I’m not saying that AceCad BIMReview is a great program, but its another free tool to keep in mind.

There is also a good list going at http://bimblog.bondbryan.com/interoperability/, which includes:
BIM Surfer (open source WebGL viewer)
Constructivity Model Viewer (PC only)
DDS-CAD Open BIM Viewer (PC only)
FZKViewer (PC only)
Solibri Model Viewer (PC and Mac)
Tekla BIMsight (PC, Windows tablets, iPad and iPhone)
xBIM Xplorer (PC only)

Anyhow, to try BIMReview Lite, download the installer at:
BIMReview – BIM Project Collaboration

Install ‘core’ only.

Switch to the free version by direct text editing this file.
“C:Program FilesAceCad Software LtdBIMReview 7.2BIMReview.exe.config”

Like this:

Or in Options:

I noticed some cutting errors when opening IFC from Tekla (the beam ends should cut back):

Supported filetypes:

The open house is getting more ‘open’ every day. Go here to join the project:
Enter Revit Skyscraper Open House Project

After joining and logging in, access the downloads section, download the ZIP file and run the EXE. You should be greeted with something like this as the Citrix hosted solution starts up:

Once you have joined and have access to Revit Skyscraper, please feel free to comment below and I can add you to a Sandbox Project I have set up, and also add you as a contact for chat. Have fun!

I recommend you join the project and read some of the early forum posts, particularly if you pondering issues of IP, who owns the model, permissions and the like.

I noticed these CIP folders were consuming huge amounts of space:

So, I basically deleted everything out of these CIP folders and freed up a lot of space. Upon restart, Navisworks re-created the necessary support files. The current path on latest Navisworks version is:
C:UsersUSERNAMEAppDataRoamingAutodeskNAVMAN2015ENU6412.3.1157.50MC3AvroCIP

Close Navisworks, go to this CIP folder and select all – Delete. Send them to Recycle Bin if you are worried something will break. Open Navisworks, check everything is OK, then you should be able to delete them permanently.

These were the files:

Across various Navis versions:

Sometimes, when enabling and disabling CIP in Navisworks 2015, I will get a crash. Save before you do it!

Check it out, pretty amazing stuff. Take a virtual in-browser tour of Sydney Cricket Ground:
SCENE Webshare Cloud

The implications of this technology for facilities management are pretty significant. In some cases, projects may skip the BIM process and go straight from laser scan to FM (where the brief allows for it).

Learn more:

via
Full Webinar for FARO Scene 5.3 and Webshare Cloud | FARO UK Blog

My top three new features:

  • Revit 2015 Integration – export from Revit 2015, and easily load families straight into 2015 projects
  • keep your legacy content available for older projects while still being able to take advantage of new Revit features
  • Library Reports – export to CSV

Tip: if you want to create a Saved Search for a given tag, use [tag name] in the Search term box. The square brackets tell Unifi to search tags.

Release notes

To learn more about Unifi, click the banner at top right or check out my previous post:
New way to Share, Store and Search Your Revit Content

Exact version number as of today v1.5.0.35051


Dynamo: Visual Programming for Revit from Alfred Huang on Vimeo.

“This talk will cover some of the general principles of parametric design, and specific implementations of the principles in Revit via Dynamo. Attendees will come away with ideas about how Dynamo can be used in their offices, and resources for getting a deeper understanding of the application.”

via
Dynamo: Visual Programming for Revit in Revit User Community on Vimeo

I hinted that this was coming a few weeks back, but now here it is! A massive Subscription Release, along with a giveaway of the Siteworks addin package to Subscription users.

Download the update at: Autodesk Revit 2015 R2
Download the Siteworks package at: Autodesk Site Designer Extension for Revit 2015, or on Exchange here
(Note: you will need to login to your subscription account to access these) 

A few quick tips…
To toggle between Perspective and Orthographic view:

  1. Go to a 3D view
  2. Turn on Crop View
  3. Turn on Show Crop Region
  4. Right-click Viewcube
  5. Select Toggle to… and this will show Perspective or Parallel depending on your current mode


If you are wondering what ‘quick adjustments’ you can do in Perspective views:
Basically, you can use some simple commands like Align and Move, that were previously grayed out in Perspective mode.

To search in the Type Selector:

  1. Turn on Properties pane
  2. Click in the top of the Type Selector
  3. The search box is the top row

You can now also set a custom background colour (that means ‘color’ to U.S. folks):

 
Enhancements list:
http://revit.downloads.autodesk.com/download/2015RVT_RTM/R2/Enhancements_List_RVT_2015_R2.pdf

Readme (Interesting point: The install of Autodesk Revit 2015 Release 2 will also install Autodesk Dynamo (0.7.1) and required component IronPython.)

My top 3 features in Revit 2015 R2:

  • Work in perspective views, making quick adjustments without having to change views with some modeling capabilities now available in perspective views.
  • Find content more quickly with Search capabilities in the Type Selector and all drop-down lists.
  • Navigate PDFs exported from Revit more quickly with hyperlinked views.

My top 3 features in Autodesk Site Designer (previously Eagle Point Siteworks):

  • More quickly add design elements to your site such as berms and drainage swales, minimizing the time required to mass grade a site and to try alternatives at the design development stage.
  • Special terrain families within Site Designer provide you with parameters that control widths, cut and fill slopes and other projection settings.
  • Locate hardscape components such as streets, intersections, sidewalks, curbs and walls that can follow the existing terrain and have controlled elevations and slopes – all while the toposurface is automatically maintained.

More info:
Autodesk Revit 2015 Subscribers Get Slew of New Capabilities with “R2” Update

Heads-up:
Revit 2015 R2 Release | Applying Technology to Architecture

A few notes on installation versions from the Readme:
This update requires either the initial release of Autodesk Revit 2015 (build: 20140223_1515) or Autodesk Revit 2015 Update Release 3 (build: 20140606_1530) . Autodesk Revit 2015 Update Release 3 will need to be applied to any installed Revit 2015 which has either Autodesk Revit 2015 Update Release 1 (build: 20140322_1515) or Autodesk Revit 2015 Update Release 2 (build: 20140323_1530) applied. Installation will also be blocked if Autodesk Revit 2015 Update Release 4 (build: 20140903_1530)) has been applied, a full uninstall followed by a new install of Autodesk Revit 2015 will be needed in order to apply Release 2.  

Video: Matthew Miller recently gave high praise to this class, when he posted that David Baldacchino’s class AB412 Navigating Through the Storm Using Coordinate Systems in Revit “has been the best explanation of shared coordinates, that has helped me understand them.”

Matthew also provides these useful links:
Blogs Talking about Survey point in Revit
Understanding Shared Positioning in Revit

Shared Coordinates

Project Base Point Manipulation

Revit 2013 – Project Points, Survey Points, Revit Coordinates

via

Revittize: Set the Revit Survey Point