The Golden Rule of Collaboration

During any project the BIM Lead collaboration meetings are very important, it gives the technical BIM people an opportunity to communicate and collaborate with their colleagues both internally and externally.

For further info on BIM Lead Meetings, check out this posting: Running a BIM Lead Meeting

Here are my Golden Rules for running a Collaboration Meeting.

Everyone is equal

Regardless of your position, everyone is a participant in the meeting and a valuable contributor to the conversation.
Values everyone time and allow them the opportunity to contribute to the meeting regardless how minor the issue may seem. these meetings are a great opportunity to address these minor issues before they develop into larger issues.

Encourage difference of opinion

Establish an environment where participants are encouraged to freely express their views and opinions in a safe atmosphere.  To find the best solution to any problem may require out of the box thinking and bringing up points that not everyone may consider.

Have an agenda.... but be flexible

Sending out a meeting agenda gives the participants time to prepare, prompt questions so people can bring answers to the meeting. People love getting solutions from meetings, not more tasks and questions than when they came.

Stick to the agenda where possible and include time for any important business that may arise. Make clear notes on decisions and points that were made, send out a draft copy for participants input. you cant be expected to remember everything and run the meeting...

Decide and move on

Make a decision and then move on to the  next agenda item. Don't let someone who disagrees with the decision dictate the rest of the meeting. If necessary ask the person to continue the discussion after the meeting.

As the facilitator you dictate the amount of time spent on each agenda topic, manage your time wisely and keep the meeting moving forward otherwise you'll lose the interest of people and people wont want to attend your meetings in the future.
Taking a short bathroom break is a good way to put a topic to bed and move on.

Get to the point; At the end of each agenda item summarise the conclusion for all and move on to the next item.

Facilitate
Facilitating the meeting means that you set the tone for the meeting, direct the conversation and have the ability to stimulate the discussion. Use the agenda as a road map but don't be afraid to explore the side roads as the meeting requires, you never know where they're going to lead and if they go too far into the woods bring it back on track. :-)

Sc.

Okanagan BIM User Group Presents!

Social Project Delivery

Caesar Ruest is the Autodesk Construction Solutions Executive based in Toronto, Canada

The ability to create, post, and access information anytime and anywhere is expected within a public environment through social media applications delivered through web. The successful adoption of social media exists due to a low cost of entry like a cell phone, ease of use, and the ability to share information. Globally, social media has been proven to create change at astonishing rates. Considering the world of capital projects, can we leverage a similar prescription with positive results? Social project delivery could be the future where project teams socialize their updated project status through a personalized web page, and share or access critical project files through the Cloud. The Cloud offers a low cost entry point for data storage and software services compared to the investment in servers and high performance workstations. The real potential of the social project environment involves the external project members who need to view and comment on the project information by using their web browsers. This session will describe the innovation within Cloud collaboration throughout the project lifecycle, and highlight upcoming advancements in Revit centralized cloud models.

Virtual Reality and its Impact on the AEC Industry

Join Shari Tambasco for a live demonstration and discussion on how Virtual Reality will impact the design Industry.

Virtual Reality has the potential to have a big impact on the architectural, engineering and construction industries, especially once we start experiencing the benefits of this burgeoning technology. VR gives us a truer perspective on our work, as we are figuratively plunked down into the middle of our creations-designs that are layered with rich information and endless variation. In the VR environment architects and designers can better visualize form and scale while exploring a building or space. Additionally, VR provides us with the opportunity to consider design options and refine areas that would have been difficult to visualize in a more conventional method.

Please save the date: February 25th from 6pm to 9pm

Okanagan College KLO Road Kelowna.

Sc

Cool Revit App.

Cruising through the Autodesk App store for Revit and I came across this:

Topo from Lines
From Boost your BIM

Create lines at various heights in the Revit model

Run the command

Select lines

A toposurface is created from points automatically computed on the selected lines

And best of all... it's free....

Check it out, its got a 4 star review!

Sc 

Okanagan BIM User Group - Save the Date

I have organised another Okanagan BIM User Group meeting to specifically go over then new Autodesk Collaboration tools including Revit for Collaboration (formally Project Skyscraper) and A360.

Should be a very informative session on the new collaboration tools by Ceasar Ruest, Autodesk’s Construction Solutions Executives.

Social Project Delivery

Caesar Ruest is the Autodesk Construction Solutions Executive based in Toronto, Canada

The ability to create, post, and access information anytime and anywhere is expected within a public environment through social media applications delivered through web. 

The successful adoption of social media exists due to a low cost of entry like a cell phone, ease of use, and the ability to share information. Globally, social media has been proven to create change at astonishing rates. Considering the world of capital projects, can we leverage a similar prescription with positive results? Social project delivery could be the future where project teams socialize their updated project status through a personalized web page, and share or access critical project files through the Cloud. 

The Cloud offers a low cost entry point for data storage and software services compared to the investment in servers and high performance workstations. The real potential of the social project environment involves the external project members who need to view and comment on the project information by using their web browsers. This session will describe the innovation within Cloud collaboration throughout the project lifecycle, and highlight upcoming advancements in Revit centralized cloud models.

Please save the date: February 25th from 6pm to 9pm at the Okanagan College KLO Road Kelowna BC.

Seating will be limited so please contact me to confirm your seat.

Further information about the evening will be released closer to the date.

Sc.

Evolution of the Revit Jedi

When I first started this Blog on the 1st of June 2011 came up with the name "Revit Jedi", at the time I was an Authorised Autodesk Instructor and really enjoyed teaching the AEC product line, especially Revit and AutoCAD. I use my blog as part of my tool kit to share information and knowledge to my past and present student and use it as a depository for technical sheets I had written up (aver 100 at the time).

Since that time I have become the BIM/QC Manager for CEI Architecture, a firm located in Vancouver BC as well a a member of the board of Directors for CanBIM. 
I am involved in a number of interesting projects of all scale, and I continue speaking at numerous events such as RTC, AU, BuildEx etc.

My role of instructor has evolved to one of "subject matter expert" in BIM, all aspects of BIM, not just Revit. I believe Revit  is an awesome tool, just like I believe ADT was way back in the late 90's. 
Software comes and goes as technology evolves, you have to be adaptable and willing to put aside your knowledge of one particular software to learn another (remember its not your knowledge of the software that makes you a valuable employee, its your knowledge and under standing of building science).

My role as CEI as BIM Manager has also evolved as I have outlined in a previous blog posting.
Hence the reason for this blog posting!

Late last year I came to the realisation that there are a lot of people out there who know Revit much better than I do, people like Marcello Sgambelluri blow me away with what they can do with Revit!
I can no longer justify the title "Revit Jedi".

My focus is now BIM... all encompassing BIM. did I mention I have BIM fatigue?
BIM is soooo much more than Revit, it not only involves software (continually evolving software) but also the mindset of those involved for the benifit of the project and each of the participants.

So I'm changing the title of this Blog to the "BIM Jedi"... and will continue to post my thoughts on BIM and share information on BIM software, process and protocols.

I hope you enjoy the blog and continue to enjoy my postings.

Sc, the BIM Jedi.

Worksets for the start of a project

Here are some basic Worksets to include at the start of any project.

Create the following Worksets .

• Shared Grids and Levels
• Project tracker
• Exterior Shell
• Interior
• Central Core
• Roof
• Parkade
• Structure (if applicable)
• Stairs

These are a good starting point and more can be added as the project and project team develops.

Send detached Central file to consultants along with these recommended Worksets.

Consultants can then open detached and “Save As” to create their own Central File.

All Consultants

All consultants should include the following Worksets, this way all parties involved can control the linked files consistently.

• Shared Levels and Grids

Each BIM link should have its own Workset, ie:

• BIM – Architectural
• BIM – Structural
• BIM – Electrical
• BIM – HVAC
• BIM - Plumbing

Mechanical

• Ductwork (Supply and Return)
• Equipment
• Piping
• CAD Lines (If applicable)
• Fire Protection

Electrical

• Power
• Lighting
• Cable Trays
• Data
• CAD Files (If applicable)
• Equipment

Plumbing

• Fixtures
• Piping
• Drainage
• CAD Files (If applicable)
• Equipment

Sc ;-)

Being a BIM Manager

I read Luke Johnson's blog "What Revit Wants" this morning. His posting was in response to a linked in article titled "Yes Your Firm Needs a BIM Manager". I agree to the article (why your firm needs a BIM Manager) and also with Luke's comment, "BIM Managers being a Jack of all Trades".

However I feel that both only are speaking about certain aspects of being a BIM Manager. 

In my opinion the role is an evolving one as your firm develops their BIM content, processes and protocols.

Personally, what I have found is that when I joined my current firm a number of years ago as their first BIM Manager, my role was to develop standards and templates etc and to maintain those standards, similar to the traditional role of a CAD Manager. 

I have found that as these standards, protocols and processes are being developed my role has naturally transitioned to tasks beyond basic standards maintenance including the involvement of the initial project start-up and the implementation of the BIMx plan.

I now have in place processes and BIM strategies for each project and have in place people in various “BIM” positions in the project team to facilitate the BIM process throughout all stages of the project. My role now as BIM Manager has involved to include all aspects of BIM throughout the firm. 

This evolution never occurred as a CAD Manager, I believe that the "BIM Manager" role is evolving still and will be a staple component to all projects.