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Cadalyst Labs Review: Revit Building 8
1 Sep, 2005 By: Steven S. RossAutodesk delivers solid BIM capabilities
Over the past five years, Revit has undergone seven major upgrades as well as acquisition by Autodesk. What was once a slightly cranky, underpowered solid modeler is now a mature, industrial-strength product running on Windows XP. The Revit platform is beginning to show some connection with Architectural Desktop through the ability of Revit Structure to export and read Architectural Desktop structural objects. Its API (application programming interface) is open enough to have attracted some impressive third-party software developers as well. Revit also continues to add drafting tools and has become a fairly powerful CAD program in its own right.
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Design professionals will find Revit most useful in the early stages of conceptual design, for preparation of construction documents and in the late stages of construction as things change in the field.
 Revit Building 8 |
BIM (building information modeling) means a lot of things to a lot of people. To me, a BIM package must be a true solid modeler, because building elements are solid. Revit is just that. Second, all drawings, views, sections, inventories—everything—must be driven by the same central data store. A true BIM cannot simply toss off data without keeping track of it. Toss it off, change it outside the program, and when it comes back the software must automatically update. If it can't, it has to warn you. If there's a physical interference, the software should at least warn and at best cure. A good BIM won't let you create documentation and then let you update the model without automatically changing the documentation. In these tasks, Revit performs brilliantly. It does take a lot of computing power and a lot of memory (a 3GHz processor and 1GB of RAM is the minimum price of entry for relatively pain-free use).
 Figure 1. Highlighting any object or group brings up its information. You can also get more detail, as shown in figure 2. |
Revit also behaves well in a workgroup setting. Pull a file out of the server to work on it, and only the pieces you are modifying are "locked." Changes you make propagate through the model for everyone else to see, as you work. Disconnect from the network (on purpose or due to network problems), and you can continue to work. When you connect again, the system makes sure everything is still coordinated. In fact (new with v8), users can link multiple models and coordinate changes across them. Let's say you're installing fiber optic cable in five projects by the same developer, in three states. You want to keep all the equipment the same for a volume purchase. Revit updates all project models as you fiddle with the specs and produces one master schedule for the purchase documentation (figures 1 and 2).
 Figure 2. Clicking brings up a window with details (in this case, of a conference table and chair set). Revit comes with an impressive materials catalog. The catalog can be supplemented and annotated. |
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AutoCAD Tips!
Autodesk Technical Evangelist Lynn Allen guides you through a different AutoCAD feature in every edition of her popular "Circles and Lines" tutorial series. For even more AutoCAD how-to, check out Lynn's quick tips in the Cadalyst Video Gallery. Subscribe to Cadalyst's Tips & Tricks Tuesdays free e-newsletter and we'll notify you every time a new video tip is available. All exclusively from Cadalyst! |
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