Beyond Design: the Construction and BIM blog

Autodesk opens up about interoperability for design and construction software

Interoperability in the software used for project design and construction is vital to the collaborative process required by the AEC industry. More than that, interoperability is good business for AEC firms and asset owners. Our recent agreement with Trimble to increase interoperability by exchanging APIs and developer tools is one more demonstration of Autodesk's commitment to offering our customers the best workflows possible and to improving the way buildings and infrastructure are designed, built and managed.

Nearly half (49%) of contractors surveyed in a 2014 McGraw Hill Construction Smart Market Report rank collaborative BIM processes high on their list for BIM investments, citing standardized deliverables and repeatable workflows as "vital to improving the effectiveness of the broader ecosystem."

We heard that! Expanding software interoperability and supporting leading industry standards, such as IFC and COBie, helps AEC professionals deliver higher quality work more safely, on time, and on budget. Sure, its good business for software vendors too, but with an open approach such as ours, project teams choose the best tools for the job, ensuring a more accurate flow of information crucial to meeting today's complex project requirements.

Autodesk has long been focused on furthering interoperability across vendors and platforms. Our interest in open ways of working started in the 1980's—long before anyone had ever heard of BIM and (frighteningly) maybe years before many of our current software users were even born! Let's review:

• Autodesk was founded on an open platform: the PC. In the earliest days of CAD, most vendors offered tightly coupled hardware/software systems that were proprietary. But Autodesk customers could run AutoCAD® on any PC.
• The DXF file format is still one of the most efficient and popular ways of sharing CAD graphic and attribute data and the DXF schema is available for all to use.
• In 2008, Computerworld predicted that "reading on screen" and "social everything" would take off. (Imagine!) It's also the year, Autodesk signed an interoperability agreement with Bentley Systems to expand interoperability between our portfolios -- exchanging software libraries, including Autodesk RealDWG, to improve the ability to read and write DWG and DGN formats in mixed environments with greater, fidelity and supporting the reciprocal use of available Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
• No one beats Autodesk for export and import certifications. See for yourself by looking at our list of certifications that support the IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) standard. You'll find the IFC standard used in many Autodesk products, including Revit, AutoCAD Civil3D, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Navisworks, and Autodesk BIM 360 Glue.
• COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange) is critical to simplify the capture of project handover data. The Autodesk COBie Extension lets you pull COBie-compliant information directly from a Revit model. In the COBie for Design challenge organized by buildingSmart, Autodesk scored a perfect 100 percent by producing a complete COBie deliverable that required zero additional processing or edits.
• Pulling COBie-compliant information directly from Autodesk Navisworks is now available, which supports the export of non-Revit and infrastructure information to the COBie standard format.  
• In 2015, Autodesk introduced the Forge platform to help foster a cloud-connected developer community, making design and engineering information available in virtually any format and enabling build-on functionality with open APIs. Forge includes APIs to tools like Autodesk BIM 360 to bring more of the ecosystem into a construction project, expand their insight, and improve decision making capabilities.
• Now, with the Autodesk and Trimble agreement on interoperability, AEC professionals can look forward to more tightly integrated processes, further enhancing the ability for project teams to collaborate more seamlessly while using the products they choose.

Just like ComputerWorld understood the potential for the internet way back in 2008, we know that our customers don't want to feel that their data is "locked" in a specific application or with a specific vendor. The notion of a single tool for a single job is rapidly becoming antiquated -- data needs to flow across teams, projects, and applications. Interoperability helps to drive a tightly connected Building Information Modeling (BIM) process on projects. Our commitment to keeping the open in OpenBIM truly open is unwavering.

To learn more about how BIM 360 supports interoperability with support for over 50 different file formats, please look at the BIM 360 website.

Happy 5th birthday Beyond Design!

Happy Birthday to us,

Happy Birthday to us,

Happy Birthday Beyond Design!!

Happy Birthday to us!

Five years ago today myself and Paul Walker launched this Beyond Design blog. When we first launched our aim was to "focus on the functionality, workflows and interoperability between Autodesk Construction solutions". At that time that was mostly Navisworks and certain tools in Revit and AutoCAD. What a difference a few years makes in technology as BIM 360 and the cloud have become our core platform for coordinating and delivering models to site, and fabrication is no longer a siloed part of the process. In the five years since we started this blog mandates for usage of BIM have come in place all over the world and many governments now see digital construction as a high priority to reduce waste and costs in major building and infrastructure projects.

So whilst it doesn't seem that long ago since Adele topped the US charts with Rolling in the Deep and the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film was number one around the world, the construction site has changed considerably.

• Mobile devices have gone from a rarity on the most tech savvy sites to commonplace across industry. Powerful computers in your pocket or the size of a notebook allowing you to do multiple jobs in one go rather than needing 6 or 7 devices, printing bills have dropped and more people are using tools like BIM 360 Docs to load the latest construction documentation straight to their phone or tablet and feed issues back to the office.
• Connectivity and the Cloud has shifted from the latest buzzword to a normal part of our everyday lives. Think back 5 years, most people were still adding to their CD, DVD and Bluray collections, now they're gathering dust in many people's attics due to companies like Netflix and Spotify. In construction, the link between office and site has changed the way technology is perceived by many firms with investment in decent internet connection on site and suitable hardware becoming a priority.
• Drones and UAV's have become the must have toy for many children and big children but the real life applications to help with inspections of hard to reach areas, and ability to create 3D models accurate enough for cut and fill calculations from photos taken by these self-piloted devices, would five years ago have been dismissed as something from a sci-fi film.
• Reality Computing is an area that already had traction back in 2011 but was still scarce, over the last five years drops in hardware costs, innovative new data capture methods like from backpacks, cars and UAV's and new technology like Project Tango from Google have made a conventional laser scanner look boring.
• Wearables such as the prototype Google Glass, DAQRI smart helmets, smart watch's and location and sensor technology embedded in safety vests might not have taken over construction yet but we are seeing a change in tone from why to how, in five years' time I think we'll see more of this technology becoming standard on larger projects and filtering down to certain personnel on those smaller projects, like tablets are doing today.
• The Internet of Things and sensor technology in buildings, again have gone from a rare example of how things could be done to a common part of many people's lives. For example I can't imagine how I'd get on without my Nest, a thermostat that allows me to switch off my heating from my phone on the other side of the world, now many of the largest projects in the world such as Hudson Yards, are looking at sensor technology as an essential part of their design.
• Increase in use of Big Data as a way to measure projects to identify problems early in an industry notoriously bad at predictions, allowing contractors to make better decisions about which subcontractors they work with and when to invest in additional resources.
• With 3D printing we've seen a couple of false starts such as the story of ten 3D printed houses in a day which was found recently to be faked, however there's still a lot of interest in how this method of manufacturing on site could change how buildings and infrastructure are delivered in the future with many proof of concepts that just weren't around five years ago. There's starting to be more of a push to 'local factories', where items are built on or very close to site for quicker assembly, mirroring some of the trends we see in manufacturing.
• We have seen a surge in the interest in Advanced Robotics for construction with companies such as MX3D are looking at how to 3D print a bridge in the middle of Amsterdam using these robots, and other examples of robots being used for bricklaying!

That's how our world has changed over five years, here's some interesting stats about that journey you've joined us on: -

• Nearly half a million views!
• 35% of users from the US, 10% from the UK, and 5% each from Australia, India and Canada
  • In fact the only countries I couldn't see any visitors for were Chad and Vatican City (hurry up Pope, get into BIM!)
• Around half of you find us by searching through things like Google!
• 10 Authors who have contributed regularly so far (with 2 more added today)
• 277 posts (that's over one a week!)

Some of the most popular posts were about: -

• Navisworks Keyboard Shortcuts (update here)
• 14 things you'll be shocked you never knew about Navisworks
• Autodesk Graphics about an improved view in Navisworks
• BIM 360 Glue on the go about the mobile app
• Clash Rules to reduce false positives

So to celebrate we have had a reshuffle of our authors and would like to welcome Lejla Secerbegovic and Julien Drouet to the Beyond Design Team! They'll bring a different perspective on how fabrication and improved use of the design tools can bring more to the contractor and more tips and tricks to improve your day to day workflows.

You may also notice a new look to the blog, one of the things this allows is better mobile access so you can view our blog on the move!

Our aim hasn't changed in the last five years, so it leaves us to thank you for your support, feedback and continued use of our software, and here's to another five years and more!

Using Navisworks Quantification for early stage estimates

One user case that I've seen a lot of interest for recently is early stage estimates on buildings, this is quite easily possible using floors or potentially other areas from an early mass model.

I've seen people mostly using resources to get additional items into the take-off that may not be modelled like skirting boards, such as fittings or the layers in a wall like insulation, brick, blocks and wall ties. Some people however have used 'Count' as a way to show costs associated with an item. For the purpose of an early cost estimate you could create a number of estimates based on building type, trade type, or work package type and save this in a catalogue. There seems to be lots of cost estimates available per square meter (or feet for my American friends), from industry bodies and internally in most firms so you can use these to create catalogues. There is a blog post showing how to Use Catalogues in Navisworks Quantification, there is also a Navisworks Quantification Catalog Creation template available to speed some of this process up.

In the proof of concept example below we've added a cost of £1300 per square meter to a Supermarket and used that cost as a 'PrimaryQuantity' so it's easily referenced. We've added costs for MEP fitout and things like Security and AV equipment.

As a next step you'll need to make sure you pull the area across from the model or drawings. As this can come from a range of file formats or you may be looking for a specific floor or net or gross are you may need to head to the Property Mapping button on the Item Catalog and select the right property which shows the area for your mass or early stage model.

You can then select the floors in the mass model, either as a Search set or using the Select Same button and drag and drop into the Quantification Panel. You can then go to the select a number of building uses, or required items for a quick rough cost estimate based on the model or drawings.

You can Download a sample of this catalogue that SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, but will give you an idea of the workflow should you wish to pursue it further.

What if you could layout against reality?

I've just returned from the Capturing Reality Forum in Salzburg (the newly combined SPAR Europe and European LIDAR Mapping Forum) where myself and Andy Evans from Topcon presented a live workflow showing point clouds and design data together within BIM 360 Layout, a proof of concept workflow where we posed the question 'What if you could layout from reality?'.

We had many interesting discussions after the presentation with people thinking of possible uses. My favourite was the idea of MEP layout based on a scan from earlier that day, you can run clashes against the point cloud to identify issues before going to site using Navisworks, then use the current information to help visualise and layout your work.

With three scans we were able to quickly register them, export to a TXT format with RGB data, import in Navisworks, add control and layout points using Point Layout then upload to BIM 360 Glue for use in BIM 360 Layout.

You can also then use the measurement tools to identify distances between the design and the point cloud out on site.

Andy Evans and Autodesk's Michael Moran will be demonstrating this workflow at Autodesk University next week https://events.au.autodesk.com/connect/sessionDetail.ww?SESSION_ID=10127&tclass=popup

Revit parameter mapping ready for maintenance and FM

One of the big drivers for BIM at the moment in the UK, where myself, James and Paul live, is the UK BIM Level 2 mandate due to come into force next year. Many other countries, bodies and firms are looking at this mandate as a template around how BIM can be done.

A key part of this mandate is the deliverable of COBie data drops of information related to the project, COBie is a structured format that means you can find information about say, a windows warranty date, irrelevant of whether this comes from Revit, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, or somewhere else. On BIM Toolbox, our Northern European AEC blog, we show how Dynamo can be used to map parameters to get them into a format ready for COBie export, the second blog explains more about how the script works so you can edit it to get it ready for your FM system, or just move parameters around in your Revit model.

Part 1: BIM 360 Field data to COBie mapping using Dynamo

Part 2: Revit Parameter Mapping using Dynamo, a breakdown of a script

Let us know if these come in useful and how else you're using Dynamo to solve construction problems.

Introducing Shared Views with Navisworks 2016 Service Pack 3

You may have recently noticed the release of Navisworks 2016 Service Pack 3, which we released at the end of September. We have been busy piecing together some materials to help explain the content of this service pack, to truly do it right. Why, you ask? Because Service Pack 3 represents an important update to the integration between Navisworks and BIM 360, and just so happens to be the most requested feature across the whole BIM 360 Idea Station! (Well not anymore, since we answered it..!)

Joining the BIM 360 toolbar, you will now find the "Shared Views" button. From here, you are able to launch the interface for managing views shared between your BIM 360 Glue projects and Navisworks 2016.

The video below shows how this can be used in the context of a collaborative project:

Shared Views created in any BIM 360 Glue connected client retain view fidelity, including:

• Object Visibility (hidden state)
• Object Overrides – color and transparency
• Section Planes and Boxes

Shared Views can be saved directly in Navisworks

Shared Views can be renamed, and moved into folders

Shared Views can be deleted (if the user has the appropriate BIM 360 Glue permissions)

What does this mean to me?

We have heard loud and clear from users since we integrated Navisworks and BIM 360 Glue that this feature would really enhance workflows between the two products. Most commonly we have heard that this will augment collaboration workflows especially around clash resolution – with the new shared views functionality, teams can use the familiar and powerful functionality of Navisworks within the collaborative environment of BIM 360 Glue to remove silos and embrace efficient project teaming.

We've worked closely with a few customers to test this in development, and now that it's arrived, we hope it can support your workflows and make the connection and collaboration of your projects even stronger.

We'd love to hear your feedback, so please give it a whirl and let us know how it works for you!

Operators and Functions in Autodesk Navisworks Quantification

One of the questions Daniel Fahmi asked on our blog recently was around formulas in Navisworks Quantification, rather than just share this with Daniel, we thought more of you may want to know what formulas can be used in Quantification: -

Here is the full list of operators and functions supported in Navisworks Quantification: 

Operator	Description
+	Plus
-	Minus
*	Multiply
/	Division
%	Percentage(E.g. =10% gives "0.1")
(	Left parenthesis
)	Right parenthesis
>	Greater than
>=	Equal or greater than
<	Less than
<=	Equal or less than
<>	Not equal
=	Equal sign
^	Power
,	Comma
&	String concatenation

Function Name	Description
abs	Mathematical function.
acos	Mathematical function.
asin	Mathematical function.
atan	Mathematical function.
atan2	Mathematical function.
ceiling	Mathematical function.
cos	Mathematical function.
cosh	Mathematical function.
exp	Mathematical function.
floor	Mathematical function.
log	Mathematical function.
log10	Mathematical function.
max	Mathematical function. For example, max(a, b, c, …)
min	Mathematical function. For example, min(a, b, c, …)
power	Mathematical function.
pi	Mathematical function. For example, pi()
true	Logical function. For example, true()
false	Logical function. For example, false()
exp	Mathematical function. For example, exp(1)
round	Mathematical function.
sin	Mathematical function.
sinh	Mathematical function.
sqrt	Mathematical function.
tan	Mathematical function.
tanh	Mathematical function.
if	Checks whether a condition is met, and return one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE. For example, if(a>b, c, d)
sum	Mathematical function, adds all the numbers. For example, sum(a, b, c, …)
average	Mathematical function, return the average of input numbers. For example, average(a, b, c, …)
convert	Convert unit, return a new value according to source and target unit. For example, convert (fromUnit, toUnit, value). Convert syntax is like Convert("m","in", 3.0) – units are specified as string constants.

* For logical operators, only True() and False() are supported. And, Or, Not are not supported.

Change statuses

It's also worth noting that the status icon has various combinations of 4 LED-like lights

	Deleted	Takeoff object's model object was deleted in the model.
	Erroneous	Takeoff object has an equation error (usually, a circular reference).
	Changed	Takeoff object's model object has one or more changed property values (since the last time the takeoff object was updated from the model).
	Overridden	Takeoff object has one or more overridden property values.

Not all of these are valid for any single takeoff object.  For instance, a takeoff object cannot be both changed and deleted at the same time, since the takeoff's model object is missing (and there is therefore no way to tell if there are changed property values).  However, these indicators are used at the Item level as well to give a summary for all of the Item's takeoff objects.  In that case, you might well see "changed" and "deleted" at the same time: the Item is telling you it has at least one changed object and one deleted object.

Photogrammetry for Construction?

I occasionally moonlight on another Autodesk Blog, BIM Toolbox, an interesting blog covering a range of AEC disciplines from our Northern European Technical team, there are some fascinating workflows and tips and tricks up there covering everything from computational design with Dynamo, civil design workflows, to data management tips and tricks, it's well worth a read, wherever you are in the world. Anyway a few weeks ago I posted an article there about a proof of concept I'd been working on, that I wanted to share further, how photogrammetry can be used in construction.

For those not aware of photogrammetry, it's basically where you take a number of photos and create a 3D model from them. Avid Autodesk fans may be aware of 123D Catch, a consumer application released a few years ago to allow anyone to do this on their smartphones, we also have Recap 360, part of which is the professional version of this service which allows you to do the same thing and bring it into various design applications. The workflow in the link below shows how you can use it to capture plant on site and run it in simulations against your 3D model. Let me know what you think!

Site Logistics with BIM and Photos

Upcoming Webcast: Explore Enhanced Model Based Quantification

Join Beyond Design's very own James Austin and Shawn Butler for the second webcast in the Innovation and Productivity Webcast Series. 

On June 10 at 8am PDT James and Shawn will show you how quantification toolsets support the move toward model based workflows, allowing you to create integrated model and sheet-based takeoff with the most common industry formats. Navisworks 2016 features add functionality to both 3D and 2D workflows, so you can do more with BIM. From preconstruction through to delivery, learn about the benefits of model based quantification, and extend these outputs into estimating, project scheduling and coordination.

New features in Navisworks 2016 allow you to enhance your model based quantification, and enable you to collaborate with your team more effectively in the office and on the job site.  Register today!

BIM 360 Glue and Navisworks 2016: Real-time Collaboration is Here

Introducing… Navisworks 2016 AND BIM 360 Glue!

Navisworks 2016 has taken a major step forward with BIM collaboration in the cloud.  Now with BIM 360 Glue model and data interoperability, Navisworks 2016 provides project teams with a more complete, connected solution to BIM project coordination and collaboration.  This connected solution combines the familiar, powerful features of Navisworks with the easy, accessible, and collaborative capabilities of BIM 360 Glue. 

All About the Workflow…

Several years ago, we heard your requests to connect to the cloud to better support project workflows, and to connect with the entire project team to access the most recent project models and data. BIM Workflows Connected with Glue and How to use BIM 360 and Navisworks on your projects, outlined how BIM 360 Glue and Navisworks integrated to support your project and team workflows, including:  1) How Navisworks users share coordinated NWD models with the team using BIM 360 Glue; and 2) How BIM/VDC specialists access the latest models from the team in BIM 360 Glue to perform advanced analysis with Navisworks.  

With the 2016 release, we are introducing the next phase and a completely new approach to Navisworks-BIM 360 Glue interoperability.  BIM 360 Glue users with Navisworks 2016 can connect to the BIM 360 cloud, work directly with BIM 360 Glue models and merged models, and share data with other project users. 

Here is how it works.  Within Navisworks, you can open, append, and align BIM 360 Glue project models and then save as a merged model in BIM 360 Glue.  This is not an “upload” or “publish” action.  Instead, as soon as the merged model is saved in Navisworks, it is available immediately in the cloud for project team review, collaboration, and coordination workflows using BIM 360 Glue desktop, BIM 360 Glue web, and BIM 360 Glue mobile.

You can also open models from BIM 360 Glue and use advanced analysis tools, such as the enhanced quantification features, in Navisworks 2016.  Once you save your work, data will be available for other Navisworks 2016--connected BIM 360 Glue users.

Think of the new process akin to using Evernote:  Working on a document in the Evernote desktop client syncs saved changes automatically to the Evernote.com web version of the document---and vice-versa.  As a user, the process happens seamlessly, and the distinction between the cloud and the desktop is really a non-issue.

Just as with the Evernote example, Navisworks Manage 2016 and BIM 360 Glue model interoperability happens seamlessly with just a click of the mouse. 

Navisworks and BIM 360 Glue - Complementary Strengths

Navisworks 2016 and BIM 360 Glue now both connect to the same project data as part of an integrated desktop, cloud and mobile solution. However the two products have distinct strengths that satisfy the needs of different participants on your projects.

 For clarity sake, think of the comparison of the two products as such:

• BIM 360 Glue = Cloud-based coordination and collaboration solution that connects the entire project team – internal and external – and streamlines project review and coordination workflows.
• Navisworks = A feature rich BIM project review toolset for the power user to help perform advanced clash detection, quantification, 4D/5D analysis and construction simulation.

As a BIM/VDC manager working within a collaborative project environment, Navisworks Manage is likely still your go-to product for advanced analysis, such as performing advanced clash detection, integrating 2D and 3D takeoff data for bills of quantity, and simulation of construction activity. BIM 360 Glue transforms your traditional coordination workflows by providing easy-to-use features that empower the extended team: designers, subcontractors and fabricators coordinate and collaborate on a continual basis. This leads to accelerated coordination cycles and more productive weekly/bi-weekly coordination meetings.

BIM 360 Glue subscriptions include access to Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage 2016 (as well as Autodesk Point Layout). 

This new functionality in both Navisworks and BIM 360 Glue is available now, so visit the resources below to get started.

1. How do I access the new Navisworks client as part of my BIM 360 Glue subscription?  Get it here.
2. Interact and correspond with other BIM 360 Glue users and our support team here.
3. Visit our Autodesk Help Center for loads of articles and helpful information.
4. New to BIM 360 Glue and interested in a customized, self-paced demo?  Click here.