BIM Super Session - Save the Date

CanBIM and aceBIM have teamed up to create a BIM Super Session examining the current and future trends of BIM, focusing on Facilities Management, Collaboration, Procurement and more.

Endmonton and Alberta as a whole has really embraced BIM in construction, subsequently there is a wealth of knowledge and expertise on the subject of BIM, IPD and more.

I'm really excited to be a part of this event and am looking forward to the sessions and networking opportunity. The conversations after the sessions are worth the price of admission alone. Bringing together groups such as the Edmonton BIM Community, the Calgary BIM Community, BIMbc as well as companies such as Productivity Alberta, Modular Building Institute and Reach Consulting will be an event you wont want to miss.  

I hope to be co-presenting with Justin James from Reach Consulting,  if you've attended any of Justin's sessions before you already know how entertaining and thought provoking his presentations are.

Save the date: September 30th to October 2nd and register early....
BIM Super Session

Looking forward to it...hope to see you there. 

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Canada and the Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games started yesterday (23rd July 2014) in Glasgow.

Canada has athletes in Cycling, Boxing, Lawn Bowls, Rugby, Squash, Judo, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis (what's the difference between table tennis and Ping Pong?) and many more events. 

You can see the full line up at the official web site.

Here in Canada I find the Commonwealth Games are not such a big deal as they are in Australia. In OZ the Commonwealth Games are akin to the Olympic Games and you will find a similar amount of TV coverage and general excitement that is generated during any summer Olympic games.

Not so here in Canada.

I'm not saying we don't have pride in our athletes, we do! I'm guessing it's the difference between a cold climate country, Canada, and a more milder climate country Australia (some would say Bloody Hot!). 

Aussies have been known to do well at the Commonwealth Games (a Summer only event), the last Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, India, the medal count was 74 Gold, 55 Silver and 48 Bronze. Our closest rivals was India with 38 Gold, 27 Silver and 36 Bronze. 
Aussies excel at the summer sports but Canada has more opportunity to do well at both winter and summer activities. 

I propose that we have alternating Summer and Winter Commonwealth Games similar to the Olympics, I think this may even up the medal tally .... But watch out.... Aussies are secretly taking over Canadian Ski hills in a bid to dominate the winter sports as well.

Either way, if you get a chance to watch the games do so, you'll enjoy the sportsmanship, the comradery between athletes from all nations. Take pride in your Commonwealth nationality but if you’re not from a Commonwealth country or live in a Commonwealth country... support the Aussies.. you can’t go wrong there! 

Check out the Aussie Commonwealth Games official web site. 

In 2018 the Commonwealth Games are in my home town, the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

And the Canadian team mascot is an 8' Goose....called Canoose.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.... Oy, Oy Oy....

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Creating a Paper Model (rendered)

These are great for presenting your models at an early stage where clients won’t get hung up on colours or materials.

Using a “Paper model” is a great way to highlight the design…

Here’s how:

We are going to use Phases to create the “Paper Model” this way it won’t impact your design process. 

Create a Future Phase called “Paper Model”.

Under the Graphics Overrides Tab set the Material for your “Paper Model” project phase to be Paper. Click Ok to close this dialog box.

Rename your 3D view to “Paper Model” and change the Phase to Paper Model and the Phase Filter to Show All.

When you now render the view either with Ray Trace, Realistic or Rendering all the elements will be overridden to show as Paper.

By setting the view to a fake future phase, the view is considered existing, thus the universal material applies.

You may need to adjust the 3D model to show some elements clearly such as turning off the subcategory for glass under Doors as well as Windows and Curtain Walls.

Here are some images of the before and after as well as Renderings:

Realistic, shadows turned off, Phase = New Construction

Ray Trace, shadows turned on, Phase = Paper Model

Thanks to Daniel Stine for first showing me how to do this. Check out his book on Interior Design and Revit.

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Google Glass and the Construction Industry

I knew there had to be a practical application for Google Glass!

Tim Jones recently blogged on Beyond Design about the possibly application of using Google Glass  in the construction industry.

Imagine being the guy showing up on site without your ipad, talking to your-self using your Google Glass! 

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Modeling With a Purpose

When working on a Revit project we can sometimes get carried away with the development of the model and sometimes lose sight of the ultimate goal. We need to keep in mind what our final output to the client is and what our agreement with our client stipulates.

We are constantly in danger of over modeling and should constantly be aware of this. One rule of thumb I've adopted is to "model what you would see if you were standing across the street". A friend of mine told me this early on in my Revit career (thanks Bruce). 
This basically means don't go into too much detail in your modeling, cover the finer details on your detail sheets, don't have over modeled families in your project etc.

The type of project may specify the level of detail in which you model. this goes a little beyond the basic LOD, it's more a case of LOM (level of Modeling). 

For example, a hospital project I like to see a higher level of modeling as the project is so intricate and integrates to a higher level with the consultants. Whereas a simple interior fit out doesn't require so much modeling detail, here we can get away with less model content and refer to linework detail or even notes. Don't spend time on creating a family for when a simple placeholder or "generic" family will suffice. 

You can burn up a lot of time spent on modeling what you don't need. 

There are no hard and fast rules for LOM, it's just through personal experience and discussions with your Revit team, sometimes you have to reign them in and ask "do we need to go into so much detail?"

This comment can lead into a whole other discussion on exactly how much detail we need to put on our drawings.... for another blog posting... 

Remember to modeling with a purpose in mind.

Purpose or Porpoise?

Note: Porpoise are different to Dolphins... look it up.

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BIM Fatigue

I have BIM Fatigue.....

This is me if you talk to me about the wonders and benefits of Building Information Modeling.

And I'm a BIM Manager! Some would say a BIM Guru, the "go too" guy about BIM.!..

I'm done talking about BIM (well not really, I'm just trying to make a point). I've spoken at enough BIM conferences, made too many presentations on BIM and trained enough people on BIM. 

If your not playing in my BIM sandbox get the #$% out.

Seriously.... if your not doing BIM on your project, you've missed the boat. It's gone people... left the dock. Your standing at the pier with your little bag in your hand wearing your Hawaiian Shirt saying "Where did everybody go?". 

Dont talk to me about BIM (once again only making a point here, you can always talk to me about BIM) I'm suffering from BIM Fatigue.

It's all about Collaboration, Improving Project Delivery (to me that's the new IPD), working together as a team for the benefit of the project and ultimately for our own benefit. To me THAT is the truth behind BIM! 

BIM is a tool, just like Revit, it's one part of a process of delivering a project. Another part is People.... and communication between people. That's BIM.... 

Without a collaborative team we struggle. Throw out the old outdated processes including the outdated contract's, and bidding process and let's move forward together. and this has to come from the client! We need to educate our clients of the benefits of true collaboration. I wont say "IPD" but I'm sure you get the drift...

Improving Project Delivery conference anyone? Mentioning BIM (let alone BIM Model) a fluffy kitten dies. I'm THAT serious people.

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For additional postings and BIM information check out the BIM User Group Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OkanaganBIMUsers

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to my US friends. !

Enjoy this day celebration the commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Enjoy your holiday...

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Happy Canada Day!

July 1st is Canada Day. (147 years)

Canada Day celebrates the birthday of Canada. On July 1, 1867 Canada became a new federation with its own constitution by signing the Constitution Act - formerly known as the British North America Act.

If your Canadian take time off today to celebrate living in a multicultural, safe and prosperous country.

The Creation of Canada Day (The history of Canada Day)

July 1, 1867: The British North America Act (today known as the Constitution Act, 1867) created Canada.

June 20, 1868: Governor General Lord Monck signs a proclamation that requests all Her Majesty’s subjects across Canada to celebrate July 1.

1879: A federal law makes July 1 a statutory holiday as the “anniversary of Confederation,” which is later called “Dominion Day.”

October 27, 1982: July 1, “Dominion Day” officially becomes Canada Day.

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For additional postings and BIM information check out the BIM User Group Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OkanaganBIMUsers