what's in a room?
DESCRIPTION
Based on the problems of working with Revit rooms and Room Data Sheets, this presentation will cover many aspects of typical workflows seen in architecture and interiors, discuss where the difficulties are and investigate better, more integrated solutions.TRANSCRIPT
What’s in a Room?
Ceilidh Higgins
Interior Designer | BIM Specialist | Blogger |
GreenStar Professional | Looking for opportunities
rooms
Furniture
Floors
Walls
Finishes
Ceilings
Casework
Doors
Plumbing
Equipment
a room object itself is a container for data –both physical and information based
revit rooms
room data sheets
room data sheets document what SHOULD be in a room, not what is modelled
currently�
word file, excel file or access database
revit model objects revit model data
then there are 2D elements
is that a floor? an area? or a colour fill?and can you tell the difference anyway?
is it broken?
what about�
excel file revit model data
bi directional link
then if we could�
revit model objectsrevit model data
compare
use excel to enter data
or a schedule
or a plan
compare proposed to actual
proposed number of double power outlets (data only)
actual count of double power outlets in the model
calculation of difference between proposed and actual
tools
Revit – schedules, graphic filters, room colour schemes, annotations
Microsoft Excel for spreadsheets –intermediate level of use
RTV Shared Parameter Manager to manage project parameters – just $135 USD
Ideate BIMLink for bi-directional link between excel and revit - $850 approx
what else?• room data sheet - or
something else?
• what is modelled? what
is data? what is 2d?
• is it worth it?
schedule non-object data
physical properties of modelled objects data only
information from room parameters
create visual data plans
different colours indicate different PROPOSED acoustic zones
where are we
going?
how will the data be used?
text, integer, length, yes/no, material? what parameter type will be used?
for each parameter consider what type of parameter is required based upon what you want to record/check or measure and the output plans or schedules you need
Note Blocks (attached to nothing)ImagesRooms
Attached to RoomsSymbols & AnnotationsGeneric Model Objects
Attached to 2D ObjectsFamilies with 2D
lines
Families including doors, furniture, casework,
equipment
Attached to 3D ObjectsDetail ComponentsWalls, Floors, Ceilings
Information2D Objects3D Objects
what is a model made up of?
what is important?
think about how and when you gather information as well as how you use it
simple parameter type tips
integers are good for comparing quantities of like items
yes/no and text parameters with limited number of descriptions are great for visual plans
finishes
modelling finishes?
keynotes & scheduling ensure consistency
adding colour and actual material patterns can give you a quick visual design check
finish plans – why use a colour fill? with a material its there in 3D
what about walls?
All options are
work arounds
Paintbucket
Room object
Additional wall
Part of wall
Other options?line based family attached to wall with filters used to identify different materials
no material parameters?
in the room object all the floor, wall, ceiling and finish parameters are text (so is casework), why?
2 reasons1. timing - remember the room data
sheet is the brief an actual material has not yet been selected
2. good BIM - the room object is not a physical object to which materials can be applied
furniture
revit outputs
component libraries
what room data?this example of FFE is more common in lab projects –each item is listed individually with dimensions and other details – every cell would be a parameter
this example is less detailed for each piece of equipment and relies on lists and text based entries
integer parameters for quantities –separate from text descriptions will allow for excel spreadsheet check
yes/no parameter to identify if there are standard workstations in a room
text based list for joinery (casework) means this will be a manual check
chairs are separated into different kinds, a yes/no parameter in each chair family will be required to identify which kind of chair it is
client supplied equipment with separate parameters for each dimension – the same data could be used in a type catalogue to build families
for a lab project each service might need to be a separate parameter
again why?1. timing - remember the room data
sheet is the brief, detailed types of furniture are not yet selected
2. consider each type/item of FFE individually and think how your projects can use the data collected
3. and still no materials – again timing and good BIM
lets get started
the revit template
create your room data parameters in your revittemplate file (you can also load into an existing project too)
other template tips – set up views for multiple levels and also set up your standard schedules
creating parameters
parameter Names should include “Proposed” or “Briefed” so as to avoid confusion with modelled elements
bind parameters�
parameter binding loads the shared parameters into the project file
in the order you want them
parameters will be in the order they are bound, or if multiple parameters are bound at once, in alphabetical order
check everything�
I missed the CEH here
the parameter cannot be reloaded into the same project with a different name – you have to create a new parameter with a new GUID and then delete the old parameter
before loading!
the ‘new’ casework parameter will come in after all the other parameters nowD
learn from my lesson – I wasted a lot of time not checking parameter names & types before loading them all into the template
create the BIMlink
select create new link
you then have to set the order up again in BIMlink, as this will control the order you see them in excel
select parameters
select export to export the revitdata to an excel file – at this point all we are doing is exporting the parameters not actual information
export link
room data file
we now have a blank room data file – there was just one room in the revit template –this is its GUID
tip – you have to open the excel file inside of excel not double click.
testing
BIMlink allows you to create new rooms within excel, just add NEW to the GUID field
formatting tips
quickly change row height and set all cells to wrap text to make editing easierFreeze room names/numbers to aid navigation
one issue is that you can’t tell from excel what the parameter type is –maybe consider your naming?but go ahead and fill out a row of data
parameter types
import BIMlink
select import, then the excel file and the workbook.
review errors and changes
the BIMlinkdialogue lists all new and modified data and all identifies errors
and allows you to save an issues report as an excel file
error and change report
we now know when (and probably who?) changed the room data sheet –this is a benefit over using excel on its own
import complete
room data has now been imported into room parameters
opps this was a qty
these nils should be NO
4 of 5 errors easily identified
incorrect parameter type –
parameter will now have to be
deleted, remade and will be out of
order
fixing errors
fixing errors
having fixed the error in the revitparameters we also need to load the new parameter into the BIMlink
and the data file
overwrite the previous room data file
using find and replace
another benefit of excel – find and replace NIL with NO
be careful not to replace any text in this row
repeat until you get zero warnings (took me 2 goes)
import back to revit
save link
if you save the link definition you will be able to import the BIMlink into other files and not have to go through picking the parameter order again (at least in BIMlink –sorry still required to load parameters into Revit)
linked workbooks
BIMLink exported data file preformated worksheets
set up the excel data sheet
this is a preformatedtemplate that you can use on every project with links back to your data file
just make sure to save it in the same folder as the file “Room Data File” and never change the name of “Room Data File”
maintain the links
some odditiesyes/no parameters will show TRUE/FALSE, if this really bugs you run a find and replace on the data file before issuing to client
I put NO into any field that would otherwise be empty – so it doesn’t show zero and its clear its deliberately NO
copy worksheet
fix linksrun find and replace on each sheet to fix the formula – replace $2 with $3 means it will read the next row down from the data file
fix sheet names
it really would be better if the sheet names matched the room numbers (or names if you like), to do this we need to create a macro
the visual basic editor
View ->Code
here is your code
select cell to reference
I picked B7 – room number – use find and replace on your code
run the macro
interesting�
error dialogue -room 10.10 is considered the same as room 10.1 – this potentially highlights a problem with our room numbering scheme that could occur with other database software
revise room numbering
close the room data sheet and update the room data file
tip – you need to always have the room data file open to update the room data sheet
when you reopen the data sheet you might get an error like this
enable macros
go to tools->options
change security settings
re run the macro
you may need to close and reopen the data sheet file
worksheets have been renamed
formatting tips
select all worksheet tabs at once
all cells can be formatted as ‘general’ (room number had 2 digits after the decimal)
change the header
select all sheets except the first one, link them back to the first one – then you only update once
enter more data
record the room GUID before you paste
your template is ready
tidy up the template by deleting the rooms in a schedule view
test your template
create a new project based on the template and import the BIMlink data file
your data file had GUID numbers in it, if there are no rooms yet in the project you need all NEW in the data file
fix the error
and reimport in BIMlink and your rooms now exist in the project
but don’t import twice!
rooms ready for placing
make sure your users know to select the rooms to place, not to always make new rooms
complete with data
using the data
here is one i prepared earlier
this revit file is basically complete for construction but the only room objects are inside the core
open BIMLink, load the link file and then load the rooms
load the room data
place the rooms
create a colour scheme
edit the colour scheme
duplicate and modify an existing colour scheme – pick a yes/no parameter
proposed av layout
proposed room acoustics
or a text parameter with limited different entries
add room tags
room tag using data from the AV list parameter combined with colour scheme based on the yes/no AV parameter
proposed DGPOs
this plan would be useful at an early stage, to agree numbers with client or to brief engineer. this model is further developed and has actual DGPOs already shown – we can see there are errors. ideally we want to compare the actual and the existing.
room tag using data from the double GPO quantity parameter
useful tip
as you can’t use the default count parameter in formulas it can be useful to give all families another counting parameter
create a schedule
power outlets are electrical fixtures select parameters available from electrical fixtures and from rooms
schedule settings
schedule output
all electrical families are scheduledDand you can’t filter a schedule by family name
what can we filter?
needs to be a shared parameter - using shared parameters allows you to use data for more uses
if you can’t find one - create a new shared parameter
filter the schedule
hide the filter & family type
calculated values are not taken into account in formula for calculated parameter
calculate the difference
a yes/no parameter Count_Item_CEH = Room: GPO_Double_Qty_Proposed_CEH does not work either –Revit is always comparing the individual “Count_Item_CEH”parameter in the calculation –NOT the calculated total we see in the schedule.
yes/no difference?
export the schedule
calculate in excel
add conditional formatting
difference greater than 0 between actual and proposed
add totals
in the real world?
benefits1. quicker data entry2. create visual plans3. data comparisons 4. review and save errors and changes 5. discovers data code errors
20 hourstime taken
to setup
and test
templates
Questions?
check out my blog at
themidnightlunch.com
Colours by Shershe (recoloured) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/shershe/3361427968/sizes/o/in/photostream/
The weakest link by Darwin Bell (clipped) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/darwinbell/465459020/sizes/l/
Tools by zzpza - http://www.flickr.com/photos/zzpza/3269784239/sizes/o/
The Thinker by 4johny5 (clipped) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnny4ever5/3226486640/sizes/l/
London Bridge Tunnel by Martino’s Doodles -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinosdoodles/2501720296/http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinosdoodles/250172
0296/
Level of Detail – Thanks to PracticalBIM http://practicalbim.blogspot.com.au/
Floor Walking by Amodiovalerio Verde - http://www.flickr.com/photos/amodiovalerioverde/41523777/sizes/o/
Alarm clock by kobiz7 (clipped) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/27369469@N08/2661018158/sizes/l/
Chairs - http://www.flickr.com/photos/masochismtango/283536089/sizes/o/
Creating the Future for Libraries blank book by Shifted Librarian -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shifted/3360687295
Bryant Park, Late April 2009 by Ed Yourdon - http://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/3475417696/sizes/l/
Data slide by Bionic teaching (colours modified) -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bionicteaching/2920562020/sizes/o
Information by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasamarshall/6950477589/sizes/h/in/photostream/
Just Full Of Ideas by Cayusa - http://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/981372736/
Time jumper by h.koppdelaney - http://www.flickr.com/photos/h-k-d/6171907581/sizes/l/
Component Libraries by Daniel Moodie
Finishes screen shots by Ceilidh Higgins at GHD
All other screen shots prepared for this presentation by Ceilidh Higgins
image credits