Wednesday, 20 October 2010

EnergyPlus Version 6.0 and OpenStudio for SketchUp Version 1.06 Available


This is quoting the news from the BLDG-SIM mailing list (See http://lists.onebuilding.org/listinfo.cgi/bldg-sim-onebuilding.org for information on joining this email list).


Please go to the EnergyPlus homepage to learn more and download the software.


“The latest release of the EnergyPlus building energy simulation
program, Version 6.0, is now available in versions for Windows, Linux,
and Mac operating systems. A few key new features include: significant
speed increases — up to 25-40% execution time reduction in most
simulations, life-cycle cost calculations, Transformer model, modeling
of CO2 concentrations, enhanced Green Roof (EcoRoof) model, enhanced
convection coefficients.  We have updated and extended capabilities
throughout the existing building envelope, daylighting, and HVAC
equipment and systems portions of the program.


EnergyPlus V 6.0 is available at no cost from the EnergyPlus web site:  www.energyplus.gov.


OpenStudio plugin for Google SketchUp: The OpenStudio is a free
plugin for the GoogleSketchUp 3D drawing program. The plugin makes it
easy to create and edit the building geometry in your EnergyPlus input
files. The plugin also allows you to launch EnergyPlus simulations and
view the results without leaving SketchUp.


EnergyPlus Example File Generator: A Web-based service is available
that creates and runs EnergyPlus input files for simple models of
commercial buildings. The input files (and annual results summary
files) are sent to your e-mail address as attachments. This is a pilot
project and is currently made available only as a BETA service. You can
access the service and customize the characteristics of the building
you want to model on the EnergyPlus Example File Generator Application.


The set of example input files now includes full-blown models of
typical new construction (drawn from the DOE Commercial Reference
Buildings project). Also included is a real-life Hospital sample.


What’s New in Version 6.0?


The highlights ­ improved and new features ­ are displayed by category.


General

*  Significant speed increases, up to 25-40% execution time reduction in most simulations, depending on specific features used

*  Revised reference building examples (formerly benchmark buildings)

*  New detailed 130-zone hospital baseline and low energy example files.


Datasets

*  New dataset for life cycle costing with regional U.S. fuel escalation factors.

*  Doubled number of refrigerated cases in refrigerated case data set


Input

*  Zone lists supported in most internal gains, infiltration,
ventilation, thermostat, and demand manager zone name fields to apply a
single input object to multiple zones.

*  New lookup table object allows alternate performance input format to
eliminate the need for regression analysis, can be used in place of
existing curve objects, and can create curve objects.

*  Windows and Daylighting

*  New reporting of pre-calculated hourly daylight factors.

*  Allow glazing defined with spectral data to be used with between-glass shades and blinds.

*  Window 6.3 (fenestration modeling software) will be able to export EnergyPlus IDF segments for window modeling.


Zone and Surface Models

*  New surface heat transfer convection coefficient options,
including adaptive model, many new correlations, and user-defined
equations.

*  Movable outside insulation, with transparent insulation material
(TIM) capability, added to conduction finite difference model.

*  Ecoroof model now has two moisture diffusion calculation methods – simple and advanced.

*  Natural and Mechanical Ventilation

*  New comprehensive modeling of CO2 concentrations in zone air, including internal emission sources and ventilation controls.

*  New simplified model for interactions between mechanical ventilation, infiltration and duct leakage.


HVAC

*  New separate sizing factors for heating and cooling.

*  Enhanced Fan Coil model to allow constant water-flow capacity control with multi-speed and variable-speed fan.

*  Enhanced inputs for variable volume fan minimum power rate.

*  Enhanced reheat coil sizing.

*  New component model for central fans with load-dependent power
calculations accounting for fan pressure rise variations, duct static
pressure reset, and fan, belt, motor, and VFD efficiency variations.

*  Enhanced hot water coil model with variable UA resulting in significant improvement in hot water flow rate calculations.

*  New basin heater model added to the single speed, two speed, multi speed and multi mode DX coil models.

*  New multi-cell feature added for three types of cooling towers: single speed, two-speed, and the variable speed.

*  New HVACTemplate support for heating/cooling sizing factors, VAV minimum flow rate options, VAV terminal unit controls.


Refrigeration

*  Multiple refrigeration systems can now share a single condenser.

*  Refrigeration condenser fan models enhanced and added input for minimum air flow rate.

*  Refrigeration condenser output enhanced to identify recovered energy used internally for defrost and for other purposes.


Electrical Systems

*  New transformer model for electrical power service and on-site generation.


Controls and User Functions

*  New dual-max control for VAV reheat terminal units with reverse acting damper and hot-water coil.

*  New maximum supply air temperature limit for VAV reheat terminal units.

*  New averaged setpoint managers allow control of supply temperature
and humidity ratio based on requirements of multiple zones.

*  New setpoint managers that allow control of supply air humidity
ratio of a central system serving multiple zones based on the critical
zone humidification or dehumidification requirements.

*  New All-Off equipment operation scheme option added for plant and condenser loops.

*  Weather variables added as energy management system (EMS) actuators.


Economics

*  New life cycle cost calculations.


Output

*  New reporting of EER and IEER (in addition to SEER) for DX cooling coils with air cooled condensers.

*  Enhanced SQLite output to include error file content.


Utilities

*  New EP-Launch option to run multiple simulations
simultaneously, taking advantage of multiple processors (Windows
platform only).

*  Enhanced output file access in EP-Launch (Windows platform only).

*  IDF Converter (Transition GUI) can now save intermediate versions.


Platforms

*  Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7)

*  Linux (Ubuntu 9.04 and above, Redhat 5.4 and above)

*  Mac (10.5, 10.6)

*  EnergyPlus V 6.0 has been tested on all of these platforms.

*  ParametricPreprocessor executable added to Linux and Mac distribution.

*  DElight simulations added to Linux and Mac distribution.


And many other enhancements and speed improvements throughout.


EnergyPlus Training Workshops


We will continue to offer training workshops.  For more information, please see:  http://www.gard.com/training.htm


EnergyPlus Weather Data


Weather data for more than 2000 locations worldwide are available on the EnergyPlus web site:  http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/weatherdata_about.cfm


If you know of other weather data for your country that you’d be
willing to share with the EnergyPlus user community, please contact the
development team at energyplus-support@gard.com.


EnergyPlus Helpdesk


A helpdesk system has been set up for managing
EnergyPlus user support requests. The helpdesk system includes a
download area, a knowledge base and troubleshooting area. To submit new
support requests (tickets) or search the knowledge base, please go to energyplus.helpserve.com.  You may also submit new issues, files and reply to tickets via e-mail at EnergyPlus-Support@gard.com.
This address has been linked to the helpdesk since early May 2008. 
This is the best way to get your specific EnergyPlus questions
answered.”



Sunday, 10 October 2010

FBX File Link with Revit Architecture — 3ds Max Design 2011 New Features

Receive and manage upstream design changes from Autodesk Revit Architecture software with the new FBX File Link. This intelligent handling of data helps reduce rework of visualizations in 3ds Max Design when original designs are revised and refined, supporting nonlinear decision making processes and facilitating collaborative, iterative workflows. Designers can also take advantage of new import options to group incoming materials, helping to optimize and simplify management of complex data sets.












Via Blgsim

Tuesday, 21 September 2010

Stop Motion Animation Created by an iPad

 

This film explores playful uses for the increasingly ubiquitous ‘glowing rectangles’ that inhabit the world.

We use photographic and animation techniques that were developed to draw moving 3-dimensional typography and objects with an iPad. In dark environments, we play movies on the surface of the iPad that extrude 3-d light forms as they move through the exposure. Multiple exposures with slightly different movies make up the stop-frame animation.


Monday, 13 September 2010

3ds Max/3ds Max Design 2011 Subscription New Feature: Iray Renderer

As part of the subscription advantage pack release for 3ds Max and 3ds Max design 2011 The new Iray Physically accurate renderer has been added and in this video you can get a quick overview.

Saturday, 11 September 2010

Digital Architecture hash tag on twitter is #digarchi

The Digital Architecture hash tag on twitter is #digarchi. Paper.li is a great website that organizes links shared on Twitter into an easy to read newspaper-style format. Newspapers can be created through twitter tags and I have made a digital architecture tag where all info for digital architecture can be stored via tweets. To read digital architecture newspaper and to save it to ur paper.li click HERE

Also any twitter users who want to share digital architecture links place the tag #digarchi at the end of your tweet.

Friday, 10 September 2010

HDR Video Demonstration Using Two Canon 5D mark II's




This video highlights several clips made using new High Dynamic Range (HDR) process. Video is captured on two Canon 5D mark II DSLRs, each capturing the exact same subject via a beam splitter. The cameras are configured so that they record different exposure values, e.g., one camera is overexposed, the other underexposed. After the footage has been recorded, we use a variety of HDR processing tools to combine the video from the two cameras, yielding the clips you see above.

HDR Video provides filmmakers with many exciting new opportunities. Not only can HDR video create interesting effects, it can also allow for even exposure where artificial lighting is unavailable or impractical. For example, when a subject is backlit, one camera could be set to properly expose the subject, the other the sky, resulting in video with perfect exposure throughout.

Via  sovietmontage.com.

Wednesday, 8 September 2010

Quick poché for your section cuts in Sketchup

Poché is what
architect-types call the filled-in areas of a plan or section drawing.
It denotes the parts of a building that are being cut by an imaginary
section plane. Here’s what poché sometimes looks like:

Adding a poché (fill) to your section cuts makes your model views more readable.

Plenty
of folks would like to add areas of poché to their section cuts in
SketchUp; doing so helps to make drawings more readable. Bob Pineo,
a licenced architect and überSketchupper from Virginia, just sent us a
great little video that explains his technique for adding poché to
section cut views. Check it out:



This
method involves coloring the inside faces of your walls black (or some
other color) so that they appear to have a poché applied. It’s cleverer
than using the Create Group from Slice
command, since that method is more labor-intensive and needs to be
repeated for every new section cut. Bob’s technique works even if you
move the Section Plane, which makes it a lot more flexible.

Via Google Sketchup

How do you Save Scene Materials to a .mat file in 3dsMax 2011?

How do you Save Scene Materials to a .mat file in #3dsMax 2011?: http://bit.ly/adWxZC #autodesk #3d #cad #rendering #digarchi #architectureless than a minute ago via web



Link: HERE

Thursday, 2 September 2010

Announcing Google SketchUp 8

Today is an exciting day around the SketchUp World Headquarters out here in Boulder, Colorado. We’ve just kicked off our third bi-annual “3D Basecamp” to a crowd of SketchUp-savvy folks converging on The Dairy Center
from all around the world. I’m looking forward to some great
conversations about SketchUp and 3D modeling in general over the next
few days. But that’s not our only news today...

We’ve also finished work on SketchUp 8,
the next major release of our favorite 3D modeling tool. We’ve been
heads down and working hard for most of the last year, and I’m happy to
be able to share with you the fruits of our labor.


Google SketchUp 8 includes a batch of exciting new features.
We’ve made it easier to build site context models for your projects
using our ever-growing collection of geo-data. We’ve added a new
collection of “Solid” tools for doing common additive/subtractive
modeling operations and we’ve packed out LayOut with some new features
that make it easier to document your models professionally.



Ordinarily,
those of you who use SketchUp in a language other than English have to
wait a few weeks for a version in your language. But not this
time—today, SketchUp 8 is available for download in English, French,
Spanish, Italian or German language versions. (We weren’t able to get
all our translations done in time for release today, but keep an eye on
this blog for news about SketchUp 8 in more languages soon)

As always, SketchUp Pro 8
is available for $495 from our web store. Upgrades from any previous
version of SketchUp Pro can be had from for only $95. And, of course,
we’ve still got a version of SketchUp available for free. Head on over
to our main website for all the details.

You
can be sure we’ll be talking about this release a lot over the next few
days at 3D Basecamp, but I want to make sure that those of you who
weren’t able to join us in Boulder have a chance to let us know what
you think, too. I’ve posted a new Google SketchUp Questions and Ideas series. I’m listening, and I’ll respond to as many of the top posts there as I can.

Via Google

Friday, 27 August 2010

Ecotect Analysis - Comparing Analysis Grid Results

Here is another Tip and Trick for Ecotect Analysis, this time showing how you can compare analysis results by exporting and importing the grid data:


Via Sustainable design toolbox
 

Thursday, 26 August 2010

SU Podium V2 Render Test

If you haven't heard SU podium V2 Public Beta Trial version has been released and is available to download from HERE. This Beta trial version will expire on September 15, 2010 so make sure you try it out before the trial runs out.

I thought i'll give it a go and it seems quite impressive. Below is a quick test render that I did using the new SU podium V2. All I did was chose the "exterior.pps" preset and PNG file output and hit the render button. I Placed the background in photoshop.

podium_v2_test

Click HERE to view a video on SU podium v2 intoduction

Ecotect Analysis - Modelling Shading Effect of Wall Thickness

Tutorial which covers a quick method to model the shading effect of the wall thickness when you have a model created in Ecotect or imported via gbXML:


subscribe to the YouTube channel for more videos :

Sustainable Design Toolbox YouTube Channel

Via Sustainable Design Toolbox

Friday, 20 August 2010

Creating A Final Gather Map and its Benefit: 3dsmax Mental Ray Rendering Tip

Creating a Final Gather(FG) Map is useful so you can re-use the FG map for a final render. And How to do this? Well Once you are ready to do a proper render after doing a series of test renders Just tweak your FG settings under indirect illumination to what you think is necessary to achieve a good looking render. Set your render resolution to say 640x480. Once you've done that, under indirect illumination scroll down till you find "Reuse (FG and GI disk caching)" . Under that you will see "Final Gather Map" as shown in the image below:

fg1i

In the dialogue box choose "Read FG Points Only from Existing Map Files" and click on the "..." icon to save the FG map in a directory. And then you can just click on "Generate Final Gather Map File Now". Once you have clicked this, it will generate a FG map by rendering it out.

You will see under the rendered frame window, Final Gather will be ticked and locked meaning that it is going to use a FG map to render the next image as shown below:

fg1

Once the FG map is generated, You can then change the resolution of the final render that you want to produce say 1024 x 768 because resolution doesnt matter for FG map. And then change the rest of the settings under the render frame window such as antialiasing as shown in the image below:

fg2

So, when you are creating your FG map you can make the presets lower under the rendered frame window and also render at a smaller resolution but making sure your FG settings are the best. And Once your FG map is created, you can use that same map for the same scene and create a larger resolution render and changing the presets to high quality settings that are under the rendered frame window.

By doing this it saves a lot of time as Final Gather computation can take a long time. So if you render the Final gather at a lower resolution it will be faster than rendering at a lager resolution and their is no need to render with FG at a higher resolution as it doenst really matter if you create a FG map.

Wednesday, 18 August 2010

Interior Scene Render with 3dsmax2011 and Sketchup Model

interior_1

I did a test interior render in 3dsmax 2011 and i think the result is pretty good. The model was downloaded from 3dwarehouse and I just rendered it in max with default textures that came with the sketchup model. As max 2011 can import sketchup files with materials it is really easy now to get photo realistic renders from sketch up models. However, an important feature that is missing is actually be able to manipulate the textures or add some life to the textures for instance, bump maps. The material browser in max does not show the materials in the scene imported through which is a bit of a pain and hopefully this wil be fixed in the next versions of max.

The settings that I used for the render are shown below:

step_1_under_environment_shoirtcutkey_is_8

First thing to do once camera is set up is to go to the environments tab and change to "Physically Based Lighting, Indoor Daylight". I also changed the EV value to 7 once I chose the indoor preset and did a render preview.

final_gather_settings

Image above shows the FG settings that I used. I increased the bounce to 4 and increased other settings significantly because the interior scene was coming out too dark and also because the scene does not have any artificial lighting.

other settings_below_render_frame

Lastly, In the render frame window I increased the presets for the final render. Note: Do not tick the Final Gather setting unless you are using a final gather map that you have created in a previous render.

The render took approximately 40mins in my quad core processor. Also, I did a bit of post processing with photoshop after rendering the scene.

Friday, 6 August 2010

SU Podium Version 2 Introduction

Video showing SU podium v2 features:



Plugin is still in beta stage and only version 1 uses can download the version 2.

Saturday, 31 July 2010

Ideate Explorer for Revit tool



The Ideate Explorer for Revit tool gives you an easy, intuitive and profound way to search, quantify and select elements
in a Revit model.

When having the ability to search, filter and tie up inter-relationships between 10,000+ building elements can make or break your workday, you need one simple, powerful Revit add-on to help you explore, quantify and manage your Revit building information model. Ideate Explorer for Revit® from Ideate, Inc. empowers you to do just that.

Click HERE to read More

Free 30 day trial can be downloaded from HERE

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

Great new book: SketchUp 7.1 for Architectural Visualization




SketchUp 7.1 for Architectural Visualization is a treasure trove of information about making your SketchUp models look their best. Robin emphasizes a workflow that uses powerful but affordable tools (like Kerkythea and GIMP) for photo-rendering, but he also talks about creating better animations, using other Google tools for context modeling, adding entourage, matching photos and plenty more. Every time I open the book, I get sucked into reading another incredibly useful tip. It's definitely the most productive time-passer within arm's reach of my computer.

If you're an experienced SketchUp modeler, you owe it to yourself to pick up Robin's book. Your models will thank you.

The above is to the book on Amazon; here it is on the publisher's website.

Via Google Sketchup Blog

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

AutoCAD DWG Rendering Farm with Project Neon

Rendering of interior space of an office building created using Autodesk’s Project Neon.

Autodesk Project Neon rendering of interior space showing lighting effects, created from an AutoCAD file.


Project Neon is a rendering service that offers greater productivity and a faster turnaround of photorealistic renderings by leveraging the power and compute capabilities of the cloud. Rendering is a time and hardware intensive process that translates 3D models into photorealistic images that allow the design team to optimize the results they deliver to their clients. By harnessing the power of the cloud, customers no longer you have to wait for long periods of time to generate single or multiple views of their designs, The Project Neon service eliminates the need for customers to purchase and maintain expensive hardware for their rendering needs. Providing a realistic view into designs during the entire design process delivers superior results for your customers.

It supports autocad dwg files. Hopefuly in the future it supports revit files. Checkout this video on how it works:



Via Autodesk Labs

Revit to 3dsmax using Vray workflow video

This video capture is the third and final video of the three part series covering migrating the Revit models to 3ds Max to develop the renders using V-ray:



check out my previous post for the first two videos.

Click Here for further info on the project.

Create 3D models from photographs using the web

Capturing the reality as-built for various purposes (renovation, energy analysis, add-on design, etc.) is now becoming possible using your standard digital camera thanks to advanced computer vision technologies developed by Autodesk, called Camera Factory, and now made available through Project Photofly.

Project Photofly is a technology preview of automatically converting photographs shot around an object or a scene into "Photo Scenes" using the power of cloud computing. The photographs can be shot with any standard digital camera, as long as you follow some shooting guidelines.

Download HERE

The Photo Scene Editor for Project Photofly is a small application that you download and install on your Windows computer. This application allows you to submit your photographs to the Project Photofly servers and view the Photo Scenes returned by the Project Photofly servers. You can save a Photo Scene in its native format, RZI (Autodesk ImageModeler 2009 format), or export the scene to the DWG file format.

The Photo Scene Editor executable will operate until August 1, 2011.


download and view more videos here:

Youtube Nonyoutube
Autodesk Labs: Convert Photos to 3D Models photo scene editor music lowered volume.mp4
Autodesk Labs: Tutorial 1 on Creating 3D models from Photographs photo scene editor video tutorial 1.mp4
Autodesk Labs: Tutorial 2 on Manually Stitching and Unstitching photographs from a 3D photo scene photo scene editor video tutorial 2.mp4

Via Autodesk Labs



Thursday, 22 July 2010

Photoshop Tutorial: How to add backgound image onto a rendered scene

Below is a quick tutorial I made on how to add background image onto a rendered scene in photoshop. This could be helpful to add context into ur renders and exisiting site conditions.

Basically, when you render your image out from rendering softwares such as 3dsmax or through rendering plugins within sketchup, save your image as .PNG file or .TGA file as it removes the alpha channel automatically.

However, some rendering programs such as Podium is able to save as .PNG file but not able to remove the alpha channel. Well for me it didn't work when I opened up the .png file in photoshop. Therefore, I had to remove the background manually and add a new background image as shown in the video below:



The video can be downloaded here for better quality viewing: http://www.mediafire.com/?ut82560645ea252

Saturday, 17 July 2010

3ds Max 2011 imports .skp files

3DS Max 2011 imports SketchUp (SU) files without needing any plug-ins or Connection Extension add ons.  This is most strategic for Autodesk, and I'm sure that Google is all flustered over this one.

So why is this so special?  Well, typically if you wanted to get your model from SU to 3ds Max, you would then have to have a SU Pro license to export your 3d model into either a .3ds or .obj file from SU.  But now that Max imports the .skp file straight up, this means that Max users can forgo the license for their SU software and use the free version.  Perhaps this will force Google to start charging for even the free version of SU.  But in the meantime, Autodesk has the match point.  So it will be interesting to see what happens in the future!

Via 3dsmax rendering

Revit to 3dsmax using mental ray workflow videos

here are two video presentations that show a revit presentation and the other showing the revit model imported into 3dsmax and rendered using mental ray.





Via nzdan and area

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

New and Updated SketchUp Plugins

A lot of new and updated plugins posted in the past couple of weeks. All of these are from the Sketchucation Forums.

Regular Polygon posted a new Superellipsoid plugin for drawing (you guessed it) superellipses. Also note his Sphere plugin has been updated to version 1.1, and Superellipse to 1.2.

 Thomas Thomassen released 3 new plugins:
  • Groups to Components - bulk conversion of Groups to Components.
  • SuperGlue - Quickly stick GlueTo components back to the faces they lie flush with, or use solvent to release them. Simply click and sweep across the faces and components.
  • Draw BoundingBox - Draws a box from the selected Group/Component. Skewed instances supported. 
 See all of Thom's plugins on sketchucation. He is also working on his first pay plugin for Vertex Editing.

WudWorx has release their 2nd sketchup woodworking plugin for drawing mortise and tenon joinery. Their Dovetail plugin being the first.

sahi has posted a plugin Group in Component to create a single Component from multiple copies of a Group.

FTPlus posted an exporter for T3D format. T3D is a format used by epic's 3d engines. Currently only UEd2(Unreal edit) is supported (UT99 e.g.).

Fredo posted a stand-alone script for making curved ramps called CurviShear. In addition, Fredo's beta plugin Curviloft for lofting and skinning has been updated to version 1.0b.

Didier Bur updated his popular Cloud plugin for importing and exporting point clouds in CSV format. Support has been added for DEM files, setting units, layers, and documentation. Not to mention his Ruby Library Depot has been completely updated.

TIG posted a command-line Camera plugin which includes several commands for setting Axo and Iso views.

c.plassais released a plugin for creating colored edges and dotted lines.

kyyu posted a plugin for creating slots for tabs. kyyu is a regular on the phlatforum where he writes sketchup plugins geared towards using SketchUp for 2.5D & 3D CNC design.

Finally, I posted an index of plugins on the Plugins Forum to help folks find and discover a few of the plugins which have been posted on Sketchucation.

Via sketchup plugins


Friday, 9 July 2010

100 AutoCAD tips you should know



Link

Thursday, 8 July 2010

HDR Processing Video

This is a video showing how hdr processing can be carried out:



For an extensive tutorial on how to create HDR images click HERE.

Thursday, 1 July 2010

Slicer3: Make physical site models fast on Google Skecthup

A good plugin for sketchup to create topography that can possibly be easily exported for laser cutting purposes.


Start with a terrain surface, then make it a solid (I use the Line tool) and group it.

Choosing X for "Slice Orientation" produces slices that are perpendicular to the X axis.

Specify your units in the Spacing and Thickness fields.

Entering the same value for Spacing and Thickness (and choosing Z for Slice Orientation) yields a traditional contour model.


Read More HERE

Slicer3: Make physical site models fast in #google #sketchup: http://bit.ly/aNEyam #architecture #archi #3d #pluginless than a minute ago via web



Essay on Digital Architecture

Below is an essay that I wrote on a topic based on Digital Architecture. The research focused on the question below:

The rhetoric around the digital architecture frames it as the new, as distinct and as a new way of thinking about architecture. It is often framed as being distinct from previous ways of thinking in architecture. Digital is being framed as a paradigm shift. What relationship does digital have with architectures past and its present? And what does it mean that the digital’s aim is for continual instability and change without the mark of the designer? Or is it just another style? Refer to the workings of a contemporary digital architect to support your position.

Digital Architecture Essay


View Fullscreen HERE

Saturday, 26 June 2010

Book Review: Google SketchUp for Site Design







ArchiCAD 14



Wednesday, 9 June 2010

RhinoBIM Structure Available

RhinoBIM is a suite of a number of planned plug-ins to enhance Rhino 5.0 for the Architectural, Engineering and Construction Industries. Developed by Virtual Build Technologies LLC, the first module now available is called RhinoBIM Structure, for 3D structure modeling, Clash & Clear analysis and structural analysis.

Using Rhino 5.0’s new light extrusion technology, RhinoBIM Structure builds 3D structural design elements that are much lighter in data weight significantly decreasing model size.

With the light database the Clash & Clear analysis finds errors within seconds and there is no need to export the model to another program to perform the analysis.

This work-in-progress version is nearly feature complete and the final version is expected to be released later this year.

RhinoBIM Structure Features:

  • Robust tools for adding and editing structural steel beams
  • Extensive library of steel shapes, including international standards
  • User definable steel shapes
  • Assign materials, attributes, and process treatments to each element
  • Extract data for downstream application, including structural analysis, detailing, cost estimating, scheduling, staging, and fabrication
  • Very fast Clash & Clear analysis
  • Very large model support using new Rhino 5.0 technology
Read More at blgsim

Via blgsim


Friday, 4 June 2010

Plugin: Model Function

A fairly new SketchUp plug-in has become available named the ModelFunction Plugin for SketchUp.

Model Function looks to be a set of parametric tools for defining and editing paths. From the video, it appears you can define paths, and then apply constraints to the path. Then you can associate Components to the nodes on the path.




Via sketchup plugins

Saturday, 29 May 2010

Fur Maker plugin for sketchup

Amazing new sketchup plugin that can create fur/grass:


Fur Maker is available for download for free from this thread on SketchUcation. If you think it’s as terrific as I do, leave tak2hata a note (on the thread) to thank him. Note: you have to first register to sketchucation

To install it, download the fur_en.rb and fur_lang_en.txt files from the above link and drop them in your plugins folder. If you’d prefer another language, download the relevant .txt file instead (as of today, kind volunteers have provided translations for Japanese, Spanish, French and Persian).

Fur Maker is a young script, meaning it’s only been around for a very short time. As such, there’s always a chance it’ll exhibit erratic behavior. Save early and often.

For further info visit google sketchup blog

Thursday, 20 May 2010

New Releases of Major BIM Applications Revit and ArchiCAD

Here are some highlights from the recently released / announced Versions of two of the major players in the architectural BIM field: Revit Architecture 2011 and ArchiCAD 14. See these following videos highlighting some of the interesting innovations.

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011  Sun Path Simulation

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 Conceptual Design Enhancements


Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 Workflow Enhancements

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011 User Interface Enhancements

ArchiCAD 14 New Features – Refined Model Mapping

ArchiCAD 14 New Features – Direct Link to Structural and MEP Applications

ArchiCAD 14 New Features – Next Generation Teamwork

ArchiCAD 14 New Features – Direct Import of Site-Survey Data


Via Blgsim



Wednesday, 19 May 2010

Creating an Analysis Display Style in Revit 2011

Using the recently released Solar Radiation Technology Preview, we can create or modify an analysis display style.  Additional documentation is also available in the video here.

By default, the solar radiation add-in will create an analysis display style called Solar Radiation Default.  You can access the menu under the view Properties > Analysis Display Style.  Once in the menu there are 3 tabs to modify the display style settings or create a new style; Settings, Color & Legend.

Let’s look at the Settings tab first:

The only option here is if you would like to see or hide gridlines in the analysis view:

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Next on the Color tab:

There are 2 options for the graphical display; Gradient & Ranges.  Gradient will allow you to specify colors for the max, auto and min values and blend them with a gradient display.  Ranges will allow you to add \ remove rows of color as well, using the + or – buttons, but leave the rows of color separation:

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GradientComp

The last tab is for the Legend, which by default appears in the view:

The legend should be visible in the view where the analysis display is active.

Legend 

The Legend tab will allow you to specify the display of the legend in general, along with visibility for units, name and description.  You can additionally specify the font and rounding settings:

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