Mastering Revit Structure is here!!!

November 24, 2008

"These authors are a virtual 'dream team' of Revit Structure expertise."
-- from the foreword by Nicolas Mangon, Senior Structural Business Line Manager, Autodesk, Inc
Los Angeles based structural and civil engineers Brandow & Johnston announced today that Tom Weir, Director of BIM & CAD Operations for the firm, has authored and published the first comprehensive book on the use of Autodesk Revit Structure software. Mastering Revit Structure 2009 is aimed at the structural engineer, designer, or draftsperson making the move to Building Information Modeling (BIM) and interested in developing a solid foundation in Revit Structure concepts and a mastery of the advanced techniques which unlock the full potential of the software.

Weir, the lead author, was joined in the effort by Eric Wing of C&S Companies, Jamie Richardson of Ericksen Roed & Associates, and David Harrington of Walter P. Moore. According to the publisher's synopsis, "the(se) expert authors drew on years of experience to compile a comprehensive guide to the core concepts of Revit Structure with tips, tricks and examples specific to the professional structural engineering setting". The result is an 816 page paperback volume that guides users through interface, project setup and templates, view use and management, structural elements, structural analysis, drafting, detailing and annotations, phasing, collaborating, printing and publishing, and creating custom content. Mastering Revit Structure 2009 is available on-line at www.sybex.com, other on-line book distributors, and in bookstores throughout the country.

In addition to his role with Brandow & Johnston, Tom Weir is founder and Co-Chairman of the L.A. Revit Users Group, moderates the Autodesk User Group International (AUGI) Revit Structural forum, teaches Revit Structure at Autodesk University, and wrote the first Autodesk Official Training Courseware (AOTC) for Revit Structure.

Brandow & Johnston is a national leader in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and has completed over 200 building designs using Autodesk Revit Structure software.

-Congratulations Tom and all involved with this great book...It's definitely a book for Revit Structure Users in the trenches. Congratulations also goes out to all the people who buy this because their Revit chops will surely blow up...in a good way!!! The other Co-Chairman -J

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AU Unplugged...Rock Out!!!

Here we are again on the eve (nearly) of AU2008. I am proud to tell you that with all of your help (well those who voted) 3 of the 3 sessions I submitted were voted in for AU Unplugged.

The sessions I am running are:

The Promise of BIM Wednesday 4:00 - 4:50 pm

Transition & Transform: From CAD Users to Revit Superstar Thursday 1:00 - 1:50 pm

Revit: What If??? Thursday 4:00 - 4:50 pm

These will be in the Venetian's Casanova 603, 604 & 606 Rooms... Ohhh Plush!!! I'll update this when I get the location for my sessions...they won't be hard to find though!!!

Based on last year's response to the Unplugged session I ran we are expecting great results and direction for future Revit development. ADSK will be listening (and in the rooms I believe) so these are expected to be very useful, insightful and a great place to formulate our ideas into a cohesive approach to get more and more product development based on our real-world needs...Imagine...

I hope to see all of you (who are going) in Vegas!!!

Here are a few (other) links that I think may be useful:

AU Class List

AU (Show Guide) Jams

AU Pod Casts

The Gensler AU Program (See below)

AU Blog (BLAUG)

Useful Vegas Phone Numbers

Gamblers Anonymous (Vegas)

The following is an excerpt from an ADSK Email:

"The Gensler Program!
Each year, digital design leaders from Gensler travel to Autodesk University from around the world to share, learn, and network with each other and their colleagues. This year, for the first time, Gensler will share its projects, delivery methods, and best practices with other AU 2008 attendees.

The program content is focused on design leadership and innovation within collaborative AEC teams. The digital transformation of the AEC industry demands new methods of knowledge sharing, collaboration, and process integration among designers, engineers, builders and owners. Gensler’s approach is intended to accelerate this industry transformation.

At AU 2008, all participants are invited to enroll in one or more of Gensler’s offerings.

Gensler is a global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm with 3,200 design professionals in 30 offices and projects in 70 countries. The firm’s work reflects a broad and deep commitment to sustainable design and the belief that design is a powerful strategic tool for transforming organizations and enhancing the lives of individuals and communities. Gensler has been ranked #1 among architecture and interiors firms by World Architecture, Architectural Record, Building Design & Construction, ENR, and Interior Design magazines."

Needless to say I will be involved (and have been) with some of these presentations, as are a whole bunch of us at the red G... This should be an exciting day of eye opening BIMtopianism...

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AU Unplugged!!!

Going to AU??? (you can still vote (for my sessions) even if you're not going!!!)

It seems that all 3 possible AU Unplugged sessions that I submitted are on the final list (YAAY) that has opened up for all to vote on; the results of which culminate with their inclusion into an exciting part of this December's AU!!!: AU Unplugged.

Please review my submissions (re-posted below) (ok... go to the website and vote for everyone else's submissions too (if you must)) then vote for one or all of mine if you find that they could be interesting or useful. WOW, am I modest, or what?

The link for AU Unplugged Voting is here: NOW OPEN and I encourage you to share this link with anyone you know that will be at AU (or not). Voting is limited to one entry per IP address. (so use your friends computers and home also!!! :-))

Voting will be open until November 7^th – The selected sessions will be posted to the AU website by November 12^th.

See you at AU!!!,

-J

Revit: What If??? – Jay B Zallan, VDC / Revit Leader
What if we could remake Revit from scratch? What would that look like? From a 10,000 foot view to an "on the ground" end user we can have what we want. If you have ever dreamed of transforming Revit and BIM into a truly holistic project delivery vehicle, then join us and we will work to shape the future.

The Promise of BIM – Jay B Zallan, VDC / Revit Leader
Integrated project delivery (IPD) and BIM is what the industry is moving towards. If we act now we can make the promise of a real integrated profession a reality. Calling all AEC futurists, forward thinkers and those who turn their own dreams into realities to a forum to not only be heard but to guide the future of BIM and all the tools we use. Have you ever thought how fantastically (profitably too) our practices would work if the central model was just that, a real Central Database; then no matter what tool was used it would work with the data in that one database...Revit, Maya, Photoshop, anything and everything would use the same data (well, just the parts it needs) and there would always be informational fidelity and harmony... How??? Come on by and we'll see!!!

Transition & Transformation: From CAD Users to Revit Superstars. – Jay B Zallan, VDC / Revit Leader
The transition from CAD to Revit is so much more than even the last transition we went through, which was moving from hand drawing to CAD. I believe moving to Revit is more like going from the horse-drawn carriage to flying a rocket to the moon!!! Many of us have and are still in the midst of transitioning users into Revit and BIM, and to share our insights and to gain more perspective will forward the adoption and success rates of those responsible for transitioning users, as well as the users themselves.

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Filter This!!! Selectively Selecting in Revit.

Here we go with 9MB of Filtering goodness. (You may want to click the "Play" button!!!)

Can't be easier than that, huh??? I hope it was worth the wait!!!

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I Know The Blog's Lapsed

But I will get something new in a day or two...vacation, you know.
In the mean time, check out one (or all) of these mixes from j77 If that's your musical bag.

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Revit Users and You (Sirs?)

An excerpt from an Evite for the Los Angeles Revit Users Group meeting for July: (yes, click the link if you'd like to be invited...just use the "CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE NOT:" button if you want to show up or reply, etc.)...


Tom Weir (Brandow & Johnston's own) will present "Ain't it the Pits" -a how to build an elevator pit presentation; as well as a special review of a 100% Revit Project under construction (Shhh, it's a secret Hollywood studio). Then, we will be holding a "Coordination" panel discussion with all 3 current Revit disciplines: Structure, MEP & Architecture. Bring all of your questions and comments to add to the topics we will outline. The final list of industry participants is growing but as of now Tom and I will join Jonathan West from Mazzetti & Associates and David Wilmans & Nik Muir from Gensler; we will keep you posted on others as they are confirmed. This is shaping up to be a great session that will help us all move forward in a more collaborative AEC world. See you there

Jarrod Baumann and Joel Londenberg of Design West Engineering have also been added to the panel, so we are even more excited about this meeting.

Also in the list of attendees someone (Thanks Henry!!!) asked a question so I'll answer that here since it doesn't fit the theme of the RUG but is a common question:
Q: How to host cars on ramps? A: Use a floor!!!

Ramps don't allow that. You could get into elaborate faking but I'd just say use a floor. BTW: all of my "Parking Ramps" are floor objects anyways...We want to get the areas counted with all the other slabs, right?

Ramps really should be called "Handicap Ramps" or "I'd-Rather-Have-A-Smooth-Transitional-Device-To-Get-Up & Down-Rather-Than-Having-A-Stair-Ramp-not-to-be-used-as-parking-ramps-or-roads-Ramp"" -That is their as-designed function (in Revit), everything else is just a workaround!!!

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Voting: Poll shows .026% turnout last week

It's good practice for November to vote here (look at the right of this page!!!) As of this past week the turnout is that .026%. Perhaps the candidates are not so good...

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