product spotlight BIMin the Realedited By geoff weisenWorldberger

Revit Structure appears to be leading the pack in terms of building information modeling software, and some of its users share their thoughts.

Alexander Baumel James A. Corsiglia Will F. Ikerd II

Tom Bartolomucci Justin Den Herder Randy Karl Hagens Atul Khanzode

Allow me to repeat a statement that has been latter program weigh in on its pros and cons, its interoper- made ad nauseam: BIM is here to stay. ability with other packages, and BIM use in general. Does this mean that all structural engineering firms are using building information modeling on all projects? Cer- Is Revit Structure/BIM in regular use at your firm? tainly not. But a survey conducted in 2008 by the Structural Bartolomucci: We have already implemented and used Revit Engineering Institute’s BIM Committee, in collaboration with Structure for about two years on many projects. Revit has the Structural Engineers Association of Texas’ IT Committee, been used on a majority of structural projects and several indicates that more than half of structural engineering firms at least have BIM software at their offices. Further, approximately architectural projects. We are attempting to use Revit on all 65% of the respondents said that they think they will have to projects as scope and budgets allow. use BIM to meet client needs within the next two years; almost 80% said within the next five years. (The survey was sent to Khanzode: Revit/BIM is in regular use at DPR, and we are using more than 15,000 SEI members and received more than 700 it on about 70 total projects across the company. As a national responses.) builder of projects for the advanced technology, health-care and Structures and Bentley Structural were two of the top life sciences markets, a majority of our work is highly technical, programs; 9% and 13.5%, respectively, of firms that said they own including data centers, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, BIM software have these programs. But the most-owned program and hospitals. For these types of technical projects with complex by a significant margin was ’s Revit Structure at 60%. systems, Revit/BIM has proven to add a lot of value, especially Below, representatives from a handful of firms using the resolving issues early and enhancing productivity out in the field.

Participants Hanson Professional Services Inc. Tom Bartolomucci, P.E., S.E. Vice President Robert Silman Associates Alexander Baumel, Engineer Justin Den Herder, Engineer Harley Ellis Devereaux James A. Corsiglia, P.E., S.E. Principal HDR Architecture, Inc. Randy Karl Hagens, AIA, P.E. Vice President, Structural Team Leader Raymond L. Goodson Jr., Inc. (RLG) Will F. Ikerd II, P.E. Director, Integrated Project Delivery Department Consulting Engineers

DPR Construction, Inc. Atul Khanzode, P.E. Director of Virtual Building january 2009 MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION Corsiglia: We have been working is that the purpose you want to use the of assembling objects that are, in effect, in a 3D/BIM environment for more model for determines how you build it multi-dimensional—not just 2D or 3D, than a decade and use Revit Structure and what you get out of it. If we are able to but objects that have a rich set of char- exclusively for our BIM platform. get involved with the design team earlier acteristics that can be used for more than Structurally speaking, we do 95% of our on in the process, we can collaboratively just graphical purposes. work in the Revit/BIM environment, determine what purpose the model gets A significant challenge within the and we balance our projects with used for and then build the model to workflow is deciding how much detail minimal CAD documentation. meet that purpose. This is especially true to put into the documentation model. for model-based estimating. The other Within a multi-dimensional model, it is Baumel and Den Herder: Robert challenge we are facing is use of models easy to overdo it. Just because we have the Silman Associates (RSA) has been using on large projects and how to share capability to model nearly every compo- Revit Structure for about two years in information in a networked environment. nent in the structural system, do we actu- both our New York and Washington D.C. ally need to do so? Or, more importantly, offices. Currently, both offices only use Baumel and Den Herder: The biggest is it required by our contract? Beyond Revit when requested to do so by a client. challenge with using Revit is training defining the actual workflow and training, engineers and drafters on the program the detail in our deliverables will need to Ikerd: Raymond L. Goodson, Jr., Inc. and ensuring that they are familiar be further defined as BIM becomes more (RLG) uses Revit Structure regularly, with enough with the program to use it mainstreamed. Whether the model will some legacy projects still in AutoCAD. My efficiently on projects. While few of our be used for material take-off or just col- role as Director of RLG’s Department of employees have used Revit extensively lision detection will impact the required Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is to before, it has a relatively fast learning amount of detail in the documentation guide the implementation of BIM tools curve, especially for those who know model, the cost to produce that model like Revit to facilitate downstream use of AutoCAD or who have experience with and, ultimately, the contract documenta- our models with a multitude of different other 3D modeling software. Once tion for construction. applications. the design team begins using Revit on a project, coordination between the What other structural or detailing Hagens: We began with Revit Structure consultants is easy and efficient. Revit software packages do you generally version 4 when it first became available. helps locate coordination discrepancies— use as part of your workflow, and how Initially, only a few smaller projects were for instance, between a structural element do they interact with Revit Structure completed with the software. We produced and a mechanical duct—and brings it to or your other BIM package? plans and a very limited quantity of details the user’s attention. Bartolomucci: We use RISA Build- with the Revit Structure software; the bulk ing System linked with Revit Structure of the detail work was done with AutoCAD. Ikerd: Challenges related to linking Revit for integrated design and analysis with When Revit Structure 2008 became with structural analysis applications and minimal compatibility issues. available, we started working with much also with detailing applications include: larger projects and did more detailing inside slab definitions, top of steel definitions, Khanzode: We use Revit Architec- of Revit. In 2008, we completed a couple member axial rotation definitions, material ture, Revit Structure, Tekla Structures, of smaller projects with all design details specifications and naming conventions, , and VICO. completed wholly within Revit Structure, original location of objects, and material without the help of AutoCAD. All whole tolerances. The models typically account Corsiglia: We regularly export, via building projects are now being started for the world as it should be and not the CIS/2, to RISA and RAM Structural in Revit Structure. Renovation projects way it might be, with all the different Systems. Additionally, we import fab- involving small structural modifications conditions with various tolerances. ricators SDS/2 files into our system as remain in AutoCAD or Microstation, well as NAVIS works for coordination. depending on prior work with the client. Hagens: We have learned that approach- Over the last two years we have been To date, we are attempting all types of ing a product like Revit Structure with a relatively successful in bi-directional link- institutional buildings in Revit in order to CAD mentality will greatly limit success. ing between the BIM and analytical plat- test the state of the technology. Revit Structure is not a drafting program; forms. Modeling and showing the informa- it is a documentation modeling program tion only once and having the information What are the challenges with using from which drawings and other informa- be replicated in multiple platforms is Revit Structure/BIM? tion can be extracted. This can be a diffi- extremely efficient for engineers. Bartolomucci: The main challenge in cult concept for both technicians and engi- implementing BIM is accepting a change neers to grasp largely because our typical Baumel and Den Herder: Other than in the design and delivery processes— deliverable has been either a printed set AutoCAD, we use a variety of different not just the new software. One of our of drawings or PDF files of drawings. We analysis programs, including RISA-3D, challenges is providing education and have historically thought about an output RAM Structural System, SAP2000, and training on BIM to our employees. in terms of two-dimensional lines. SAFE. We use proprietary third party soft- However, to build a correct Revit ware that allows users to export models Khanzode: One particular challenge Structure model, we must think in terms from Revit into RISA-3D and RAM. This

MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION january 2009 can save up to 50% of the time it would the links and analytical program databases otherwise take to build both a Revit model will be smarter about communicating with Autodesk, Inc. and a separate analysis model. While the the documentation model, thus enabling http://www.usa.autodesk.com model exports are not flawless and -usu an ongoing link between the models. , Inc. ally require touch-ups to ensure accuracy, http://www.bentley.com they definitely save a large amount of What challenges do you Tekla, Inc. time when modeling and analyzing build- experience with using CIS/2—and http://www.tekla.com ings with complicated geometries. what are the workarounds? Bartolomucci: In the past, Hanson has For a complete list of structural used SDS2 Global Review when inter- engineering/BIM software providers, Ikerd: Tekla and SDS/2. While we do not visit MSC’s online Product Directory. have them in-house, we do look for others acting with fabricators. However, we Go to www.modernsteel.com and that use them to share models with. are currently testing the ability of Revit click Product Directory on the right. Structure to import CIS/2 files from a Hagens: We use RAM Structural Sys- fabricator to our system. tem, RAM Advanse, ETABS, and SAFE 80% good on the other side on transfer as our primary analysis and design pro- Khanzode: We are aware of the CIM Steel (non-scientific number, here). However, grams. However, we currently are only Exchange standards (CIS/2) and sponsored if you are working with a good team, able to link RAM Structural System and a workshop to bring steel detailers and the 20% that needs to be “fixed” in the ETABS to Revit Structure. designers together in the western U.S. to model after transfer should be easily Regardless of where the workflow speed the process of data transfer using this identified. There is value in transferring starts, we have found that the models format between design and construction the models even though it is not perfect. must be extremely accurate in their con- team, and we anticipate using this method of The most important aspect of integrated nectivity in order to prevent analysis errors. exchange on one of our upcoming projects. project delivery from my perspective is We have also found the need to limit the We see a lot of promise in this and know of understanding people/communication workflow to one full cycle of transferring success stories of others using it and hope to first, then process/understanding, - fol information between models. Beyond one do our first few pilots in 2009. lowed by technology and tools. Com- full cycle, unnecessary errors creep into munication with the team of designers, the analytical model due to changes in Corsiglia: We have not experienced any fabricators, detailers, erectors, and gen- the documentation model that are a part difficulties in exporting to CIS/2. The last eral contractors is the most important of normal design development. With cur- project we exported was an atrium infill, “workaround” with any use of technol- rent technology, we find it more efficient sandwiched between three buildings, with ogy, and especially BIM when leverag- to maintain two separate models after the irregular expansion joint locations. ing CIS/2. initial analysis and design is reported to the Revit Structure model. In time, we hope Ikerd: From my perspective, for simple Hagens: We do not actively use CIS/2. buildings, the model is approximately However, our Omaha and Chicago offices recently tested the waters on conducting Working with CIS/2 steel framing “paperless” reviews with Revit Structure 2009 has the ability to from scratch. as a similar detailing/fabrication software import and export CIS/2 files via theR evit with importing a solution. The idea was to conduct on- Extensions tool. This free tool is an add- CIS/2 model into on from Autodesk, and must be installed Revit Structure, screen reviews of the fabricator’s detail- separately from Revit Structure. in our the ing model. Though the process has merit, experience, there are a couple of situa- must care- we found the software package to lack tions where one would want to integrate fully review the significant communication and tracking CIS/2 with Revit Structure. The first situa- imported model tools to convey the designer’s comments tion would be importing a CIS/2 file from to confirm that and concerns to the fabricator. The idea an analysis program. in many structural it accurately rep- has great merit, but the current software engineering firms, a 3D model is first resents the structure. Particular attention tools do not mesh well with engineering created in an analysis program. rather needs to be paid to geometry, member professional practices. In time, we think than recreating this model in Revit Struc- orientation, and proper import of mem- the evolution of these transfer options ture, the CIS/2 Import function can be ber shapes. It may be necessary to use a will develop features to better fit with the used to bring in the all-ready created conversion file, which translates the names structural engineer’s changing workflow. model. though this will save modeling of structural shapes from one program to time, it may be necessary to modify the another. CIS/2 is an easy and convenient BIM has been a frequent topic in MSC in imported grids and levels. in addition, means of getting structural steel informa- recent years. “Practical BIM” in particular complicated geometry may not come tion into and out of Revit Structure. the provides some more insight on BIM adop- in properly, so a thorough check of the transfer of data, however, is not perfect tion and use. This article appeared in the imported model should be done. and the engineer should closely verify the 11/07 issue of MSC, and you can find it at A second situation would be exporting information that is exchanged. www.modernsteel.com. a CIS/2 file fromR evit Structure for use in a – Joseph M. Ales Jr., Ph.D., P.E., steel detailing model. This would save the Principal, Walter P Moore time and cost of recreating the structural january 2009 MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION