Archive for category Existing Conditions
Photofly : Real 3D from Photos : Cloud Computing Magic : #bim #cloud
Posted by Jim Foster in Autodesk, BIM, Existing Conditions, Laser Scanning, New Technologies on July 24, 2010
While I have not taken this for a test drive yet the videos and technology behind this are impressive and could provide a very valuable tool set. First, a word about technology. Too many times software presupposes too much knowledge or interest on the user, that is this software can do some amazing stuff you just have to sit down with it, go through the manual, try and use it, sit in a classroom, hit the user groups, etc. to master it and make it a useful and successfully incorporate into your workflow. If you are like me you might be open minded to that but the benefits of learning a brand new software package have to be pretty amazing to entertain that process. Enter Photofly. From what I have pulled up and I included two videos here you upload standard digital photographs, which could range from your iphone to your 18 Megapixel Digital SLR, and Photofly does its magic in the cloud utilizing its own servers to render a photographic 3D image, that can be scaled using a known dimension to a dimensionally correct model that can also be exported to AutoCAD as a pointcloud. What?!$% From my perspective this is invaluable, and brings to the forefront technology that was only available from laser scanners. I am not saying this takes their place but any time you can put another arrow in your quiver for building surveying and documentation, the better. And if this is as intuitive as these 2 videos make it out to be, this is a home run.
Photofly Intro Video
Wrigley Field Gets Modeled From Tourist Photos
Public Beta Open in January : Capture as builts in Revit in the field: #Revit #BIM #asbuilt #laser #pplt
Posted by Jim Foster in As Builts, BIM, Built Environment, Existing Conditions, Laser BIM, Laser Scanning on December 16, 2009
We will be opening up our beta to public testing in January and we are asking for volunteers. Our product PKNail allows a user to use a hand held laser, Disto D8, and measure and build Revit models in the field. The measurements are transmitted via bluetooth to a mobile workstation which allows the user to quickly and accurately captures a building geometry and features. On board intelligence allows users to determine wall thicknesses, wall angles, toggle accuracy, attach notes to objects and more.
PKNail was developed by field surveyors and software engineers to help the AEC Community quickly and accurately capture a building’s geometry in Revit. This tool used alone of in conjunction with HDLS (High Definition Laser Scanning) can let you start any project in BIM / Revit. Proven ROI in as little as one project, and speed gains from measuring to model of over 200%.
With the majority of construction projects happening in the built environment, and in cities like Boston almost 80% done in the built environment start them in BIM and help everyone downstream.
This a powerful tool in capturing as builts in Revit and beta testers will be eligible for a substantial discount when purchasing.
info@pointknown.com
BIM Usage Increases 75% : Autodesk Stock Up over 100% in 6 Months : The Business of #BIM
Posted by Jim Foster in Adoption, BIM, Existing Conditions, Revit on September 25, 2009
Hey we can all bend statistics in our favor but the one that jumps off the page in the most recent McGraw Hill Smart Market report is that one-half, 50% of the industry is using BIM, or a 75% increase in usage in the last 2 years. That’s a ridiculous adoption rate. McGraw Hill’s method of analysis is through internet surveys and while you can question the sample population the broader market may have picked up on this as well as Autodesk, the defacto 800 lb gorilla with Revit and Navisworks, etc. , is off its 5 year low posted on March 9, 2009 of $11.79 to trading at $23.58, that’s 100% gain folks in a little over 6 months. If you are new to this world you think everyone has drank the cool aid but if principal, CM, PM, etc is making the decision on what/when/where to invest in BIM is becoming a too obvious choice even if its just to be on the bandwagon. Anyone who has pulled CAD lines until they cramped up and laments changes and design options knows the beauty of working in 3D.
So not surprisingly one of the most repeated benefits is “reducing rework” and “avoiding rework”, you see the trend and this jibes well with all the other reports we have seen and also noted here, including the estimated $16 billion to $34 Billion wasted on such things. But while that becomes the most apparent most immediately the effects of everything else downstream cannot be discounted, integrated disciplines, collision detection, scheduling, the “zero-defect” building. However, can’t get there until you start with BIM. Existing Conditions, Renovations, New Construction, it does not matter as there are technologies that will help get you there.
Report is Available Here through McGraw Hill
Revit Existing Conditions and As Builts Picking Up Pace : #BIM #Revit
Posted by Jim Foster in As Builts, BIM, Built Environment, Existing Conditions, GSA, Laser BIM, Revit on September 9, 2009
My company’s primary focus is to document existing conditions and deliver to the client ‘something’ dimensionally correct. This something has typically been 2D drawings, floorplans, elevations, sections, etc. We have utilized Revit on jobs that have required such extensive documentation that it was simply more efficient to create a 3D model and export the 2D data then document and draw the traditional way. In fact, we have documented existing conditions in 3D since 2003 because it was always simpler to be in and object oriented environment. However, the deliverables remained in 2D. However, almost everything we have done in the last 3 months has been Revit and delivering existing conditions building models in Revit. And the uses of the model vary widely.
- We surveyed and delivered a Revit model of two dormitories for a University in Revit, even though they did not have an installed seat, because they wanted to prepare for the future.
- We completed a Revit model of a single floor of Class A Office Space to be used for new interior layouts and design
- We are in the process of surveying and creating a model of a sprawling historic in built in parts starting with the main building in 1760 to a new hall built in 1984. This is to be used for master planning of the site which they will use for rendering and analysis and to integrate a new building that will house a new lobby and 50+ guest rooms.
So the uses of Revit are expanding, and even if they are not being used for 4D and 5D purposes its benefits for visual communication, analysis, and increased speed of design/drafting cannot be discounted. However, when integrating among all disciplines the results can be outstanding across the board.
We were fortunate enough to be part of the successful team, through a fantastic effort put forth by HNTB, that will be involved with the GSA and surveying and modeling their properties nationwide. What we have seen is either through the ripple effect or from other companies just being proactive that Revit and BIM are making a lot of headway into the community. Companies that we work with report that they hope to be doing all their projects in Revit by this time next year and with new ways of doing work, and changing workflow and even the environment comes opportunity.
Laser to Revit : Laser to BIM
Posted by Jim Foster in As Builts, BIM, Built Environment, Existing Conditions, Laser BIM, New Technologies, Point to Point Laser Technology, Revit on July 30, 2009
PointKnown website www.pointknown.com has its splash page up and expects to be in beta within the next 6 weeks. PointKnown has developed a system that takes laser range finder data and builds Revit models in the field. Point to Point Laser Technology (PPLT) increases the capture of existing conditions, speeds the production of BIM and Revit Models of the built environment and decreases data gathering and draft time by over 50%.
Building Green with BIM : Existing Conditions
Posted by Jim Foster in As Builts, BIM, Built Environment, Energy Analysis, Existing Conditions, Green, LEED, Point to Point Laser Technology, ROI on July 17, 2009
I wondered ho much of the green movement would get sidelined due to the tanking economy, and how much acceleration LEED certified projects will continue to get. Regardless of LEED though going green is proving to be cost effective, so effect on the bottom line are always going to get noticed. BIM allows option analysis from an energy perspective. You can perform solar analysis, heat gain/loss, options to replace glass with low-e, double paned, or triple paned, and run your ROI on a project by project basis. What is the payback by re insulating or upgrading the power plant is much easier calculated with a BIM. A recent article by Karl Heitman in the REournal goes on to say that you need to take into account the “embodied energy” in a building and that it would take 75 years of LEED Platinum Certified Building to repay the loss of tearing it down. So need to refit and reuse, create great projects with your existing conditions.
How you can capture existing conditions in a BIM format? So far, not so easy.
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