Revit Implementation Puzzle - 5 Basic Planned Investments

Posted by Daniel Hughes on Jul 12, 2017 6:20:00 AM

Assembling your Revit Implementation Puzzle, requires a transition of all the "pieces"; your organization, staff, technologies, project workflows, consultants and clients from CAD-based processes to your future BIM-based processes.

Based on 25 years of transitioning hundreds of design, construction and facility owner organizations -- these are the 5 typical investment costs; for your consideration.

To be clear - the Revit transition will change how all of the "pieces" connect and create the new "BIM-process picture" for your organization.

These will be upfront and ongoing investment costs. However, the costs are 'time and financial investments'; that can be planned within your budgets and billing processes. If properly implemented, documented and managed; they should provide a Return-On-Invest (ROI) from your BIM transition efforts.

For now, I've listed them below; many times including a link to a related article. Over time; I'll fill in the blanks with more detailed articles; that best explain how these made "the list" from my 10+ years of client Revit implementation experiences.

[ Low-Cost Revit Implementation Strategy That Wins Business ]

1 ) Hire a Revit Implementation 'Consultant'

A consultant should deliver a full assessment of your current staff, technologies, consultants, document distribution, graphic standards, and workflow processes. The 'consultant' could be an architect, engineer or contractor; that has a long, successful experience with a variety of organizational Revit implementations.

This person and/or organization should prescribe & deliver to your organization a roll-out recommendation with implementation options, schedule and budget. Review their Phased-In Plan; which typically involves Pilot Projects to clarify the Proof of Processes, specific to your organization. 

Your most effective method to quickly succeed, is to hire someone;,who can help you design your "Revit Road Map" --prior to starting the Revit implementation journey.

Revit Implementation Secrets - 10 Best Revit Process Features ]

 

2) Revit Software & Computer Systems\Networks:

The Revit software, computer systems & network will need to be better and faster; than the typical CAD workstations. The Revit project files will be larger; while Revit supports the benefit of several people simultaneously, accessing the same project file.

Revit 2016 New Features List \ Videos-Downloads-System Requirements ]

 

3) Revit Training and Continued Education

Revit's functionality and processes are far different than AutoCAD. Training will be required; to learn both the new software and the valuable productivity process enhancements. Designing a custom learning program; will expedite your Revit implementation plan; that is specific to your firm's staff and projects. You'll also improve your organization's Return-On-Investment by rolling out Revit faster, on more projects.

Keys to Designing Your Successful Revit 101 Basic Training ]

 

4) BIM Manager Role and Position

How do you prepare for the BIM Manager role and position in your organization? Do you hire from outside your firm or train from within? The BIM Manager responsibilities far exceed the role of a CAD Manager --which many times; was associated with managing project graphic standards, file organization and training.

Define BIM Manager Roles | Key to Shaping Compensation Programs ]

 

5) Revit (Family) Building Product Content Library - Standards

Assembling and managing a Revit Library of reliable building product content for your projects --will determine the efficiency of your Revit projects. There are hundreds of building product manufacturers; that provide free, pre-built Revit content (windows, fixtures, walls) --where almost none existed 10 years ago.

Key Costs for Building Revit Families ]

As these are NOT 'One and Done' investments; they need to be incorporated into every annual sales, business, marketing, education, management budget. BIM Means Business.

Daniel Hughes | BIM Strategist: These have proven to be the most consistent Revit investments; that organizations have embedded into their annual budgets. This "top 5" list has remained consistent for more than 10 years; they belong in your annual budget and business plans.

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Topics: building information modeling, autodesk revit implementation, Revit implementation strategy, Revit Training-Education, Revit-BIM Trends, revit computer specifications, revit implementation planning, low cost revit implementation, how to implement revit, bim implementation planning, revit training class, revit system requirements, revit implementation checklist

DIY Revit Workset-Worksharing Performance Checklist

Posted by Daniel Hughes on May 18, 2015 8:57:43 AM

A LinkedIn connection recently sent me this message: I'm seeking helpful tips about network and hardware requirements for best performance in Revit model links.

Our model is almost 400MB size and we're trying to find a solution through changes in the network hardware. We have a network speed of 1GB and we are facing a problem of Revit crashing when synchronizing to central model especially the MEP. While we're working with Autodesk, have you any suggestions?

Update: Thank you Daniel, these suggestions were helpful.

Here are the Revit worksharing suggestions that I sent via LinkedIn.

1. Revit performs best with lots of RAM, Fast Hard Drives with a high percentage of open file space, and Fast Network Connections (1GB)

2. Install 16, 24 or 32 GB of RAM on the local PCs, obviously using a 64-Bit OS & 64-bit Revit software. RAM is a one-time purchase. The ongoing mounting costs of downtime and troubleshooting user issues due to lack of RAM --its pays for itself with one "downtime event". The larger firms that I've visited (last 12 months) have minimum RAM specifications of 24-32GB of RAM.

3. Configure the local computer's Paging File, file size --to be equal to the "Recommended" size in the Virtual Memory dialog box.

Control Panel > System > Advanced Systems Settings

(Verify there's enough open disk space & verify w/ IT Manager prior to using this)

4. Selective purging of unused content within the project file to minimize file size. We recommended this process at project milestones: Schematics, DD, CD and/or document releases or document printing.

5. Use a Save-to-Central and select the Compact File Option to reduce Revit project file size regularly. This option works with non-workset configured Revit Project files (RVT) and/or Revit Family (RFA) files -- to reduce file size.

6. Create a schedule for users to stagger their Save-to-Central - so 2 or more users are not waiting or saving to central at the same time.

7. I suggest creating a new local file for each user a few times per month. The local files become bloated and less efficient over time. Note: Save to-Central prior to creating new local project files.

8. The Ideate Tech Support Article; "The Importance of Auditing Revit Models" Tip#3 reviews auditing a Revit to improve performance.

Tip #3: If your Revit model is starting to take its time opening or you notice general performance issues, then auditing it may improve the time it takes to open your project.

9. Consider performing a monthly Clean Disk and Defragment routine on each local computer to remove all temp files. Prior to running this routine, EXIT all software programs and close ALL files.

10. Review your Revit Workset organization against your Revit project workflow. Do they include too much information; that users don't always need to load. If you distributed the Revit content into more, but smaller worksets --does that perform better?

10. Make sure that ALL Worksets don't load when opening a Revit project file. We usually set the structural grid to auto-load so we knew where we were in the building. Then request users to manually load what they need.

11. Make sure each Linked CAD file is assigned its own workset--as CAD files can bog down a Save-to-Central

12. Make sure each Linked Revit model file is assigned its own workset including any terrain or landscaping files.

13. Does the Server have a high percentage of open disk space

14. Does the Server have disk speeds faster than the local PCs

15. Are the Server specifications better than the Local PCs?

16. Are you working in the cloud or remotely? How fast are your web connections to the remote server?

17. Make sure the server is not performing file backup-maintenance or running virus scans during working hours. I've personally encountered networks; that started file backup routines and/or virus scans on the server, over the lunch hour -- which completed later in the afternoon.

18. Verify Folder \ File \ User Permissions; that may block or slow a Save-to-Central. Consider reviewing this tech doc; "File not saved during synchronize with central troubleshooting".

Related Autodesk Articles:

Download Complete Bradley Revit Family Library (1000 Families) – Download All Options

Download Bradley Revit Family Library From Autodesk Seek Building Product Manufacturer Revit Library

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Topics: Bradley BIM, Revit Help-Technical Support, Revit Training-Education, revit worksharing worksets, revit project performance, how to implement revit, revit worksets, revit system requirements

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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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