48-749 Special Topics

Parametric Modeling with BIM

Fall Semester 2010 • 6-12 units • 1.30-4.20• CFA 213

Carnegie Mellon University

School of Architecture
Instructor: Ramesh Krishnamurti
ramesh@cmu.edu

Co-Instructor: Tsung-Hsien Wang

tsunghsw@andrew.cmu.edu

Co-Instructor: Tajin Biswas

tbiswas@andrew.cmu.edu
Lecture 1
 Course introduction

 What is BIM ?

 How we use it in this course

 Overview of Revit 2011

Course Introduction
 This course is to prepare students for modeling architectural
geometry through development of parametric schemes for
architecture applications.

 For students with no programming background, this course is a

half-semester course, which supplies the basis of understanding
parametric geometric construction mechanisms.

 For all students, the full semester course is regarded as the

venue for pursuing individual projects relating to advanced
geometric constructions with parametric computation.

 The course will use Revit Architecture 2011, Revit API and .NET
framework.
Course credit (6-12)
 All students are initially evaluated for 6 units (half-semester
course). Students who score at least B- at mid-semester may
proceed to the full semester course for credit.

 The project and any accompanying preparatory assignments

will be worth an additional 3 units.

 Students may add to their skill and degree of difficulty by

completing a Revit-based advanced parametric modeling
assignment for an additional 3 units.
This is required of all Computational Design students.
Course Motivation
 BIM tools, such as Revit, offer a parametric 3D model which
can generate information early in the design process
(quantity take–offs, solar studies, day-lighting simulation,
fabrication possibilities)

 With more parametric control over designed components

designers can explore variations, analyze design artifacts,
customize components for evaluation and be more efficient.
 Course schedule
Date Class Assignment
Introduction to building information modeling
Week 1
Introduction to Revit Architecture 2011
BIM capabilities MA 1
Week 2
Construction of a simple project
BIM as used in the AECM domain
Week 3
Revit (Lighting Studies, material Takeoff) MA 1 due/MA 2
Type of families
Week 4
Revit Modeling 3d Families I
Categories and Parameters
Week 5
Revit Modeling 3d Families II MA 2 due/MA 3
Encoding Design Rules
Week 6
Revit Modeling 3d Families III
Prototyping
Week 7
Revit Modeling 3d Families IV MA 3 due
 Course schedule
Date Class Assignment
Week 8 Introduction to .NET C# I Project
Introduction to .NET C# II
Week 9 Prog. Assignment1
Windows Form applications
Week 10 Introduction to REVIT 2011 API I Project proposal
Prog. Assignment 1Due
Week 11 Introduction to REVIT 2011 API II
Prog. Assignment II
Database and SQL,
Week 12
LEED credit evaluations I
Week 13 Thanksgiving Holiday (No Class)
Week 14 Review/Working session
Project Due
Week 15 Final Presentation
Prog. Assignment II due
What is BIM ?
From Information Science Definition

 As a noun – Building Information Model

“An instance of a populated data model of buildings that
contains multi-disciplinary data specific to a particular building
which they describe unambiguously”

 As a verb – Building Information Modeling

“The act or process of creating a Building Information model”
What is BIM ?
 The acronym BIM (Building Information Model(ing)) was
coined in the early 2002 (attributed to Phil Bernstein and
Jerry Laserin though the concept predates this by at least
15 years)

 BIM relies on the creation and collection of interrelated

computable information about a building project
What is BIM ?

BIM processes revolve around virtual models that make it possible

to share information through out the building industry

http://bim.arch.gatech.edu/data/reference/hok.pdf
What is BIM?
 These models are embedded with data, which, when
shared among design team members, can reduce errors
and facilitate an integrated process.

 The federal government has predicted savings of $15.8

billion annually from an integrated process by using BIM.
(BIG BIM little bim-Finith Jernigan)
What is BIM?
 BIM is an information based system that builds long term
value and advances innovation
 It can improve how projects are designed and built
 It improves the environment and builds economic value

 BIM can be looked at in this course as “Beyond

Information Models” to understand the nature of the
concept
 For clarity we will use bim to represent applications−
Archicad, Microstation/GC and Revit bim tools
What BIM is not
 BIM is neither a single building model
nor a single database
(series of interconnected models and databases)

 BIM is neither perfect nor a panacea

What BIM is not
 BIM does not have to be only 3D.
 Example : A spread sheet can be a BIM

 BIM is not complete

 BIM is not a software application−

(eg, Revit, ArchiCAD or Microstation/GC etc)
How BIM is used pragmatically
 As a distributed relational parametric database
 So where does the knowledge manifest itself?
How BIM is used in this course
 Focus is on the power of bim tools primarily but not limited to
evaluate facets of sustainable building design

 Using information from a BIM we are able to count, sort and

calculate different requirements set by sustainable building
rating systems
 Material resources
 Recycled material content

 Water resources
 Water usage and savings

 Energy use
 Energy use reduction by optimizing façade/envelope of building
How we have used BIM
 Sustainable building rating systems are defined as tools which
examine the performance or expected performance of a
‘whole building’ and translate that examination into an overall
assessment that allows for comparison against other buildings

 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) − USGBC

 BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental

Assessment Method) − UK

 CASEBEE (Comprehensive Assessment System for Building

Environmental Efficiency) − Japan
Overview of rating systems
General LEED 3.0 Green Star BREEAM
Assessment
Area
Management Management Management

Energy & Atmosphere Energy Energy Energy

Emissions Emissions Pollution

Sustainable Sites Sustainable Land Use and Land Use and

sites Ecology Ecology
Transportation Transportation
Water Efficiency Water Efficiency Water Water

Indoor Air Quality Indoor Air Indoor Health and Well

Quality Environmental Being
Quality
Quality of Service
Materials and Materials and Materials Materials
Resources Resources
Innovations Innovations Innovation

Culture and Heritage

19
BIM example 1
Structure of our Application
 Dot Net Application (Automating LEED Evaluations)
Test Building Model –407 N. Craig St.

Evaluation Status Display

Navigation Column

Status Window

22
Evaluation example- calculating LEED SS 2
(site density)

23
Evaluation example- calculating LEED SS 2
(site density)

A B C

M N
K
L
J
350’
I
O
H P
F F E D
G

24
Ongoing Evaluations- calculating LEED SS 2 (creating
mass model for site density)

B C

A N
M
L
K D
J I
Development Density O P E
F
G
H

25
Revit as a bim software
 Creates a 3D ‘parametric’ model which produces an
abstraction of plans, elevations, sections and schedules
using databases.
 Propagates and manages changes throughout these
databases so that a change to any part of the database
is reflected in all other associated parts of the database
 Captures and preserves information for collaboration
and reuse by additional industry-specific applications
Revit as a bim software
 Bidirectional Associatively
 All views (eg, plan, section, schedule) use the same
database
 No updates needed (automatic)
 Parametric Relationships
 Software manages and coordinates changes
Example:
You have equally spaced windows across an elevation.
Length of elevation changes. The spacing between the
windows changes but the relationship of equal spacing is
maintained
Revit vs. AutoCAD
 Revit is a true architectural model (not just geometry)
 Revit is parametric
 Revit uses “families” not blocks
(eg, doors, windows)
 Revit uses alignment instead of osnaps
 Revit has multiple design views
(plan, elevation, perspective, section)
Revit vs. AutoCAD
 No command line or layers in Revit
 Visibility controlled by categories

 Revit uses single file, multiple users projects

 Revit imports/exports AutoCAD file type (.DXF and
.DWG)
Revit Fundamentals
 Revit ‘Parametric’ Elements
 Every Element in Revit is considered a family
 Each family belongs to a category

(2D/3D)

(2D/3D)
Revit Fundamentals- Model
Manage> Object Styles

Model categories
include elements like
walls, floors, roofs etc.

Model elements appear

by default in all view-
plan, elevations, section
and 3D views

Detailed components
only appear in views
that they are placed.

Projection view shows

elements where they
have not been cut
Revit Fundamentals- Model
cut lines

projection lines

Detailed Projection view

components only shows elements
appear in views where they have
that they are not been cut
placed.
Revit Fundamentals- Annotation
Annotation
categories include
annotations,
symbols and
descriptive data

Examples-
dimensions, tags,
callouts

Annotations such as
grids, sections,
levels are 2D
graphics but have
3D characteristics
as they appear in
other views
Revit Fundamentals- Parametric element
 A parametric element is something which can change size,
material and graphic look but is still the same fundamental
element.

 Most elements in Revit allow for the creation of variations of a

base type.
 Example each type of door typically represents a variation in size,
material, color, but is derived from the same family

 Type parameters affect all instances in the same family

 Instant parameters affect only the selected instance

Revit Families
 System Families
 Component Families
 In-Place Families
 Difference lies in their creation methods, in what context they
are created and the types of parameters available

Roof

Wall

System
Family
Revit Families- System Families
 They are made of limited categories−
walls, roofs, floors, ceilings, stairs, railings, mechanical
equipments and topo surfaces

 They have different creation methods:

 Walls − draw/place a wall
 Floor/Roof − has to be in Sketch Mode then it generates a 3D
model
 Floors and railings more detail in Sketch Mode that has additional
features that floors do not have
Revit Families- Component Families
 Components or standard families are created outside the
project environment using the family editor.
These are stored in an external library which can be loaded
into the project.

 Each component belongs to a specific Revit category.

 They have their own extension .rfa

Windows

Component Entourage
Family
Revit Families- Component Families
 Go to insert tab > Choose Load Family
Revit Families- In Place Families
 In place families are custom elements that are specific to a
project and the conditions of the project.

 The model grays out and becomes in-selectable when such

families are made.

 Example, a non vertical wall shape or skewed mullion

 These can be copied from project to project

 These do not interface well with energy modeling, day lighting

tools or direct-to-fabrication .
Family Creations & Manipulations- component

Wall Family _ Corner

Image by Taihung Chen & Chingyi Chou, GSAPP,

presented at NYV Revit User Group Meeting (designReform.com)
Family Creations & Manipulations -panels

Curtain Wall Family 01 Curtain Wall Family 02

Image by Milan Dale & Micah Roufa, GSAPP,

presented at NYV Revit User Group Meeting (designReform.com)
Introduction to Revit 2011
Cluster: Baker 140C

OR

Download from:
http://students.autodesk.com/
Revit 2011 Interface Overview
 Revit 2011 Interface Overview
Info Center
Application Quick access toolbar
menu
Ribbon
Panel

Properties

Project
browser

Status bar View Control bar Drawing Area

Revit 2011 Interface, Application menu
 The big purple R on top left
 It allows to open and create new/
existing projects/families
 Allows to save and export in various
formats
 RVT = Revit Projects
 RTE= Revit Templates
 RFA = RevitFamily
Revit 2011 Interface, Application menu
 Option allows the following settings
 File location
 Settings relevant to steering wheels
 The view cube
 Spelling
 Macro
 General settings-such as saving time
intervals
Revit 2011 Interface, Ribbon

 The ribbon is organized in tabs and panels

 Nine Tabs
 Home
 Insert
 Annotate
 Structure (this is new in 2011)
 Massing and Site
 Collaborate
 View
 Manage
 Modify
Revit 2011 Interface, Ribbon

Home- contains all tools to create 3D elements

Insert – imports and manages CAD files and Raster images

Annotate – Contains all tools for adding 2D elements to describe

building model in a project
Revit 2011 Interface, Ribbon

Structure – Tools that deal with structural elements and their details

Massing and Site – creating and modifying conceptual mass models

Collaborate – Tools that aid in collaboration on the same project

Revit 2010 Interface, Ribbon

View – Many views are different queries into the Revit database

Manage – Design options as well as project related settings are located

here

Modify – Once elements are created they have to be changed or

edited
Revit 2011 Interface, View window

Steering
wheel and
View Cube

View Controls
Revit 2011 Interface, View window

Detail level
Steering
Graphics display option
wheel
Show crop region Allows 2D
Reveal hidden elements zoom, pan
View Controls and rewind

Scale Temporary/hide

Crop view

Model graphic style

Revit 2011 Interface, View window
Navigation Wheel (F8)

Right click and choose Options… to set the

Steering Wheel parameters
Revit 2011 Interface, View window
Revit 2011 Interface, View window

Graphic display
options
Revit 2011 Interface- Units and settings
 Units for the following can be set for a project by going to
the Manage Tab> select Project Units
Revit 2011 Units and settings
 For Snaps go to Manage Tab> snap; The Dimension Snap is
the increment, in which the cursor moves while creating components.
Revit 2011 Project browser
Revit 2011 Elevation markers
For Elevation markers View>Elevation
Revit 2011 Project windows
Revit 2011 Lesson1
 Exercise 1- 3
 Open, Save, and Close an Existing Project

 Exercise 4
 Creating a New Project
 Set units
 Set project information

 Exercise 5
 Using Zoom & Pan to View Drawings

 Exercise 6
 Using Revit’s Help System
Exercise 1-3
Open Project Basic Sample Project
Exercise 1-3
Open Another Project : Advanced Sample Project
Exercise 1-3
And another project
Exercise 1-3
Toggle between projects
Exercise 4
 Create a new Revit project

 Template Files
 Units set (e.g. Imperial or Metric)
 Wall, door, and window family styles defined
 Title blocks inserted
Exercise 5
Using Zoom and Pan to View a Drawing
Exercise 6
Use Revit’s Help System