-

Collaboration is key: How BIM helps a project from concept to operations

Talking about collaboration and delivering a truly collaborative project through the use of BIM are two very different things. Ryan Simmonds of voestalpine Metsec Framing discusses the keys to success

At voestalpine Metsec, we recognise the fact that BIM is more than just a 3D modelling tool for design. BIM, at its core – and done correctly – is an integrated management system that allows 3D design, together with onsite construction and information, that enables handover to operationally manage the client’s facility. Metsec was the first company to achieve BIM Kitemark for design and construction and also for BIM objects.

Within BIM sits key elements for success. Coordination with other team members, or those working on a project, is crucial to ensure nothing is missed, as well as making sure there are no unnecessary duplications. Cooperation is another important area, and one where teams can often fall down through a lack of communication or sharing of vital information.

Together, cooperation and coordination help to contribute to true collaboration, with all parties working together to achieve a single goal and BIM has proved to be an essential tool to allow this approach.

Benefits of collaboration in construction projects

Collaboration is a method that the construction industry has historically struggled to adopt, but one that has been consistently demonstrated to greatly benefit the industry as a whole.

Collaborating on a project from the initial stages brings numerous benefits, including reducing time delays and the need for contingency funds. The appointed design team, contractors, manufacturers and installers all working collaboratively means designs, issues, priorities and construction methods are all agreed upon in the initial stages and fully understood by all parties.

While the theory of collaboration can seem abstract, it is a very real requirement for successful projects. If co-dependent elements of a project are executed in silos with no communication or coordination, projects can hit stumbling blocks.

For example, if the installer of the framing solution on a project has not communicated with the main contractor as to when they are required onsite, the project can either be delayed as the installer is not ready, or alternatively they’ll turn up onsite but not be able to gain access and begin the installation, resulting in wasted days and money.

Similarly, if the framing manufacturer and installer have not cooperated and communicated, the project could be delivered before it’s required, taking up valuable space onsite, or be delayed – again resulting in lost days.

BIM as a collaborative method

However, collaboration needs to go deeper and this is where Building Information Modelling (BIM) is vital. A structured, measured and comprehensive approach to team working, BIM has a fixed set of processes and procedures to guide users and participants how best to employ collaborative methods. Design coordination is an in-depth and involved process and BIM’s regular data exchanges ensure that the whole team is working on the same, and most up-to-date, model.

The notion of BIM is the process of designing, constructing or operating a building, infrastructure or landscape asset using electronic information. In practice, this means that a project can be designed and built using datasets and images digitally, even before the first spade goes in the ground.

Detecting conflict at early stages means they are addressed and resolved promptly and still during the planning stages. Without BIM, issues are often only picked up at major project milestones and at this point they can be difficult and expensive to rectify.

The objective of BIM is to satisfy the three components of a successful project, namely time, cost and quality, by managing the project using an efficient, collaborative and reliable method of work.

Sharing a 3D model with all parties communicates the planned end result in a clear, concise and fully comprehensible way – helping the full project team to understand the requirements and see what they are working towards. The information held within the model can be extracted from within in the form of Cobie files, which is also essential. Within these, if done to Level 2 standard, the manufacturer will host the correct file extensions and product parameters to allow asset management in future years.

However, another crucial element of BIM is the promotion, and adoption, of collaborative working. The digital designs, including product parameters, are shared with all parties to outline the work planned and give everyone the opportunity to fully understand what is proposed and all the requirements, including specifications such as fire and acoustic data. The BIM Execution Plan (BEP) is a critical document as it underpins project integration and is a written plan to bring together all of the tasks, processes and related information.

The BEP should be agreed at the outset and defines what BIM means for the project. It outlines the standards being adopted, outputs required, when these should be supplied and in what format, plus any supporting documentation.

As a working document, the BEP is regularly reviewed and evolves throughout the project, ensuring design teams, suppliers, manufacturers and all other stakeholders have all the relevant information, promoting collaboration between all parties.

The BIM Implementation Plan (BIP) is the blueprint for integrating BIM into an organisation’s working practices. This should align to the objectives and aspirations of the organisation, its business partners, its skill base, levels of investment and the nature and scale of projects that it wishes to undertake now and in the future.

Hosting both of these documents in a centrally coordinated Common Data Environment (CDE) means they can be updated, accessed or extracted at any time throughout the project. Adding all other BIM documents, including the 3D drawings, gives all of those involved in the overall project full visibility and input, promoting a collaborative approach throughout.

Conclusion

Talking about collaboration and delivering a fully collaborative project through the use of BIM are two very different things, and will have very different outcomes when it comes to a construction project.

While there have been moves to adopt a more collaborative approach, using BIM ensures that all stakeholders are consulted at all stages throughout the project and that the most up-to-date documents are hosted in one central location, reducing errors in file versions or timing plans.

In addition, the use of BIM means that a design and build is fixed from a certain, agreed point onwards, removing the need for additional contingency budget or project delays due to unplanned changes caused by a lack of communication, coordination, cooperation or collaboration.

Source: www.pbctoday.co.uk

TOP 4 MAJOR CHALLENGES WITH FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

The Finite Element Analysis is an amazing process in which the simulation of any physical object is done by leveraging the mathematical technique known as Finite Element Method (FEM). This technique improves the product manufacturing to a greater precision.

By using the extensive finite element analysis services, optimization of product design is possible by redesigning and eliminating the flaws present in the previous prototype. All in all, this is an unskippable technique used by every industry to ensure best product quality. But this perfect technique also possesses some of the major challenges on which engineers are working.

HERE ARE TOP 4 MAJOR CHALLENGES WITH FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS:

Stress Concentration Challenge:

The FEA is not that accurate when it comes to stress concentration testing. In stress concentration, there is a greater stress on the material of a very small area. These occur because of the frequent changes in equipment geometry. The stress in such areas may be greater than the yield strength of the material. However, this is not ideal when it comes to perfectly implementing the 3d mechanical drawing.

Time Consuming:

This process of analyzing physical object takes too many parameters for giving the results and improvements. Finite element analysis is a complex process and requires higher time for compilation as compared with other similar methods. When comparing FEA with FEM (Finite Element Method), it is slightly slower than FEM. The complexity of this process goes up even more when it is running with other practices like 3d scanning services.

FEA Needs Higher Configuration System :

This may be an issue if you want to do finite element analysis on a normal configuration system. As this process takes numerous inputs for generating different results, it demands a higher configuration system which can run multiple finite element analysis queries easily without any interruption. This may be a challenge for many who are trying to use this technique on lower configuration systems as compared to running normal AutoCAD drafting services.

The Final Results May Varies In FEA:

This is the challenge which bothers the engineers the most. The final result after processing may vary due to various factors. The factors such as material property, the stress and fatigue property of the material and many similar factors alter the final result of the test as compared to similar other techniques. If you are also looking for efficient FEA or cad outsourcing company, you must reach to us.

Source : www.zcads.com.au

High Tech for Hard Hats

A Caterpillar dozer can weigh up to100 tons of steel, powered by over 800 horsepower behind a 12-foot wide blade. It moves dirt—tons of it—literally leveling hills, making roadways, sites for campuses, skyscrapers. Armored dozers have been used in war, destroying berms that were made to guard against the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Nothing in their way stood a chance. It was the modern-day rendition of Hannibal’s elephants. You’d expect the operator of anything so potentially devastating to be paying very close attention to where the machine is heading. But look at a modern construction site, and you would probably see the operator absorbed in his Android tablet.

Relax. He’s not watching videos on Hulu. What he’s watching can greatly accelerate the pace of a construction project, reduce use of materials, and provide precision from a machine that belies its size.

The tablet in question (a TD250) is like one you might buy, except it can withstand the bumps and grinds of a construction site—the shock, vibration, and rough terrain. “An iPad just won’t cut it,” says Martin Wagener, expert of Trimble’s precise positioning on dozers (his official title is Worldwide Product Implementation manager, Civil Engineering at Trimble). The specially-ruggedized Android tablet ($3K replacement cost) can be seen in bright sunlight. It can also take a wider range of temperature extremes.

“One is made for watching videos in my living room,” says Martin. “The other is made for work.”

A Trimble TD250, left, is part of the retrofit Earthworks system for dozers. It is displayed at Dimensions 2018, Trimble’s bi-annual user meeting. Picture it rigidly mounted inside the dozer cabin.

A properly outfitted dozer, with sensors on its blade, is relaying its exact position and orientation to the tablet 20 times a second to the TD250 tablet as it scrapes the ground. Let’s combine what the blade is seeing to the graded surface model (the final product) and the operator will know exactly if the blade is digging too deep, not enough, or if it is on the right path—and let the operator make adjustments.

“We don’t expect dozer operators to take classes to have to learn how to use Earthworks,” says Martin. Indeed, the Earthwork app does seem to be drop-dead easy to use.

The perfect pit. Excavator bucket position being precisely controlled by Trimble Earthworks for Utah-based Rock Structures; the company has said the Earthworks system prevented over digging and reduced spending on fill-in material. (Picture courtesy of Trimble.)

A more evolved version of the Trimble Earthworks system will be able to control the blade by itself, rather than rely totally on a human operator.

Trimble Earthworks for dozers was introduced last year. More recent is Earthworks for excavators. Sensors on the bucket and arm of the excavator feed into the tablet, which shows the digging against the construction model.

“I can control a grade to within 3/10 of an inch,” one operator is quoted as saying in a Trimble case history. The software is said to prevent the bucket from exceeding the limits of the dig, as governed by the 3D construction model. Machine operators who used to over dig can now dig more precisely. The same excavation says their newfound ability to dig as needed but not a shovelful more has helped save cost of material. “We use half the gravel to fill in the hole now as we did before,” he says.

Guiding a giant machine to move one pebble without touching the one next to it involves a sequence of technologies. Satellite data (GPS) provide the position, in this case to the sensors on the earthmovers, for the right street address. Triangulation between cell towers will put the excavator buckets and dozer blades within feet of the target. Zeroing in on the final fractions of an inch comes with lasers and IMUs (inertial measuring units). An IMU—now commonly found in smart phones—can tell where they are even without a signal.

Super precise positioning seems to be Trimble’s forte. The company, founded by Charley Trimble in 1978, has prided itself as being the surveyor’s favorite, its line of sight surveying equipment the gold standard of the industry. The company has reinvented itself with each wave of technological advances, embracing lasers, point clouds, drones and design software. It’s acquisition of SketchUp alone has vaulted it to the lead in number of 3D CAD users. Whatever can be used to locate precisely on Earth—whether the technology uses satellites, cell towers, lasers or IMUs—count on Trimble to be on top of it.

Sensors on the dozer blade provide XYZ position, plus rotation on all 3 axes.

Source: www.engineering.com

The extension of the BIM domain

The BIM (Building Information Model), we hear a lot about it and we think we know what it is. It’s about Building, therefore construction, about Information, therefore data, and Modeling, that is design, therefore appearance.

At least that’s the only thing this acronym tells us.

As for going beyond the raw meaning of the acronym, it is a very different matter. But what exactly is it about? Is BIM really new to start with?

Wikipedia, which can be taken at face value because it has so many observers on the lookout for the slightest failure, tells us this: “Architect Phil Bernstein, a consultant at Autodesk, was the first to use the term BIM for “Building Information Modelling.”

It therefore appears that the term was originally used in the field of architecture. But would it be possible that we did BIM before BIM without knowing it?

This is quite possible because, any religious consideration aside, it is not the name that creates the thing.

Mechanical design disciplines have long been modelling 3D objects to mimic reality by representing static and dynamic properties and doing BIM without saying it. The faithful 3D representation of reality, associated with what is called PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) is very similar to what is called BIM. Purists will tell me no, but all the basics were already there.

The BIM concept is therefore not new, far from it. What is new is the extension of its domain. No one knows exactly where the boundaries of this field lie at the moment, for two reasons: no one has explored them yet, and would have they done so, they would change every day.

The BIM is at the hinge of two worlds. The real world and the digital world. Your computer is also at the crossroads of two worlds. A vinyl record, which is not new, is also at the hinge of two worlds, it is both a material and totally immaterial object since it is capable of reproducing music. Magic.

If we are only at the beginning in the field of BIM in architecture and infrastructure, it is easy to imagine where BIM will take us. It will lead us into a parallel world, that of a digital world that no longer represents reality, but reproduces it.

We are only in the early stages. We are currently ecstatic when we see a digital model on a computer screen, but these are only simplified objects, modelled in 3D, static, to which we have attached some poor properties. The future is not there, the future is in the complete digital reproduction of the real world not as it is at a particular moment, but as it will be at all times in the future (and was in the past). A building is a living thing, it gets old, it gets damaged, it is sometimes rebuilt (not yet by itself but we will come to it, yes it will…). It is this life of buildings and infrastructures that in the future we will reproduce electronically with all the necessary realism so that we can no longer distinguish between the real and the artificial.

Some video games have already made good progress in this direction. And in video games there are characters. There will naturally be some in the BIM in architecture and city planning. Autodesk software, for example, that simulates crowd movements, will be integrated into these building models, but much more than that, we will reproduce the way human beings work, their thinking, their behaviour, their mistakes, too, to make them live in this artificial world. This already exists in an embryonic way in some video games. Humanoid robotics will join the BIM.

Finally, digital artificial reality will be far superior to reality since, in addition to visually and functionally reproducing it, it will add databases that are missing from reality. A piece of furniture does not know how big it is. A piece of furniture in the world of BIM and artificial reality will know this. BIM will bring intelligence to objects.

It is ultimately a very natural evolution of Humanity. Equipping yourself with increasingly efficient tools is a story that began in prehistoric times. But the characteristic of the digital age is that tools no longer transform only the real but also the representation that we have made of them. I wouldn’t teach anyone who has a teenager at home, that is, on their computer, by saying that the real world, for a teenager, is a vague and strange concept whose necessity they don’t really understand. I’m not sorry about that. In my youth, I would have liked to have lived in this double world.

We will not lack BIM managers. They already have the (two) feet firmly anchored in this second world.

Finally, I’ll let Confucius speak, him who was already responding to critics of BIM 2500 years ago:

When you do something, know that you will have against you, those who would like to do the same thing, those who wanted the opposite, and the vast majority of those who did not want to do anything.

Written by Patrick EMIN – www.Linkedin.com

Can drones be utilized in construction for creating accurate BIM models?

Not many years ago, people who thought they were being constantly watched by someone or something were labeled paranoids. But that is not the case right now; times have changed and we live in a world where there are flying cameras watching over human activities. We have seen these flying cameras during sports events, concerts and even during some wedding receptions.

You could call it a plane without a pilot or a flying remote controlled toy camera but how do we define them in a surveying and engineering context? When technically elaborating, they may be identified as tools that capture beneficial digital data and images from a different perspective. These systematic images captured are then used to create a 3D model, point cloud or a Digital Terrain Model (DTM). The DTM statistics are extremely useful for the generation of 3D renderings of any location in a described area and they could come handy for engineers working in various fields like geodesy & surveying, geophysics, and geography.

All this cumulatively contribute to elevated efficiency levels during the different phases of construction engineering. Construction is a one of a kind industry, where even such small gains in efficiency and flexibility can reap billions of savings. With that in mind it’s no real surprise that the engineers are slowly embracing the so called “Drone Revolution”. Now, UAVs are starting to dominate all the 4 stages of Architectural engineering, namely; pre-construction stage, construction stage, post construction stage and finally and most significantly the ongoing safety maintenance stage.

Pre-construction Stage

During preconstruction stage, the project is in its budding stage and the whole design is nourished slowly and carefully by the architects. The paramount activity during this stage is land survey documentation. Drones can provide us with precise and speedy overviews of large sites and high risk areas thereby ensuring that the documentation of land condition is precise. This data can further be used for scheduling and planning of the construction activities which are to happen in the location.

In conventional point cloud methods, there are possibilities of uneven topography due to certain occlusions in the sight, but the bird’s eye vision advantage of drones ensure generation of data across an entire region with the identical consistency in accuracy and density and this data can be even used to create a Building Information Model (BIM) which clearly shows how exactly our building is going to look like after the whole construction process is done, which is very beneficial from the designer’s point of view.

Construction Stage

During the construction stage, there are innumerable difficulties to be dealt with. One such difficulty is the proper documentation of the project progress schedule. Usually there would be a site manager traversing around the site capturing photographs at random points and then preparing the whole site report based on these limited photographs. Needless to say the report would be defective and insufficient. But with the introduction of UAVs into the construction industry, a series of high definition aerial shots and videos can be easily captured so as to get a better insight to the progress that has occurred without actually being on-site. The real time data acquired by light detecting sensors mounted on the Drones can help create point clouds or Building Information Models (BIMs) which can be directly fed into Autodesk’s program line such as BIM, Inventor, AutoCAD and Revit for early damage detection procedures, quality management exercises and other asset evaluation techniques. The point clouds or Building Information Models (BIM models) can be further used to retrieve relevant information at the wish and will.

Post Construction Stage

The post construction stage can be just as problematic as the construction stage. Evaluation of high rise buildings and other complex structures are often a tedious task with the naked eye. Inspecting a building roof using UAV multi – rotor system is an economical and secure way than by using conventional methods. Like laser systems, drones can also be used to capture aerial thermal images to locate the potential hot and cold spots in a building but their 4K quality gives them an upper hand over the low quality laser scanned images. This aesthetic dominance the drones have over conventional laser methodologies are certainly a boon while considering a marketing angle as well. There’s undeniably no better way to advertise a new project than a top to down view from a bird’s eye point of view. An engaging walk through project video is a delightful way to introduce key personnel to the project and get them on board.

Ongoing Safety and Maintenance Stage

The role of UAVs in implementing a safe and secure work atmosphere is the one salient feature that stands out and this simply is the reason why drones have become a household name for safety inspectors in large construction sites. Often in multi-million projects, the officer in charge may not always be around and this is where the live video coverage of the drones strike gold. The live feeds can be accessed by the superiors easily even from a remote location, thereby enabling routine asset inspections, fatigue and damage evaluations and condition surveys at all times. Keeping in mind all this, it is no wonder that UAVs are nicknamed the new onsite “BOSS”.

As researches have demonstrated, in the coming years we are undoubtedly to witness drones spearheading the construction industry. With our eyes and ears virtually in the sky, it’s already quite effortless to identify the contradictions in the ongoing process and in addition to that we can know how aesthetically appealing the buildings are coming up. The control and planning aspects of the construction process have also witnessed considerable changes which were practically unfeasible a few years back. The money and time saved with the support of drones are going to be immeasurable in the future. In short,

Drones can be used for:

Land survey and site inspection during pre-construction stage
Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Point cloud scanning
Marketing and promotional photography during and after construction
Monitoring and tracking onsite activities thereby ensuring accurate work flow
Ensuring routine asset inspections and safety measures at all times

Thus, it is safe to claim that the notion of ‘technology integrated construction’ have advanced by leaps and bounds with the intervention of drones into the construction industry!

Source: http://www.advenser.com/blog/

HOW IS 5D BIM TRANSFORMING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

BIM is currently the making new revelations in the industry, and changing its practices from information sharing to design coordination and from construction management to construction scheduling and cost planning. To general contractors and construction companies, 4D BIM and 5D BIM remain vital functional aspects and utilities of BIM platforms such as Autodesk Revit or BDS.

What is 5D BIM; Definition

5D BIM can essentially be called as the information sharing in full collaboration as in BIM Level 2 for the physical and functional aspect of BIM. While it can also be said to have an additional dimension to the native 4D construction sequencing models – a dimension time along with costs in Common Data Environment (CDE) of BIM.

Cost planning and estimation with 5D BIM modeling involves more project teams of engineers, sub-contractors and stakeholders. It eliminates the concept of working in isolation. The collaborative modeling of Revit BIM platforms also facilitates quick and automatic generation of quantities, accurate design data fetching and BOQs and BOMs when connected with the cost estimation software. It thus opens avenues for the engineers and consultants towards efficient design, timelines and costs.

5D BIM accelerates pre-construction stages

Another major area where 5D BIM has a very profound impact is helping project managers. Estimating accurate quantity takeoffs, measurements, and costs is the most time-consuming process and error-prone task. Up until now, these processes were done manual by calculating the quantity requirements from the blueprints. But with BIM the process has transformed and increased the productivity for contractors as well as quantity surveyors.

5D streamlines the decision making of a building construction project for the owners and chief contractor. They get the ability to see through the changes in CDE of the design models change done by other stakeholders and design teams. The impacts of design changes and its corresponding changes in costs on each model estimates can be envisioned which helps staying on budgets.

Benefits of 5D BIM

A survey by, McKinsey&Company says that, “75% of companies invested in 5D BIM experiences a positive ROI.”

5D BIM technology offers savings on time by subtracting paper trails, down on overhead costs, rowers etc. and facilitates shorter project cycles. Consequently, governments across the UK, Finland & Singapore have mandated BIM for all public infrastructure projects.

The Virtual Design and Construction capabilities of BIM provide a better understanding of building construction project horizon. Specific designs, construction simulation, topography based sequencing, and cost estimation and logical phasing brings a more coherent approach in the over project execution.
Whole of the project team develops an understanding of the proposed design by staying on same page throughout the project tenure, assumptions made, and cost factors. The team then can have brief BIM meetings for the scope, cost, and schedule which directly have an impact on the time saving factor.

Also the data that is fed in real-time will continuously update the model accordingly so that the alternative designs can also be explored. It shortens the project design development cycle and drives more efficiency in designing output. The “what-if” scenarios can also be evaluated objectively and any economical solution will never be missed out.

Furthermore, all the project stakeholders can visualize the building design way before construction breaks the ground and transparency stays onboard all the time. The cloud isn’t only used to back up your phone.

Future of 5D BIM

5D BIM, in coming times, will essentially drive the construction industry to new heights. With cloud technology, all the project information will be made accessible to all the team, irrespective of their location and time zones. Construction is soaring and cloud technology is equally popular in the industry as much BIM. About 1/3rd of the construction companies use cloud data and information management and sharing today.

Additionally, there are upcoming technologies like Augmented and Virtual reality transforming to mixed reality where holographic displays of the building design model are seen in layered devices. It will particularly help the building construction project in facility construction, maintenance and operations.

Looking at these disruptions, one thing is sure that 5D BIM is growing and will serve as an important link between designing and construction as well as the designs and operations and maintenance stages. There is no stopping now. Coming times for the construction industry are transitional and there will be several profound impacts on the growth as well as efficiency in practices.

Source: https://www.wooloo.org

Top 3D Rendering Software 2018

With the advent of the digital era, rendering software has undergone a plethora of changes. The demand from users of 3D rendering software coupled with technological advancements has influenced the industry to progress over the years. The need has helped the industry revolutionize renderings that are life-like and realistic, thus appealing to clients seeking such services.

One outstanding feature is the active rendering plug-ins that come with the software. The feature has presented a wide array of options for users that can sometimes make it chaotic to use especially for those new to it. Designers and architects often stick to the 3D rendering software they used while in school and update their knowledge with any new updated versions of the software.

Nevertheless, you may be new to the industry or just seeking to expand your tech/software savvy to new visualization heights. It is essential to narrow down your search to what’s best suited for your needs.

Here is a collection of rendering software considered as popular in the industry:

V-Ray

V-Ray 3D rendering software is considered as top tier by most of its users. It was developed by the Chaos Group to provide you with the most realistic visualization features. Its latest version (VRay 3.6) was launched in late 2017 with improvements that make its predecessors (version 3.4 and 3.5) look inferior. The improvements are based on the quality of realistic visualization and speeds in rendering.

Pre-loaded final textures like hair, fur, and grass cut rendering time by almost 50% making total rendering time even faster. Adaptive lights algorithm is one of the accelerated lens effects enhanced in VRay. It allows you to adjust glare and bloom of light which will make your final render realistic. Otherwise, it is compatible with various plug-ins such as Cinema 4D, Autodesk Revit, 3DS Max and Google Sketch-up among others.

A review from most users suggests that the engine contains a wide variety of options which could make it difficult to use. The best solution to the problem is to use online tutorials to learn from.

Maxwell Render

Next Limit Technologies developed Maxwell in Madrid, Spain. You might have heard that it is too slow for rendering images. It may be true as it takes a long time to render extraordinarily sharp and realistic visuals. The rendering software uses a unique lighting engine called “unbiased rendering” responsible for using real-life modeling techniques, unlike other rendering software which uses tricks and shortcuts and results in fewer quality images.

The tradeoff in best quality images is the long rendering time the engine takes. Why not be patient for the best quality images? Besides, why not wait for greatness? The stand-alone software is mostly used in the film and animation industry.

Octane Render

Octane Render is the newcomer to the industry and has a couple of tricks above its sleeve. Developed by Refractive Software Ltd and OTOY, it is classified as a real-time 3D unbiased rendering application; it’s the first commercially available unbiased renderer to work on the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). This attribute helps the render engine use the power of your graphics card to facilitate most of its render calculations. So the better your graphics card, the better the rendering speeds.

On the contrary, Octane does not have a wealth of resources like VRay and Mental Ray, but its unique dependence on the GPU qualifies it to be among the popular rendering software. As it is new to the game, you may not find many tutorial videos online, and its most significant downside is that it will only work with NVIDIA cards. Sorry ATI card users.

Cinema 4D

Cinema 4D brings something different to the table. It is not just a 3D rendering software but also includes animation and motion graphics capabilities. MAXON Computer GmbH developed the application in Germany. It is capable of the typical 3D modeling applications and an added advantage of procedural and polygonal/subd (Catmull–Clark subdivision surface) modeling.

Cinema 4D works as the best ArchiCAD or Vectorworks add-on, especially if you’re an architect on the row for defiance in sticking by ArchiCAD. The programs work seamlessly.

Modo

Modo makes a name in mainstream listings among famous rendering giants like Mental Ray and VRay for its wholesomeness. It makes a list because of its ability to model and render from the same application. No more cumbersome imports or exports which require you to switch between different halves of the same rendering software.

Out of all renderers with preview capabilities, Modo leads the day with the fastest processing time. It gives fast and quality realistic scenes, unlike other engines which compromise quality while giving you a preview. Its major drawback is that it does not have too many control features.

3DS Max

3DS Max was formerly known as 3D Studio and Studio Max. The software was developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment. It may not necessarily be the most acclaimed rendering software but certainly earned its place amongst the most popular. 3DS Max also comes with an onboard renderer that can work with a 3D modeling software. It interfaces well with AutoCAD and Revit, which are Autodesk products.

Note that Revit also has rendering capabilities but is limited in its results and flexibility. This is where 3Ds saves the day by allowing an import and satisfactorily manipulates textures intuitively to render visuals of the best quality.

Honorable Mention: Mental Ray (development discontinued ?)

Developed by Mental Images (owned by the renowned NVIDIA graphics card maker), Mental Ray earns its closest comparison to V-Ray from most of its users in terms of quality of render images towards realistic effects. Although personal preferences between the two engines may differ, what is apparent is that Mental Ray is a friendlier rendering engine. It may not match the level of realism V-Ray is capable of, but its simplicity to use qualifies it to be considered as a top-tier renderer.

Developed in 2007, the main aim was to produce a universal rendering engine that can be used by designers, architects, and artists. Its usefulness is mainly pegged on its versatility and ease of use especially advantageous to architects. There is a lot to learn about any rendering software, but Mental Ray doubles up as the best for first-time users.

Lumion

Lumion is a 3D rendering software that has been developed to integrate with CAD software. Its ease of use makes it suitable for designers and architects who want to render in-house. In addition, Lumion renders in real-time, making it an ideal tool to develop the look and feel of a product.

To enhance your renders, this 3D rendering software includes an extensive library of skies, water, grass, materials, plants, people, trees and other assets. Impressively, Lumion can handle landscapes populated with thousands of these assets.

The large feature-set makes this 3D rendering software an excellent addition to any architect’s toolbox.

LuxRender

LuxRender is an unbiased/biased 3D rendering software that is available under an OpenSource license. On a wide range of features, LuxRender can compete with commercial rendering solutions: The materials used are physically based, thus enabling photorealistic results.

Even complex phenomena like subsurface scattering and volumetrics are supported by LuxRender. To help minimize the overall render time, users can choose to render in biased mode. To the same end, instanced objects may be used in this 3D rendering software.

Because of LuxRender’s impressive range of features, it is an excellent 3D rendering software for special effects and architectural visualization.

The Best Apps For Architects

The best apps for architects can be hard to find when you are working on sketches, with project owners, or managing a team. That is why we looked for the best apps for architects so you would not have to.

On our search for the top apps for architects, we found a wide range of apps: architecture calculators, architecture prioritization apps, architecture drawing apps, and more.

Here is a list of the top apps for architects that we found:

Best Apps For Architects

For Architecture Calculators

Concept App by Fast + Epp

Stemming from clients’ desire to assess project feasibility before putting pencil to paper, structural engineers at Fast + Epphave developed CONCEPT – a free iPhone app that allows architects and engineers to calculate member depths and browse project photos for structural expressions.

CONCEPT’s depth calculator uses typical span-to-depth ratios for common steel, concrete, and wood members. The user simply indicates if the information they’re inputting is a roof or floor, with the internal calculator determining an approximate depth. Additional information is provided to qualify the load assumptions and tributary areas.

Users are able to share search and calculation results by emailing them to co-workers and clients for discussion prior to the first design charrette.

Paul Fast, the Partner of Fast + Epp states “Concept is a free app because we wanted to make it readily accessible to as many architects and designers as possible. We’re confident this is going to be a really useful tool.

For Floor Plans

Magicplan

Magicplan is the post-PC floor plan creation technology for everyone, and it is particularly helpful for architects. Its augmented reality features let you create a floor plan simply by taking pictures. With Magicplan, you can easily generate complete work estimates, furnish a home, or plan your next DIY project.

For Drafting

Scala Architectural And Engineering Scale

Scala Architectural and Engineering Scale provides a new way to measure printed drawings on the go and at your desk. It includes standard imperial architectural, metric architectural, and engineering scales in a handy app. You can also create custom variable scales in case your drawings aren’t to a known scale.

For Architecture Prioritization

Priority Matrix

Priority Matrix is a prioritization app that helps architect firms manage resources, increase visibility, and track progress of all of their projects.

Within Priority Matrix, you can use the tool to:

Visualize your team’s workload by using the platform to view how work is distributed across your team. This means that you can tell which members of your team have the most on their plate, and which members you can assign more work to.
Determine which items are of high priority so you and your team can focus on what matters most.
Keep track of tasks by inputting tasks into Priority Matrix along with notes, screenshots, and a due date. In addition, you can delegate tasks through the app, and communicate any questions or comments under the task to keep things organized.
Generate Simple Reports like visual Gantt charts, or a report to show how many tasks were completed yesterday by specific members of your team.
Store files, including those large CAD files so everything is in one place.
Keep clients in the loop, using the read-only feature to send project owners project updates; you can even send them over your Gantt-chart.

For Architecture Jobs and Recruitment

Design & Construct

Even though Design & Construct is not an app, we felt it was necessary to include it because it should be a tool on your list to meet your recruiting needs.

Design & Construct is a leading Australian-based recruitment agency, providing a specialized approach to recruitment in the Architecture and Construction industry.

By working with a specialist recruiter, you can be sure to know about the best opportunities as they rise. A recruiter has the technical insights into Australia’s architecture jobs market, meaning they know what employers are looking for. Whether it’s architecture, interior design, landscape design, or urban planning roles, specialists will have the contacts.

As their company states, “Tailored recruitment is at the heart of Design & Construct, and the key reason why 95% of clients return to us and 97% are happy to refer us to their most trusted industry contacts.”

For File Sharing

FileCloud

FileCloud is a file sharing, sync and mobile access solution. FileCloud has many capabilities, including:

File Remote Access and Sharing which allows businesses to create their own, branded file sharing, sync, and mobile access solution for their employees, customers and partners.
File Sync, allowing for effortless file synchronization across users computers, smart phones and tablets, so everyone can work together anywhere from any device.
Endpoint Backup and DLP, creating secure backup and Data Leak Prevention (monitor, prevent and fix) across all your user’s devices (Computers, Mobile Phones/Tablets).

In addition, FileCloud offers deployment flexibility where users can self-host on their premise, host in the cloud, or create a hybrid solution.

For Presentation

GRAPHISOFT BIMx

GRAPHISOFT BIMx is an award-winning communication and presentation app.

BIMx features virtual reality (VR) functionality. This enhanced functionality provides architectural and interior design firms an immersive way to share their projects. BIMx with Google CardboardTM viewer allows users to navigate through an ARCHICAD model in virtual 3D with a simple turn of the head.

For Creating 3-D Models

Shapr3D

Shapr3D is the world’s first professional 3D modeling tool designed specifically for iPad Pro.

Shapr3D is the only truly mobile CAD app. It offers you a quick but precise way to create 3D models from scratch. You can easily create 2D sketches and turn them into 3D models using various tools.

The program is mostly used by engineers, industrial designers, product designers, 3D hobbyists, and architects.

Famous users include Patrick Jouin (one of France’s most acclaimed designers), Rodrigo Otazu (who designs jewelery for Madonna, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and Swarowksi), and Claas Kuhnen (industrial design professor at Wayne State University).

Architecture Sketching Apps

Archisketch

Archisketch is a scale-aware sketching program ideal for architects, interior and landscape designers, product designers, design students, or anyone working with design on an iPad. Inspired by the tradition of sketching on a tracing pad, Archisketch brings sketching and the early stages of a design process into the modern era on an iPad.

Archisketch helps architects and designers visualize, capture, and explore their ideas using layers, symbols, colors, dimension guidelines, 2D grids, isometric and axonometric 3D grids, and even smart one and two-point perspectives for 3D. When finished, drawings can be printed to scale directly from the iPad up to A1 size, or exported to PDF, which can be included in a CAD application, or even uploaded to the Photos App or the Adobe Creative Cloud.

SmartDraw

With SmartDraw, you get the power of CAD software without the CAD hassles.

SmartDraw gives you powerful tools and a broad selection of architectural templates to help you plan your next office, building or home project.

First, you choose a template and add symbols from the thousands included. You can draw your plan using any scale selected from the standard architectural, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and metric scale, or you can even define your own custom scale.

In the program, you can import DXF or Visio files, add annotation layers, print to scale, change sizing by just typing in dimensions, and more.

For Experience Tracking Apps

My AXP

Reporting hours for the Architectural Experience Program™ (AXP™) has never been easier, thanks to NCARB’s My AXP mobile app! Licensure candidates can log hours, submit experience reports to supervisors, review their progress, and more. And it is available for free on Apple and Android devices.

For Home Remodeling and Design

Houzz

Houzz is a platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts, and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world.

With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality.

The Houzz app is reimagining the home shopping experience, with unique features that are changing the way people shop for and design their homes, including:

View in my room lets app users virtually place and see over 9 million products from the Houzz Shop in their own homes before they buy
Sketch makes it easy for homeowners and home professionals to communicate ideas and collaborate directly on any of the more than 14 million photos on Houzz, or images from their own library and around the web, by adding measurements, notes, stickers, Houzz Shop products, and more. Additionally, the tool can be used to create mood boards and floor plans. Sketch allows for real-time collaboration, where multiple people can simultaneously annotate the same photo.
Visual Match is a visual recognition tool that makes it easy for people to discover and buy on Houzz the types of products and materials that inspire them in photos. Available for desktop and in the Houzz app for iPhone, iPad, and Android, Visual Match applies deep learning technology to scan the more than 14 million photos on Houzz to identify furniture and decor in living spaces and surface visually similar inventory from the Houzz Shop.

Plaans

Plaans is a documentation tool for architects, engineers, surveyors, facility managers, interior designers, and many more.

The app provides a wide range of features to support the whole documentation process – from photos, voice memos, and notes, to measurements and sketches. It will always remember, where and from what direction you took a photo and at what exact position you took a note or recorded a voice memo.

Additionally, Plaans exports your data in a well-organized file and folder structure to make sure nothing gets lost and you can access your data fast and easy. For efficient teamwork, you can compile the documentation data as a ZIP file within Plaans and send it by e-mail. With that being said, Plaans automatically generates interactive plans you can view in any internet browser and easily deploy them for colleagues and clients for subsequent processing.

For Stress Management

Stop, Breathe, and Think

The architecture industry is a stressful industry to be in at times. The good thing about living in a world full of apps is that there are companies who have created apps to help you take some time and relax.

Stop, Breathe,and Think is great because it generates meditations that you can do after plugging in how you feel into the app (for example, stressed out, angry, excited). The meditations are short enough that you can pull in a quick one during your lunch, or at the end of your work day.

For travel

Trip Advisor

Trying to plan a vacation to de-stress? Trying to find a hotel to stay at when you have to check out a site? Trip advisor will take away the stress that comes from searching.

With Trip Advisor, not only can you read reviews for hotels, restaurants, and attractions, but Trip Advisor will compare prices of hotels that you can stay at when you are away, saving you a lot of clicks.

Expedia

Like Trip Advisor, if you are planning on going on a vacation or a business trip, Expedia will save you a ton of clicks so that you can find the least expensive airfare, hotels, car rentals and more when flying to your destination. This way, you will spend less time to make your arrangements and spend less of your hard earned money when you travel.

For Architecture Fashion

Warby Parker

If you spend a lot of time outdoors or on the field, you know that you always need the right pair of shades in order to keep your eyes safe from the rays. Just because you are working, does not mean you cannot be hip on the field.

Warby Parker sells prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses starting at $95 ($175 for prescription sunglasses), which you can order online, in store, or over the phone (888.492.7297, 9a.m.–9p.m. ET).

The great thing about Warby Parker is that they allow you try on sunglasses before you buy them with their home try onsystem where you select five frames to test out for five days and then they ship them to you for free! They also offer a 30-day no-questions-asked return or exchange policy for all their eyewear — so there is no pressure.

Another great thing about Warby Parker is that they accept flexible spending account (FSA) dollars affiliated with major credit cards, or you can apply for reimbursement if you have an out-of-network benefit included in your insurance plan.

Used in conjunction, these apps will save you time (and money) and resources in order to get everything done efficiently and hopefully make you and your team’s job a little easier.

Written by ANDY LI – 3D architectural renderings, Animation and multimedia Product Manager in Fancy Digital Technology Co., Ltd.

BIM Level of Detail (LOD) – Get ideas of each stage of a BIM modeling process

LOD stands for Level of Detailing in BIM. This specification determines the nature of the BIM Model based on the client requirement. It is not always important to detail the model in totality. We can work on need based BIM Models that can differentiate the stages based on the Level of Detailing. Typically a BIM model helps in denoting the amount of details or intricacies for a building.

LOD is the measuring criteria of the utilization of a model. These standards are determined by construction bodies appointed by the Government for effective implementation at different stages. Architects and Engineers work on BIM projects based on these standards. The standards of LOD for BIM are defined below

LOD 100 (Conceptual design/Schematics) – This is the first stage of the construction phase. LOD 100 denotes the design and schematic stage. The details produced with this LOD is just basic massing, lines and 3D geometry. This model will give you an idea of how a building structure will look like in a nutshell. This model will not even have door or window details. Architects and Engineers can use this model for energy modeling purposes too. Software like Revit can be used for basic 3D modeling and Ecotect can be used for energy modeling.

LOD 200 (Design Development) – With LOD 200, you can create a presentation model for the client. This presentation model gives an idea of the door window shapes, size, flooring, basic and generic furniture placements etc. The BIM Models exhibit a general design of a building structure. LOD 200 models are an integral part of the Architectural BIM Services which starts with design intent model and can be further upgraded based on different functions.

LOD 300 (Detailed Design and Documentation) – Other phases of BIM starts with the LOD 300. The 3D geometry created with LOD 300 indicates that this model is much more than mere presentation. When a client demands LOD 300 model, it means that he intends to use BIM for construction. Clash detection and BIM coordination, Architectural Construction Drawings, 3D Rendering Services etc. all these construction processes require ample level of detailing. In this model, we can use generic as well as parametric Revit families. These models can be used to extract coordinated shop drawings further used for construction.

LOD 400 (Construction & Fabrication) – These models basically are a level up than LOD 300. These models have shop details, detailed views of components that can be fabricated. The assemblies are with real time details, that help the Engineers and onsite construction labor to proceed ahead with the installation of specific components. In LOD 300 you come to know about the placements but with this the specific details and parts are developed and can be used to fabricate them through CNC machines. tconstruction or fabrication and also facilitates them

LOD 500 (As Built) – This is the last stage of the BIM Modeling phase. The as-built stage covers the updation of the BIM model with the onsite construction updation. This model is further retained for facility management and renovation of the building at a later stage. These models are leveraged to analyze building efficiency once it gets operational. Scan to BIM Services is another BIM discovery that eliminates manual surveying and drawing creation by scanning the building structure

BIM LOD specification has enabled segregation of the whole BIM modeling and design process in various levels. Is has helped in distributing the work load and ease the way for Engineers, Modelers and other authorize professionals.

Source: https://bimforum.org

Benefits of using BIM Modeling from a contractor stand point

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling, a virtual design process that delivers a complete 3D geometry loaded with building data like quantities, material information, Revit families etc. for further construction processes. These details can be utilized to present the aesthetics, functionality and building efficiency overall much before they are constructed. Contractors can take advantage of BIM owing to plenty of other advantages it has to offer. Construction technologies are reinventing themselves year on year with several cloud based software like BIM 360 gaining prominence. These services are providing great opportunity to the contractors to use BIM for the overall construction process. Let us see how virtual construction technology works with the contractors. Adoption of this process is enabling contractors to follow a structured project execution method and project delivery accurate and quicker.

BIM in pre-construction Phase

BIM Modelling is carried out by Architects, Engineers and Contractors to virtually construct the building to understand the overall building functionalities. By working with the Virtual Construction Modeling or “Virtual Design Construction”, contractors can ease their design process and detect design flaws prior to the beginning of the construction process. As we all understand Building Information Modelling works with a collaborative approach and enables every party involved in the design and development process to be in sync with each other. We can achieve

Reduced cost and quick delivery
Accurate results
Design changes
Single Model utilization for all phases

Architects and Contractors are adopting virtual construction modeling for the designing and construction process. This BIM Modelling process nowadays is widely used by contractors to handle complex infrastructure projects too. As we all know Virtual Construction Modelling is much more than just 3D Models and drawings. It gives a great value addition to the entire construction process and brings a simple 2D CAD drawing by adding visual 3d features, building data etc. Information found in the 3D Model generally comes in light only during actual construction. But with the help of BIM Coordination Modelling, lot of critical clashes or interferences that are usually detected during construction is identified during the clash detection process.

Building information modeling facilitates the Contractor by providing a single model with building data that brings all the parties together and reaches an amicable conclusion regarding any design change.

Any construction project is dependent on the ability to work seamlessly within each department. The ability to share, verify and process building data plays a very important role. This is where BIM Modelling comes into play. This process helps in creating a common data sharing tool that helps in the construction process and also after post-construction process. Contractors require complete building data that is usually provided for construction on site. Hence, the contractors would like to receive a 3d model which has got the flexibility to modify and add details as on site. Contractors are also concerned with the after construction stage too. The contractors can also provide any feedback arising during construction, raise change orders and contact the Architects, Engineers and BIM team to directly incorporate changes. Having a smart model helps a contractor in a lot of ways. The contractor can provide As-built modeling services, facility management etc. after the construction is over. The collaborative approach helps all the parties involved in the process with complete building data and project information for all stages.

Once the 3D Model is built with all data and all the processes, this model is handed over to the owner of the building which he can use for the operational management of the building. Any requirement in terms of replacement of components, renovation or retrofit, new design requirements etc. can be easily dealt with in case of an in place BIM Model.

The 3D geometry within the BIM Model, building data and the Revit families depict detailed information such as manufacturer detail, asset tags, locations etc. It gets easier to order the equipment’s in case of any repairs or issues within the building. Since it is a 3d virtual model depicting the building as it would be constructed, it becomes easier to understand the wall penetrations too or interior elements within the wall, ceiling etc.

Apart from contractors, even sub-contractors are an integral part of the entire virtual construction modeling process. Right from BIM Modeling and conducting coordination meetings, they work hand in hand with the contractors. BIM Model is the key information Centre for the entire construction and project team. We can extract Architectural construction drawings, MEP Installation drawings, Revit Families etc. from a single 3d geometrical model and perform constructability reviews, construction scheduling etc. With the help of BIM 360 tool, we can work with real-time changes and updates. Models will be all time updated with all the project progresses and finished items. All the parties are aware of what is going on with the project. Any design changes are communicated uniformly within all parties through BIM 360 tool.

Utilization of Building Information Modeling helps contractors maximize their profitability by working on a turnkey project such as complete installation and facility management services. Building Information Modeling is extremely beneficial to the contractors working turnkey. These services can be more productive with virtual construction modeling. Most of the issues can be resolved by referring to the completed 3D Model. Intricate information of types of equipment can be found within the Revit families. Owners can get a very fair idea of the maintenance cost during the construction and post-construction phase.

One of the key benefits that contractors avail by opting to work with BIM is the integration of the cost and timeline with the building data. Overall results have achieved great boost and results for all the parties involved in the project.

More and more contractors are now getting into turnkey projects and offering BIM Model as a part of their integrated service delivery model. Builders and stakeholders initially did not find it lucrative, however looking at the amount of assistance this provides post construction they have also begun to use this process.

Source: https://www.kiwibox.com