The Cost of inadequate Interoperability

An infographic including a study by The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) showing that poor handover of data and documentation from a construction project can result in 66% of the total cost of rework, errors and downtime are incurred in the operations phase of a facility or asset. Estimates show this to be an annual cost to US industry in excess of $15.8Bm.

Source - http://www.mclarensoftware.com/resources/infographics/infographic-the-cost-of-inadequate-interoperability-.aspx

Inadequate Data Interoperability

Christchurch Central Recovery Plan

Te Mahere ‘Maraka Otautahi’

The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan (CCRP) outlines the future development of central Christchurch.

It incorporates a spatial Blueprint Plan developed by a professional consortium working with the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority's Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) over a 100 day period.

It was released to the public on 30 July 2012.

Vision

Central Christchurch will become the thriving heart of an international city, it will draw on its rich natural and cultural heritage, and the skills and passion of its people, to embrace opportunities for innovation and growth. 
 

The redevelopment will acknowledge the past and the events that have shaped the city, while reflecting the best of the new. 

What do the people of Christchurch want for their city?

When Christchurch City Council asked people to share ideas about the central city recovery it received over 100,000 suggestions. Advice also came from professional institutes, interest groups, and community organisations.

 

From the responses, 5 key themes formed the basis of the plan.

• Green city
• Stronger built identity
• Compact CBD
• Accessible city
• Live, Work, Play, Learn and Visit

The Blueprint

The blueprint plan provides a spatial framework for Central Christchurch. It describes the form in which the central city can be rebuilt as a whole, and defines the location of ‘anchor projects’ which will stimulate further development.
 

Stadium

A large multipurpose sports and entertainment venue is proposed for central Christchurch. wit seating for up to 35,000 people, the covered stadium will position central Christchurch as a world-class option for attracting and hosting sporting events and concerts. The stadium will include:

• 35,000 capacity, with 4,300 demountable seats to allow for staging and scaling of events.
• Corporate suites and lounge spaces with 4000 seat capacity
• Option of a fixed transparent roof
• Optimum spectator viewing through rectangular format for field of play and seating 

Justice and Emergency Service Precinct.
 

The Justice and Emergency Service Precinct will incorporate the government and emergency service sectors, along with Civil Defence and Emergency Management. It will bring a substantial workforce into the central city, stimulating recovery by supporting retail and commercial activity in the central area.
 

Metro Sports Facility

A new metro sports facility will attract people from across Canterbury, New Zealand and the world. They will be able to train, participate and compete in a broad range of sports for all ages and abilities. The facilities will also offer a pleasant and relaxing environment for spectators.

It will be a top-class venue and centre of excellence, accessible to people of all ages, abilities and sporting skills. Providing aquatic and indoor sport facilities, it will cater for the day-to-day needs of the recreational, educational and high performance sporting communities, and also host national and international events. The facility will be conveniently located in central Christchurch, close to other sporting facilities and easy to access by public transport, private vehicle and new walking and cycling links. The Metro Sports Facility will include:

• Aquatic centre with a 50m, 10-lane competition pool, dive and leisure pools
• Indoor stadium – 8 indoor courts including seating for up to 2,800
• High performance centre with facilities for coaching and training
• Day-to-day recreation, including fitness centre and outdoor landscaped space
• Performance movement centre with studios and performance space
• Administration facilities and parking

Health Precinct
 

A world-class hub for health education, research and innovation could be established next to the existing Christchurch Hospital.

The Health Precinct is an inspirational project in which private research and professional partners, educational and medi-hotel facilities will be within walking distance of the main hospital site. It will also form a world-class facility for learning and teaching in medicine located at the western end of the south Frame, the precinct will be well connected to the Metro Sports Facility and the Core.
 

Performing Arts Precinct

The arts and creative industries are crucial to the recovery of Christchurch. They contribute to the local economy, to community and cultural wellbeing, and support tourism and hospitality. Most of all, they draw people to the city and make it an inspiring place to be. A Performing Arts Precinct is proposed to offer facilities for music and the performing arts, and to act as a catalyst for recovery. The precinct will embrace different sites and will support co-location of organisations as far as is possible.

 

The precinct designation will be sufficient to provide for a range of facilities in the event that the Town Hall cannot be repaired. It will be in close proximity to the Convention Centre, Papa o Ōtākaro/Avon River Precinct, hospitality providers and hotels. The Precinct could include a performing arts centre made up of two auditoria of 1,500 and 500 seats respectively, with an appropriately high-quality acoustic environment. It could also provide a permanent home for the Court Theatre, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and the Music Centre of Christchurch. The location of the Performing Arts Precinct recognises the restoration of the Isaac Theatre Royal in its existing location.
 

Avon River Precinct

The winding path of the Ōtākaro/Avon River will mark Christchurch’s new river precinct. Papa o Ōtākaro will include Victoria Square (formerly Market Square) and be part of the central city’s spiritual and aesthetic identity. The historical contrast between the curving river and the linear grid of the streets is a key element of the city’s distinctive urban form. Ōtākaro holds great significance for Ngāi Tahu: the river was their commercial vein, transport route, source of mahinga kai, and place by which they lived and traded. The new precinct will give priority to people and provide for cyclists and pedestrians.

Convention Centre Precinct

A world-class convention centre will be developed to attract new and exciting events to the city. The precinct comprises of a number of buildings that will reactivate surrounding streets and public spaces, and generate new activity. The precinct will support retail and hospitality within the Core and visitor attractions and services throughout Christchurch.
 

The Earthquake Memorial
 

A place where people can spend time in reflection and honour those who lost their lives or were injured in the earthquakes will be developed in central Christchurch. The national Earthquake Memorial will be a place of local, national and international significance where individuals can reflect and large groups can gather. Because this is such a significant project, it should begin early, not be rushed and involve the community and families of those who died.
 

185 people died in Christchurch as a result of the 22 February 2011 earthquake, and many others were seriously injured. The earthquakes profoundly affected many people and cultures, within New Zealand. Nearly every person in the greater Christchurch region has an earthquake story and we all tell them in different ways. A community consultation process will be undertaken as part of the development of plans for the national Earthquake Memorial to ensure that the voices and ideas of the effected families and the community are captured in the design process for the Memorial. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Christchurch City Council and Ngāi Tahu will work together to identify the site and begin the community consultation and design process. A design competition will
be undertaken to attract the best ideas; international teams may participate but they must include local personnel.

Christchurch – A Shaken city

On the 4th of September 2010, the day I left New Zealand, Christchurch was rocked by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake, its epicentre was 35 miles away from Christchurch, with a depth of only 7.5 miles it caused widespread damage and a state of emergency was declared. Whilst the quake caused a lot of damage, and power to over 75% of the city was disrupted, there were no fatalities. Unfortunately for Christchurch this was the calm before the storm.

Footbridge over the Avon River was badly twisted in the September 2010 quake.

On the 22nd of February 2011 (almost 6 months after the first quake) Christchurch was rocked by a magnitude 6.3 Earthquake, the epicentre was 6 miles away from Christchurch and at a very shallow depth of 3.1 miles. this earthquake has been described to me by engineers in the city as a 1 in 2500 year earthquake, the majority of buildings are designed to withstand a 1 in 100 year disaster.

This earthquake was responsible for 185 deaths, and insurance claims are expected to be in excess of $15 Billion New Zealand.

As an outsider moving to Christchurch it is hard to picture what the ‘garden city’ used to look like. Driving from the airport to my temporary accommodation all I was thinking is you wouldn’t even know an earthquake had hit, perfect suburbia springs to mind in some areas. The closer you get to the central city and things change, you start to see a lot of empty plots of land, almost 2 years on form the February quake and there is still so much demolition to be completed. A lot of the CBD is still closed off to the general public. This is known as the Red Zone.

                     

Looking over the chain link fence it is like looking at a Hollywood movie set, something you would see in one of the Resident Evil movies perhaps, traffic lights flashing on amber and not one person in sight.

         

Walking further into the city and into parts of the Red Zone which are now open to the public, the devastation is there for everyone to see. Mountains of rubble, damaged buildings, empty tower blocks.

                     

The most disturbing sight of all is the Cathedral, this once amazing part of Christchurch is completely ruined. 

        

        

Standing in the middle of Cathedral Square looking at this once great building, wondering how it will ever be restored made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It is hard to understand what the people of Christchurch have gone through over the last 2 years, and will continue to go through for the foreseeable future.

One thing I did notice as I was wondering around Christchurch’s CBD was the Red Bus……. A bus tour that takes you ‘beyond the cordon’ and into the Red Zone. This is something that is been promoted as an educational tour, a tour guide will talk you through what happened on the day of the quake, and what the future holds for the city.

   

I can’t help but think this is a money making exercise for someone. There is plenty of information about the quake and the future plans for the city available online and in various leaflets and posters throughout Christchurch. It hits the nail on the head when the website offers a ‘Special package for cruise ship passengers’ – at $15 per person, this is something I will not be doing.

There is hope

The people of Christchurch have had to evolve and adapt, this can be seen if you look at the ‘Pop up Mall’ which is located on the edge of the Red Zone, built using shipping containers this quirky shopping centre is awesome, and I really hope it stays once the rebuild is complete.

                      

Cardboard Cathedral

A temporary structure is currently under construction in the heart of the city, ‘The Cardboard Cathedral’ is being built on the site of the old St Johns church which was demolished after the February quake. The Cathedral will be built using paper and cardboard tubes on a timber and steel A Frame. The site is opposite the CTV building where 115 people died in the February quake.

        

        

Christchurch Central Recovery Plan

The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan outlines the future of the city, a green city with 30m of walkway either side of the River Avon, a compact CBD, various precincts for healthcare, justice, retail, and sport. The masterplan includes:

• Sports Stadium
• Community Sports Facilities
• Cultural Centre

         

As somebody working in the construction industry I can safely say there is nowhere on this planet I would rather be for the coming years, I’m excited to be involved in rebuilding and reshaping a city, it will be a very fulfilling challenge knowing that my work will make a difference to the people of Christchurch, and I am sure BIM will have a major part to play in this.

 

Christchurch Central Recovery Plan

Govt Construction Strategy One Year On

The cabinet office has published a report giving an update on the construction strategy one year on, the report can be downloaded here

Revit & Robot Link–Problems

I have spent a few days exploring the link between Revit and Robot. Started out building a model in Revit, setting up a central file so the Engineer always has a local copy of the Revit model which they work with when importing / exporting with Robot, and the Revit operator having a local copy of the model. We tried passing that information from Revit through to Robot, making a change to the model within Robot and passing the information back to Revit.

That works perfect.

The next step was to make a change to this model in Revit and pass that model back to Robot.

That works perfect.

We then thought about workflow, it isn't practical having the Revit operator sit waiting for the engineer to finish, so we tried passing the Revit model back into Robot, then simultaneously work in Revit making annotations, setting up views, etc. whilst the engineer was making updates to the model in Robot. We faced a few worksharing issues but once the saves / relinquishes were done this worked perfect. I was able to annotate the model whilst the engineer made design changes.

The next step was to make simultaneous changes within the Revit and Robot environment to the model elements, so for example the engineer changed the size of a beam, and I changed the size of a specific column, when we pushed and pulled this information back into Revit and Robot the model updated perfectly.

Here's where the problem comes.

The members that Robot pushes into Revit are specific to Robot. We obviously have our own libraries set up with object styles etc. so from a documentation point of view, we need to make sure we use our own in house families.

When I change one of the robot members to be one of our in house Revit members as the engineer simultaneously changes something within Robot it seems to fall down, without even syncing the model, when we try push the Robot info back into Revit we get the error message that the Robot model was created from a different Revit file, and Robot basically copies the whole model into Revit and we finish up with duplicate members in the same planes. Not to mention members ending up off axis.

So it would appear the issue lies with changing a family from the Robot specific element that was pushed into Revit, to one of our own. Which I will add are simply an amended version of the out of the box Revit content delivered by Autodesk.

I don’t yet have a solution for this problem, but thought it was worth pointing out.

Autodesk AEC Newsletter Interview

 

I gave an interview for the July 2012 Autodesk AEC Newsletter, the text from the article is copied below, and the whole article including images can be seen here

1) Introduction and positioning

How would you describe your company, capabilities and what differentiates your company?
Opus is a leading international multidisciplinary consultancy offering a full range of engineering and architectural services for the built environment including; civil, structural and infrastructure engineering, water, geotechnical and environmental engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, architecture and interior design and project and asset management. With such a portfolio of services, Opus can offer truly collaborative solutions to our clients.

Are you a local, regional, national, international or global company?
We have a network of 76 offices throughout Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Our teams work not only within our five primary markets but we actively share and foster co-operation and knowledge among all our offices worldwide. We have a global reach whilst maintaining a local identity in the countries we operate.

What sectors do you specialise in?
We work closely with an increasingly diverse range of clients to help visualise and achieve their goals with commitment, integrity and innovation. Whilst we specialise in a vast array of sectors throughout our global business, we think it is important to apply our core values to each project, these include; strong client relationships, excellent service delivery, respect for and sharing of knowledge, urgency through empowerment, and sharing and enjoying success. Our values reflect the way we operate, our philosophy and our attitude to business, providing clients with value added solutions.

How many employees do you have?
Opus is a company that is on the move, both through the expansion of our services and through acquisition growth. We have developed rapidly since becoming a private company, and we now have some 2,400 employees worldwide.

2) Industry

What have been the major changes in the industry in recent years, and how have you coped with those changes?
In recent years, the most dominant factor influencing all markets has been the Global Financial Crisis. Like 99% of companies in the construction industry, this has obviously had an impact on parts of our business. Because we are a diverse, international company we have been able to cope with difficult market conditions in certain countries and sectors by developing our Global Projects Initiative (GPI.)

This initiative has demonstrated Opus’ agility and ability to respond to the ever changing market conditions by allowing the company to provide international resources to the more prosperous markets we operate in; this enabled the sharing of knowledge among our offices across our international markets to bring a global best practice approach to problem solving.

What emerging trends do you see that will affect the industry in the future, and how?
BIM is the most obvious answer; the number of BIM related conferences that have taken place in the UK over the last 12 months certainly supports that statement. With the UK government looking to mandate BIM, and “Level 2 BIM” set to become a minimum requirement for all public sector projects by 2016, this ‘trend’ is fast becoming the norm for project procurement and delivery. 

How does the industry need to change to improve the delivery of projects to clients?
Project delivery could be improved by encouraging all professions to embrace the move towards collaborative working, by removing the ‘SILO’ mentality and engaging with clients and supply chains in open discussions and information sharing to identify best practices and collectively learn from bad (and good) experiences.

The use of ‘BIM’ platforms such as Autodesk® Revit®  and Autodesk® Navisworks® will help to foster this sense of collaboration and lead to a more integrated design approach with significant benefits to clients. Project deliveries will be improved through fewer abortive costs (both during design and construction), less waste on site and improved (shortened) construction periods delivering cost savings to the client whilst improving product quality.

How has the 'sustainability' debate impacted recent projects or views of clients?
Only the most forward thinking have embraced this currently, and they tend to be the contractors working on local authority projects. Whilst acknowledging the increasing pressure to develop ‘environmentally friendly’ solutions, a large proportion of private clients are mainly focused on financial cost, and not necessarily environmental impact.

However, as technologies improve and new methods of working are developed (such as the move into BIM), design teams are able to consider alternative solutions in a more thorough and integrated manner helping to identify sustainability benefits through reduced wastage etc that might otherwise have been ignored / missed.

Clients are also much more amenable to the possibilities of considering changes of use of buildings to allow reuse of existing building stock as opposed to automatically assuming that new build is the only solution. Advancement in technologies such as laser scanning have now enabled refurbishment projects to be treated in a BIM environment with the same level of design consideration as would previously only been available to new build options. Again this can often lead to sustainability benefits for the reasons identified above.

3) Technology

Which Autodesk solutions do you use?
In total we use 18 different Autodesk® Software solutions throughout the global business. Our Architecture teams use Autodesk® Revit® Architecture as their primary design tool, with Autodesk® 3Ds Max® Design for the production of high resolution renders and animations, as well as Autodesk® Ecotect® Analysis for sustainable design. For structural design Autodesk® Revit ® Structure is again our main modelling tool, with the use of Robot Structural Analysis in our UK offices for design. M&E design follows on with that trend, Autodesk® Revit® MEP being the primary design package.

Our Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering disciplines use a combination of Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Revit Structure, AutoCAD®, AutoCAD® Map 3D and AutoCAD® Civil 3D. Autodesk® 3Ds Max Design is also used by our graphic design teams, as well as Autodesk® Stitcher. Autodesk Navisworks is a package that we are currently investigating with the ability to produce 4D construction sequences being of particular interest to us.

How do they fit into your design process?
Each discipline within Opus utilises specific Autodesk® products chosen for their ability to enhance the service offered to our clients on a daily basis. Products such as Autodesk Revit and Autodesk Navisworks increase the effectiveness of our service delivery by allowing multiple disciplines to be coordinated providing a fully integrated solution.

Do you think that your Autodesk solutions provide you with any competitive advantage, and if so, how?
Our Autodesk® solutions provide us with the opportunity to produce high quality products quickly and efficiently, thereby maximising our competitiveness within the marketplace and increasing Opus’ attractiveness to prospective clients.

What technologies are you aware of that you would like to try, and what benefits do you think they would bring?
Technology is a key part of our business, as a company we have over 550 different software packages, albeit not all of these are directly related to design. We have gone through a staged implementation process for new design software, our architecture business in New Zealand made the transition from traditional CAD packages into Autodesk Revit a number of years ago, and by 2008 this move filtered through our Structural and M&E Engineering disciplines.

We are beyond the information production stage, and having all three disciplines in house allowed us to easily get to grips with the collaboration aspect of 3D design. The use of schedules for quantities ran parallel with information production for architecture, and certainly from a structural design point of view, we have systems in place for things such as scheduling steel weights, right down to being able to schedule the total length of slab joints. Moving forward from a structural design point of view we are exploring the links between Autodesk Revit and the analysis packages that we use.

We also have a dedicated survey team within the company who specialise in laser scanning; currently we are exploring the best methods for integrating point cloud files into our design process.

4) People:

What attracts people to work for your company?
It is people who drive excellence – and it’s by investing in our people that we’ve built a reputation for excellence.

Our continued success begins and ends with the investment we make in our own people. This starts with a very strong set of company values that are at the very heart of what we do and how we work together. We are a global company that thrives on working together as one team, yet we still maintain a strong local identity and character.

Many of our team are globally recognised leaders in their respective fields, giving you the opportunity to work with and learn from only the best professionals in the business.

What’s more, the Opus International Consultants brand is built to last. Many projects and assets we design, construct and then manage around the world go to the very core of a country’s ability to develop, function and communicate. In New Zealand alone we are responsible for much of the nation’s public infrastructure including roading, railways, airports, hydro-dams and telecommunications networks.

We are a 2,400 strong team with 76 offices in five markets including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States of America. In short, we can develop a career path across a wide range of roles, sectors and global locations.

What motivates your staff to learn about or evaluate new technology, materials or methods?
One of Opus’ company values is to develop staff to reach their full potential, and this is encouraged through the adoption of new technologies and techniques. Opus have significant resources on a global scale, but recognise the need to share information across the company to promote best practice and deliver continuous improvement in our service offering to clients.

Staff are encouraged to actively participate in the internal Practice Interest Networks (PIN’s)  which are established within the various disciplines in Opus to share knowledge and experiences, and to act as ‘Champions’ within their offices.

Through a comprehensive staff development programme, Opus personnel are also motivated to learn about / evaluate new technologies, materials and / or methods through their personal appraisals and the promotion of internal Opus awards rewarding / recognising individual and project level successes.

Building Design Suite 2013 - FAQ

1. General Product Information

1.1 What is the Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013?

Standard Suite – Autodesk^® Building Design Suite 2013 Standard Edition is for building designers, drafters, and detailers who need a foundational set of tools to efficiently design, document, and share drawings in the DWG™ file format.

Building Design Suite Standard includes:

AutoCAD^® 2013, AutoCAD^® Architecture 2013, AutoCAD^® MEP 2013, AutoCAD^® Structural Detailing 2013, Autodesk^® Sketchbook^® Designer 2013 and Autodesk^® Showcase^® 2013 software

Premium Suite – Autodesk^® Building Design Suite 2013 Premium Edition is for architects, MEP and structural engineers who need an optimized set of tools including the power of Building Information Modeling (BIM) with Autodesk^® Revit^® software , the familiarity of AutoCAD software applications for efficient documentation, and Autodesk^® 3ds Max^® Design software for compelling visualizations.

Building Design Suite Premium includes:

Autodesk^® Building Design Suite 2013 Standard Edition + Autodesk^® Revit^® 2013, Autodesk^® 3ds Max^® Design 2013 and Autodesk^® Navisworks^® Simulate 2013 software

Ultimate Suite – Autodesk^® Building Design Suite 2013 Ultimate Edition is for architecture, engineering, and construction professionals who need the power of BIM and an advanced set of comprehensive tools for design and construction.

Building Design Suite Ultimate includes:

Autodesk^® Building Design Suite 2013 Premium Edition + Autodesk^® Quantity Takeoff 2013, Autodesk^® Navisworks^® Manage 2013*, Autodesk^® Inventor^® 2013, Autodesk^® Infrastructure Modeler 2013 and Autodesk^® Robot^™ Structural Analysis 2013 software

1.2 What are the benefits of Autodesk Building Design Suites?

Autodesk Building Design Suite Standard

For designers, drafters and detailers who need to:

· Design, document, and share drawings in the DWG format.

· Take advantage of versions of AutoCAD^® software specifically for the building industry.

· Show your ideas more effectively with tools for design illustration and graphic communication.

Autodesk Building Design Suite Premium

For architects and engineers who need to:

· Create better buildings with intelligent 3D model–based design.

· Produce compelling visualizations to market ideas more successfully.

· Use integrated simulation and analysis to help inform design and construction decisions.

Autodesk Building Design Suite Ultimate

Ideally suited for architecture, engineering and construction professionals who need to:

· Improve control over project outcomes.

· Create more consistent, higher-quality construction documentation.

· Create more accurate models with constructability in mind.

· More efficiently perform building material quantifications.

· Collaborate more effectively with manufacturers and fabricators.

· Efficiently perform advanced analysis on building structures

1.3 What products are in the Autodesk Buidling Design Suite?

Included Software Products	Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013 Standard Edition	Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013 Premium Edition	Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013 Ultimate Edition
AutoCAD 2013	√	√	√
AutoCAD Architecture 2013	√	√	√
AutoCAD MEP 2013	√	√	√
AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2013	√	√	√
Autodesk Showcase 2013	√	√	√
Autodesk SketchBook Designer 2013	√	√	√
Autodesk Revit 2013		√	√
Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2013		√	√
Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2013		√	√
Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2013			√
Autodesk Quantity Takeoff 2013			√
Autodesk Inventor 2013			√
Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler 2013			√
Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional 2013			√

1.4 What new software products are in Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013?

Autodesk^® Revit^® 2013

Autodesk Building Design Suite Premium and Ultimate Editions now include a new version of Autodesk Revit software that combines tools for architectural design, MEP engineering, and structural engineering in a single, comprehensive application. Gain access to a broader set of tools to streamline your workflows and collaborate more effectively with other building design disciplines on the Revit® platform.

Autodesk^® Navisworks^® Simulate 2013

The Premium Edition of the Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013 now includes Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2013 project review software which supports intelligent 3D model-based designs with advanced scheduling and visualization capabilities.

Autodesk^® Robot^™ Structural Analysis Professional 2013

The Ultimate Edition of the Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013 now includes Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional software which enables structural engineers to efficiently perform advanced analysis on large and complex building structures

Autodesk^® Infrastructure Modeler 2013

The Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013 Ultimate Edition now enables users to take advantage of Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler 2013 conceptual design software which can help you to more easily create, evaluate, and communicate convincing site plan proposals for faster stakeholder buy-in and more confident decision making.

1.5 Are cross grades from standalone products to the Autodesk Building Design Suite available?

Cross grades are available for some standalone Autodesk products. Please contact your reseller to see if your current products are eligible.

1.6 Will there be cross grades available for purchase from my existing suite to the Autodesk Building Design Suite?

There are options to cross grade to the Autodesk Building Design Suite from some existing Autodesk Suites. Please contact your reseller to see if your current Autodesk suites are eligible.

1.7 How do I know which Autodesk Building Design Suite is right for me?

The Building Design Suite is available in three different editions, providing the flexibility to choose the edition that fits your particular workflow needs best. To choose which edition is right for you, please visit www.autodesk.com/buildingdesignsuite for more detailed information.

1.8 What is the cost a license to Autodesk Building Design Suites and how do I buy a license?

All three editions of Autodesk Building Design Suite 2013 are available through Autodesk-authorized resellers, who are certified to provide the highest level of customer service, including product training, implementation services, and support. Find one near you at www.autodesk.com/reseller.

2. Technology

2.1 What are the key capabilities of the Autodesk Building Design Suite?

Capabilities	Standard	Premium	Advanced
Design, document, and share drawings in the DWG format	√	√	√
Market and present designs with near-photorealistic imagery and interactive presentations	√	√	√
Show your ideas more effectively with tools for design illustration and graphic communication	√	√	√
Create better buildings with intelligent 3D model-based design		√	√
Produce compelling visualizations to market ideas more successfully		√	√
Use integrated analysis to help inform design and construction decisions		√	√
Create consistent, higher quality construction documentation		√	√
Improve control over project outcomes			√
Perform building material quantifications more efficiently			√
Collaborate more effectively with manufacturers and fabricators			√
Create, evaluate, and communicate convincing site plan proposals			√
Efficiently perform advanced analysis on large and complex building structures			√

2.2 What are the system requirements for Autodesk Building Design Suite?

For a complete list of system requirements for the Autodesk Building Design Suite please refer to: http://www.autodesk.com/buildingdesignsuite

2.3 Is the Autodesk Building Design Suite supported on Windows 7?

Yes, please see the system requirement link above.

3. Installation, Configuration, and Licensing

3.1 Is the Autodesk Building Design Suite available for both standalone and network licensing?

Yes, Autodesk Building Design Suite is available for both stand-alone and network licensing. Licensing is handled through standard Autodesk licensing processes using Autodesk Licensing Manager (ADLM). Customers who purchase multiple network licenses for suites that have common products and are only able to access a subset of prior version copies can get their full prior version entitlement by contacting their reseller or visiting https://registeronce.autodesk.com to have the licenses reissued.

3.2 Do all products in the Building Design Suite need to be used on the same workstation?

Yes, the software applications within an Autodesk Building Design Suite license can only be installed on a single computer. They cannot be split across multiple workstations.

3.3 How do I activate my software?

Through the activation and registration interface, you can activate your product 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over the Internet or via email. Either option takes only a few steps to complete and requires your product serial number and registration information.

3.4 What if I have more than one computer? Can I use my software on multiple machines?

Autodesk recognizes that some users may need to operate the software when they are away from their usual work location. To accommodate this need, the product activation technology allows an employee to install the software on a second computer owned by the employee’s company, provided it is for use away from the employee’s usual work location, the software is used only by that employee and no other, and only one of the two copies of the software is ever in use at any one time. Consult the Autodesk Software License Agreement for details about using the software on a second computer.

3.5 Where can I find more information about software activation?

More information on product activation can be found at www.autodesk.com/activation.

4. Compatibility and Interoperability

4.1 How do the products within the Autodesk Building Design Suite work together?

The products in the Autodesk Building Design Suite provide comprehensive workflows throughout the design, visualize, simulate, document and build process. The Building Design Suite contains workflows unique to the suite that can help customer do more and achieve better results and collaborate more effectively. The suite contains specific workflows not feasible with individual products alone such and can help to optimize your work process by:

· Providing products in the suite which are connected more seamlessly through better interoperability.

· Extending your capabilities by connecting products in the Building Design Suite to mobile devices and Autodesk 360.

· Leveraging Autodesk 360 to help connect users with each other more effectively

4.1 What is Autodesk^® 360?

Autodesk^® 360 is a cloud computing platform for delivering web-based products and services. With Autodesk 360, customers gain a workflow advantage by connecting products on the desktop to secure and ubiquitous computing in the cloud, helping them rapidly design, visualize, simulate and share their ideas anywhere, anytime and from any device. Customers using the Building Design Suite have access to broader cloud-based capabilities and capacity than they would with individual products alone.

· Autodesk 360 helps customers to work wherever their jobs take them by connecting their workflow with software on the desktop to services in the cloud and mobile devices for design, analysis, and optimization. Cloud computing connects extended team members with each other effectively and efficiently, fostering better collaboration.

· With Autodesk^® Subscription, Building Design Suite customers have access to more cloud computing capabilities and capacity. For more information visit www.autodesk.com/subscription

5. Training and Support

5.1 How do I obtain technical support?

Technical support is available from both Autodesk and Autodesk Authorized Resellers.

Furthermore, Autodesk^® Subscription is comprehensive software, support, and training package that can simplify your technology upgrades and boosts your design productivity. Purchase of Autodesk Subscription includes web support from Autodesk technical experts for all your installation, configuration, and troubleshooting questions.

To learn more about Autodesk Subscription, contact your Autodesk Account Executive or your Autodesk Authorized Reseller or visit www.autodesk.com/subscription.

5.2 How do I get training and learn more about Autodesk Buildin Design Suite?

There are multiple ways you can get additional information and training on Building Design Suite:

· Please visit the Autodesk Services and Support page on Autodesk.com for more information regarding training tools and resources as well as finding an Autodesk Authorized Training Center near you.

· Check out the product overview and demonstration videos on YouTube, search using “Autodesk Building Design Suite” as the keyword.

· Watch videos, engage in discussions and learn tips and tricks on http://wikihelp.autodesk.com, a site focused on a collaborative learning community for users.

· For additional information you can check out the product overview, download a brochure and watch demonstration videos on the Autodesk web site by accessing http://www.autodesk.com/buildingdesignsuite or by contacting an Autodesk Authorized Reseller

5.4 Can I try Autodesk Building Design Suite before I buy a license to it?

Yes, you can try it out by downloading Autodesk Building Design Suite software trial version. This fully functioning version is available as a free* 30-day trial. Simply download the trial version at http://www.autodesk.com/buildingdesignsuite

6. Subscription

6.1 Is Subscription available for purchase with Autodesk Building Design Suite?

Autodesk Subscription, Autodesk Gold Subscription are available for purchase with all editions of the Autodesk Building Design Suite. 

6.2 What benefits does Subscription offer?

Autodesk® Subscription gives Building Design Suite customers a workflow advantage by providing more cloud computing capabilities and capacity with Autodesk 360 cloud services, upgrades to the latest software releases and workflows, online technical support, and flexible licensing privileges.

· The Latest Software Releases and Suites Workflows
Autodesk Building Design Suite customers receive the latest software product releases included with their suite, which may feature valuable new workflow functionality unique to suites. This helps customers always to have access to the most up-to-date toolset that can give them the competitive edge they need to better respond to changing business requirements.

· More Cloud Computing Capabilities and Capacity
Autodesk Building Design Suite customers on Subscription have greater cloud computing capabilities and more storage capacity with Autodesk 360. As a result, they can better connect their workflows by viewing and sharing more design files on web or mobile devices, simulating and visualizing more design options, and improving project results with web-based collaboration.

· Online Technical Support
Online technical support helps Subscription customers to quickly resolve issues and get back to work. Subscription customers also have the option to purchase higher levels of Autodesk technical support if needed.

· Flexible Licensing Privileges
Subscription customers have flexible licensing privileges that enable them to use both previous and current versions of their software, install the software on both home and office computers, and use it at multiple locations.

6.2 What is the benefit of Gold support?

All standard Autodesk Subscription benefits plus the following:

§ Phone support for up to four authorized callers

§ More aggressive initial response target

§ API support

6.3  How can I access my Subscription benefits?

Simply log in to the Subscription Center at http://www.autodesk.com/subscriptionlogin to begin accessing your Subscription benefits.

Building Design Suite 2013 – Top Features

Revit 2013 – Top Features

Ideate BIMLink 2013–Preview

BIMLink by Ideate is a tool I would recommend every company that is serious about BIM has in their suite of software packages.

Ideate BIMLink lets you pull data from an Autodesk Revit file into user-friendly Microsoft Excel and push Excel data into Revit with equal ease. This indispensable tool gives you unprecedented access to Revit data – the I – in Building Information Modeling (BIM).

Below is a sneak peak at the 2013 release.

Ideate BIMLink 2013 Preview