Cross-Training Platforms
Athletics has never been my thing. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to understand the need for regular exercise. And so, I run. Well, at least I get to the neighbor’s driveway before sucking wind. I lift weights. Pretty soon I’ll be able to put some on the bar. Yoga? Count me in. Extra ice on the side. The variety of exercise supposedly has its benefits, according to those “real” athletes.
What does this have to do with Autodesk® Revit® Structure? I’m glad you asked. Let me untangle myself from Child’s Pose, and I’ll show you.
Why Cross-Train?
Cross-training has become standard verbiage in exercise circles. The benefits of cross-training, or a varied workout, include greater stamina, strength, and overall fitness. Doing the same thing over and over results in plateau, the point at which the body just doesn’t want to change anymore. To get the scale moving again, the best thing to do is shake things up a bit (Zumba, anyone?). Change the routine. Learn something new.
We can apply the concept of cross-training to the Revit environment. Revit is not meant to be solitary. Using the platforms together in a coordinated effort benefits everyone throughout the construction process. By “platforms” I mean Revit Structure, Revit Architecture, and Revit MEP, as well as the external analysis/collaboration tools. Knowing “how” each of the platforms works gives team members greater insight into the roles and complexities of the other team members’ responsibilities.
Looking back at my own career, I can see how I have unwittingly cross-trained my experiences. My career began as a drafter in an internship with a mechanical engineer. Opportunities began to emerge and I landed in the architectural field for a while. I then took a right-turn into civil engineering, with a bit of structural thrown in for good measure. After a few years, my career took a hard left back into the architectural field. Throughout the 20+ years of twists and turns, I’ve learned many different forms of Autodesk software, which has become an advantage in my experience.
Taking this convoluted path, I have come to realize the possibilities in cross-training Revit software. I understand the processes involved in developing each discipline’s model. Typically the engineers do their thing, the architects theirs, and in the end, the building comes together miraculously and everyone lives happily ever after. Right? Revit takes this traditional process and creates a paradigm shift in the design stages of development.
Figure 1: Cross-training has its benefits in Revit
Warm Up…
…to the idea that learning different software is a good thing! I’m not saying you need to become an expert in another discipline…that would be unrealistic and dangerous, not to mention the legal aspects. A simple understanding of how other disciplines use Revit and what information is required for their model is enough.
By cross-training Revit software, each member of the design team visualizes the model in its entirety, understanding how each part of the Revit puzzle works. The building puzzle is put together with each team member contributing various pieces. The architect designs the building, the structural engineer gets tasked with making the design buildable (no, that was not meant to be a slam on architects…you know what I mean!), and the mechanical engineer figures out the building systems. The “aha moment” happens when each piece is placed and the overall conglomeration is complete.
Using Revit, this collaborative process happens early in the design stage. The model is created and shared, and the puzzle starts to become a tool for discussion across disciplines. Issues can be addressed and resolved early and often, long before the first block is set. Communication thrives, saving many tears and heartache.
Stretch!
What are the advantages of an architect or mechanical engineer learning Revit Structure? Knowing what it takes for the structural model to be created, and what information is required for model integrity. Being able to create a model that, when transferred to the structural team, allows for easy translation and seamless processing. Resolution of interferences happens before a beam is placed. Is it easy to move a structural member in Revit Structure? Sure. Anyone can do that. But it has to make sense from all angles. Would a contractor move a column in the field because of a mechanical interference? As my teenage daughter would say, “probs not.” The same goes for the Revit Structure model. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Open dialog needs to continue throughout the project.
One tool available in Revit is the Copy/Monitor tool. This tool allows each discipline to monitor changes in the other linked models. The architect can Copy/Monitor the structural grid and columns. If something changes, the architect will be notified of the change when the linked model is updated. The opposite is also true. The structural engineer can Copy/Monitor the architectural walls and be notified of changes. Whether the objects are physically copied into the other models is a discussion that needs to take place before the model is started.
Figure 2: Revit’s Copy/Monitor tools
No Pain, No Gain
Revit Structure, Revit Architecture, and Revit MEP are designed as cross-training tools. The debate over model ownership can sometimes rival any political debate. What works on one project may not make sense on another. Having a good BIM execution plan in place can help alleviate any misunderstandings. The hierarchy of disciplines is typically established in the proposal process, and including the hierarchy of the model can and should be a part of this process. Understanding who will be coordinating the model from the beginning eliminates questions later.
Stay the Course
While every project is different, it is important to set standards for model setup and collaboration. Each team member understands the “rules” and performs the functions agreed to in the standards. This may include a schedule for coordination and set times to share models so that coordination continues to develop throughout the design phase.
Take the structural model for example. On the predetermined day, the model exchange takes place. The architectural and mechanical models are shared, linked, and monitored (or this can all take place continually through cloud storage of the model). The structural model is sent to the architect and mechanical engineer. Everyone has access to the current model, and everyone can see changes and interferences. A discussion ensues, and the issues are resolved.
Having even a slight understanding of the other platforms of Revit elevates the discussion to a whole new level. The thought process behind issue resolution now includes the consideration of the other team members’ abilities to make changes within the model. Maybe it is easier for the architect to make a change without affecting structure, or for the mechanical engineer to re-route something without affecting architectural design. Discussions expand and form the design.
Find a Trainer
Like I said earlier, you should not expect to become an expert in every platform of Revit that exists. Unless, of course, you have unlimited time and really love learning new software. (Probs not…) My suggestion would be to visit the Autodesk website for insights into the Revit world. Explore online how the platforms interact. Talk to the people who use the software on a daily basis. You’ll probably learn more from them than you really need to know, but they can also give valuable insight into the practical application of their particular Revit platform. The AUGI forums are another great place to learn from others in the industry.
Resources abound in this technological age. Creating time to expand your horizons and learn new software may take a Herculean effort, but being able to acknowledge the subtle differences in the software platforms is well worth the investment of a few hours of time. Being able to have an intelligent discussion of the Revit model, whether from an architectural, structural, or mechanical viewpoint, only helps to ease the design process.
Cool Down
You may be thinking “Okay, I have this extra knowledge. I know how Revit works from all perspectives. Now what?” Well, keep doing what you’re doing. Only now, do it better. Structural teams should still be doing structural design. There shouldn’t be any cross-training of responsibilities. That would get into a whole bunch of legal issues that would just make a big mess of things. Mechanical engineers shouldn’t have the authority to move columns, just as a structural engineers should consult the architect before moving a partition. Design responsibilities remain aligned. The advantage of a cross-trained building design team is simply this: each team member has insight into what it takes for the other team members to create and to modify their respective models. No more. No less. Any improvement in the collaborative effort will be reflected in the design team as a whole, which makes for happier contractors, and more importantly, happier clients.
Figure 3: Cross-training supplements collaboration
Kimberly Fuhrman, LEED AP BD+C, has more than 20 years experience in both the civil and architectural fields. She is a Revit Architecture 2014 Certified Professional and the Revit Structure Content Manager for AUGIWORLD. Kimberly is Revit Manager for LSC Design, Inc. in York, Pennsylvania. Contact her at kfuhrman@lscdesign.com.
