A Q&A with Vectorworks

AEC Magazine speaks to Vectorworks CEO Dr. Biplab Sarkar about the company’s bold BIM strategy and its plans to support future customer needs.

With the launch of signifi- direct modelling drawings into cant updates to its suite of BIM apps in the second tools, or using subdivision modelling Vectorworks CEO AutoCAD, which means they lose the half of 2016, Vectorworks tools and then trans- Dr. Biplab Sarkar has benefits of quick made clear its determination to confound forming it into a fully been with Vectorworks changes driving new market perceptions of the company as developed BIM since 2000. After first d r a w i n g s . ‘just’ a CAD supplier. A whole range of model. Finally, our serving as a manager of Vectorworks has features caught AEC Magazine’s eye in advanced 2D and pregeometry and rendering, he was the CTO extensive documentathe new offering and as we noted at the sentation tools give from 2008 to 2016 tion editing tools: do time: “With this release, you can really architects more con- customers accept the start to see something special happening trol over the graphic default output or is in the product’s BIM modelling capabili- quality of their work. document editing of sections and elevaties.” Also, worth noting is the collaboration tions still a large part of the process?

Since then, we’ve had the opportunity between Vectorworks and its many sister to interview Vectorworks CEO Dr. Biplab brands from the Nemetschek Group. We A: It varies among our customers and Sarkar, to find out how he feels the BIM work with many of our partner brands to their practices, but we’ve seen it both market’s developing and how that will describe BIM workflows, connecting vari- ways. The default output of drawings impact the directions that the company ous products and can demonstrate how from Vectorworks 3D models meets the takes in future. models/data can be exchanged via open majority of most common drawing staninternational standards such as IFC and dards. And our users can customise the Q: Biplab, Vectorworks comes from the PDF. These products include SCIA for look of this default output. Since drawing Nemetschek stable of building structural engineering; standards vary from country to country, design products, which also includes Allplan, Graphisoft, ‘‘ Vectorworks Solibri for BIM data validation, quality checking and and even from office to office, we provide these extensive documentation tools to MAXON and many other known brands. How does can be a hub data mining; Data Design Systems (DDS) for MEP allow our users to have better control over drawing output. This eliminates the Vectorworks differentiate for ideas, no engineering; and Bluebeam need for outside applications, empoweritself from stablemates like matter the for PDF-based document ing you to still take advantage of the autoAllplan and Graphisoft – both BIM tools by function and geographical coverage? And form, and those ideas can be management. Additionally, Vectorworks uses MAXON’s Cinema 4D as its mation that the BIM tool provides. Q: Model sizes are a common problem in how is Vectorworks integrat- transformed engine for our integrated BIM projects, as more detail is added. ing and cross-pollinating the into the desired rendering solution, What’s a typical file size for a customer technologies from these other brands? BIM data Renderworks. The various brands withproject? What kind of RAM would a typical user require and does Vectorworks A: Vectorworks differs from ’’ in the Nemetschek Group work together by offering a have methodologies for breaking up models into smaller work packages? its BIM competitors in several ways. First strong, unified support of OPEN BIM, and foremost, its flexible and robust 3D which bodes well for open exchange with A: Anywhere between 50MB (for a small modelling tools allow architects to design products from other companies. residential project) to 2GB (for 300,000 sq the way that they think, rather than forc- ft institutional project) is typical. The mining them to follow certain processes or Q: When creating BIM models, automat- imum RAM requirement for Vectorworks procedures. Second, when creating a BIM ed 2D output can leave a lot to be desired 2017 is 4GB. However, we recommend model, you aren’t limited to the default and this leads to a lot of reworking in 2D 8GB to 16GB for large files and for complex BIM objects; you can design any aspect of in order to get that output in the state that renderings. Generally, we don’t recomyour building through digital sketching. customers want to see it. Some users opt mend that users break up their models. If This could entail using Vectorworks’ to break up the process and take their you have the recommended RAM and

For enhanced interoperability, Vectorworks 2017 includes improved IFC v4 support and Revit import

graphics card, you should be able to handle fairly large files. We also provide a comprehensive multi-user environment that allows users to keep a single, unified file. However, if a project needs to be organised into multiple files, we do provide different methods for live referencing.

Q: It’s no secret that learning a BIM process is a massive undertaking and can be a barrier to adoption. What strategies does Vectorworks use in order to speed up training and keep the product from becoming excessively complicated?

A: To ensure the successful adoption of BIM, we offer a number of resources and types of training. We build on the user’s current knowledge base, in digestible steps, helping them transition from basic BIM implementation to advanced techniques, as they become more familiar and comfortable with the tools and processes. It is not an ‘all or nothing’ proposition for our users.

Nearly all of our resources and training are customised based on the audience. We normally provide training to decisionmakers first. For example, the first type of ‘training’ that we recommend is for principals on an executive level to ensure that they are prepared and equipped to manage complex change within their firm. As long as there is ‘buy-in’ at the top, the barrier for BIM adoption is much lower than expected. We offer on-demand resources for those who choose either self-paced training or live, hands-on training.

Q: Vectorworks is one of the few BIM products to have a real solid modelling kernel, Parasolid, at its core. In the past, solid models have been deemed too ‘heavy’ for architectural models, which are mainly concerned with surface detail. What does having Parasolid at the core enable Vectorworks to do - and will this help downstream with capabilities like fabrication?

A: BIM fundamentally begins with a 3D model, so having a world-class modelling engine like Parasolid at its core is essential. It allows us to provide far more robust modelling tools, including the support of complex objects and freeform elements, which in turn allows users to design more freely and without limitations.

The Parasolid implementation in architectural products is quite different from MCAD products. The architectural scene can be conceived as a massive assembly, with hundreds of thousands of parts that can make the design heavy. Vectorworks’ implementation takes this into account, by storing the Parasolid model with some objects, and in some others, Vectorworks generates the model ‘on the fly’, thus keeping a balance between storage and performance.

Additionally, Parasolid modelling plays into BIM data’s need for being strong and reusable to allow for a variety of workflows, from design to simulation and analysis to fabrication. A growing trend in the industry is embracing the Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) idea from industrial design, where a design model is the basis of fabrication and the path is short and direct, without requiring many steps of translation or transformation. For example, the freeform design of the Versailles School of Arts by Platane Beres in France was done in Vectorworks, including the stone panels in the façade, which were robotically fabricated using CNC stone-cutting machines.

Q: Vectorworks has recently partnered with BIMobject, a content creation firm in Sweden. The industry has a reputation for a rather random approach to quality and standards for downloadable content. How are your customers using downloadable content and how can BIMobject help them? Can they share their own libraries?

A: Currently, our customers use downloadable content from multiple sources. One such source is our Vectorworks Service Select portal, where we provide numerous resources we create ourselves, to ensure consistency and optimisation. We also support direct import of multiple file formats such as SKP, DXF/DWG and RVT/RFA. Downloading and utilising resources for these file formats from forums such as 3D Warehouse is at the

user’s discretion. BIMobject helps ensure further consistency and optimisation of these different file formats. Currently, you can’t share your own library in BIMobject, but you can share your library on our community board at forum.vectorworks.net.

Q: Architects seem to be broadening their tool palettes by mixing numerous products together to enable the realisation of their designs. What kind of capabilities does Vectorworks offer for collaborative open BIM working and how do you see this changing in the future?

A: Vectorworks provides architects with numerous software tools to streamline workflows without compromising capability. Our modelling and drafting tools, along with our presentation capabilities, eliminate the need for additional programmes like SketchUp, Rhino and even Adobe Illustrator. Also, we have added drop shadows for 2D objects, alpha channel support for images and Camera Match in Vectorworks 2017, which further reduce the need for Adobe Photoshop. Without the need for other programmes, you get a more efficient and streamlined design process. Although, if designers choose to use other tools, Vectorworks has extensive import/export capabilities that create a more efficient and seamless process.

Vectorworks can be a hub for ideas, no matter the form, and those ideas can be transformed into the desired BIM data. Vectorworks also supports, and is certified for, the import and export of the IFC file format. As architects adopt BIM processes, the need for more interoperability will arise in order to accommodate all of the different needs and end goals of the architect, including design, development and documentation. Being able to accommodate varying workflows and tools through file interoperability and IFC support becomes a key aspect or foundation for how Vectorworks will move forward for future adoption of BIM.

Q: There is a lot of buzz about architects adopting Computational Design, using products like Grasshopper and Dynamo. What’s Vectorworks’ approach to Computational Design, and do you think this capability will become more commonly used as software developers and users increase their skillsets?

A: Grasshopper, Rhino3D and SketchUp may be popular modelling tools, but even these platforms have limitations in how they can address needs in a wider BIM context. However, Vectorworks is the only BIM software to provide a native, built-in computational design tool that is referred to as Marionette.

Also, Marionette saves time, because you can generate not only geometry, but also scripts and plug-ins, so you can produce intelligent building models with Marionette all within one platform. Marionette can automate routine tasks in the design process, such as drawing analysis, database creation and file organisation. These factors can save you hundreds of hours on projects! We see Computational Design being adopted by more and more students and younger designers entering the workforce. This capability is well on its way to becoming common in architectural practices.

Q: In the UK, we have some very specific industry initiatives to make BIM a country standard. What developments and capabilities has Vectorworks included in the software to assist in customers meeting standards such as the UK version of COBie and interoperability? How does this compare to what you see globally?

A: As a provider of BIM software to architects, our focus at Vectorworks is ensuring that designers have all of the necessary capabilities to participate in the BIM process. We are also very customerfocused, developing our product as a direct response to our customers’ needs and requests. In fact, 70% of updates to our latest release were introduced in response to customer feedback. Moreover, our BIM tools and IFC support were developed with industry initiatives in mind, such as those in the UK.

With Vectorworks 2017, we’ve included support for IFC 4, the newest version of the IFC file format. We’ve also introduced a more advanced IFC data mapping tool, which allows more customisation and control over the data export. This means that there is better support for the various versions of COBie that need to be met.

We’ve noticed there has been greater support and adoption of standards such as the UK’s BIM initiative among various countries and government bodies. In the US, BIM has been a significant part of the industry for some time now and this has allowed us to be better able to support this global embrace of BIM.

Q: Software developers have been very keen to jump on the cloud bandwagon. At AEC Magazine, we can see how this helps collaboration, but also that there are still hurdles to be overcome. How does Vectorworks handle group working and distributed team collaboration and what use of the cloud (or planned use for the cloud) does the company have?

A: Vectorworks handles group working with a feature called ‘project sharing’, which is essentially a singular file where multiple people can concurrently work on different parts of a project. The singular project file that everyone accesses is typically kept on a shared server to which all team members have access. In Vectorworks 2017, we have integrated support of cloud-based storage in our project sharing environment. This means that rather than hosting that file on a server, the project file can be kept on Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and Box to be easily accessed by various team members. Overall, this feature enables employees who are remote, travelling or located in the field to work on their projects without being dependent on something like VPN.

Q: Looking at the BIM market today, what technologies and processes do you think will drive adoption and improve the benefits already delivered by BIM?

A: We will see Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) used more frequently in different parts of the process to communicate in ways where renders and drawings are insufficient. For example, customers may use VR/MR systems for design to show a client how the building will look in context, as well as inside, and contractors may use VR/AR to verify site conditions against design intent.

Furthermore, other technologies that will become more relevant include robotic 3D printing, an emphasis on high-performance buildings, as well as smart city initiatives.

The smart city initiatives strive for more livable cities, tackling challenges such as reducing traffic congestion, fighting crime, fostering economic growth, managing the effects of a changing climate and improving the delivery of city services.

In closing, the adoption of BIM standards and initiatives by governing bodies and industry organisations will drive the use of BIM further and further.

For most designers, BIM technology needs to adapt to the design process and not try to replace it. This adaption will greatly increase adoption and improve the benefits of BIM.