4 Hours | 2D AutoCAD to Visually Data-Rich Revit Documentation

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Feb 28, 2018 3:25:00 PM

On Thursday night, our facility engineer showed me an as-built AutoCAD sketch for his toilet room renovation project in our Ohio manufacturing facility.

He asked if I could enhance the sketch with Revit for his Tuesday meeting with the contractor and facility engineers.

Starting Friday morning, it took 4 hours using Revit to create a fully coordinated construction doc set of

  • floor plan,

  • interior sections,

  • interior elevations,

  • reflected ceiling plan,

  • plumbing fixture and washroom accessory schedules,

  • 3D plan and 3D interior views.


AutoCAD Plan File Underlay

I linked his AutoCAD sketch of field measurements into the Revit file for tracing and as a reference for his ADA-toilet partition proposal.

Using the View Visibility (VV) settings, I set the Imported Category (Linked CAD file) to Half-Tone to make it less pronounced in the views.

Fully Coordinated Views & Document Set

Our interior designer provided a spreadsheet of components with their respective materials and model numbers for each room.

While she didn't specify the location of components; interior elevations and sections displayed product locations and heights for her review.

Using Bradley's pre-built Revit Family Library, the interior views and schedules immediately updated as the Revit components (lavatories, toilet partitions, accessories) were added to floor plans.

--- Key Costs for Building Revit Families | 1000 Bradley Revit Family Library ---

Cost Estimating

We added a Revit COST parameter to another plumbing fixture\accessory schedule (not printed). We exported the schedules to a spreadsheet to assist with the contractor's quoting process.

Revit Room Objects accurately reported each room's square footage for the floor finish renovation of each room. Additional face-to-face dimensions were added to field verify clearances between existing walls.

Sections & Reflected Ceiling Plan

Cross sections were created to field-verify clearances between the ceiling and structure.

It took 2 minutes to create a 'blank", correctly oriented reflected ceiling-tile plan from facility engineer's photos. He wanted to enhance the discussion of ceiling fixture placement (lights, vents, diffuser) with the lighting and HVAC engineering contractors.

Printing & Export to AutoCAD

The project was printed to scale on C-size PDFs; that are easily viewed or printed. Revit annotations (hatch, text, dimensions) automatically re-size and updated as we "played with each view's scale" to fit them on C-Size title block.

This plant facility is still managed in AutoCAD. However, we can export the Revit views to AutoCAD for inclusion into the facility's existing AutoCAD master file.

--- Revit for Restaurant Prototypes | Core Business-Design Values ---

Revit delivered these bottom line results;

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Topics: building information modeling, revit for renovation, bim for facility management, Bradley BIM, revit for facility management, revit for construction, Construction Revit BIM, Revit Training-Education, autodesk autocad, Owners Revit BIM, bradley free revit library, bim for construction

Download Bradley Healthcare-Lab Products | Revit Family Model Guide

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Jun 20, 2017 7:30:00 AM

Bradley Hospital-Healthcare Products | Revit Family BIM Model Guide

The Guide is a "snapshot" of Bradley Plumbing Fixtures and Toilet Room Accessories products \ Revit Families designed for hospital and healthcare facilities.

Visit the Bradley Revit Family Library for several hundred more Bradley hospital and healthcare product design options.

Download Bradley Hospital-Healthcare Products | Revit BIM Models Guide

The Bradley BIM Quick Link Guide 

  1. Bradley Revit Family Library (Zip File) containing 1000 Bradley Revit Families
  2. Bradley Revit Material library/Catalogs,
  3. Bradley Revit Library on BIMObject (formerly Autodesk Seek)
  4. BradleyBIM.com | Revit BIM Technical Support Blog for Bradley BIM Initiative
  5. BIM Means Business (Bradley articles authored for other media & websites)
  6. Revit Family Planning
  7. Revit Implementation & Training
  8. Bradley BIM Revit Family Library FAQ Articles / Videos
  9. Bradley BIM Technical Support Articles created from Client inquiries.
  10. Bradley BIM Design-Build | IPD | EPC Solution Page
  11. Download SmartMarket BIM Surveys

Visit the Bradley Product pages from which the Bradley Revit Family Library was built.

Related Facility-Type Revit Model Guides

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Topics: bradley revit library, bradley healthcare bim models, revit for healthcare, Bradley BIM, download free revit family library, autodesk revit family, revit toilet accessories family, bradley healthcare revit family, bradley patient care units, Product Line News, revit patient care family, Bradley BIM Model Guides

Keltech Sustainable Commercial Tankless Water Heater Revit Library

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Apr 5, 2017 9:00:00 AM

Bradley Keltech Commercial Tankless Water Heater Models as the perfect sustainable design option for reducing a facility's water and energy consumption for these applications:

  • Car and Truck Wash Facilities
  • Water Heating for Remote Toilet, Shower & Locker Rooms
  • Sports & Healthcare Laundry Sanitization
  • Geo-Thermal Heat Pump HVAC Systems
  • Solar Water Heating Heat Pump HVAC Systems
  • Food Service Dishwasher Sanitization Processes
  • Emergency Eye\Face Wash Systems
  • Enclosed Safety Showers - Eye\Face Wash Systems

The Keltech Revit Model Library is located in the Bradley Revit Library (1,000 models).

Benefits of Tankless Water Heating Applications

Save Money

Easy installation means lower labor cost. A small footprint means less square footage needed for utilities. Lower energy use and less maintenance mean lower utility and maintenance costs over the life of the product.

Save Energy

Inefficient boiler systems have to generate heat and maintain temperature 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Keltech tankless heaters only heat water when needed. And, Keltech's innovative controller is fully modulating so you only use the actual kW needed, not full power or stages.

Save Space

A large commercial tank water heater requires a large space. Keltech tankless water heaters only require 3 square feet (.3 square meters) of space to generate 491,000 BTUs.

Simple Installation

Requires only one electrical connection and water. No pumps, no external fusing, and no design needs to be considered externally - it's all built into the heater.

Simple to Maintain

No tank to maintain, no anodes, no softeners.

Related Bradly BIM Commercial-Industrial Articles

BIM Means Business | Plumbing Engineer Magazine – ASPE
Revit File Exports Serve Solidworks – Process Pipe 3D DWG
BIM Means Business | Plumbing Heating-Cooling Contractors – WI Association

Bradley BIM for Plumbing Prefabrication

Skanska Revit-MEP Prefabrication | New Assembly Line Efficiency
SysQue Provides Bradley Revit MEP \ Autodesk Fabrication Model Library

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Topics: bradley revit family library, revit library free download, keltech revit family, autodesk revit mep, Bradley BIM, revit electric water heater, bim tankless water heater, revit on demand water heater, revit Instantaneous water heater, revit water heater, revit tankless water heater, revit point of use water heater, Keltech-Bradley Tankless Water Heaters, revit clearance box, revit plumbing fixture family

Happy Veterans Day | Thank You for Your Service and Sacrifice

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Nov 11, 2016 11:11:00 AM

We thank our veterans and those currently serving our country for their service; acknowledging their personal and family sacrifices while serving our country.

We remember our patriots that made the "ultimate sacrifices" while honoring our country and their families with their service.

Happy Veterans Day 2016!

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Topics: Bradley BIM, veterans day

Bradley Revit Family Secrets | Voids Affect File Size

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Aug 30, 2016 12:30:00 PM

The efficient use of Revit VOIDS will minimize your Revit family file size. Bradley Revit Library (1,000 Revit Families) reduces both the number of voids and the size of the voids in our Revit families.

Its been my experience, that Extrusions (solids and voids) produce a smaller Revit family file sizes; when compared to using of Sweeps and Revolves.

I recommend incorporating the Revit Voids within the extrusion as "closed loops"; within the "extrusion's closed loop". This avoids the creation of individual VOIDS; that need to be Cut from the solid extrusion.

Consider using VOID Extrusions to efficiently sculpt your Revit family model.

Over-sized Extrusions increase the Revit family file size.

For example, if the void is penetrating 1/2" of material, use a void that is 5/8" to 3/4" deep. Excessively deep voids create larger Revit family file sizes.

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Topics: small revit family file size, revit family file size, autodesk revit architecture, autodesk revit mep, Bradley BIM, autodesk revit 2014, Revit Help-Technical Support, Revit Training-Education, bradley revit family secrets, revit voids extrusions, revit project file size, revit in-place family, efficient revit family standards

Role of Architectural Models Before BIM - Salt Lake City

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Aug 23, 2016 9:00:00 AM

While visiting Salt Lake City, I was reminded of the role and value; that architectural models previously provided the design and construction teams of large facility projects.

The South Visitors Center of Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City Utah; provides a scale model of the Salt Lake Temple.

 

The tour guide mentions that it took 40 years to build the Salt Lake Temple.

Scaled architectural models made of wood & plaster, full-size prints of iron work, stain-glass window patterns, staircase handrails & bannisters; are just a few design tools I've found when renovating historic & older buildings.

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Topics: building information modeling, temple square, aspe salt lake city, salt lake temple model, Bradley BIM, Revit Training-Education, architectural model, construction model, design models

Willard Wigan's Tiny World Models - Videos | TED Talks

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Aug 22, 2016 8:30:00 AM

"The Adventures of Willard Wigan" or "Willard Wigan's Tiny World" sounds like the titles for a series of engaging children's bedtime stories.

Instead, it describes the microscopic models sculpted on the top of pinheads, in the eye of needles and on the tops of match heads --by renown artist Willard Wigan.

 

His slideshow of figures, as seen through a microscope, can only be described as mind-boggling. He has been a featured speaker at TED Conference & TED Talks

--- Role of Small Scale Architectural Models Before BIM – Salt Lake City ---

Willard Wigan uses humor to share his story of how a difficult and lonely childhood drove him to discover his unique ability to create art so tiny that it can't be seen with the naked eye.

 

Credit to my wife, as Willard's talents and accomplishments were highlighted during her 2-day Dyslexia Workshop; conducted for the instructional staff at her college.

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Topics: microscopic sculpted models, Willard Wigan's Tiny World, Bradley BIM, ted talks, ted conference, willard wigan

New Revit-BIM LOD Standards Mean Business

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Aug 15, 2016 8:30:00 AM

I authored two articles for an Australian design + construction news site; that demonstrate Revit-BIM Level-Of-Detail (LOD) standards are not very new and how they’re driving business.

Revit-BIM Level-Of-Development (LOD) standards integrated our initial BIM Level-Of-Detail standards; which now has LOD functioning as a lightweight project management tool.

--- Design – Construction Processes Trending BIM-Dependent ---

 LOD is measuring\monitoring the projects'design + construction progress and completion deadlines. LOD is becoming a functional ingredient to Owners' BIM Execution Plans; while improving the model-building communications between project team members.

LOD is demonstrating its potential to measure Return-On-Investment (ROI) for individual Revit and/or BIM processes.

Here are the links to both articles:

Article #1:

Early Level-of-Detail Transitions to BIM Level-of-Development

Article #2:

BIM Level-of-Development (LOD) Driving BIM ROI

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Topics: building information modeling, revit lod, revit level of detail, Revit Return-On-Investment, Bradley BIM, bim lod, sourceable.net, revit level of development, Revit Training-Education, BIM Execution Contracts, Revit-BIM Trends, Owners Revit BIM

Mayo Clinic BIM Manager - Project Model Development Specification

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Jul 25, 2016 10:30:00 AM

I attended the AU 2013 class; which detailed the Mayo Clinic Modeling Development Specification (MDS) --developed by Mayo Clinic BIM Program Manager, Andy Jizba (Arizona) and David Paul Wilkinson, Autodesk Consulting Services.

Autodesk University Class

The purpose of the Model Development Specification (MDS) is to define how Building Information Modeling (BIM) will be implemented and managed on both current and future projects.

Critical to the development of the BIM is a complete understanding of how the model will be used during the course of the design, construction, and life-cycle management of the building.

Andy Jizba | Mayo Clinic BIM Program Manager (Arizona)

 

While Level of Development (LOD) gains traction for Revit component and project modeling; Mayo Clinic has created a contractual deliverable process that defines

  • a mutually defined LOD for each discipline, by each discipline -- based on an initial, project kick-off meeting with the owner.

  • how the owner plans to use BIM for the Building's Lifecycle Management and Operations & Maintenance (O&M).

  • LOD roles and responsibilities at each phase of the project: Lead, Support & Use

  • how to use Revit family LOD shared parameters; to monitor & manage a project's LOD progress for each discipline and phase --to minimize rework of the model.

  • a method that allows each stakeholder to integrate their interdependent Revit-BIM modeling standards into the project standards.

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Topics: building information modeling, bim level of development, revit lod, Construction Operations Building Information Excha, autodesk university 2013, Bradley BIM, bim lod, revit level of development, Model Development Specification, autodesk consulting services, Revit-BIM Trends, bim model lod, how to implement revit, bim forum lod specification, revit model lod, mayo clinic phoenix arizona

Why BIM-VDC Managers Train and Support With Video

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Jun 7, 2016 8:30:00 AM

How many "easy questions" do BIM Managers receive from their staff; that can be answered with a simple 1-2 sentence answer?

These questions provide BIM Managers with "Teachable Moments" for their staff or "Moments of Learning" for both staff and the BIM Manager.

I can assure you --staff members will be back to ask the same questions for future projects. New staff  members will have the same questions or variations of similar situations.

Repetition is how we ALL learn.

So, if "Time is Money"; you can't afford to waste the time of your staff, the project, the company and/or your own daily schedule.

Proactively building a Revit video library of short 2-4 minute support and training videos; will help save everyone's time.

Create videos to answer common process-based questions. It puts the BIM Manager in control of their time; while delivering on-demand self-learning & technical support.

For camera-shy BIM Managers, you don't need to use cameras or be on camera.

Since 2008, I've used the screen recording software, Camtasia Studio and SnagIt from TechSmith for creating my Revit technical support and training videos.

Camtasia records your mouse movements on your computer screen; while you are using a feature or performing a process in the application software (Revit, Excel, AutoCAD).

It also records your voice as you explain and train on a short procedure.

Once you complete the recording, save the recorded screen-capture to a Camtasia project file.

Next, select the "Produce and Share" command to create a video file in Windows (AVI\WMV) or MAC (MP4) video formats. Consider the following tips and procedures to use, store and protoect your video content.

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Topics: Revit-BIM Video, revit manager, vdc manager revit, Bradley BIM, revit technical support video, Revit Help-Technical Support, Revit Training-Education, Revit-BIM Trends, how to implement revit, autodesk revit, Camtasia Studio, bim manager revit, revit training video, bim manager jobs

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Daniel Hughes

Welcome to the Bradley BIM resource portal supporting the Bradley Revit Library of 1,000 Families

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