Revit 2013 update Release 2

Today Autodesk have released  Revit 2013 service pack 2. You can download the Revit Architecture version from here….

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=20679231&linkID=9273944&CMP=OTC-RSSSUP01

If you have one box, then download this version (ie. the one for the Design & Create suites )

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=20679039&linkID=16831210

Be sure to read the list of enhancements & fixes…..

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/Enhancements_List_RVT_2013_UR2.pdf

beta openNURBS plugin for Vasari 2013!

My colleague & all round smart guy Nathan Miller has been at it again, this time he has produced a beta openNURBS plugin for Vasari 2013! Want to know how to get hold of it & have a play? Well you need to install the latest version of the CASE Add-in manager which can be download from here http://apps.case-inc.com/ 

If you run up the latest version of the add-in you will find Import openNURBS for Vasari 2013 listed. Make sure you don’t have Revit or Vasari running when you download & install the plugin, that’s very important.

Once install, do a quick machine reboot, then fire up Vasari. You will find a new tab called Case Design Inc, where you will be able to locate the Import OpenNURBS beta plugin.

Next start a new mass family. Then select the Import openNURBS tool, the following dialogue box will appear which will provide various options as well as the ability to load in a Rhino file.

I left everything default. Nathan kindly provided me with an example Rhino file, which I imported. Once you have the file selected, just hit the Import button. It will take few minutes for the file to rebuild, but it does depend on the complexity of the file you are trying to import. After a few minutes this little beauty appeared in Vasari! You can also find more details on Nathans blog. Overall this is looking very positive & will certainly start to improve the interoperability between Rhino & Vasari & Revit.

Latest DesignbyMany challenge

 

So do you think you are a winner? Well why not check out the latest designbymany competition. Sponsored by Autodesk, the challenge entails designing a modular bus shelter. More detail can be found here…

http://www.designbymany.com/challenge/bus-shelter

A pretty heavy weight judging panel as well, including Glenn Katz ,Marcello Sgambellrui & Steve Stafford. Oh yeah, you could even win a copy of Revit LT, not to be sniffed at for a few hours of design thinking. Go for it! I did a few years ago & won a printer. :-)

CASE-Inc are coming to the UK

Today I have the pleasure in formally announcing you that I have joined CASE Inc. as Director of Implementation.http://case-inc.com/users/dlight

After almost 4 inspiring years at HOK (it was actually a little longer than this, as I provided Revit training in the early days of Revit implementation at HOK) it was time to make a change. It may be the worst kept secret in the BIM community, but we needed to get all the t&c's sorted before anything could be officially announced. CASE Inc was formed 4 years ago to fill the gap between building design and technology. Based in New York City, CASE Inc provides strategic advising to building design professionals, contractors and owners seeking to supplant traditional project delivery methods through technology-driven process innovation.

My role will be to continue the impressive work already started and bring the principles that CASE Inc have established in the US to the UK. I will also focus on directing and employing BIM implementation services and supporting AEC clients globally from our London office. 

In many ways the timing is right, with the UK government requiring level 2 BIM on all publicly procured projects by 2016, the design community and owners alike need as much support as possible to help them establish these new processes and ways of working. The BIM process has a long way to go; in fact because of its tight reliance on technology it's much like a treadmill. Once on the path don't expect to see the finish line anytime soon. I have quoted to people that we are only just at the very infancy of BIM. Some go on about it being something that was started in the 70's / 80's and is nothing really new. That might be correct, as the concept of model based design has been around for many years, Rucaps Sonata is a case in point http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RUCAPS. But only now has computing power, the software, the mindset set, sustainability requirements & the need to be more efficient, started to give BIM the credit it truly deserves.

RTC 2012....this is what it's all about

Revit LT finally released

So today Autodesk finally announced the release of Revit LT. More details can be found here….

http://usa.autodesk.com/revitlt/

Autodesk Revit LT is built on the Revit platform for BIM and allows users to create designs efficiently with 3D, real-world building objects to produce reliable, coordinated documentation faster.  Revit-based applications help deliver better coordination and quality, and can contribute to higher profitability for architects, design professionals and the rest of the building team. Some of the benefits of Revit LT include:

• Work more efficiently with a single, coordinated model that allows users to concurrently design and document building projects. Autodesk Revit LT automatically manages iterative changes to building models throughout the documentation process. As a result, a consistent representation of the building is maintained, helping to improve drawing coordination and reducing errors.
• Design and visualize in 3D. Revit LT allows users to see their designs virtually, improving their understanding of the building and its spaces, and helping them communicate design ideas to clients more clearly and effectively.
• Create photorealistic renderings in the cloud. Users who purchase Autodesk Subscription with Revit LT can render in the cloud directly from the Revit LT interface, enabling them to produce compelling, photorealistic visualizations without tying up their desktop
• Exchange designs in the DWG or RVT file formats. Produce designs in the DWG file format, and experience fluid file exchange with project team members using other Autodesk Revit software applications.

What I think is more important, is to actually understand what you are & what you aren’t getting by purchasing the LT product. This is explained in more detail on the feature comparison page. You should review this carefully.

http://usa.autodesk.com/revitlt/features/

Certainly if you are a small firm looking into the delve into the the large pit of BIM, it certainly worth reviewing Revit LT. But you must be aware of some of the limitations of the product, particularly the lack of collaborative working functionality.That’s not to say you cannot link in Revit Structure or MEP files, as you certainly can. If you are a small firm developing Revit content or working on small projects where you don’t need to necessarily collaborate between users working on the same dataset, then Revit LT is a good start point.