work

 

The following press release has been brought to my attention - Original Here

Date:

16 May 2012

Press office contact:

Howard Crosskey
T: +44 (0)20 7307 3761
E: howard.crosskey@riba.org

The Royal Institute for British Architects (RIBA) has published a major piece of guidance for architects on BIM (Building Information Modelling).

The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, edited by architect, BIM expert and Vice Chair of the RIBA Practice and Profession Committee, Dale Sinclair of Dyer Architects, provides straightforward guidance to help architects to successfully design and manage construction projects in a BIM environment.
The publication looks at the strong business case for BIM, and sets out how to integrate the approach into practice with an easy-to-follow guide outlining the activities required at each RIBA work stage.

RIBA President Angela Brady said:

'The RIBA is committed to ensuring its members are able to adapt to working in a BIM environment. This new publication cuts though the confusion and anxiety surrounding BIM and offers our members best practice principles to enable them to get the best out of the opportunities it offers for their business.'

ENDS

Notes to editors

• For press enquires contact Howard Crosskey in the RIBA press office howard.crosskey@riba.org 020 73073761
• The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work is free and available to download from http://www.ribabookshops.com/plan-of-work  
• The BIM Overlay builds on the work already undertaken by the RIBA in the Green Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work which can be downloaded here: http://www.ribabookshops.com/plan-of-work
• The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Visit www.architecture.com and www.twitter.com/RIBA  

RIP - Inside the Factory & Good Luck Erik

Would the last person leaving Autodesk please turn the lights out.......

Extract from the Last Post (for some time?) "Erik has left Autodesk to explore other paths and I do not have the time to fully commit to keeping the content fresh and engaging. So I (Tom Vollaro, I assume) have decided to put the blog on pause."

Erik Egbertson
Erik holds a BS (architecture concentration) from Northeastern University and practiced several years in Boston and Cambridge before joining Revit Technology in early 2000. In the fall of 2007 he enrolled in Bentley University’s Human Factors in Information Design masters program and joined the growing Autodesk Revit user experience design team as an Interaction designer. In this new capacity he works to enhance his design experience with human factors cognitive science and methodologies. Initial projects included improved consistency of file access and feature enhancements and later enhancements to the platform. Erik also teaches Revit at the Boston Architectural College. Outside work Erik enjoys riding his motorcycle, making things, and increasing self sustainability

Erik - Gone but not forgotten 

So who exactly is left to fight our Revit corner within Autodesk?

First Wai, now Erik and others no longer answer emails...... 

Tom Vollaro
Tom has a MS in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute 

And it would appear can't be bothered to keep Inside the Factory ALIVE

AutodeskBuilding - Revit Essential Skills Videos

Another find during my weekend punt around YouTube Revit Essential Skills Videos

AutodeskBuilding added to a playlist

1. Autodesk Revit: Configuring the User Interface
2. Autodesk Revit: Editing Assets - Materials
3. Autodesk Revit: Managing Materials in Revit
4. Autodesk Revit: Managing Materials Libraries
5. Autodesk Revit MEP: Displaying Centerlines for Round Duct
6. Autodesk Revit Structure: Detailing with Multi-Planar Rebar
7. Autodesk Revit: Working with Equality Dimensions
   
   

Revit Addict - Shared Co-Ordinate Videos

During my weekend punt around YouTube found these on the shared Co-ordinate theme - I have no idea what Revit Addict's name is but thank you for sharing these videos with the outside world ;0)

About RevitAddict's channel

These videos are for in-house training at my firm, Forell/Elsesser Engineers, located in San Francisco CA. Check out our website at http://www.forell.com/. Note, with some videos I have more preparation than others. Still I hope this was helpful. All third party images and programs used are copyrighted. Comment or thumbs up if you want more. Thanks!

Shared Coordinates Video 1 of 3

Video 2 of 3

Video 3 of 3

Revit OpEd - Shared Coordinate Post Summary

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Steve Stafford has written about shared coordinates and related issues in the past. This is a re-post of Steves and serves as an additial place I can search for them when I need them again.... 

Steves Orignal Post can be found Here.

Starting Projects - Two Pieces of Advice

Project Coordination - Early Days

Acquire Coordinates Confirm

Location Location Location

Shared Coordinates and Copy Monitor

CAD Surveys and your Revit Project

Autodesk University Virtual Shared Coordinates Class

True Elevation and Position

Revit Level and Elevations

Shared Coordinates and Other Trades

Shared Coordinates Features Disabled

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What's New In Revit 2013 Videos by MasterGraphics

A What’s New series of Videos for Revit 2013 from MasterGraphics Inc.

Part 1 in the What’s New in Revit 2013 - This video showcases some of the improvements in visualization in Revit 2013

Part 2 in the What's New in Revit 2013 – The focus of this video is Materials

Part 3 in the What's New in Revit 2013 - The focus of this video is Stairs.

Part 4 in the What's New in Revit 2013 – The focuses on the User Interface

MaterGraphics Inc YouTube Channel

Master Graphics - Who we are and What we do - Mark Lackovic, Vice President of Operations, explains who MasterGraphics is, and what we do for our clients and partners.

Enjoy……………………

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Webinar: What's New in Autodesk 2013_ Revit Architecture

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The new Autodesk 2013 products have come a long way. Join us as we take a look at some of the compelling new features of Autodesk's latest edition of Revit Architecture. Now users can enjoy new tools that significantly improve integration, collaboration, interoperability, including the Building Design Suite "one-box" feature which provides direct access to all the architecture, MEP, and structural Revit products. Also preview the benefits of integrating in the cloud with Revit and Autodesk 360.

The first 3.25 minutes are an advert for the company Microdesk   but after that it's all good........

Here is the link to the Webinar 

Here is the link to their YouTube Channel
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Autodesk Building Design Suite for ........

Uploaded by Autodesk on Star Wars day....Enjoy

Structural Engineers
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Mechanical Engineers

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Architects

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Star Wars Day!

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A vertically challanged Yoda like Revit Jedi sent me this link because I sent him an email saying "May the 4th be with you" It cracked me up, Enjoy

Revit Structure 2013 Video Tutorials by NICADMAN

There are a couple of nice Structural Revit 2013 videos over at NICADMANS Autodesk Corner YouTube Channel..on Calculating Tonnage of Steel and Custom Tags in Revit Structure .... Go visit and enjoy

Johnny Depp in DARK SHADOWS

OK sado that I am I went to look for Revit training videos on YouTube and found this instead:-

A Tim Burton film with Jonny Depp (who else?) who plays a two century old vampire, with a very British accent , A Beautiful Witch that cursed him and placed him in a coffin which is dug up in 1972   TREX     Barry White

Lines from Depp to the HOT Witch like  “You may strategically place you’re your wondrous lips upon my posterior and kiss it repeatedly”

I MUST SEE THIS FILM

FREE WEBINAR - Autodesk Revit MEP

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Autodesk® Revit® MEP provides Building Information Modelling (BIM) software for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers and supports more accurate and efficient design from concept through to construction.

• Design building systems more accurately using coordinated, consistent information inherent in the intelligent Revit MEP model.
• Analyze for efficiency with integrated analysis earlier in the process.
• Keep documentation coordinated and consistent with parametric change management technology.
• Deliver 3D models and documentation to support the building lifecycle

This FREE professional webinar will show you how Autodesk solutions can deliver the power of BIM to building services consultants and engineers.

Agenda - 10:30AM to 11:30AM

• Welcome & Introductions
• BIM Overview
• Model Based Design Using Revit MEP
• Q&A

Thursday 19th April 2012 Register Here

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with the information you need to join the Webinar.


System Requirements
PC-based attendees:
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees:
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer
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Revit 2013 Downloads Please Hold Again and Again

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As recorded by Steve Stafford on Friday 13th (Not a good day anyway), Autodesk were having problems, today I went to download the my upgrade of Autodesk Building Design Suite - Premium 2013 only to be informed I don't have one dispite the button now being displayed

So I left it a litle while, and now when I go into the Subscription Area the now famous and previously reported message from Steve Stafford is back......

Come on Autodesk get your bloody act together will you, every year we have this problem, AU 2010 virtual was a wash out, luckily I was too busy to bother with AU2011 and you expect us to ultimately use your software on the cloud .......... I don't think so do you?
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Autodesk 360 Structural Analysis for Autodesk Revit 2013

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Autodesk 360 Structural Analysis for Autodesk Revit formerly known as Autodesk Labs Project Storm was released a few days ago.

Structural Analysis for Revit enables structural engineers to conduct analysis in the cloud as a part of the BIM process. With Structural Analysis, engineers and designers can extend design models from Revit Structure directly to the cloud helping to minimize disruptions to workflow and allowing users to continue to design as analysis is completed. Once the analysis is conducted, results can then be visualized and explored within Revit Structure.

Key features

• Extend models from within Revit Structure to the cloud for static analysis.
• Reduce disruption to workflow by performing analysis in the cloud.
• Visualize and explore analytical results from directly within Revit Structure.
• Streamline workflow by using analysis results to inform decision making early on.

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Revit Addict YouTube Training Videos

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Taking a punt around YouTube as I do from time to time I've made a nice find I would like to share.... RevitAddict's Channel 

About RevitAddict's channel

Autodesk Revit Structure 2012 Training Video series. These videos are for in-house training at my firm, Forell/Elsesser Engineers, located in San Francisco CA. Check out our website at http://www.forell.com/. Note, with some videos I have more preparation than others. Still I hope this was helpful. All third party images and programs used are copyrighted. Comment or thumbs up if you want more. Thanks!


I gave it a thumbs up, I'm sure you will as well
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REVIT 2013 Stair Components

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Daryl Gregoire Over at Revit Rocks! is having a little trouble with the 2013 stair components, can you spot it?

Great for spiral staircases I guess?

If you know how to fix his problem let him know....
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McFly - KEEP CALM AND PLAY LOUDER

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Last night my two daughters and I went to see McFly at the Hammersmith Apollo, Those guys get better with each year and they have been around nine so far. Emma has been a fan since day one, I dropped them off at Fairfield Halls 8 years ago and picked them up, then I had to go with them to Wembley the following year. "Dad you have to know the words of the songs if your coming with us" and so a now 54 year old McFly fan was born, and we have seen them each year since. 

Support Bands were IVYRISE and DIVE BELLA DIVE

I did keep calm and they did play lounder, thank god for ear plugs, no joke after seeing them last year at a small venue I thought they had gone out of tune at the end of the concert and my ears rang for a good 24 hours after, this year I took steps to not inflict any more hearing loss.


Three New Songs


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The track above is very Mike and The Mechanics like

My daughters have been so good and supportive since my wife was taken into hospital and since we have had her home and on oxygen, I would love to arrange for them to actually meet McFly as a reward.

Who knows it is said they there are only six degrees of separation between us and everyone on the planet - if I post it up here it may happen!

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Further Revit 2013 New Feature Video Tutorials from AutoDesk

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Following on swiftly from the Stairs series blogged about yesterday AutodeskBuilding have uploaded further New feature Video, and they have found someone without an annoying voice or speech impediment to do it ;0)
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Repeat Adaptive Components

After a path is divided, adaptive components can be placed on one of the nodes. The component will be repeated on all nodes of the divided path.

Autodesk Revit 2013 -- Interoperability Enhancements

Autodesk Revit 2013 continues to improve on interoperability in DWG

DGN File Format Support

Autodesk Revit 2013 supports import and export of Bentley MicroStation v7 and v8 file format.

Revit Exchange

Autodesk Revit Exchange provides a central location for the add-in content. You can find apps that address your needs and acquire them through a fast and easy process.

Multi-Segmented Grid

In Autodesk Revit 2013, you can now create multi-segmented gridlines. This provides capability for you to span grids across different segment of a building without creating multiple grids with multiple grid numbers

Autodesk Revit 2013 -- View Reference

In Autodesk Revit 2013, an enhanced view reference tool enable a view to be placed in any standard project view except schedule or sheet views.

Project Browser Search

In Autodesk Revit 2013, you can now search for views in the Project Browser by right-clicking in any views.

Autodesk Revit 2013 - Dimension Enhancements

In Autodesk Revit 2013, dimension continues to enhance based on customers feedback, including new diameter dimension tool, split linear dimension chains, and defining an equality formula.

Dividing Paths

Divide path is a new tool in conceptual massing and in-place mass in the project environment in Autodesk Revit 2013. It enables dividing a range of curves including lines, arcs, circles, partial ellipse, splines, as well as chains of curves and edges of forms

View Type Creation

New view creation has been greatly improved in Autodesk Revit 2013. You can now duplicate View Type as a Type Property to better define new ...

Autodesk Revit 2013 - Custom Sky and Image Background

A custom background option is now available for all view styles. Artificial lighting will cast lights, reflection, and shadows, as well as entourage, including people and plants will appear photorealistic in realistic view style. This increase efficiency to create compelling graphic presentation.

Autodesk Revit 2013 - Visualization Enhancements

In Autodesk Revit 2013, various enhancements has been made to visualization, including offering more flexibility in controlling surface ...

Interactive Ray Trace

Interactive ray trace mode provides a more realistic view of the model, including shadows, materials, reflections, lighting and entourage.

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Errors Installing Revit Structure 2013 and Design Review

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As I'm having a lazy Bank Holiday I thought I would have a look to see if Revit Structure Suite 2013 had made the subscription centre, and it had, so with due diligence I downloaded the files and installed....

Within the first ten minutes of the install I had two error messages

The first was this

I had a look at the file it was having problems with, it's there and a day later than all the others in the directory, but appears corrupted as I can't obtain properties, preview or open with infranview dispite just being a graphic file.

OK it Design Review and Not Revit so after Ignoring as Retry didn't work we moved on about two minutes then I got the next error message.

I have no idea what WhipFilter.dll is or what does but it has not registered and it's suggested I contact my support personnel !

OK I'm at home it's a weekend, I will ask my IT support guy next wednesday when I see him, or perhaps just download design review and install again

Finally I get this screen

I've apparently successfully  installed everything...... Umm it seems to have missed the two error messages for Design Review that its' presented and the advice to contact my support person.

So if you're out there, and you are having the same problem, you are not on your own ;0)

If and when I find out what WhipFilter.dll is and what is not going to happen as a result, and what the missing png file affect I will let you know. If I don't just un-install and re-install after downloading Design Review 2013 on it's own.

One year, just one year to would be so good for Autodesk software to install with no problems..... I can dream can't I?

The install, including errors took just under an hour after I had downloaded the files which I didn't bother to time, as I said it's a lazy bank holiday, I just set them to download and enjoyed the sun in the garden.

UPDATE

I un-installed Design Review 2013 when to the Autodesk web site to re-install and get the following error message when I try to install

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After multiple tries of checking my internet connection it still will not install

Now trying to download the setupDesignReview2013.msi.zip file from here and reading the Installation Guide , it appears I'm not on my own and this suggestion has come from the Autodesk discussion groups.

I had trouble downloading the setupDesignReview2013.exe, I don't think my virus protection software liked it, but I did manage to download the msi.zip unpacked it and installed a working copy of Design Review 2013 without any bugs..... Yippppppeeeeeee
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Revit 2013 Stair Video Tutorials

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These have been uploaded to YouTube by AutodeskBuilding

01-Component-Based Stair - Creating Switchback Stair

In Autodesk Revit 2013, component-based stair is now available. It provides capabilities to assemble a stair using individual run, landing, and support components.

02-Component-Based Stair - Modifying Stair Components

In Autodesk Revit 2013, component-based stair is now available. You can use direct manipulation controls to modify stair components.

03-Component-Based Stair - Creating Winder Stair

In Autodesk Revit 2013, component-based stair is now available. New stair types are available in the draw panel for creation, including L-shape an U-shape winder stair.

04-Railing Enhancements - Defining Rail Transitions, Terminations, and Supports

In Autodesk Revit 2013, railings have been enhanced by adding new handrail and top rail sub-category elements, improved railing transitions, and the ability to include system generated-extensions to top rails and handrails.

05-Component-Based Stair - Precast Stair 

In Autodesk Revit 2013, component-based stair is now available. You can now define a notch conditions to the precast stair, this enable more accurate insight on how the stair may be constructed.

06-Component-Based Stair - Converting Stair to Sketch-Based

In Autodesk Revit 2013, component-based stair is now available. The convert tool enables you to use the sketch tools to modify the design as needed.

07-Component-Based Stair - Multiple Runs to the Same Floor Level

In Autodesk Revit 2013, component-based stair is now available. Component-based stairs offer more flexibility creating stair layouts with multiple runs leading to the same level.

08-Component-Based Stair - Modifying Stair Representation

In Autodesk Revit 2013, component-based stair is now available. Component-based stairs offers more options in customizing representation of stairs, including stair path, and cut mark

09-Component-Based Stair - Annotating & Tagging Stair

In Autodesk Revit 2013, component-based stair is now available. You can now number tread and risers, as well as tagging stair components.

Enjoy

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