Using Modeled Groups Structurally
The idea of coordinating “Unit Plans” structurally has always been a nightmare in wood construction. There has to be a better way to monitor changes, right? Maybe? Because we currently cannot copy/monitor “Modeled Groups,” here’s my initial pass at a workaround that can help alleviate some of the pain.
When I think of customization the first question that comes to mind is, how can I be more productive if I find myself doing a repetitive task over and over again? The solution is basic: find ways of cutting time while being more efficient.
After you target the time-consuming, repetitive areas that can be improved, then you can start exploring the possibilities of using the programming platform of your choice. Some prefer writing code (Macros/Plug-ins) while others prefer visual programing (Dynamo/ Rhynamo).
The Problem
If you ever tried using Copy/Monitor you may have come across the never-ending messages such as “Openings Moved,” “Wall centerlines are different,” and others.
Figure 1: C/M Issues with coordination
After endless messages and constant design changes, trying to keep up with all the changes can become someone’s full-time job.
After a few meetings between design teams and contractor, the results will be that MEP needs to know where shear walls are located to avoid penetrations, Arch needs to know what the framing spans are and directions, and the contractor would like everything modeled for estimating purposes. BIM is in full effect the design teams have bought into process.
Copy Model Groups from Arch
If the design teams are experienced, most will agree that grouping modeled instances are the way to go.
Modeling in groups saves design teams hundreds of hours coordinating. The system may vary from architect to architect, but the overall concept is very similar. Some architects will model an instance off to the side of the building. Others will model the entire instance hundreds of feet above the building.
Figure 2: Units modeled off to the sides for coordination purposes
Having an understanding of how models are set up architecturally will help determine the best method of tracking the changes and working with groups structurally. The way the arch tracks the groups will ideally be the same method of tracking the groups structurally.
I find it easiest to open both models in the same Revit session. Highlight all groups in the architectural model, then copy the groups into your structural model.
Figure 3: Both Revit and Arch files opened in the same Revit session
If the process is that simple, sometimes you don’t need to create anything complex yet. Creating a macro or using Dynamo to track the changes would be something to think about.
Cleaning up the Modeled Groups
Once the groups are in your model you will need to strip the groups to only the information valuable for plans. For Structural we only care about the bearing walls, shear walls, and openings for documentation, so anything else can get deleted.
With Dynamo we can select walls and switch them out for structural walls. There is a custom package called “archi-lab.net” which has a node “change family type.” This will get you the node that will allow you to select and replace (see Figure 4).
Figure 4: Dynamo wire to replace wall type
Once groups are stripped out and only the walls and openings are showing you can then start documenting your plans. You can use a combination of attached groups.
Figure 5: 3D of Struct with modeled groups
Attaching “Detail Groups”
Detail groups work great when documenting your span directions and misc. notes. Because we have already used modeled groups to set up the unit plans, attaching “detailed groups” is pretty straightforward.
Figure 6: Framing plans using detail groups for annotation
You can also use detail groups to provide clients with different design schemes as an alternative to using design options.
Collaboration
The best way to monitor the groups will vary. Once you receive an architectural model update, the procedures to check for updates must be clearly shared among your design teams. The order of checking for updates works best in the following manner.
- First check the groups that are off the model. If those groups are not coordinated, most likely your overall plans will have overlapping line work. If you try and update the units on your overalls first you may be going back and forth with updates. That, of course, won’t help with the issue.
- After your units off the building are coordinated, if the overlaps still show it means the groups were shifted in plan.
- You then have to shift your modeled units on the overall plans. Select the groups and move them to align with the arch.
- If groups were deleted and new groups were added to the plans, repeat the process for that specific group. Most of the time the change is pretty obvious. Setting up Unit plan views that you can simply tag the unit room helps with units that are deleted or shifted.
Conclusion
Tackling wood construction can be very intimidating when you don’t have an approach in hand. Using copy/monitor is not always helpful when coordinating walls for a huge magnitude of a projects.
Because copy/monitoring modeled groups is not an option, this custom workaround to the approach, with a little visual programming introduction, has proved very valuable on all projects. The introduction of Dynamo has opened up the possibilities for future coordination of this process. Stay tuned….
Steve Carrillo is certified in Revit Structure 2015. He works at DCI Engineers (Irvine, California) as a Structural CAD Manager with over year years of experience utilizing BIM http://www.dci-engineers.com. His creative thinking and valuable background knowledge provides key input to all design teams. Steve’s work experience includes large commercial projects, K-12, residential, and high-rise projects. Steve attends and participates in user groups all over SoCal to remain on the cutting edge of technology, including LARUG (Los Angeles User Group), SCRUG (South Coast Revit User Group), CAD Camps, and Autodesk University (AU). Contact him via Twitter @scarrillo2023.
