IMAGINiT Building Solutions Blog

NEW Home for the IMAGINiT Building Solutions Blog

We truly enjoy writing blog posts and sharing them. But that’s not all we do. Our new blog site lives on the IMAGINiT Resource Center. 

The IMAGINiT Resource Center offers a searchable index of our older posts, on-demand webcasts, tips and tricks, case studies, whitepapers, and more.

Content from our amazing technical team will continue! We hope you’ll join us: https://resources.imaginit.com/building-solutions-blog 

On-Demand: Licensing and Collaboration for AEC Professionals

During our session yesterday, we covered how teams can access their AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, and AEC Collections software from home, as well as ways to continue to coordinate and collaborate on designs with tools like BIM 360.

 

If you have any questions about the processes or software we discussed, please don't hesitate to reach out to your IMAGINiT representative.

Trade In and Save 20% on Autodesk Software

For a limited time, you can trade-in your qualifying* perpetual licenses and save on any eligible Autodesk software including the Industry Collections, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit, Inventor, 3ds Max, and many more. Trade-in before October 25th.

*Qualifying licenses are perpetual licenses with release year 2014 through 2019 that are not on an active maintenance plan.

 

Trade-in and save 20%

 

Ready to upgrade? Let us help! Contact us here. 

AR/VR Accessibility in AEC

By Vince Daniele

Augmented and Virtual Reality have been a hot topic recently. It seems like every week we are getting more and more calls from companies interested in hardware recommendations, training, or just general insight about AR and VR. So, I figured I’d send out a blog post to answer some FAQs:

We primarily use Revit to create our models and are interested in presenting them using VR, what are our options?

• The easiest path to VR—I’ll call it VR Lite—is to set up a camera view in Revit and use the Render in Cloud feature. If you choose the “Stereo Panorama” option, your view will be rendered in the cloud as a split 360° image that you can view from a smartphone using a cheap stereoscope (Google Cardboard) via a weblink.  The great thing about this is if you want to make quick iterations, the standard quality at 1024px doesn’t chew up any of those coveted cloud credits!
  
  
• Revit Live. With Live you can publish your models from Revit to Live (part of the AEC Collection and requires no cloud credits).  Live processes the Revit model and creates a navigable interface to explore you model.  It also supports an immersive VR experience using the HTC Vive or Oculus Rfit…more on those later.  Ultimately, this provides the user a more immersive experience to move around and explore their model, but it does require some beefy hardware.
  
  
• The long route…you can export your models from Revit to 3ds Max and then use a gaming engine like the included 3ds Interactive, Unity, or Unreal to configure your model for VR or AR. This process takes a much higher level of expertise and tends to be very time consuming.  The advantage is that you have full control of your materials and can really customize the experience with animations, sound effects, and a whole bunch of other cool stuff!

We’re interested in Revit Live for getting our models in to VR, does IMAGINiT offer a training course for that?

No, we do not offer a training course for Revit Live.  It’s a really easy process and when you go to publish your model the Revit Live plug-in inside of Revit will notify you if there are any issues that you need to correct before you “Go Live.”  I have done several demonstrations on this process and we’re more than happy to set up a lunch and learn or a quick support session for companies that are interested in Revit Live.

What are the hardware requirements for AR/VR?

The answer to this varies based on the approach that you take.  First, for a Revit Live experience, currently the only compatible headsets are the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, both of which require the user to be tethered to a computer.  Beyond just having the headset, your computer needs to be robust, specifically the GPU.  Both companies have their hardware requirements listed on their websites but here’s a quick hardware summary:

HTC Vive

Graphics Card: GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290 or better.

CPU: Intel Core i5 4590 or AMD FX 8350 or greater. (recommend i7)

RAM: 4GB or more. (recommend 8+ GB)

Video port: HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, or better.

USB port: 1 USB 2.0 or faster port.

Windows 7 SP1 or newer. (recommend Windows 10)

 

Oculus Rift:

Video Card: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD R9 290 equivalent or greater.

CPU: Intel i5-4590 equivalent or greater. (recommend i7)

Memory: 8GB+ RAM.

Video Output: Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output.

USB Ports: 3x USB 3.0 ports plus 1x USB 2.0 port.

Windows 7 SP1 64 bit or newer. (recommend Windows 10)

For an untethered experience, you could opt to go with an Oculus GO or for AR the Microsoft Hololens.  The GO is nice because it comes in at $200 for the 32GB unit and doesn’t require anything other than a smartphone to set up and configure the hardware.  The drawback is that there are a limited number of apps that allow you to publish your Revit models for viewing and those apps will come with a hefty monthly fee to host your models.  There are some free viewers that turn the GO into a real nifty stereoscope for viewing 360° panoramas, but at that point it’s still just an advanced stereoscope with a $200 price tag.  The Hololens has a lot of the same limitations but it is an augmented reality platform, so advanced experts can build environments through the Unity game engine to create augmented reality experiences using the Hololens.  In my experience, the optics with the Hololens are subpar and the field of view is very limited, but I guess that’s what you get for a self-contained, untethered unit.  Hololens comes with a hefty $3,000 price tag for the base unit.

We’ve explored our options and want to purchase a headset…we’re trying to decide between the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift, which of the two do you recommend?

This is up in the air and everyone you talk that has used both headsets will give you their own take.  However, both units have similar pros and cons but the outward facing sensory cameras on the HTC Vive, and the fact that it only requires 1 USB port (as opposed to the 3 required from the Rift), I give a slight edge to the Vive.  I have also spoken to people that specialize in VR training environments and their choice, hands-down, is currently the HTC Vive.  Do your own research and see which one will fit your use and budget best.  Also, don’t be surprised if a new solution comes out within the next year that blows both options away 😉

I only scraped the surface and answered the most frequent questions that we have been receiving.  As this technology progresses, more and more developers are releasing solutions and I don’t have the time (or insight) to write about everything out there!  I hope this post helps to clear some of the air about AR/VR accessibility in the AEC space.  Please reach out to us if you have any additional inquiries!

[Infographic] 2017 BIM and FM Gap Insights

IMAGINiT Announces Revit for Landscape Architecture Hands-On Training

IMAGINiT worked with the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) to develop a curriculum which illustrates how to create and document full 3D project models for urban environments. In the hands-on class, students learn how to create topographical surfaces and modify the topography using Autodesk Revit and Site Designer tools. By the end of the course, landscape architects understand the processes required to take models to the construction documentation phase.

Autodesk Revit software enables firms to incorporate Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows into their designs. Landscape architecture is an essential component of this workflow, but many firms aren’t familiar with Revit tools and techniques. To help landscape architecture firms adopt Revit and produce powerfully intelligent designs, IMAGINiT Technologies now offers this hands-on training both in-person and online. Tailored classes for individual firms also available.

Learn more about Autodesk Revit Fundamentals for Landscape Architecture.

2017 Insights into the BIM and FM Gap

In July 2017, IMAGINiT Technologies invited AEC and building owners to participate in its third annual survey on building information modeling (BIM) and facilities management practices. The results provide insights into the use of model data from the design, construction, and owner’s perspectives.

Survey participants report that:

• Building owners’ use of BIM data is on the rise. Although owners are utilizing BIM data more frequently, integration and data maintenance issues continue to be obstacles.
  
  
• More owners are applying technology solutions to facilities management challenges. Facilities managers appear to be turning to information systems to track space and assets. In addition, more building managers are integrating building automation and facilities management systems.
  
  
• Over the next year, new cloud adoption is expected. This includes both point clouds and cloud computing.

To learn more about what these trends mean and how data may move between systems in the future, download our complete white paper.

Industry Trends: Making Your Jobsite Safe with Augmented Reality

Headsets such as the Oculus Rift and HTC’s Vive are appearing and creating buzz in AE offices; where virtual reality (VR) is becoming the new normal in communicating design intent with both customers and consultants. VR might even become an asset in training programs, such as apprenticeships. However, there is another, potentially more effective tool appearing in safety training programs across the country. It’s called augmented reality. And it’s going to completely change the way workers interact with the chaotic environments of the typical construction jobsite.

What is Augmented Reality?
Augmented reality (AR) is a digital overlay of the real, analog world. It is different than its VR counterpart, in that with VR the user is completely immersed in the digital world. Great for marketing and maybe simulated training offsite, but a poor choice for an actual jobsite where situational awareness can mean life and death.

 Image courtesy of Daqri

AR, on the other hand, masks digital computer-generated objects on top of a screen, such as a smartphone. This application was recently made popular via the mobile game Pokemon Go. An AR app can recognize real world objects and then generate a digital image or animation that maps over them through a laptop, tablet, your smartphone, or even a wearable such as Daqri’s Smart Helmet that is currently in use by Mortenson Construction.

And if the strange visage of a connected hardhat isn’t your thing, Microsoft Hololens is currently being used to locate pipes for a New Jersey water utility.

However, augmented reality also can help construction companies avoid potential safety hazards with more customized on-site training, using the jobsite conditions before physical equipment and materials are in place. A contractor can also superimpose helpful training media in the corner of the laborer’s visor screen, providing something of a YouTube tutorial for a given detail, allowing for a better adherence to design specifications. Such training might even help prevent some of OSHA’s top 25 construction violations, further assisting construction companies in reducing risk and becoming more profitable!

In 2018 and beyond, we will be keeping a close eye on how mixed realities such as AR and VR are causing major disruptions to an industry that has historically been slow to adapt.

Living with Revit Live in Your Architectural Workflows

So. Now you’ve done it. You’ve answered the pleading calls of your children or grandchildren for this crazy concept of Virtual Reality. They’re plastering these big goggles over their eyes that make them look like they are going scuba diving in the dark, to play video games. Those big goggles, are typically going to be either Oculus Rift or HTV Vive devices. In a nutshell, these electronics allow the user to immerse themselves in a digital environment; one that only exists in a software program. Now what if I told you that you could use these same goggles to help you not only win new business in construction, but also to provide services (and possible revenue streams) that you do not currently offer. What if I told you that you didn’t have to spend years learning complex new software to achieve this new, digitized reality? You can do that now with your existing Revit work flow and a little product that we like to call Revit Live.

Revit Live is purpose built to immerse the viewer in the Revit project, even if they have no model navigation experience or have ever even seen the construction drawings of your project. Consider the architectural renderings that you are used to providing your client. They might not fully appreciate the construction drawings, but they understand the image. Now multiply that still image by the entire project environment. You have the opportunity to lead your customer down design options that they didn’t know they had. You might even gain a better understanding of spatial relationships between your Revit components in the process! With Revit Live, you aren’t just giving your customer a pretty picture. You’re giving them a memorable experience with their project!

So how does all of this work?
Live comes in two forms. The plug-in Editor for Revit is one option. With a simple button press, you can upload your project to the Live Cloud Service, where it will then become active in the Live Editor. From there, you can create your own interactive or animated walkthroughs, or simply go ahead and publish it to the Live Viewer, a free downloadable app for the PC or mobile device. Due to the size of the files, I would recommend against using it on a smart phone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Examples of interactive architectural models in the Autodesk Revit Live editing software.

The project file gets downloaded, and opened in the app by your viewer. How it gets controlled and exactly how they see it, depends on what sort of device the app is installed on. However, the basic commands carry across all platforms. Camera views can be imported, rearranged, or added to those that come straight out of Revit. Real-time solar studies can be performed using the sun positioning sliders. Also, upon selection of the element, it’s Revit properties are shown. This is single-handedly one of the best-selling points when you are communicating your material and assembly choices to customers!

It is also extremely useful for construction crews, as often the information they need is available at the touch of a finger. Literally! Imagine that your QA director or even a jobsite superintendent needs to verify what a ceiling height or angle is supposed to be. He can pull this up on his tablet, scroll to the location as though he were playing a video game, and select the ceiling. Everything he needs to know about that ceiling is right there in full context to its surrounding Revit elements. Maybe they need to know what is supposed to be in a conduit run? Done. Manufacturer’s cut sheet? Provided the manufacturer included that PDF as a property on their Revit element (and most do), that is also done. No more hunting down the correct document before walking the jobsite or coming back to the trailer to find it. Instant answers, when your construction personnel need them the most. If they have a VR station within the trailer, then any changes being made to the Revit model can be quickly viewed and the constructability confirmed by relevant personnel- as though they were testing it out with actual materials at the jobsite. Better understanding, reduction of jobsite waste, what’s not to love?

Even more, the Live Editor plugs right into Autodesk’s new gaming engine called Stingray. With Stingray, you can create interactive animations such as doors opening when you approach, vehicles operating on the jobsite, and more! Your imagination really is the only limit with it. You can even upgrade the default texture maps that Revit used to create an even more aesthetically pleasing environment. Once you are done, just toss it back into the Editor for publishing to the Viewer, and you’re ready!

With the pace of visual technology taking off within construction, you would be remiss to not give Autodesk Revit Live a try and see how it can add value to your business too!

We Want to Hear from You: 2017 BIM and FM Survey

Each year we take a step back and look at the state of connectivity between building designers, engineers construction professionals and owners. Especially when it comes to having data flow from project to maintenance. For the past few years, we've found that while projects are being worked in BIM, much of that intelligence is not making its way to owners for a variety of reasons.

But has any of that changed? Add your voice to our BIM and FM Survey. Not only will you add insight, you'll have a chance to win one of 10 $50 Amazon gift cards. But hurry - the survey closes on July 31, 2017.

Fill out the survey now.