InforMeDesign

Ceilidh Higgins

Interior Designer | BIM Specialist | Blogger |

GreenStar Professional | Looking for opportunities

BIM =

building

information

model

information?

parametrics?

clash detection?

product data?

cost data?

facilities data?

what else?

design

stage

information?

tools

Revit – schedules, graphic filters, room colour schemes, annotations

Microsoft Excel for spreadsheets –intermediate level of use

RTV Shared Parameter Manager to manage project parameters – just $135 USD

Ideate BIMLink for bi-directional link between excel and revit - $850 approx

the brief

data comparisons

actual area as modelledproposed area –thisis not a physical component of the model, but a parameter of the room, could be imported via BIMlink

calculation of difference between briefed and actual

visual highlight

same scheduleThe rooms where the area difference is greater than 3m are highlighted using conditional formatting

excel file room data sheet revit model room data

bi directional link

more complex data

revit model objectsrevit model data

compare

compare data to actual

proposed number of double power outlets (data only)

actual count of double power outlets in the model

calculation of difference between proposed and actual

highlight differences

space planning

equipment planning

equipment families

It’s the data rather than the geometry of the family that’s important

incorporate client supplied briefing data in the model to assist design process

excel spreadsheet

type catalogueeach cell is a parameter (exported via BIMlink)

keynotes and graphic filters

colour graphic filters indicate room equipment is to be placed into

each piece of equipment is identified by numeric keynote

schedule of department names combined with colour blocks legend created manually

line of magnetic exclusion zone built into family using yes/no parameter to switch on

graphic filters

graphic filters based on text parameterFS - floor standing (red)BT – bench top (green)UB – underbench(red outline)

equipment not yet placed into room

Yes/no parameters for existing fume cupboards, sinks and each gas assigned to rooms

room colour scheme

graphic filter illustrates equipment requiring reticulated compressed air

parameters used to define room occupant and if room has compressed air

graphic filters & room colours

graphic filters for rooms

no colour scheme for rooms

filters based on 2 parameters

but no colour is applied

a neat trick

apply occupant colour scheme

codes and

standards

visual checkillustration of AS1428 clearance zones

various types may be within or separate to door family

dumb lines

2d lines show clearances -accuracy dependant upon view settings and user checking

3d objects

3d objects built into family and linked to door height

Filter to change colour & transparency of any objects with circulation in family name

interference check

3d objects allow for running interference check

walls and generic models

view non compliances

non compliant doors all identified, reported and easily found

green

building

data

Calculate number of worksettingsWithin 8m of views

calculations and graphic filters

Instance Properties Yes/No ParameterIs manually selected for chairs within the colour fill area

Type PropertiesNumber Parameter1 for task chairs0.5 for meeting chairs

•schedule based on furniture category filtered by keynote•total count of chairs•total count of worksettings•count of worksettings within 8m of glazing

calculations

colour fill

filter indicates Yes/No instance parameterequals No

visual

checking

analysis

storageunit families

Calculate storage quantity for each department and number of removalist cartons

simple geometry

type parameterstorage capacity calculated based upon height & length

instance parameterdepartment name

information based family

calculate totals schedule

sort by department parameter

calculate storage qty totals

schedule and graphic filter

totalstorage perdepartment

graphic filter illustrates storage and workstations belonging to each department

legend created manually

where are you

going?

planning seating

track allocation of seating•ensure every individual has a seat•track individuals data such as extension number and computer asset code•create plans showing seating layouts and locations of teams

workstation occupancy data

occupant data is attached to workstation family

colour filter by department set for workstation family

individual occupancy data

occupant data is attached to a person family, colour filter applied to a solid generic model

Individuals without seats yet allocated

combination model

Ability to schedule desk number

data is attached to person

it can be simple

use a room colour scheme

‘smart’ legend instead of dumb colour fills

use a schedule

‘dumb’ graphic legend, butA

‘smart’schedule

even in 2d

use detail components and keynotes – aim to get rid of lines, colour fills and text objects

data as design

creating formula based

patterns

curtain wall with panel & film pattern based on a random formula

only this section will have graphics

curtain wall with grids setup using array tool

setup a grid

create shared parameters (integer type) for X & Y value

create a new panel family

remember a curtain panel family does not have a height and width parameter!

I created 2 material parameters in the family too –one for the film circle, one for the glazing

create a control parameter

enter a formula

if(Dia_Code_CEH = 1 mm, 50 mm, if(Dia_Code_CEH = 2 mm, 100 mm, if(Dia_Code_CEH = 3 mm, 150 mm, if(Dia_Code_CEH = 4 mm, 200 mm, 250 mm))))

load the family and change the small panels

change the family materials

load the family

create the BIMLink

add a filter to the BIMLink

preview of excel spreadsheet

filter out the large panels (they are system panels here)

export to excel

open in excel

setup a visual with formula

random formula between 1 and 5 will populate the cells – there are many other excel formula that can also be used

new worksheet with grid of cells with same number of columns and rows as curtain grid

the pattern

formula copied to all cells conditional formatting allows you to see the pattern

the output

new worksheet outputs the pattern to a column

A1

B1

C1

D1

E1

paste as values into the Dia_Code_CEH column

paste into BIMLink sheet

import the BIMLink

only the curtain panels sheet is visible as this is the sheet linked via BIMLink

BIMLink report

one of the great features of BIMlink

not quite sure what is going on here? however the values assigned in revit above are correct

the result

another pattern

Go back to excel, select all the cells in the working sheet and press enter – the pattern changes. Don’t forget to update the BIMlinksheet with the new output values

start simple – not with something like this!

start simple

imagine�

Questions?

check out my blog at

themidnightlunch.com

Building Information Model from Autodesk website

Information by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasamarshall/6950477589/sizes/h/in/photostream/

Clash detection image from Architectus

Piggy Bank by 401K - http://www.flickr.com/photos/68751915@N05/6736154311/in/photostream

Head graphic – istock 000003879802Illustra (colours modified)

Napkin sketch by Andrea Resmini - http://www.flickr.com/photos/resmini/4511716598/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Tools by zzpza - http://www.flickr.com/photos/zzpza/3269784239/sizes/o/

Creating the Future for Libraries blank book by Shifted Librarian - http://www.flickr.com/photos/shifted/3360687295/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moqub/3473256400/sizes/l/in/pool-1089391@N22/

Planning by Thomas Hawk - http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/430523365/sizes/l/

Blank notebook by Donkey Hotey- http://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/5713922088/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Pet plant by Michael Sarver - http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsarver/4770050/sizes/l/

Analysis by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

- http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa_goddard/6559335159/sizes/l/

Options by gppeck -http://www.flickr.com/photos/wespeck/3912468102/

Horses by mikebaird - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2985066755/sizes/l/

CP3o vs Data by JD Hancock - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdhancock/4617759902/sizes/l/

The Opera house by TEDx Sydney - http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedxsydney/8706045008/sizes/l/in/set-

72157633430676460/

Component libraries by Daniel Moodie

Screen shots generally by Ceilidh Higgins at GHD

Screen shots for Data as Design by Ceilidh Higgins for this presentation

image credits