IFC webcast by Chris Zoog

Luke Johnson

When I hear ‘Chris Zoog‘, I can’t help but think of his 2003 brainchild, the 6 phases of a Revit user…

More recently (ie. this week), Chris delivered a webcast on the usefulness of IFC for NYC-RUG and gave his permission that it be uploaded to the web.  See the whole webcast embedded below:


So here is the breadcrumb of credit–
Created by Chris Zoog, uploaded to Dropbox by theoryshaw, put on Youtube by BenPMalone.

In the webcast, Chris talks about (among other things):

  • history of IFC
  • using Grasshopper and Geometry Gym plugins with Revit (see my previous posts)
  • drofus
  • Generic Model Adaptive Components used in simulation
  • clash detection / code compliance
  • Tekla Bimsight / Solibri Model Checker
  • “Navisworks is ubiquitous but this (Solibri) is the better tool”
  • BCF – BIM Collaboration format 
  • the IFCExportAs parameter for non-system families in Revit
  • arr-chee-cad (57:15)

It is recommended viewing if you are interested in the current uses of IFC and he also hints at what the future may hold…

A summary of the webcast from LinkedIn:
Jeffrey Ouellette • Well, he showed several:

1. Design & Documentation – A set of formal parametric design constraints were developed in Rhino using Grasshopper, tagged with IFC data and then exported as IFC files and imported into Revit. The objects were translated into Revit-native data structures (some better than others). The design work would be VERY difficult, if at all possible, in Revit, so he showed that using a design tool built for such purposes could still exchange the model data with the preferred documentation platform, totally different technologies, using IFC. Granted the connection was based on IFC4….

2. Planning & Design. dRofus is a very powerful web-based, database-centric, planning and facility data management tool. Via IFC exchanges, he showed how owner program requirements, developed most efficiently in dRofus, could be transferred to Revit via IFC2x3. Also designs in Revit could be re-imported into dRofus to compare and verify the model design against the requirements, AUTOMATICALLY!

3. Clash Detection/Coordination. Yes, Revit and Navisworks can talk to each other with a high degree of ease and fidelity now, but he showed how Solibri Model Checker (SMC), an IFC model based BIM tool, can find, report, and share this information in a variety of ways, including sharing model comments between platforms via BCF.

4. Code checking. Using Solibri Model Checker (SMC), a Revit design model is exported via IFC and examined for exiting, occupancy, and critical clearances using logical rules based on code requirements, such as IBC.

5. QA/QC. Beyond just using SMC for code compliance and clash detection, SMC can be used to determine the quality and validity of a BIM, both geometry and data, with rules based on a particular domain or even between domains.

What was most impressive was that it was working, given the reputation for Autodesk’s previous interoperability efforts, but noted recent improvements in support.

He was able to demonstrate that there was no excuse for being able to use IFC-based workflows TODAY, even with Revit. You just have to learn and do. My old Kendo sensei would always say, “Don’t TRY, just DO”. He wanted us to understand the importance of removing the abstract from the shinai (bamboo sword) being an analogy of a metal blade to moving, behaving, reacting to it BEING a real blade. If you merely try, then you fail and give up because you feel there is no consequence. But, if you act as if your life is on the line, then you will only stumble for a while as you get better. 
via
Which file formats? Struggling to decide… | LinkedIn

2gb file
via
IFC Info – ThinkBIM™

Heads-up:

Autodesk using Scoop.it

Luke Johnson

Currently most of the content is focused on AutoCAD and 3DSMax.  This initiative is somewhat similar to Mosaic.  However, Mosaic does require you to use your Autodesk SSO (single sign on).  You can also check out the Revit Wikihelp Twitter feed.

The Autodesk / scoop.it links to watch out for are below:

“service and support tips, tricks, updates, news, and solutions “
Support News Network

From a learning / training perspective:
Learn | Create | Make

Blender Python resource by Nathan Miller

Luke Johnson

If you are interested in learning Blender from an API (Python) perspective, check out:
Nathan’s Blender Python Notebook – THE PROVING GROUND

At the moment, the content is primarily along the lines of ‘getting started’ and basic modelling.  I’m sure it will get more advanced very soon…

I played with Blender back in mid-2008.  At the time I was using some of the randomization capability to make some organic forms for ultimate use in Revit.  I used a plugin called Blender World Forge (ver 0.1.0).  I had some success, but it wasn’t total.  Here is an example:

I have since had more success with organic forms in Revit using meshmixer:
Using meshmixer to morph your Revit Topography

From a devoted follower…

Luke Johnson

I wanted to share this with you, because it certainly brought a smile to my face:
Troy Whitehas sent you a message.

Date: 1/16/2013
Subject: Thanks for the add.
I have been a devoted follower of your blog for a few years now.
Excellent stuff! Your posts have helped me to streamline my workflow, and enhance my understanding of the revit back end. Appreciate all of your work! Thanks again.
…

Luke is a true Revit guru. His informative blog “What Revit Wants” is the last stop on my weekly review. As an operator who spends 50-plus living in the Revit-led BIM ecosystem, the importance of understanding the structure and logic of the software is key to developing an agile and efficient workflow. This is what Luke offers, a computational guide to the inner workings of this exceptional and complex program. His results are always interesting, sometimes paradigm shaking, and never lacking in thought.
-Troy White, BIM Modeler

 

Its good to be reminded that the blog is appreciated.  Thanks Troy!  (you can check his profile on LinkedIn)

PS.  I love it that Troy states “understanding the structure and logic of the software is key…”  This is the essence and purpose of knowing What Revit Wants and making it work for You.

Some followups from Twitter (also see the Comments):

Deleting a Design Option Set may prompt to delete View Templates

Luke Johnson

If a View Template includes a Design Option visibility setting, and then the associated Design Option Set is deleted, Revit will prompt you to delete the View Template:

Obviously, you can untick the box to retain your View Template.

Here is another post along similar lines:
Accepting a Primary Option results in Deletion of Drafting Views – explanation

Revit is 5% faster with Hyper-Threading disabled

Luke Johnson

Until we have full multi-core implementation on Revit, it is essentially looking at one core at a time (except for certain uses, such as Rendering).  Mark Cronin has tested whether Hyper Threading helps standard Revit – and his benchmarks indicate that it does not… the number to look at below is 318 (no HT) vs 335 (with HT).

He “averaged the results from the workstation, and the scores can be seen below:
RFO Averaged Results
They clearly show that there is at least a marginal improvement in the model creation portion of the testing, and a substantial performance reduction in the rendering section with Hyper-Threading disabled.”
via
Hyper-Threading for Revit? | betterREVIT

How far has multi-core implementation come in Revit?  Gordon Price on RFO:
File and view open are both multi-threaded, as are exporting of DWGs and images. Pretty sure printing is multi-threaded now too. And I am sure that updating a curtain wall is, just not sure yet if that is a function of curtain walls specifically, or if updating any family in a project is multi-threaded. Pretty sure it is not everything, as I just tested changing a wall thickness and it pegged my dual core VM at 50%. Edits to doors hit 49-50% for just a second. I suspect curtain walls got the optimized code because 1: it was easier and 2: really complex curtain walls kill performance

I recall that the revit.ini used to have a setting for multi-core wall join cleanup.  Steve mentions it in quoting a Revit technical note:
In Revit 2010, multi-threaded methods for printing and wall join cleanup have been made available. Multi-threaded hidden line removal for printing has been enabled by default.
via
Revit OpEd: Multi Core/Processors – Tech Note

So the revit.ini used to have ParallelWallJoins and ParallelPrintProcessing switches.  I’m not sure if these are still implemented in Revit 2013 (my .ini was at “C:UsersLukeAppDataRoamingAutodeskRevitAutodesk Revit 2013Revit.ini” but didn’t include any lines for these multi-core switches … However, it might still be possible to add them.)

Force Design Review to open PDF files using Vector information

Luke Johnson

If you open PDF files using the embedded vector data (ie. lines), you can then use ADR (Autodesk Design Review) to snap to PDF lines in order to measure them.

This may be useful to you if you are using ADR for markup tasks.  In our office, we are still very much PDF-centric, and various PDF readers allow you to measure PDFs anyway, so … you get the idea.

If you want to force ADR to open PDFs as vectors, follow the steps on the following post at RevitForum:
Design Review Tutorial

Some direct links (you will need to login to download):

Attached Files Attached Files

Thanks to Tim West for the post, the training guide and the registry tweak.  Nice job!

From Tim West’s PDF linked above

Manual steps from Instructions.txt:
XP
    Open your system registry editor with command ‘regedit’
    ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAutodeskDesign ReviewPreferences’
    If there is not a key called ‘PDFImport’ please create it.
    Create a DWORD value whose name is ‘PDF Conversion Method’ and set its value as 2.
    Close your registry editor.
    Open your PDF files with ADR2012
    PDF will be converted to DWF as vector; you can save this DWF file by then.

Vista/7
    Open your system registry editor with command ‘regedit’
    Expand ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAppDataLowSoftwareAutodeskDesign ReviewPreferences’ or ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAutodeskDesign ReviewPreferences’
    If there is not a key called ‘PDFImport’ please create it.
    Create a DWORD value whose name is ‘PDF Conversion Method’ and set its value as 2.
    Close your registry editor.
    Open your PDF files with ADR2012
    PDF will be converted to DWF as vector; you can save this DWF file by then.