AECbytes Blog

This article by John Tobin addresses the problem of the massive, singular datasets created by current BIM applications. Not only are these getting rapidly unmanageable, they also do not address the need for distributed and ever-larger, greater granularity of data that is going to be vital for the future, collaborative process. As a solution, Tobin proposes the concept of atomicBIM—BIM in small, discrete pieces of data that would provide granularity and rapid access so that subsets of BIM information could be more easily accessed without a massive download.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2008/atomicBIM.html

This review explores the latest version of Autodesk’s free software for viewing, marking up, printing, and comparing 2D drawing files and 3D models software, which is based on the DWF file format and allows a collaboration process without the original design creation application.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/review/2008/DesignReview2009.html

This article provides an overview of the Model Progression Specification (MPS) for BIM that is being developed for the AIA National Documents’ new E202, a document which formalizes the processes for development and use of BIMs for a specific project. It arises from the need to define a BIM’s precision and suitability for specific uses, given that representations of building elements in a BIM are exact, whether they’re intended to be or not, and it is possible to use a BIM for many purposes.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/feature/2008/MPSforBIM.html

This review explores the new features in Newforma Project Center Fifth Edition, including the enhanced features for project monitoring, new support for RFIs and contract administration, greatly expanded collaboration capabilities with external team members, and improved email management with automated email filing capability. It also takes a step back and explores if the increasingly complex business of project management can be at all simplified with BIM.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/review/2008/NewformaProjectCenter5.html

This is a review of the book, “BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors” by Chuck Eastman, Paul Teicholz, Rafael Sacks, and Kathleen Liston, published by Wiley in March 2008. The review presents an overview of the book, and explores how well it meets its intended goals of providing an in-depth understanding of BIM technologies, the business and organizational issues associated with its implementation, and the advantages that effective use of BIM can provide to all members of a project team.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/review/2008/BIMHandbook.html

In the recent wake of Autodesk’s acquisition of Ecotect and Green Building Studio, and events such as the cooperative agreement announced between Autodesk and Bentley Systems, this article takes a look at how interoperability relates to green building design, and how innovation in the way we communicate as building design professionals will help us all design more sustainable buildings.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/feature/2008/Interoperability_SustainableDesign.html

This review explores the many impressive capabilities of the new version of Acrobat that are relevant to AEC, including the ability to combine multiple file formats in a single PDF portfolio, enhanced review capabilities with the ability to synchronize document views, ability to embed and play video within PDF, improvements in batch processing of AutoCAD files, and IFC import capabilities that provide support for BIM workflows.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/review/2008/Acrobat9ProExtended.html

In this Viewpoint article, Stewart Carroll, Chief Operating Officer of Beck Technology, follows up on John Tobin’s Proto-Building article and suggests that the issue is less about technology and more about acceptance. BIM 2.0 that allows virtual full-team digital participation is already here, but the building industry has shown great reluctance to enter into a true collaborative era — the “ours” zone.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/viewpoint/2008/issue_40.html

This review takes a detailed look at the capabilities of DProfiler, a new “macro” BIM software targeted towards the planning and conceptual design phase to get an accurate cost estimate of a proposed design, and explores how it compares with more common BIM applications such as Revit, Bentley, and ArchiCAD.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/review/2008/DProfiler.html

This article provides an analysis of the new interoperability agreement just announced between Autodesk and Bentley, including both the overt and possible underlying motivations that may have led to it, in the context of their past relationship characterized by many disagreements and criticisms.

URL: http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2008/
AutodeskBentleyAgreement.html