BIM 2021
by: Brad Brown
Where Did The ‘I’ In BIM Go?
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ar too often, in the Architectural Engineering & Construction industry, the BIM (Building Information Modeling) tends to focus on the ‘B’ and sometimes ‘M’ portions of this acronym. I see the Building as a representation of the design portion of each project. Design is subjective and not always applicable depending on the phase (e.g., post-occupancy). Modeling is the representative details or produced drawings, which rely on their implementation during construction to remain relevant. Information can be utilized, shared, enhanced, accessed, etc. by every participant in some fashion throughout the entire lifecycle. Building Information Modeling [BIM], like any other data storage structure, relies on fields, nodes, cells, or software-specific datasets. This is the structure which stores, organizes, and analyzes data. With filters and sorting, these can then be used to produce datasets to better understand and communicate trends, estimates, quantities, etc. Autodesk Revit uses parameters to house most modeling data. Unfortunately, parameters are some of the most misunderstood and under-utilized pieces of this application. Resulting in Ignored, Inaccurate, Irrelevant, Imprecise, and/or Incorrect
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data sets. Data is what separates a BIM from BiM from 3D CAD (Computer-Aided Design). To improve the Information portion, we will use my current focus of Revit doors to help illustrate and understand how most of our peers utilize Revit Parameters. At the most basic level, there are two types of parameters: System parameters and user-defined parameters. System parameters are provided and predefined by Autodesk, which individual users cannot change, e.g., height and width. Users cannot even modify their names to “door width”, for example. However, user-defined parameters can be added/modified as required to house data, drive variables, and calculate. Concerning user-defined parameters, there are two basic concepts: Project Parameters and Shared Parameters. Shared parameters become Project Parameters but not all Project Parameters are Shared Parameters. {see Figure 1} I use both often. Project Parameters are quick, simple, and easily applied to single or multiple Revit categories within a model. I also use project parameters to
AUGIWorld Magazine | February 2021 augi.com
