Week-4 Reading - Reactions

Once again the discussions this week were very worthwhile.  Here are a few observations.

• For reasons that I don’t fully understand the in-class discussions we’ve had don’t reproduce the richness and thoughtfulness of the written discussions on the web.  I’d appreciate suggestions on how to make the in-class experience better.
• Almost everyone had clearly read the preceding posts and adapted their own work to those posts – bravo!
• There are some intriguing ideas for additional services - $$$.
• The issues of legal (and insurance) concerns are well discussed.  My own contribution would be that the personal responsibility of the registered professional makes most of us very cautious.
• In clash-detection discussions no-one noted that the issue of “soft-clash” detection becomes quite hairy because the access/clearance issues probably vary in different directions and along the length of elements such as pipes or ducts – more than the dimensions of the objects themselves.
• In discussions of estimating, there was only a brief discussion of the issue of labor costs.  BIM typically only produces quantities.  Labor costs can vary depending on conditions.
• A few posts addressed the use of BIM through the “Life Cyle” of the building, but in fact stopped short of considering occupancy and operation, renovation and demolition.  There are many opportunities in those areas I’d argue.

Jim Mitchell

Paper Topics – Full List

Below is the link to the full list of Paper Topics

Google Docs PDF of Topics

Comments

• We have a fascinating range of topics which I hope everyone will find interesting when we share them at the end of the course
• I’ve written responses to each topic submission in the VistaBB grading comments.
• As I noted in class, I expect serious exploration of literature sources as part of the outline due next week.
• For those of you working on related projects you’re most welcome to exchange data sources and strategies with each other – just be sure to give credit for specific language or ideas.
• In many cases the BIM Handbook should be a good starting point and appropriate reference.

Jim Mitchell

Course Progress Survey – Week-4

Because your show of hands at the last class indicated that you were comfortable with another survey I’ve created one to ask how you think the class is progressing.  

• All the questions are click-box with one place for suggestions at the end. 
• It should take only a minute or two to complete.
• I will publish the results via this blog.

GoogleDocs Survey Link

Jim Mitchell

Paper Topics – Preliminary Comments 1/27/2010

I’ve looked at the few paper topics that have been submitted as of 9AM on the due date, today.  Here are some general comments that may help those who have yet to submit.

• I reminded everyone by email last night that EACH person is to submit topics and teammates – NOT just one team member.  I need that for grading purposes.
• We have quite a range of topics so far, from “BIM for Senior Design” to “Robotics in Construction”.  That’s great. 
• Anticipating the Outline for next week
• Be sure to include some appropriate literature.
• Google Scholar is a good starting point.  The reference librarians can be helpful too. 
• “Trade” publications such as AECBytes are acceptable for topics such as BIM where the literature may be sparse. 
• General newspaper and articles in mass publications should be only a starting point.  They’re usually based on more thorough information – whether cited or not.
• If you’re doing a “BIM in Senior Design” project
• Be wary of just keeping a journal.
• Look for literature (including the BIM Handbook) and plan to compare your experience to what is reported.
• Documenting expectations explicitly at the beginning in as much detail as possible is very worthwhile – a retrospective set of expectations isn’t nearly as convincing.
• Think about ways to make your record quantitative as well as qualitative.
• I will be posting the topics via a link from this blog so you can see what your classmates are doing

Jim Mitchell

Assignment A1 Grading – Simple BIM Model

As a class you took this assignment seriously and did a very good job.  I was most pleased with the results.  Some observations are perhaps worthwhile.

• Everyone came away enthusiastic about Revit, though some recognized its limitations (see below).
• Most people found the tutorials useful, though some ignored them and some did not bother with the videos.
• Many of you have extensive prior Autocad experience and thus contrasted the menu structure there to that in Revit.  Many missed the Autocad keyboard shortcuts
• In fact Revit has quite a few shortcuts
• Most people stuck with something very close to the tutorial model – and received full credit. 
• A few people, however, pushed well beyond that model to explore such things as slanted walls, second floors, stairs, custom families.  They found limitations of Revit in several cases, or at least found it not as easy as the tutorial.
• As in the reading assignments, a number of you did a fine job of comparing this model to your prior experience with not only Autocad, but other programs such as Rhino or Inventor.
• Unfortunately a number of you had problems with Revit crashing on CadLab machines.  I’ve asked IRT to look into this, so hopefully it will improve.

Jim Mitchell

Chapter-2 Discussions

This week’s reading on discussion questions from Chapter-2 of the BIM Handbook was overall an excellent class effort.

• Almost every student made explicit, thoughtful references to their predecessors in the thread.
• A few had looked at other threads and made useful comments.
• Everyone seemed well aware of the major points of the chapter.
• Some (good) challenged some of the contentions.
• A few of you had quite extensive pieces that drew on prior experience – they were most welcome.

I believe that this reading appropriately informed your experiences on completing the first assignment (A1) on creating a BIM model using Revit Architecture although few of you made any explicit references to the assignment.

Jim Mitchell

Getting Started with Revit Architecture – A Simple Building Excerise

I wanted to have a simple demonstration of the power of Revit without having to work through the complete (excellent) tutorials.  To that end I created 4 sequential videos showing the creation of a simple building with doors and windows as well as a “sheet” with multiple views and take-offs of the doors.  The total time of the videos is about 30 minutes.

The links to the videos are:

• Video-1 – Creating a floor, Exterior walls, Elevation and 3D view
• Video-2 – Interior partitions, rooms, roof, doors & windows
• Video-3 – Perspective view, door schedule
• Video-4 – Sheet with views – to allow traditional paper printing

Note to student in the Intelligent Buildings course – there’s nothing new here for you.  I just thought others might be interested.

Learning Revit in Detail

What I’ve shown in class is only a tiny piece of the capabilities of Autodesk’s Revit series (Architecture, MEP, Structure).  If you want to learn the programs in depth I heartily recommend their excellent tutorials.  You’ll need to download multiple zip files totalling close to 1GB of material for each and then assemble it in a folder to make good use of it, but it’s worth it.

Here are the links for the 2010 versions

• Architecture Tutorials
• Structure Tutorials
• MEP Tutorials

One tip for the MEP tutorials (and structural I’m pretty certain): They make extensive use of a link to an architecture file.  I suggest copying that file from its folder into the MEP (and structural I believe) folder to make opening each tutorial file easier – you’ll avoid having to make the link each time.

Chapter-1 Discussion Assignment – Comments

I’ve now completed reading and grading all the entries in the VistaBB discussion area.   What follows are general comments about them.  I put specific comments in my grading of each entry.

The topics assigned for discussion – by last Name

• A-E  - What are some of the significant problems associated with the use of 2D CAD, and how do they waste resources and time during both the design and construction phases as compared to be BIM-enabled processes?
• F-K - What changes in the design and construction processes are needed to enable productive use of the BIM technology?
• L-P  - Why does the design-bid-build business process make it very difficult to achieve the full benefits the BIM provides during design or construction?
• Q-Z - How do parametric rules associated with the objects in BIM improve the design and construction process?

My Comments

• Overall  - Good work
• I was very pleased with the quality of your responses.  You wrote in generally reasonable prose and addressed many different points in a thoughtful manner.  It was a great start.
• Lost Grading Points
• Some lost a point for not reading and reacting to prior posts.  I will be fiercer about this in future.
• Look at the F-K groups for a good example of how to do it.
• Explicit comments on other posts
• One student took the trouble to put multiple comments on other’s posts.  That was instructive and admirable.
• Such comments are welcome on this blog too
• Plagiarism Free
• My check with TurnItIn revealed no significant plagiarism problems.  Bravo
• Specific issues that were raised
• The role of education, both for new and older workers
• A challenge to the idea that Design-Bid-Build must inherently be more inefficient
• Concern about the social impacts of this technology
• Historical references
• I lived through the equally massive transition from paper to computers where some of the same issues were played out.

Chapter-1 of BIM Handbook: What the class found confusing or wrong-headed

The first assignment was to read chapter one of “The BIM Handbook” our text for the first half of the course and to write a comment on it.  In class students filled out an index card  addressing two questions “Most interesting thing in Reading”, and “Most Confusing or Wrong-Headed thing in Reading.”  What’ follows are the comments on “Confusing or Wrong-Headed” (transcribed by dictation so there may be a few hilarious errors).  I’ve also put a few of my own observations at the beginning.

My Observations

• A number wanted more on the disadvantages and negative effects of the transition to BIM
• Some wanted more detail – the rest of the book should help
• Some felt that the authors were biased
• A number wanted more support for the contention that the advent of BIM is going to make a positive difference to the end-product

Student Comments

BIM knows the problem with the current process but is pushing through and trying to change it, while creating a whole new level problems.

Building procurement. The earlier model was created the better. Eric said structure doesn’t automatically see updated architectural drawings.

Not much included in the text about BIM disadvantages. But perhaps it is too new in the industry to document disadvantages without them becoming obsolete.

The most confusing part, although I get the basic concept, was the part about new contractual relationships.

I thought some of the graphs were a little confusing.

The non-form charge was a bit confusing and not easily understandable.

Everything seemed pretty cut and dry in this chapter.

Can’t think of any.

Questions to answer it in the chapter. Awkward wording that made it difficult to begin to formulate an answer.

Can’t think of anything applicable.

How BIM actually affects construction? Do the construction managers actually look at the model or do they just use plans and sections?

Nothing.

- while it is easy to learn and I don’t necessarily agree with the statement that it will take over AutoCAD because then there will be need for older people to learn new system and some people are stuck behind the times and prefer to utilize “outdated” ways.

I am most confused about how it will speed up the design process. To me, it will take more time to develop an accurate model.

Inputting material properties could be a tedious pain in the neck. Otherwise not much comes to mind.

BIM doesn’t seem as perfect as they say. Many jobs will be lost.

Nothing.

Some info/stats based on personal experience of authors, not studies.

Some descriptions of how the parametric objects work.

The idea that there are still problems in court nation in regards to MEP, structural and architectural design.

The effectiveness of one single model used for all designers (architects and all engineers) and contractors/on-site worker was not discussed in details. How IT technology accommodates it?

it was a bit repetitive, and felt more like a biased opinion in favor, without listing the “cons” at all.

criticizing is most difficult, because whenever I thought about the challenges, it came with other problems again so I’m confused where I have to stand.

Contractor bidding.

There wasn’t anything necessarily confusing. I just haven’t fully come to understand the point BIM yet. What is it? Is Revit BIM? Is it just an idea? A way of going about design and construction?

The implication that design build is cheaper than going out to bid. Maybe this is correct with the time value of money, but in the real world contractors and money for variables in design build.

It was certainly biased, and I thought some of the economic data(especially about construction) was unreasonable.

DBB has its own advantage or not or damage is better than DBB in all aspect.

Introduction to Chapter 1 was a give anything. Otherwise the reading was clear and understandable

Making the implementation and adoption of the IM some more simplified than is the case in reality. Lack of detail.

Most confusing part is how all elements are connected.

- I’m confused on how BIM helps all the firms if majority of them have been working with CAD and microstation.

How that can benefit lifetime cycle of the building.

I thought the authors were fair, informative, and correct in what they wrote. Nothing confused me; however I wonder what the real reason for the stagnation in productivity is.

I’m still a little fuzzy on how each party will interact with BIM model.

A bit confused on how BIM can realistically fit into a design-did-build process. Seems they were emphasizing the design-build process has been more compatible, but that’s still somewhat more amongst firms.

Chapter-1 of BIM Handbook: What the class found interesting

The first assignment was to read chapter one of “The BIM Handbook” our text for the first half of the course and to write a comment on it.  In class students filled out an index card  addressing two questions “Most interesting thing in Reading”, and “Most Confusing or Wrong-Headed thing in Reading.”  What’ follows are the comments on “Most Interesting” (transcribed by dictation so there may be a few hilarious errors).  I’ve also put a few of my own observations at the beginning.

Jim Mitchell

My Observations

• I’m impressed with the range of topics that people selected as interesting.
• The productivity observations were new to many.
• The range of design and construction business methods are not familiar to all.

Student Comments on Most Interesting

BIM Knows the problem with the current process, but is pushing through when trying to change it.

BIM will cause changes in the way project participants work together.

The design-bid-build process brought it back to my first co-op (with the city streets to park and). It is it as inefficient as the book says. Learning about BIM in general is interesting xxx(?)

The actual definition and discussion of what BIM is and is not.

I thought the analysis of the design-.-build system was very interesting.

Parametric and how BIM works.

The thorough description of the BIM technology and the ways it can improve modern building design.

The fact that the design-build (DB) has come from current practices.

section about NIST. I did research of them last term to write about building integration and BIM and it was interesting to see their quotes again.

As other industries increase in productivity; the construction industry has declined in productivity.

The parametric features of BIM.

It was interesting reading about the many advantages of BIM over 2D CAD.

Ways in which Revit (BIM) can improve the current system.

I found the topic of where engineering is headed using the BIM since I can connect to it. Basically the difference between 2-D and BIM.

The extensive information stored in parametric objects and the benefits of containing this information.

The vast array of applications beyond just the design process seems foreign, but is very interesting.

The overview of the design-bid-build process of each involved party.

Field productivity and additional costs table

Fabrication using a model yields saving time and money by fabricating in the factory and not on the site.

BIM and its associated parametric capabilities.

The different BIM definitions

The abilities that BIM enables the fabrications of members/parts prior to construction and eliminates costs and complications generated by on-site fabrication.

The explicit comparisons and clarification between BIM in standard processes.
Just the appreciation and historical logging of xxx(?)

Learning new program which can change the process of building design

How they paper-based drawing is getting “old-style” and caused a lot of wastes in time and space. In other hand, BIM and CAD are more efficient and useful in many ways.

The different sections about the design-bid-build versus design build. It was interesting to read about each process’s compatibility with BIM.

That BIM will coordinate all aspects of the construction process, not just the design phase

I really like learning about the parametric objects, and how they actually communicate with the model.

The most interesting part definitely knowing what are the advantages by using BIM. Also, the new tool and new process that support and improve many business practices.

The application of BIM to almost all phases in the lifecycle of a building.

Learning about just how many resources can be saved -- time, paper, and power can be saved by implementing BIM into design -- how much conflict can be spotted early on.

The most interesting thing in reading is how BIM modeling can change the whole aspect of structured design and how organized the system is.

- know the difference between BBB and DB
- clear definition of BIM and the reason why it has developed.

Real experience in building industry that is taking design build option more and more because of Revit requirement.

The authors of vision of where the DB model can take the industry and how the implementation of the BIM can help

I like the potential for greater communication between all parties involved in the design-build process.

The attempts to quantify the benefits of BIM (through cost, time savings etc.) these numbers are speculative at best, but do seem necessary for making a case in industry. Interested in how they arose.

Welcome to the Intelligent Building Blog

I’ve set up this blog to allow me to post things of interest to all students in the class, and allow them (and others) to comment on them.  This does not replace what shut away behind VistaBB’s walls, but is here in public because I suspect that individuals not in the course may be interested as well.

Jim Mitchell