How to Automate your Familes with Formulas

 

Following on from our Dynamo BIM blogs we are going to look at using formulas in Revit families. Clients and people on training course often ask how can I do this or that within a family. The only way they can achieve what they want it to do is to use formulas.
 
A lot of Revit users are familiar with making a typical family using parameters and constraints. What most people don’t realise is that you can add formulas to families so calculations can be  
 done within the family.

In this blog I am going to give a high level overview of formulas in families. You don't need to be a programmer. But the usual family rules apply. Plan your family beforehand and flex (test)  your family as you go. The idea with formulas is to get parameters driving other parameter and automating your family as much as possible.

 

Let’s take a very basic arithmetic formula inside a family. In the screen shot below you can see that the width of the family is always going to be half the height.

 

 

 

The width is controlled by a simple formula Width = Height divided by 2. This can be a huge time saving for the user but also reduces the possibility of errors. When your under pressure to get a model it can be very easy to forget to change a parameter. So the more you can automate the family the increase you will get in productivity.

 

Within the family you can do very simple to advanced formulas using the following formula types

 

Basic Arithmetic

This includes basic addition, subtraction, multiplication & division 

Logarithm

Log of 1000 to base 10 is 3. 10 x 10 x 10 = 1000. In a Revit family it is written as log (1000). 

Exponentiation

Raising x to the power of Y   X = X ^ Y . In Revit this is written exp(x)

Square Root

You can use the formula sqrt(16) 

Trigonometry

Revit supports trigonometry a sample is  a = b / tan(B) 

Time to dust off that old maths book 

 

Conditional Statements

Revit family formulas also support conditional statements. A conditional statement checks if a condition is true or false and takes appropriate depending on the test.   

If Statement

The if statement test to see if a condition is true or False

 

In the example above if Height is greater then 1800mm the depth is 1500mm.  If the Height is less the depth is 1700mm.  

And, OR statements can also be used in Conditional formulas giving you additional power to check a condition. 

IF ( AND (x = 100mm , y = 200mm), 80mm, 30mm ) 

IF ( OR ( A = 100mm , B = 300mm ) , 80mm , 30mm ) 

You can also nest your conditional statements that is have 1 conditional statement inside another 

IF ( Length < 350mm , 300mm , IF ( Length < 450mm , 400mm, IF ( Length < 550mm , 500mm, 800mm ) ) )

If you really want to create powerful advanced families get into using formulas in your families. It will take time to get use to Revit’s formula format but its well worth it. 
 

If you have any questions on anything in this blog or any other blog or any of our services please feel free to contact me at dan@siscin.ie.

Dan Deery is the managing director of Siscín. Dan has over 20 years in the construction industry and has been using BIM since the mid 90’s. He also worked as a programmer for a CAD software company. Siscín  specialise in BIM Consultancy. training & visualisation and animation for the Infrastructure, Engineering, Construction, Facilities and Architectural industries. Check out our Website www.siscin.ie

Practical Uses of Dynamo BIM

Following on from last week’s blog on Dynamo BIM I have had a number of requests on what are the practical uses of Dynamo BIM.

Dynamo is so powerful its uses are endless. In this blog I’ll describe some practical examples where it can be used. 

Some basic uses of dynamo are listed below

Renumbering objects

Often rooms or doors/windows need to be renumbered. This can be a time consuming task and you have the risk of errors been made during renumbering. This process may need to be done numerous times during a project.

A dynamo program can be written to automate this task. Any time renumbering needs to be done you just run the program again

Extract Coordinate Data

One function I’ve always wanted to do is extract coordinates of pile or column locations and place them in a schedule. You can’t do it with native Revit but you can with Dynamo or buy an expensive plug-in. The table below shows the extracted id and xy coordinates of objects using dynamo

Import/Export data to and from external programs such as Excel

This is a really useful function with Dynamo. I don’t know how many times I have needed to communicate directly with Excel. Exporting schedule data to excel allows third parties to change data then that data can be reimported back into Revit. When the data is imported not only will it update the schedule it will also  update the geometry due to Revit’s Bio-directional nature.

We work a lot with facilities teams. With the ability to import data from Excel we have a method for importing data from the facilities software. Saving time on a person having to do it and reducing the risk of errors.

Adding Elements in Revit

You can use Dynamo to add or edit elements. Do you need to add columns or grids in Revit, this can be done using dynamo. Alternatively data for the positions of objects can be read in from an external program such as a spreadsheet.

Using Maths, logic & Formulas

For the more advanced users dynamo has a full range of features for complex calculations and maths. With nodes such as the formula node

Conditional operators such as if, while and loop functions.

 The above example shows walls within a certain tolerance are coloured. On the left the original model and on the right the model after the Dynamo program is run.

The above example places floors and framing at different levels defined by the user

The above are just some sample uses of Dynamo. You can mix and match all the above functions to solve multiple problems in Revit or just to automate repetitive tasks.

Siscín will run Dynamo BIM workshops around Ireland and the UK.  If you would like to find out more contact us at info@siscin.ie

If you have any questions on anything in this blog or any other blog please feel free to contact me at dan@siscin.ie.

Dan Deery is the managing director of Siscín. Dan has over 20 years in the construction industry and has been using BIM since the mid 90’s. He also worked as a programmer for a CAD software company. Siscín  specialise in BIM Consultany. training & visualisation and animation for the Infrastructure, Engineering, Construction, Facilities and Architectural industries. Check out our Website www.siscin.ie

Extend the Functionality of Revit with Dynamo BIM

We all know that Revit is a great product but we have also all had times when we found certain issues are difficult to do in Revit. It would be great if we were able to extend Revit functionality without the skills of a programmer.

Now we can with a plugin called Dynamo BIM.

What is Dynamo BIM

Dynamo BIM is a visual programming language that is easy to learn. You don’t need to know the complication of a traditional programming language such as C# or VB.

With Dynamo BIM you have functions or nodes as they are known, you drag and drop the nodes onto the screen and connect the nodes together with objects caleed wires. The screen shot above shows a program that extracts parameter information and exports the parameter data directly into Excel.

How it works

When you install dynamo BIM you will see Dynamo BIM under the Addins tab

When you start Dynamo it opens in a separate window.

On the left you have a library of nodes. You drag the node from the library into the window on the right.

In the example above I have dragged out nodes to allow me to add points to Revit using coordinates. Something you can’t do in basic Revit. If I was to do this using the Revit API (Revit programming Interface) it would involve a huge amount of programming code.

Who should use Dynamo BIM

Every BIM manager or Revit power user should get involved in using Dynamo BIM with Revit. It allows you to

• extend the functionality (as seen in the small example above)

• Automate repetitive tasks

Using Dynamo BIM allows you to get more out of Revit and improve your companies productivity.

How do I get started with Dynamo BIM

The Dynamo BIM extension can be downloaded from the dynamo BIM site

http://www.dynamobim.org/

 Siscín run Dynamo BIM workshops around Ireland and the UK.  If you would like to find out more  please contact us at info@siscin.ie

If you have any questions on anything in this blog or any other blog please feel free to contact me at dan@siscin.ie.

Dan Deery is the managing director of Siscín. Dan has over 20 years in the construction industry and has been using BIM since the mid 90’s. He also worked as a programmer for a CAD software company. Siscín  specialise in BIM Consultany. training & visualisation and animation for the Infrastructure, Engineering, Construction, Facilities and Architectural industries. Check out our Website www.siscin.ie

BIM for Building Owners and Facilities Managers

All the talk these days in the industry is about BIM (Building Information modelling). But does it affect the Building owner and facilities manager. The answer is certainly yes.

If you as a client are commissioning a new building to be constructed, you as the client should be involved in the BIM process from day one. A  BIM model is a fantastic tool for lifecycle management of a building. Once the model is built correctly and contains the 

necessary information it can be linked to your     FM/CMMS  system for asset and building management.

In the BIM process you need to look at the end before you go to the start. What this means is you need to look at what you require from the BIM model. Once you know what you require from the BIM model you then know how the model should be built.

A lot of clients leave the BIM model to the design & construction team. But this can be very costly in the long run for the client. Yes you will receive a BIM model but it may not have the necessary information in the model that you require for lifecycle management. The design team/ construction team will tend to build a model for coordination purposes. They are not concerned or may not even have details of your model requirements.

Clear guidelines and documents need to be developed by the client on how the BIM model is to be developed and what information needs to be included in the BIM model in order for you to link the model to you FM/CMMS software.

These documents and guidelines are known as the BIM protocols. Before engaging your design team you need to have these documents to hand to them as part of your design brief.

The model should be policed by the client during the design and build process to ensure that the model is being built correctly and the necessary information is being included in the model. You need also to ensure that all the design team, Contractor, sub-contractors are engaged in adding the necessary information to the model and uploading data to your FM software.

There is a huge saving in using BIM as part of you construction process. A well run BIM project can save up to 20% on the build and up to 80% on lifecycle management.

Significant savings can be made during the design/construction process and the lifecycle of the building.  

If you have any questions on anything in this blog or any other blog please feel free to contact me at dan@siscin.ie.

Dan Deery is the managing director of Siscín. Siscín are a BIM consultancy specialising in BIM, BIM for Facilities Management & Visualisation for the infrastructure, Engineering Construction, Facilities and Architectural industries. Check out our Website www.siscin.ie

Requirments for a Successful BIM Project

Projects and lifecycle management can save time and costs on delivery and building management. BIM as a process needs to be planned and managed correctly to see the benefits of this process. Regularly in training people ask about running a BIM project. In this article I am going to talk about steps to be followed to ensure success of your BIM project. 

Look at the End before you start 

Planning is the key to any successful BIM project. The first step is to establish what & how the model & Information is going to be used. This will help inform you what needs to be  modelled and what information is required in the model.  Once you know what the model is going to be used for you map out what deliverables are required. For example

• Is the model going to be used as a construction model
• How is it going to be used for construction
• Is the model going to used for FM & Lifecycle management.
• How is it going to be used for FM & Lifecycle management.

These appear to be basic questions. But there are many projects where these are not addressed.

The BIM Execution Plan

A BIM execution plan needs to be developed to clearly define the goals and procedures of the BIM process. This is the BIM roadmap for the project. Without this the BIM boat will be rutherless.

BIM Standards and Procedures

Clearly defined modelling and drawing procedures need to be documented and outlined. 

BIM Kickoff Meeting

A BIM kickoff meeting should be held at the start of a project to discuss the BIM Execution plan and standards. Agree all the procedures and ensure everybody is on board with the process.

Training and Experience

Ensure all parties are properly equipped and trained in order to engage in the BIM process. This is essential. If one party does not have the correct training and equipment they can drag the project down.

BIM Policeman (Coordinator)

A person needs to be appointed to oversee the BIM process.  Their role is to 

• Ensure that all parties are modelling to the agreed standards & Protocols
• Run and coordinate BIM meetings 
• Ensure all required information is being added to the model. 
• Supporting the BIM process by advising the BIM parties on any technical issues. 

This person should have the following skill

• Multi-discipline background to understand the needs of each discipline.
• An excellent software knowledge
• Good IT knowledge
• A good people person

BIM is all about good planning at the start and constant communication during the project.

If you have any questions on anything in this blog or any other blog please feel free to contact me at dan@siscin.ie.

Dan Deery is the managing director of Siscín which is a company an Irish based company specialising in visualisation and BIM for the Infrastructure, Engineering Construction, Facilities and Architectural industries. Check out our Website www.siscin.ie

Rendering – Revit or 3DS Max

Most of our clients who use Revit are using the Autodesk Building Design Suite. This suite of software contains a number of products.

In this suite of products most users don’t look beyond Revit. When I’m talking to people about BIM I always talk about how BIM cannot be done in one software so you need to have your BIM toolbox. The software in this suite is part of your BIM toolbox.

I am often asked the question why do I need 3DS Max when I can render in Revit.

This is very true, Revit is capable of creating nice 3D rendered images and basic walkthroughs.

3DS Max and Revit both use the same rendering engine called Mental Ray. But the implementation of Mental Ray in Revit has been simplified. So you don’t have the same control over your rendering quality as you have in 3DS Max.

You can do animations in Revit but they are very limited. To create high quality flyby or walkthrough animations you need to move to 3DS Max.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with 3DS Max it is a rendering and animation software that is used in the film, visualisation and gaming industries. It comes in 2 flavours. You have 3DS Max and 3DS Max Design. 3DS Max Design is geared towards the Architectural and Engineering industries with tools to link directly to Revit.

When you link a Revit file into 3DS Max, 3ds Max will use the materials, lighting & cameras placed in the Revit model. When you make changes in the Revit model they can be updated in 3DS Max. Revit and 3DS Max share the same material library.  In 3DS Max you have tools to improve materials, lighting & cameras brought in from Revit.

If you need to create better quality renderings or animations have a look at 3DS Max Design. 3DS Max can be quite daunting when you open it first as it looks very different to Revit. to find out more about 3DS Max Design feel free to contact us at info@siscin.ie and we can arrange for you to attend one of our 3DS Max Design for Revit Users courses.          

If you have any questions on anything in this blog or any other blog please feel free to contact me at dan@siscin.ie.

Dan Deery is the managing director of Siscín which is a company an Irish based company specialising in visualisation and BIM for the Infrastructure, Engineering and Architectural industries. Check out our Website www.siscin.ie