Revit Live: Explore Your Model

Transform your Revit models into interactive visualizations you can step into and explore with Revit Live! 

This cloud-based software allows you to move around your model, from outside to in, up and down stairs, and through doors that open when you approach them. You can also easily explore the model from any height; view it from the perspective of a toddler or wheelchair user. It even comes with options to control the time of year and day, giving you a good idea of how your structure will appear in different light and weather conditions.

It’s easy to convert your Revit files into Revit Live. Simply create a 3D view that contains the things you want to see in Live. Click a button, and all your content is carried over, including materials, lights, and Rich Photorealistic Content (RPC) Families – no need to rework anything. Your terrain model will be extended to the horizon to produce a robust 3D landscape. Then it’s easy to move around and present with the simple click and drag method and by using the mouse wheel.

One of the most promising features of Revit Live is non-Revit users can really get a feel for your design without owning Autodesk Revit Software. All they need to do is download a free 30-day trial of Revit Live.

Options for exposure control and animations are available in Stingray – but I will save that for a later post.

For now, check out the accompanying video to this post to see Revit Live in action. 

For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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Jim Cowan

AEC Senior Application Specialist

Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience, Autodesk design solutions expertise, and status as an Autodesk Certified Instructor have made him a sought after university curriculum developer, instructor, and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include eLearning, interoperability between solutions, and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot–Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at the University of Manitoba, Jim has a special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings, and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). You can learn more from Jim on his YouTube Channel.

Build Great Things

Ideate, Inc. is proud to partner with Connect2Classes, a Seattle based website where prospective students can search and register for local and online classes.

Focused on customer satisfaction, Connect2Classes (C2C) is your go-to resource to find learning opportunities in the Seattle area for hundreds of varied topics.

After receiving frequent requests for Revit classes, C2C and Ideate have partnered to address the growing market demand. Ideate’s emphasis on quality education is a perfect fit for the C2C business model and we are proud to offer monthly Revit Architecture classes at our downtown Seattle office, as well as online.

Visit C2C’s website for additional details.

For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

What's in a Name?

On August 1, 2016, we entered a new Autodesk era, the era of “subscribers.” The words “subscribe” and “subscription” have been used with Autodesk products for a long time, so this new, formal name is causing a bit of confusion. 

I’ll try to clear things up.

In a nutshell, you are a subscriber with Autodesk if you:

1. Own an Autodesk product and have a current maintenance plan. You will want to be sure to keep your maintenance plan up-to-date; you will lose your subscriber status if your plan expires. 

2. Have a subscription contract (formerly called a “desktop subscription”) to an Autodesk product.

If you do not meet either of the above criteria, but own an Autodesk product, you are considered a legacy customer. As legacy customer you can continue to run your software as long as your computer and operating system support it, but you will not have access to upgrades or the latest software.

Why do you want to be a subscriber? Because you get all of these benefits:

• Instant access to the latest product releases and enhancements.
• Access to previous versions of the software.
• Ability to use your software on your home computer.
• Ability to use your software when traveling outside of your home country.
• Autodesk technical support.
• Easy-to-use administrative tools that allow you to simply and effectively manage software licenses, seats, and usage.
• Additional cloud and software services.

Still have questions? Feel free to contact me. I would be happy to talk with you about your status and your options.

Thank you for reading. For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

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John Souza

Director of Sales

John Souza started on the ground floor with Autodesk CAD, selling solutions since release 10. In the nearly 30 years since, he's worked to grow his expertise with each Autodesk solution, weaving a career around cutting-edge 3D design software sales.

He has proven success in building high-performing sales teams in the Civil Engineering and Government sectors, he's managed and led business development and sales teams for Autodesk and Advanced Solutions. Joining Ideate, Inc. in 2003, he was initially the Manufacturing Solutions Director then worked to expand reach within the AEC community as Director of Business Development. Today, as Sales Director, he leads a dedicated team working to connect architects and designers with best-fit design technology education and implementation solutions.

What’s up with Autodesk Licensing?

Almost one year into the Autodesk Business Model Transformation, many customers still have questions about licensing. Lately, Autodesk has been using a lot of Autodesk-speak to describe their licensing options. I’m going to help you make the right choices for your company by explaining the options and sharing my thoughts on the best path.

First let’s take a step back. Most likely, unless you just purchased a desktop version of Autodesk software, you have a Perpetual License. You should have received notice that Autodesk will not offer Perpetual Licenses after July 31, 2016. This doesn’t mean that your favorite cad tool is going away; it means that the way you purchase and receive new software from Autodesk will change.

Here’s a quick overview of the three options:

• Perpetual License – Although not offered after July 31, 2016, those with existing Perpetual Licenses can continue to run the specific versions as long as their computers and operating systems allow. Many Perpetual License holders subscribe to a Maintenance Plan to keep their software current.

• Maintenance Plan (Formerly called “Subscription”) – Under this plan, which you can renew annually, you will automatically receive all updates to a Perpetual License. You can stop paying the annual maintenance fee at any time, but then your Perpetual License will remain at the last version. There are additional benefits to this plan, such as support and access to previous versions.

• Desktop Subscription – This will be the only way to purchase Autodesk software after July 31, 2016. It is term-based, and it allows you to operate the software for a specific length of the term. During that term, you will receive all updates. This type of licensing is also called time-based, on-demand, or rental.

I recommend that longtime users keep their Maintenance Plans active, because this option offers the lowest annual recurring cost. To get added protection against increases in annual costs, you can renew your Maintenance Plan for two or three years.

That said, there is no one-size-fits all. Depending on your situation, you may need only Desktop Subscriptions, or you may need a combination of Perpetual Licenses/Maintenance Plans and Desktop Subscriptions.

Contact me if you’d like to discuss these licensing options. And keep an eye out for my next blog post, where I will talk about how the cloud is impacting Autodesk software.

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John Souza

Director of Sales

John Souza started on the ground floor with Autodesk CAD, selling solutions since release 10. In the nearly 30 years since, he's worked to grow his expertise with each Autodesk solution, weaving a career around cutting-edge 3D design software sales.

He has proven success in building high-performing sales teams in the Civil Engineering and Government sectors, he's managed and led business development and sales teams for Autodesk and Advanced Solutions. Joining Ideate, Inc. in 2003, he was initially the Manufacturing Solutions Director then worked to expand reach within the AEC community as Director of Business Development. Today, as Sales Director, he leads a dedicated team working to connect architects and designers with best-fit design technology education and implementation solutions.

DPR Slicer v5

The free add-in from DPR Construction helps automate the creation of 3D Views with appropriate content for tasks that are best performed in Navisworks, such as clash detection. The add-in lets a user easily define projects, based on floor levels, where section boxes will enclose the model, say level by level. It also lets you associate view setting with the section box view that is to be produced, for example by discipline or by building system – and subsequently you can export all required views as Navisworks cache files. This is the process that is repeated as the Revit Models are developed – and so it aids with interoperability by making it easier to produce the latest iteration of the assembled building.

Download DPR Model Slicer for Revit!

View Instructional Video in DPR Model Slicer!

For more information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com

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Jim Cowan
Ideate AEC Senior Application Specialist
Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience, Autodesk design solutions expertise and status as an Autodesk Certified Instructor have made him a sought after university curriculum developer, instructor and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include eLearning, interoperability between solutions and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot–Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at University of Manitoba, Jim has special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). YouTube Channel: MrJimCowan

Get it. Know it. Use it.

Light Analysis

Lighting Analysis can be added to Revit 2014 and 2015. It lets you produce graphic output showing light levels and it evaluates the results (pass/fail) with regard to LEED accreditation. A floor plan view, a 3D view and schedules are produced automatically to assist in managing and presenting the light analysis.

The pricing structure includes a free level and a fee level for high and low resolution analyses based on the area of floor objects visible in the LEED 3D view at the following rates:

• Low Resolution (6 ft. grid)-Free up to -25,000 sq. ft., then 1 CC per 12,500 sq. ft.
• High Resolution (1 foot grid)-Free up to -6,000 sq. ft., then 1 CC per 3,000 sq.

You can control your analysis costs in 2 ways:

• By hiding floor objects in the LEED 3d view that you are not interested in.
• By selecting in the analysis dialog one or more levels to analyze rather than the whole building.

Download Lighting Analysis for Revit!

View Instructional Video in Lighting Analysis!


For more information on training and consulting for the various products Ideate services, visit our website at www.ideateinc.com

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Jim Cowan
Ideate AEC Senior Application Specialist
Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience, Autodesk design solutions expertise and status as an Autodesk Certified Instructor have made him a sought after university curriculum developer, instructor and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include eLearning, interoperability between solutions and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot–Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at University of Manitoba, Jim has special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). YouTube Channel: MrJimCowan

Get it. Know it. Use it.

Windows XP and the End of an Era

Do you remember the first day you started using Windows XP? I do, and it was like taking a giant “jump to lightspeed” leap into the future of operating systems. It was a whole new world of richly rendered windows, dialog boxes, and that Start button. That start button was crystal clear! All this magnification coming from what seemed like the dark ages of Windows 95 (I did miss that Weezer video, however…). 

Although my XP days seem like they were yesterday, it was over 12 years ago Microsoft released Windows XP to the public. As all good things must come to an end, today Microsoft officially ends support for Windows XP, which for many users was Microsoft’s greatest OS of all time.

So, what does that mean for you as an Autodesk software user and an Ideate customer? Ideate Technical Support will still provide assistance for Autodesk software supported on Windows XP to the best of our ability, but can not guarantee a full issue resolution. 

Autodesk 2014 products were the last to be supported on Windows XP. 2015 products are supported on Windows 7 and 8/8.1 only. For Ideate’s OS recommendations, take a look at our Migrating to Autodesk 2015 software doc.

For those of you that are still holding onto those glory days of XP, or those unable to make that next OS jump, I assure you the future is bright. Windows 7 in my opinion is a great operating system. I’m even starting to get a little warm and fuzzy about Windows 8.1. Although it maybe a little early, I’ve already heard some interesting hints of Windows 9 on the horizon.

Farewell Windows XP. You will always have a special place in our hearts, but it's time we move on.

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Derek Wielkopolski
Ideate Technical Support Manager/Application Specialist
Derek holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University, Rhode Island. He is experienced working within the AEC industry from concept design through construction administration for both small and large scale projects. As Ideate’s Support Manager he ensures a timely and quality response to support requests and questions. Follow Derek on Twitter: @dwielk

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Autodesk InfraWorks: New File Type Support

When speaking to our customers at Ideate, Inc. we often receive requests for easier ways to create visualizations and renderings using different types of combined model data. This year, Autodesk InfraWorks includes two added file types that allow users to directly import Revit .RVT and Point Cloud files into their InfraWorks models. From there, the Presentation tools in InfraWorks can be used for quick and easy renderings and visualizations.
 
Included with Autodesk’s Building Design Suite Ultimate, and Infrastructure Design Suite Premium and Ultimate editions, Autodesk InfraWorks adds a great tool and tremendous value to the 2014 design suites.
 
When installed through the Infrastructure Design Suites packages, Autodesk InfraWorks loads two new files types into the list of available data sources.* In the previous releases of InfraWorks, known as Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler (AIM) and AIM R2, the .FBX option was the only way to import a Revit model into InfraWorks and required an extra step to create the .FBX file.
 
The new Revit .RVT file option allows users to directly import Revit files and place them in the InfraWorks model. This option is compatible with Revit 2014 files, and requires users to have Revit 2014 installed on the same system (it does not work without Revit installed, or if you have a pre-2014 version installed).  
 

Point Cloud support has also been added to the list of Data Sources and supports the new Autodesk ReCap .RCS and .RCP files.

As with all other data sources, once a Point Cloud or Revit file has been added, they must be configured and placed into the InfraWorks model. However, with the shared material libraries for Autodesk products, materials and textures from Revit files are now transferred over to InfraWorks automatically (it does take a few minutes to process and load the Revit model).  

With the added benefit of Proposals and Scenarios in Autodesk InfraWorks, we now have a quicker and easier way to create realistic visualizations and renderings while incorporating Revit models into a real world environment built from GIS, CAD, 3D Model, Raster, Point Cloud and other data sources.
 
Visit our website at www.ideateinc.com/2014 for videos and information on the 2014 Autodesk product line.
 
*Currently, the Revit .RVT import option is not available with Building Design Suite installations. 

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Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers. @MattM_PE

Get it. Know it. Use it.

New in 2014: Introduction to Autodesk InfraWorks 2014

Here at Ideate, we have been working hard to review all of the new products and features of the 2014 Autodesk design suites.  This year, Autodesk has re-branded and enhanced their Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler (AIM) program as Autodesk InfraWorks.
 
Autodesk InfraWorks is an easy to use, high-level collaboration, communication and visualization tool for planners, designers, and anyone else involved in the planning and pre-design phase of a project’s lifecycle.
 
All capabilities that existed in the last release of AIM (version R2 via Subscription Center) have been carried over and enhanced in Autodesk InfraWorks.  New create and edit feature options allow users to create riverways, pipes & structures, and tree alleys while enhanced road styles provide new profile viewing and editing capabilities.

The Autodesk Material libraries are shared in the 2014 product line, making interoperability even easier, and providing a high level of consistency across renderings and visualizations from product to product.  The added ability to directly import Autodesk Revit models allows a seamless incorporation of proposed designs into existing condition models built from GIS, Civil 3D, DWG, and other 3D model data.
 
Point Cloud data compatibility has also been added to Autodesk InfraWorks, and with the release of Autodesk ReCap, processing, editing and using point clouds is easier than ever.
 
Autodesk InfraWorks also includes brand new functionality in the form of Proposals and Scenarios that can be created within the InfraWorks model to highlight different design alternatives. Users can easily switch between Proposals to quickly show changes to the design. Scenarios can be published and shared online with an Autodesk 360 account.
 
For non-design suite owners, Autodesk has also created a way to access shared models via InfraWorks for the Web and the InfraWorks 360 mobile app for iPad.  Both are free products that either work directly in a web browser, or can be downloaded and installed on an iPad.
 
Included with Autodesk’s Building Design Suite Ultimate, and Infrastructure Design Suite Premium and Ultimate editions, Autodesk InfraWorks adds a great tool and tremendous value to the 2014 design suites.
 
Don’t forget to look through the great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

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Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers. @MattM_PE

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Ideate, Inc. Earns Autodesk Civil Infrastructure Specialization

San Francisco, CA, 6/3/2013–Ideate, Inc., (ideateinc.com), an Autodesk Gold Value Added Reseller, today announced that it has earned the new Civil Infrastructure Specialization designation for value added resellers from Autodesk, Inc., a world leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software.

As an Autodesk Specialized Partner, Ideate has shown that it provides a high level of expertise, experience and support to customers, has made a significant investment in its people, has a solid business plan specific to its specialization areas, and has customer references. Ideate offices including San Francisco and Sacramento, CA, Portland, OR and Seattle, WA have achieved the Civil Infrastructure Specialization.

The AEC industry as a whole, and Infrastructure within it, are adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools.  The transportation landscape, for example, is changing to the extent that agencies are insisting on using Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D for new road and highway design projects. Ideate in cooperation with Autodesk Consulting is helping the State of California Department of Transportation, Caltrans, get its engineers trained on Autodesk Civil 3D.

Ideate has been at the forefront of AEC design technology innovation for decades. As a pioneer in BIM and an expert in Autodesk BIM solutions, Ideate has a long-standing history of providing solutions, training, support and custom consulting services to the industry. Civil Infrastructure Specialized is a new designation. Earning it is confirmation that Ideate has been and continues to be ready for the current transformation underway in Infrastructure.

This Civil Infrastructure Specialization is only one of many Autodesk Partner Specializations Ideate has earned. Such Autodesk Partner Specializations enable Autodesk value added resellers to highlight and brand their expertise in delivering services in key industry areas. By completing the required curriculum and training, as well as meeting required levels of service and standards set by Autodesk, Ideate demonstrates through its strong customer service and support in sales what it means to be a trusted adviser to Autodesk customers.

As Bob Palioca, president of Ideate, Inc. says, “The Autodesk Civil Infrastructure Specialization affirms the value of our commitment to customers. We have dedicated ourselves to staying abreast of advancing technology, and to providing top training and technical support. This specialization says as nothing else can that we are prepared to help the industry in BIM Infrastructure processes.”

About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk Authorized Developer with 25+ years’ experience in software development and specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and is a leading Autodesk solutions provider offering quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to the AEC industry since 1992. Headquartered in San Francisco, California and operating five Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATCs) in the northwestern U.S., Ideate is recognized as an Autodesk Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk’s highest levels of authorization.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, ATC and Civil 3D are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.
 

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What’s New in Revit Structure 2014: Reinforcement Rounding

This is Shruti Harve, Senior Application Specialist at Ideate, Inc.
 
One of the new features added to Revit Structure 2014 is the ability to apply ‘rounding’ to Structural Rebar. In the ‘Reinforcement Settings’ dialog box for Structural Rebar, there is now a new option: Reinforcement Rounding which allows for defining whether reinforcement rounding is applied to a Project or not as well as specify rounding for calculated Bar lengths and Bar segment lengths.

You can also specify Fabric Sheet dimension values for Structural Fabric Reinforcement. You can Select Custom from the list and enter an unlisted value in the Rounding increment field.

Don’t forget to look through the great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Navisworks, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

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Shruti Harve, LEED AP

Ideate Senior AEC Application Specialist
Shruti holds a Master of Science degree in Architectural Computing from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and is LEED accredited. Her experience includes working in Architecture and Construction firms in India and the United Kingdom as well as Structural Engineering firms in the Bay Area providing design, 3D modeling and drafting services. At Ideate, Shruti provides training and support for Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, 3ds Max, Ecotect and AutoCAD Architecture.

Get it. Know it. Use it.

New Alternate Dimension Functionality in Revit 2014

In coordination with the Ideate, Inc. YouTube video on Autodesk Revit 2014 - Alternate Dimensions, this post describes how the Revit 2014 dimensions styles now include the ability to incorporate Alternate dimensions within the same dimension string.
 
One of the long standing requests for Revit was the inclusion of alternate dimensioning. This improvement allows firms to create dimension strings with alternate dimensions in a variety of dimensional unit formats. Figure 1. This new ability, eliminates time-consuming workarounds of including multiple dimension formats within construction documents.

Figure 1

Alternate dimensions can be included within all dimension types including: Aligned, Linear, Radial, Diameter, Arc Length, Spot Elevations, Spot Coordinates, and Spot Slopes. In order to take advantage of the alternate dimensions, dimension types now include parameters to set where alternate dimensions reside, the unit format, and if there will be a prefix and/or suffix within the alternate dimension. Figure 2.

Figure 2

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2014

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Ron Palma
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Ron has over 24 years of experience in the architectural industry as a drafter, designer, lead project designer, trainer, and a CAD manager implementing Autodesk Architectural Solutions for a residential design firm. His instructional background includes being an Autodesk Certified Instructor, trainer, support technician, educator at Portland and Clackamas Community Colleges, as well as a U.S. Army certified instructor where he was a senior instructor at Ft Lewis Washington. Ron is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard and platoon sergeant, training and mentoring soldiers in their careers. Ron is a published writer and continues to author professional technical training manuals and shorts for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit. As an Autodesk Certified Instructor, Ron provides Revit Architecture training and support for AEC firms. Follow Ron @RonPalmaAEC.

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Revit 2014: New Enhancements to Stairs and Railings

Ideate, Inc. is pleased to show a continuation of development for stairs and railings that began in Revit 2013 and continues in Revit 2014. New in 2013 was the assembly of stairs as common components (run, landing, support) with associated handles that allowed them to be resized outside of the sketch mode. There was the addition of placement justifications (left and right) there was new behavior where stairs runs could overlap in the same stair. Railings had a new added handrail and top rail elements with options to extend top rails and handrails, which allowed designers to address ADA standards.
 
In Revit 2014 there are new justification options – Exterior Support Left and Right for placement of stairs so you can now be pacing the stringer face and not the inside width of the stair.

Revit 2013

Revit 2014

There is also a new control on the stair landing which allows you to easily adjust the connection between run and landing.

Revit 2013

Revit 2014

Revit 2014

There is also the restored ability to edit temporary dimension for the components which was not possible in the 2013 release.

 

Stairs got a lot easier in the 2013 product and that development has continued in this 2014 release.

Separate components with their own properties makes it possible to customize each component and the new enhancements let you continue to work on the components – with less need to resort to the embedded sketch, although that option remains and allows for custom shapes for stringers, treads, railings and handrails.
 

Don’t forget to look through the great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

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Jim Cowan
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience and Autodesk design solutions expertise have made him a sought after university curriculum developer, instructor and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include interoperability between solutions and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot-Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at University of Manitoba, Jim has special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). YouTube Channel: MrJimCowan

Get it. Know it. Use it.

Navisworks 2014: Point Cloud Support - ReCap

Ideate, Inc. is pleased to show additional support for large point clouds within Navisworks 2014, which provides new opportunities for documentation of a site’s context or for comparisons between the proposed building model (BIM) and a scanned “as built.”
 
ReCap has two file formats (RCS and RCP). The file reader does not convert data to objects that reside in the model but instead makes a link to the RCS/RCP file. If you intend to share the data then the linked files have to be provided external to the scene, ideally in a folder or location that maintains the same relative position as the original files. 
ReCap files can be managed to support fast updating of the point cloud. Under the Navisworks Application menu and the Options button, there are choices that let you control the display speed for the point cloud as you navigate through the scene. You can check for clashes and include points.

Navisworks ReCap Options

ReCap files can be appended direct to Navisworks and they can be linked to Revit 2014.  

Don’t forget to look through the great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

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Jim Cowan
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience and Autodesk design solutions expertise have made him a sought after university curriculum developer, instructor and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include interoperability between solutions and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot-Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at University of Manitoba, Jim has special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). YouTube Channel: MrJimCowan

Get it. Know it. Use it.

New in 2014: Autodesk ReCap Part 2 – Key Features

In Part 1 of our ReCap posts, we discussed how this new application processes and combines laser scan files into a ReCap Project. Now we’re looking at some of the Key Features available once the projects are launched. 
 
Along with standard navigational tools like pan, zoom, orbit, look, and fly-through, ReCap also has the capability of editing point cloud data; something that has not been a part of Autodesk software in the past.

Selection Tools

Annotation Tools

The bottom-center of the screen includes annotation tools for notes, distances, angles and faces, as well as selection tools for editing. Window and Fence tools can be used to easily crop or delete selected sections of the point cloud, quickly removing unwanted data and reducing file size.

Display Tools

The upper-left of the screen includes display options to control how the point cloud data appears in the application. The Project Navigator, Limit Box and Display Settings allow users to control which files from the dataset are displayed, how much of the data is displayed, point color, point size, background data, and lighting and shading effects.
 
With functionality similar to point cloud review and processing tools from Trimble and Leica, Autodesk customers now have access to a program that can process and edit point cloud data prior to being used in Autodesk design software like AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Revit, Navisworks and Autodesk InfraWorks. Best of all, it’s included in the 2014 Autodesk Design Suites and available now on Subscription Center.

For a video of Autodesk ReCap in action and other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new Autodesk 2014 releases, visit: ideateinc.com/2014  
Ideate Note: If you are experiencing a Fatal Error issue when trying to launch a ReCap project this is most likely based on system hardware rather than an issue with the application. For more information about this issue and Ideate’s solution, read our recent blog post titled: Help! Autodesk ReCap is Crashing.

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Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers. @MattM_PE

Get it. Know it. Use it.

New Room Calculation Point Functionality in Revit 2014

In coordination with the Ideate, Inc. YouTube video on Autodesk Revit 2014 - Room Calculation Point, this post describes how the Revit 2014 “room aware” families now include the capability of recognizing rooms and spaces they reside in.
 
One of the long standing requests for Revit was the ability of families recognizing a room or a space that they belong to. A new setting within “Room Aware” families allows you to turn on a parameter known as a Room Calculation Point. Room aware families include families such as furniture, doors, casework, generic models, specialty equipment, and windows. Turning on the Room Calculation point within one of these family type enables the Room Calculation Point arrow. Figure 1.

Figure 1

The Room Calculation Point includes a string with two arrows pointing the direction in which the family recognizes the room or space it resides in. Upon loading the family into a project. room aware elements report the room they are in through the To Room: and From Room: parameters. Previous versions of Revit initially recognized the To Room: and From Room: parameters, but would not update if the families were moved or flipped to a different room. With the Room Calculation Point enabled in a room aware family the To Room: and From Room: parameters become dynamic reporting the room that these types of families live in. Figure 2.

Figure 2

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2014

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Ron Palma
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Ron has over 24 years of experience in the architectural industry as a drafter, designer, lead project designer, trainer, and a CAD manager implementing Autodesk Architectural Solutions for a residential design firm. His instructional background includes being an Autodesk Certified Instructor, trainer, support technician, educator at Portland and Clackamas Community Colleges, as well as a U.S. Army certified instructor where he was a senior instructor at Ft Lewis Washington. Ron is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard and platoon sergeant, training and mentoring soldiers in their careers. Ron is a published writer and continues to author professional technical training manuals and shorts for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, and Revit. As an Autodesk Certified Instructor, Ron provides Revit Architecture training and support for AEC firms. Follow Ron @RonPalmaAEC.

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New in 2014: Autodesk ReCap Point Cloud Review and Processing (Part 1)

Here at Ideate, we try to take advantage of all opportunities to test and work with any new Autodesk product that might be useful to our customers. This year, Autodesk released a new point cloud processing application called Autodesk ReCap. 
 
With functionality similar to point cloud review and processing tools from Trimble and Leica, Autodesk customers now have access to a program that can process and edit point cloud data prior to being used in Autodesk design software like AutoCad, AutoCad Civil 3D, Revit and Autodesk InfraWorks. And best of all, it’s included in the 2014 Autodesk Design Suites.
 
This is a great opportunity for end users to now review and process large lidar datasets in an application made specifically for that task, without having to purchase additional software. Additionally, Autodesk ReCap (.RCP) projects and (.RCS) files can be directly imported into 2014 Autodesk applications.
 
Autodesk ReCap includes a processing engine that allows users to select multiple data files at once, and produces a single (.RCP) Project file that links back to the processed data. Each original data file becomes a (.RCS) file that is part of the project. Process time is dependent on the size and amount of files selected, and during our testing a 1.5 GB dataset with eight original files took about an hour to complete. A convenient timer also provides an estimate on how long each file and the entire project will take to process.
 
Once processed, the ReCap project can be launched directly, and the composite point cloud appears in the application. Here’s a screenshot of the completed point cloud in ReCap (file provided by Surface and Edge 3D Laser Scanning).

For a video of Autodesk ReCap in action and other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new Autodesk 2014 releases, visit: ideateinc.com/2014  
Ideate Note: If you are experiencing a Fatal Error issue when trying to launch a ReCap project this is most likely based on system hardware rather than an issue with the application. For more information about this issue and Ideate’s solution, read our recent blog post titled: Help! Autodesk ReCap is Crashing.

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Matt Miyamoto, P.E.
Ideate AEC Application Specialist
Matt is a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of Hawaii. Matt obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has 7 years of private sector design experience which he applies in his role as an application specialist with Ideate, Inc. His project experience includes residential and commercial site development, private and public sewer, water and drainage systems, harbors improvements, and roadway improvements. While in Hawaii, Matt was involved in multidisciplinary projects for City and County agencies, State Departments, the Army COE and private developers. @MattM_PE

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What’s New in Revit MEP 2014: This “Fitting” is Just Right! Ability to Embed .CSV File to Revit MEP Fitting Families

Revit MEP 2014 has some great enhancements, one of the best is the ability to embed the .CSV file onto Revit MEP fittings, and other types of families as well.
 
One of the most common issues that we come across when supporting Revit MEP for designers at Ideate, Inc. is the common problem of “custom” Pipe Fittings that do not display the correct proportional (connector sizes are indicating the correct diameter, just not the graphical appearance) size. The main reason for this is because the Lookup Table file ( or .CSV file ) for that family isn’t found. To overcome this issue, and others, the ability to embed the .CSV file has been added. 
 
This new feature is different in this release of Revit in four distinct areas:

1. Pipe and conduit fittings use the function: size_lookup.
2. “Lookup Table Name” is a user defined parameter, which can be modified or removed.
3. The “.csv” is removed from table names in formulae. See the following example:
   • e.g. [size_lookup (“Pipe Fitting - Generic,” “FOD,” Nominal Diameter + 0' 0 1/8" Nominal Diameter)]
4. A new Lookup Tables Manage… button has been added. This is a new button available in the Family Types window to manage lookup tables. The Manage Lookup Tables dialog lists all related lookup tables for the family. It provides the ability to import, export or delete lookup tables for the family.  See the following dialog:

 

One of the major benefits of this feature is that with the .CSV data embedded into the family, that family will then “know” how to model themselves, which if the file was “not found” could lead to unexpected results.
 

Using this ability to add the lookup function to the family will provide a convenient means to not only define parametric fitting content, it will be flexible for use even if not all considerations are accounted for in the “embedded” lookup tables by the use of the default value parameter in the function. 

Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2014 releases for AutoCAD MEP, Revit Structure, Revit Architecture, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and more: ideateinc.com/2014

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Bill Johnson
Ideate Senior MEP Application Specialist

Bill has over 20 years experience in applying AEC design solutions for large commercial companies. A graduate of Pasadena Institute of Technology, he has worked for TEECOM Design Group, GTE/GTEL, Greg LeDoux and Associates, and Scottish Power in England. Bill has also had the opportunity to act as Lead AutoCAD Designer for multimillion dollar communication sites which have included structural, electrical, HVAC, conduit, cable plans and equipment layouts. He has a Sustainable Design Certification from the University of California at Berkeley.

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