Importance of Revit families in developing 3D model

Can you imagine a building without its important parts such as windows, doors and stairs etc? I am sure it doesn’t make any sense. Well in simple terms families are the crucial building components that are required to complete it. Revit families can be divided into three primary categories such as system families, loadable families and in-place families.

System families are such families which are predefined in Revit that means theses families cannot be loaded by users in Revit. But with the assistance of ‘Transfer Projects standards command’ system family design can be transferred by Revit users between different projects.

On the other hand loadable families are very different from system families as they can be developed by users in Revit’s family editor tool. One of the most important characteristics of loadable families is that these families can be saved in external files and can be loaded in Revit projects as per necessity.

When project requirements cannot be met by using system families and loadable families then Revit users have to develop in-place families in Revit. These kinds of families are created by Revit users with the assistance of clients specific specifications. That means clients clearly specify their requirements such as what material should be used for developing families, they specify the dimensions, and the size of the family etc. One most important thing that must be known to every reader is that ‘Transfer Projects standards command’ does not work in the case of in-place families.

When families are developed by users in Revit family editor they have to make extensive use of reference planes and reference lines. Reference planes are required to guide the users for developing family geometry. A coordinated system is considered by reference planes for developing both 2D geometry and 3D geometry. Family Type Editor is used by the users for establishing constraints as well as parameters.

So by using Revit family editor users develop efficient families that are then optimized for complementing Revit modeling projects. Now with the assistance of Revit, clients can be delivered with effective windows, doors, stairs bathroom fixture, sink and showers etc.

When a model is developed all these things are also included hence families are really quintessential for developing 3D models.

Building Information Modeling, nothing is more beneficial than this

I don’t think so that I need to explain here the kind of complexities that are faced by architects and engineers in a construction process but what needs to explained is that how to overcome these problems. Today we have every possible solution for our problems but the only thing is that we need to understand that right solution must be adopted by us. The same formula can be applied in construction business as well, that means to overcome the complexities we need to implement right techniques and tools. In our context the right tools are high end software which helps design and construction professionals in delivering engineering solutions to the clients.

Too many stakeholders are involved in building construction and all of them have to provide some or the other kinds of solutions to the engineering problems. In short we need to make best use of right software for maximizing our productivity. For example CAD software must be used effectively so that outstanding construction drawings are created which do not need any kind of rework. On the other hand Revit must be used to fullest possible manner so that efficient multidiscipline models are developed.

But BIM software is always appreciated by design and construction professionals over CAD software when it comes to executing 3D modeling services. The tools that are contained in BIM software Revit are considered much advanced when compared to the tools incorporated in AutoCAD. Revit can develop more accurate models because it contains a feature called worksharing, which allow all its users to share a model which contains all the elements in it and works as a communication tool between team members. A copy of this model is used by individual members for developing the design further. That means Revit facilitates effective and smooth communication between design team members which results in generating effective models. But no such feature is incorporated in AutoCAD and hence the quality of 3D models developed in it is not that high.

Building Information Modeling also provides correct information to design and construction professionals regarding cost estimates which help in making the best use of allocated budget. Apart from this effective construction schedules are also developed by AEC professionals by using BIM.

Steel detailing leads to the construction of indestructible structures

It won’t be wrong to say that structural detailing is the process of developing structural drawings with the assistance of effective detailing software along with the support of inputs provided by variety of (numerous) building stakeholders. One of the most basic requirement of developing structural shop drawings and erection drawings is the availability or accessibility of paramount information to detailers who prepare these drawings. They must be equipped with comprehensive information about steel members which help in developing a structure. Detailers must know about the length, breadth and height of each steel member so that they can prepare exclusive or detailed structural steel shop drawings and erection drawings.

Structural steel shop drawings are considerably used by fabricators as they can have all the information about steel components from these drawings which is required by them for fabrication. So detailers have to be truly attentive and cautious when they prepare structural steel shop drawings and that’s the reason they refer the specifications provided by structural engineers multiple times while developing the drawings. Structural engineers try their level best to comprehensively describe structural design through their specifications for the reference of steel detailers. Apart from these specifications one more set of specifications is provided to steel detailers and that is prepared by an architect. A lot of things in structural design are specified by an architect so that his architectural design can be effectively supported by the structure. Hence it becomes utmost important for steel detailers that they pay necessary attention to architects’ specifications while developing technical structural drawings.

Steel shop drawings have to be reviewed by structural engineers before they are dispatched for the purpose they are created. This suggests that, once competed they must given to structural engineers for examination and then provided to fabricators. If discrepancies are identified then they must be corrected by the detailers according to the feedback provided by the engineers. Once problems among the drawings are corrected they can be provided to fabricators.

Similarly erection drawings are also developed with utmost caution and they are also reviewed so that they do not fail to justify their purpose of providing instructions to steel erectors in terms of telling them how to fix or erect a steel component in the framework.   Guidance is provided thoroughly to erectors through erection drawings so that every steel member is erected accordingly and no mistakes are made during the construction of the structure.

This ultimately leads to the construction of indestructible structures which have all the capacity to handle the load.

Structural Shop drawings are extremely significant for fabricators

Structural detailing is the most important process and an indispensable part of structural design as it helps in the creation of effective structural shop drawings that are used in fabrication of structural components or parts. Apart from structural shop drawings erection drawings are also created in structural detailing process, which are used by erectors when they erect a structure in the construction location.

Structural detailing is quite a technical process wherein detailed plans, drawings and other specifications are developed by detailers which are totally based on the specifications that are sent by architects and structural engineers. As detailers are not that competent with the complexities and technicalities of structural design it is necessary for them that they obey each and every instruction that is provided to them by architects and engineers. If specifications are followed accurately by the detailers of a service providing company there remain very less chances of mistakes in the drawings developed by them.

That is why they go through the specifications over and over again until they get an exact understanding of them so that effective shop drawings and erection drawings can be generated by them.

Structural shop drawings are specially created for the optimization of fabricators and hence these drawings provide detailed information to them regarding the structural components or elements. Information about structural parts like beams, columns, braces and joists etc is provided accurately in shop drawings such as material specifications, component size and dimension etc.

This information is very significant for fabricators as structural components are manufactured by them only after going through these drawings.  As development of structural parts depends largely on shop drawings their accuracy can never be compromised. This is the prime reason that once structural shop drawings are created by detailers of engineering service providing company their review by architects and structural engineers is compulsory. So before shop drawings are provided to fabricators for the fabrication of structural members their detailed review is conducted by structural engineers so that potential dangers can be avoided. This is how effective shop drawings are created by detailers which are later on used by fabricators.

What are the substantial advantages of embracing BIM for AEC professionals?

Building Information Modeling is a unique process and technology that forces AEC professionals to develop a building in a virtual world first instead of developing it directly in the real world. This helps them in understanding design complications much better and also allow them to find appropriate solutions for them before they become actual obstacles in the process of construction. It is really true that virtual design and construction has totally transformed the way construction process used to be executed earlier. All kinds of physical and functional characteristics of a building in making are captured in 3D models.

3D models are appreciated across the world in AEC fraternity for the kinds of benefits they provide to design and construction professionals in terms of accommodating all kinds of construction details in them. As building design is represented in 3D it helps design and construction professionals in viewing and analyzing every part of it properly since it can be easily rotated and moved by them. BIM models belonging to different disciplines are utmost important for architects and engineers as they contain precise geometrical data about the design of relevant disciplines.

With the assistance of effective Building Information Modeling services clients can get hold of high quality construction documents and drawings as well as effective 3D models. Apart from that AEC professionals can also predict project performance, and can get hold of exact cost estimates and time requirements for accomplishing the project with the assistance of BIM models. On top of that accurate simulation videos and construction schedules can also be generated by design and construction professionals with the help of BIM models. All this information is highly effective for streamlining on site construction as it helps in the management of supply chain of materials and in dealing with time based clashes.

Flawless communication is maintained between all the indispensable building stakeholders who are closely associated with the project with the assistance of BIM models. As all the possible and meaningful project details are recorded in BIM models they are regarded as the perfect source of effective information.

Since BIM provides so many benefits to AEC professionals it’s really an important tool for building design and construction.

CAD drawings are the first priority of any construction project

CAD technology which stands for computer-aided design technology has offered huge benefits for design and construction professionals since the time it has been in use. CAD technology totally relies on computer systems for the generation of extensive design and drawings that are used in construction. Design creation, modification as well as its analysis is all done through computer software such as AutoCAD by trained drafters. CAD software is indispensable when it comes to enhancing or bettering the quality of a design which remains the primary requirement of any project. AutoCAD is tremendously accountable for enhancing the productivity of drafters who can generate construction drawings within quick turnaround time.

CAD technology is immensely used for developing effective documentation and databases for large construction projects. Documentation created through CAD technology helps in improving the communication between building stakeholders apart from design and construction professionals. Electronic files are the significant output of CAD drafting process and due to their digital nature these files (drawings) can be quickly communicated between design and construction professionals for the purpose of communication information.

CAD drawings are useful in the design and construction of all the significant building disciplines such as architecture, structure and MEP Services. Drafters trained in the technicalities of these disciplines apart from the being proficient in software application can quickly generate accurate drawings by using clients’ specifications. The most important quality of electronically generated drawings is that they can be modified really quickly if in case any inconsistencies are figured out by architects and engineers when they review them.

The task of modification was very difficult in manual drafting wherein architects and engineers literally had to sit for hours for making changes in the drawings. And this used to happen when minor modifications used to be required by them on the drawings. At the time when major modifications were required they used to prefer to generate the drawing from the scratch instead of modifying the existing one since implementing modifications used to be really tiring.

However, there is no such issue with CAD drafting wherein multiple changes can be implemented in the drawings within short times. And this makes them the first priority of design and construction professionals.

Importance of the drawings generated during steel detailing process

Steel detailing service is a quintessential process which helps design and construction professionals in developing effective structural framework for construction projects. Steel detailing services which are availed from service providing companies by the clients play an important role in structural development. Creation of accurate building structure is a dream without the accomplishment of steel detailing process wherein steel detailers are loaded with the responsibility of generating structural drawings.

AEC professionals cannot imagine of constructing a building without performing detailing services for it. Steel detailing process is a basic step in the construction of strong structure and it must be executed with all the attention and accuracy by the detailers.

Steel detailing process is accountable for the generation of two basic types of structural drawings which are shop drawings and erection drawings. Steel detailers are imperative part of this process as it is them who develop these drawings after analyzing and reviewing the specifications of structural engineers. Apart from structural engineers architects are also accountable for providing detailed specifications to detailers as the development of structural design is greatly influenced by architectural design. According to the basic principles of building design it is the architectural design that is conceptualized at the very beginning and the design of other building trades such as structure and MEP depends on it.

So this indicates that structural engineers and MEP engineers have to abide by the instructions of architect and that is why an architect provides instructions or specifications to both structural engineer and MEP engineers. This equally makes it important for structural engineers and MEP engineers to follow the instructions of an architect.

So that is why is becomes important for detailers also to follow the instruction of an architect. When shop drawings and erection drawings are completed by detailers they must be reviewed or examined by an architect as well as structural engineers.  Detailed information is contained in shop drawings regarding steel parts and they are very important for fabricators.  For fabricating steel parts for the proposed project steel fabricators have to make use of shop drawings which contain information related to dimensions, size and material specifications etc.

On the other hand erection drawings are used only during erection of the structure. They are not supposed to carry any information that’s used by fabricators at the time of developing steel parts. However they contain every bit of information that is needed by steel erectors which includes tips like how to place a steel part in the structure and where exactly to place that.

Steel detailing services are fundamental for constructing formidable structures

Steel detailing services are constitutive or essential part of any structural engineering project and attention to details is a prerequisite condition in this context. That means technicians executing steel detailing services are required to pay attention to all minute details.  Steel detailing process is executed for the deliberate purpose of developing structural drawings that incorporates shop drawings and erection drawings. Structural detailers are the people who develop structural shop drawing along with erection drawings with the close support of structural engineers.

Even a small mistake committed by detailers during steel detailing can results in huge lose of money and time of the project in question. Steel detailing is imperative and compulsory for all kinds of construction project such as building projects, construction of factories and other commercial projects. In other words any structure constructed with steel requires steel detailing services for it.

Drawings developed during steel detailing are used by fabricators, contractors, structural engineers, and construction companies etc. For fabricating a steel component, the availability of structural shop drawings is a must for fabricators. They acquire all the information about the structural steel components in question from structural shop drawings that are created by detailers. Information incorporated in structural shop drawings include size and dimensions of steel members, material specifications, details regarding welding, painting and bolting and other imperative information associated with the fabrication of the components. All this information must be contained with at most accuracy in the structural shop drawings for the precise fabrication of structural components.

Apart from structural shop drawings erection drawings are equally important for structural steel projects. And hence immaculate erection drawings are developed by steel detailers at the time of steel detailing.  Information such as location of individual steel members within the structural framework is included in erection drawings. This assists steel erectors in figuring out where to place which steel component at the time of erection of structures in the proposed locations.

Drawings generated by steel detailers must be approved by structural engineers prior to their dispersal to fabricators, construction companies and other potential clients. In short immaculate structural drawings lead to the construction of effective and formidable structures.

Accomplished steel detailers are integral part of steel detailing process!

Skilled steel detailers are very crucial for serving the requirements and interests of structural engineering clients. In other words competent steel detailers are in high demand generally in AEC industry and specifically in steel detailing industry. Steel detailers must be proficient with structural engineering technicalities even though they are only accountable for developing structural drawings. But it is an added advantage if steel detailers are well versed with structural engineering principles and complexities as well. They must be aware of the consequences of inaccurate steel detailing for the project in question. Generally even slight mistakes in structural drawings can have dreadful impact on the project in question.

Problematic structural steel drawings would ultimately end up in increasing the budget and time of the project. Steel detailing process is paramount for the execution of any kind of construction projects such as commercial and residential building projects, health care, and institutional project etc.

Steel detailers create detailed plans and drawings for structural steel members such as beams, columns, braces, handrails and stairs etc that are used by fabricators when they develop these components.  The information that is comprised in structural steel shop drawings generated by detailers include component size of steel members, dimensions of the components, material specifications and other data related to welding and  bolting etc.

But the drawings developed by steel detailers are never forwarded directly to structural engineering clients such as building contractors, fabricators, construction firms instead they are forwarded to structural engineers for correction and revisions. Structural engineers successfully scrutinize shop drawings and erection drawings before they are actually optimized by clients. These drawings are examined for every detail by structural engineers and if improvements or alterations are required they are further sent to steel detailers. Steel detailers then implement all the indispensable changes in structural steel drawings before actually forwarding them to clients.

Steel detailers must comply with the relevant steel detailing standards while developing drawings. Application of design standards varies depending upon the geographical location of the country in question. For example design standards applied to construction projects of Asian countries would be slightly different from the design standards applied to European and American projects and this because of the distinctive geographical conditions of these areas. In short relevant design codes and standards must be followed by detailers. However, professional steel detailers are well aware of applications of different design codes and standards.