Architects Modeling for Construction
A quick article with huge potential (if I do say so myself).
What a novel thought, an architect modeling FOR construction…intentionally. I say that due to the countless times that I have heard things like, "That is the contractors' responsibility", etc. I humbly say to that: [Expletives Redacted ;)]
Figure 1
Stud Rails, 3D Grids, and Surcharge Revit Families
Modeling elements that are typically either left out of models or only provided as details, such as the surcharge family, is a huge mistake in my opinion and makes project coordination more difficult than it needs be (as it is difficult enough when everyone is modeling everything). These and other simple additions to a BIM have good Coordination ROI.
Figure 2
The surcharge components, for instance, take a short time to input—like one or so per building, BUT the impact of having these in the design BIM and onward will pay huge dividends during coordination, construction, etc. Download this surcharge family directly from: https://app.box.com/s/lv0f7l6hz6au2xojydgt
Figure 3
The Stud Rails above come in two flavors: 2-Rail and 3-Rail and include “Column Width” —a good start to modeling your project specific ones. These are very sneaky in their importance. How many times has someone tried to place a pipe, etc. too close to a concrete column-to-beam intersection and then the pipes don’t fit in reality-world; then a change order (or 10) and, voilà, how many thousands of dollars did that just cost? Again, as opposed to modeling these and catching the potential conflicts when we are simply pointing at models, not improperly built systems in the field.
Say you don’t care? Say “that’s the contractors’ responsibility?” Not if you want to create models that bring (or start to bring) back architecture and architects to the “master builder” level, as the industry once viewed them.
Figure 4
The 3D Grid is purely for coordination and mostly for Navisworks®, since its Heads-Up-Display (HUD) grids and levels are, well, less than optimum IMHO. The 3D Grid can be had from: http://cad-vs-bim.blogspot.com/2013/10/3d-grids-in-revit-oldie-but-goodie-done.html
PLUS! There are some other cool add-ons at: http://revitcoaster.blogspot.com/2014/07/bimconsortium-revit-addin-update-new.html.One of these applies these 3D Grids in the same place and length as the grids internal to Revit, as well as copies a set to each level included! Thanks, Troy Gates @TroyGates, for the add-ons :D
Figure 5
BIM Consortium tools (to date). So, there are three (or more ;) “easy” things we can do to save literally thousands of dollars with negligible effort.
I’d say that when these processes are used it lifts the whole floor for our teams and projects and, after all, isn’t that the ideal we should strive for on each new endeavor undertaken? Cheers!
