Forums >> Revit Systems >> Technical Support >> best method of BIM coordination

zakazai

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WWHub

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Your coming a little late with your questions.... you may have already dug a hole with your process.

First - lets talk about CAD.  

1. Inserting CAD is always a bad process and exploding CAD is even worse.  Read my clean up process in this link: http://www.revitcity.com/forums.php?action=viewthread&thread_id=30238
2. If you want to import CAD to use as a background then go ahead but delete it when finished.   NEVER HIDE IT!  You may never find it again if you do.  And never do this in families either!
3. Linking CAD is better but place your links in a sperate or multiple worksets.   This will allow you to unlode this memory hog while you are working.   The unload-load worksets is an individual, uere setting and will not affect the file.

There is no reason to split up your engineering model into seperate disciplines, typically, most engineers use only one file.   Use worksets and to control what is loaded while working and view templates to control what is visible in your views.   You can sort your views by discipline or an assigned parameter to manage that area.   Obviously, your sheets will already be sorted by sheet number. 

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zakazai

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Hi

Thank you very much for your valuable advise.

what i have done now is,

1: i created a new Revit file, named as-----DWG LINK.

2: All our cad drawings are inserted to this revit file, then we link this revit to project file.

the issue is our consultant not updating and giving the Architectural and structural model. and we are MEP contractors.

so for plan view we depend cad drawings as under lay. hence we cant delete or unload it. we always need it there.

Another question, if we dont split revit project what i can do against hanging because of heavy services of multiple floors.

we have a 3B+G+4P +58 building. if i keep this as a single file, at the end may be i cant even open it.

Very much looking forward to hearing you.

thanks.

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WWHub

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I'm sorry but you are still not understanding.   The solution is worksets. 

With worksets, you can control how much of the file is loaded at any time.   We have each consultant's model linked into our file within its own workset and we have our internal Interiors elements placed in their own workset.  And as I said earlier, any linked or inserted CAD will be in their own workset.  

When you open a project, you have the option to control what worksets are loaded.   In addition, while working, you have the option to load or unload any workset.  So as an arcitect and working in my floor plans, I might have the Struct, Mech, Elect, Plumb, and Interiors worksets all unloaded so that the loaded model size is very small and easy to work with.  Site models with plants can be very large so we do keep that in a seperate linked model in its own workset.

Loaded files are user only settings and do not affect the whole project or other users.   We are NOT talking about removing links!   Don't do that unless you really want to.

Four or five years ago before computers were 64 bit and had limited memory (we had to set the 3 GB switch), we were using this project on a very large project.   Too large to have everything loaded at one time.  To print the project, we had to load the worksets needed for each portion of the project, print those affected sheets, unload those worksets and load others to print each portion. 

So, your linked CAD file is still a problem.

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archigrafix

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It's kind of a shame that Autodesk cannot handle CAD drawings in a Revit model when necessary. I am not saying that I prefer CAD to 3d objects, but in some situations it's very important to link some CAD drawings: maps, existing buildings, etc. So Revit should have no problem handling this filetypes. 

I have not yet come across a very robust way of coordinating BIM models - we are architects. I am not just talking Revit, but also IFC, since many engineers use other software plattforms: for instance Tekla. What I experience as a problem in BIM is the lack of integration / interaction between different objects in different files (for instance holes in a link perforating walls in architectural model), and lack of hierarchy / building sequence, and doubling some elements between architectural and structural models. We do most coordination checks in 3D, for instance using Tekla Bimsight (free) that is very light graphically: we do not print much, therefore we just turn on some revit links in working views.

-----------------------------------

Marc Faber

BIM Solutions Developer

goto.archi | Oslo, Norway

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zakazai

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Dear WWHub,

Your advice helped me alot in developing my career as BIM Coordinator.

Thank you very much.

Now i am going to handle another project Alone, the team is under my supervision. So i request a bit more information. following are the points to be acheived

1: Modeling Arch and structural model of Tower- It is a 5 star Hotel and we are MEP contractor

2: Each floor has 10 zones, each zone has its own MEP services, too many pipings and other services.

3: Riser coordination is an issue.

4: Alot of CAD files to be as underlay, and many revisions can be expected.

So i would like to know the real Revit Project management, i dont want any Modeler complaint me that this model hangs or takes more time to make modification.

i read somewhere that some people tells that it is better to split model when its file size is 350MB or so.

if i open workset list , it is like 3-4 pages of book, so advise me how i can easily manage worksets.

As i am coordinator, i want to access all models as one file to make changes, but if is like that i am worry about somebody delet anything from other than his services.

Current situation is, Our BIM Engineer suggests as following

1: one file as modeling, without splitting it, but manging by worksets.

2: Another Revit file only for making sheets and linking this main model file to that Revit file to create shop drawings and to add CAD files underlays.

But still my worry is about file size management, families are heavy, we have to provide equipment with details after material submittal approval,

i dont want HVAC workset items can be adjusted by an electrical modeler, but if i lock workset, then even Coordinator cant access it for easy coordination. so how to manage this one, i wish to have one item for example HVAC Duct, is only accessible for HVAC Duct modeler and the Coordinator.

What to do with the big list of worksets, how to manage it, it takes time to find worksets.

Please advise.

Thank you

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WWHub

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I don't understand why you have 3-4 pages of worksets, that seems excessve.  My recommendation for seperate CAD worksets may have caused that.   If you have a ton of CAD linked in, that in itself is a problem.  Keep it to a minimum but if you have to have a lot, consider obvious groupings.  If these are CAD details, work at getting those converted ASAP.

Our MEP consultants always have seperate files for Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Fireprotection.   One for each set of documents/trade.

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zakazai

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Thank you for your quick reply

How i arrange worksets is as following.

for example HVAC Worksets:

 1: HVAC Ground Level workset

2: HVAC First level------fifty eightth level

same like this for Electrical Power, ELV, Fire fighting, Fire Alarm, LPG, Water Supply, Drainage,

so if an ELV modeler works in project, if he switch on second floor ELV workset only, He can model faster. (again there are 10 zones in each floor and 2 to 3 people work for ELV second floor in different zones)

If i want to coordinate second floor, then i will be switching on full service second floor level worksets only.

CAD file not an issue, we dont keep it in main project as it makes errors in future. this is situation

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WWHub

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Sorry - I seem to have missed this post.

DO NOT DO WORKSETS BY LEVEL!  Absolutly no reason to ever do this.

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helenanderson

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As you work on large Revit projects and coordinate multiple disciplines, you are probably facing some common challenges. You can improve your Revit model's performance by following these suggestions and best practices.

1. Revit Worksets & Central Models

Try using Worksets within a Central Model for Revit projects instead of separating them into disciplines (HVAC, Electrical, Water Supply, etc. Using Worksets, each discipline can work within the same project file without causing performance issues. It maintains a unified model while still allowing collaboration and coordination across teams.

2. Revit Linked Models : Linked models (which are fine for larger teams) need to be managed efficiently if you want them to work.

3. Revit Model Performance Optimization : Large files can slow down performance, so it's important to optimize the Revit model

4. Error Handling and Troubleshooting Linked Models : The following things should be checked if certain links aren't loading due to errors in the attached CAD files:

File Path Issues: Ensure that all team members are able to access the correct file path for linked CAD files.

CAD File Corruption: To save a clean copy of CAD files, try saving them as a new file or using AutoCAD's EXPORTTOAUTOCAD command.

Size of Linked Files: Large, complex CAD files can cause slow performance or failures when linking. Before linking the CAD file to Revit, try to reduce its size or simplify it.

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Helen Anderson 

BIM Architect

Tejjy Inc

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