Review
Vabi Dashboard A new range of low-cost, add-on design analysis applications aim to provide architects and engineers with a very graphical dashboard for performance feedback early on in the design process. by Martyn Day
I
t has proven exceptionally hard to sell building analysis to architects. The vast majority still believe it is a specialism outside of core architectural design. This has not been from a lack of trying. IES gives away some low-level functionality to SketchUp and Revit customers, and Autodesk provides some access via its Suites and Subscriptions, but without widespread success. One reason for a lack of take-up is that building analysis tools have nearly always failed to integrate well with design tools. Results are given in measurements that only a building services engineer can understand and even progressive Building Information Modelling (BIM) architects do not prioritise a performance-based process. And yet, a BIM design process has the In 2010, after 38 years, Vabi became a pripotential to offer architects an incredible vately held company and continued to benamount of feedback on expected perfor- efit from its roots in government-mandated mance. Spatial, material and geographic building performance. The company’s Vabi design information can all be analysed to Elements software is pretty much the de assess design choices. facto standard in Holland, from small pracThere are many players in the building tices to large blue chip companies. analysis software market. Specialist firms Vabi employs over 65 people and has a such as Integrated Environmental methodology of training users on its buildSolutions (IES) (iesve.com) and Sefaria ing analysis tools for free at its HQ in Delft, (sefaira.com), together with solutions from while providing its software free to stuBentley (which acquired Hevacomp) and dents and universities in Holland. Autodesk (which acquired Dutch building regulations Ecotect and others). have been deeply encoded Vabi Dashboard With this competitive enviinto the core Vabi Elements ronment to crack, we did not product, so when it came to Supplier: Vabi Price: From $9.99 per month expect to hear from another producing new, internationWebsite: vabisoftware.com building analysis company ally applicable tools, it meant wanting to join the fray. starting from scratch and However, Dutch developer Vabi is applying decades of know-how to new approaching the market in a novel way, broader applications. looking to provide a broader range of Vabi has come up with a much broader design analysis tools, through low-cost suite of analysis tools with a very unique subscription, right inside the BIM design vision for application delivery, payment environment. and usage for potentially all BIM products, but concentrating on Revit first. Vabi The company has launched its new Vabi dominates in its home market of Revit add-on products as a low-cost subHolland, with 95% of the country’s building scription model (between $10-$30 a performance analysis market. Founded in month per app). These bite-size analysis 1972, it started life as part of the Dutch applications are delivered inside Revit’s Research Institution (TNO), as the centre of menu system, and within its own building Expertise on Building Service Calculations. performance dashboard to give instant 36
May / June 2015
p36_39_40_AEC_MayJune2015_Vabi_FINAL.indd 36
The Vabi BIM Building Performance Dashboard provides performance feedback for a wide range of criteria
feedback on design performance over a wide range of criteria. Over time, Vabi plans to develop scores of these applications, over a range of topic areas which can be ‘pick and mixed’ and displayed in the dashboard. It is not just a range of new applications, it is a whole ecosystem.
Dashboard The most instantly obvious benefit of the new Vabi applications is the dashboard display, which is in the Revit ribbon menu and gives ‘at a glance’ design performance information. Each application has a ‘fuel’ type indicator providing feedback on how well a design matches the criteria specified. I have seen many demonstrations from Autodesk showing what they think BIM will look like in the future, providing feedback, using on-screen dashboard feedback, for example, but this is the first time anyone has delivered such a system within Revit. It is really simple to understand and does not need explaining.
Market changes The whole design tool market is changing quite rapidly and not just the move from 2D drawing to BIM. Industry silos are coming down, with more firms opting to become multi-disciplinary and benefit from the rich data that BIM provides. Design tools are moving to cloud delivwww.AECmag.com
14/5/15 12:17:41
