Today, much of the mechanical design has been completed before electrical design has barely started, practically eliminating any possibility of effective mechanical-electrical co-design. We propose an integrated MCAD-ECAD flow, harnessing generative AI to make mechanical electrical co-design a reality—to achieve optimal design and reduce turnaround time, design churn, and cost. We'll show how integration between Autodesk Fusion software and OrCAD X combined with Cadence's generative-AI printed circuit board (PCB) design solution, can transform mechanical-electrical co-design. The flow helps users achieve two seemingly contradictory goals: shift-left for mechanical and electrical engineers and shift-right for layout designers. In hours, mechanical/electrical engineers can get information like fully placed boards and thermal profiles early in design cycle, while PCB designers can start their work when the design is stable. This flow can help users reduce design cost and turnaround time, and create much more optimal designs.

Electrical analysis tools in Revit software allow engineers and designers to predict, calculate, and balance electrical loads in early design stages. By estimating anticipated electrical loads before the development of an architectural model, it's possible to more accurately rightsize electrical systems earlier in designs and create more-sustainable buildings. These powerful tools are still new and relatively unknown, so many designers and engineers are unaware of the early-stage design capabilities available. Learn how to use electrical analysis tools, including defining custom area-based load types, creating and modifying area-based loads and equipment loads, and calculating electrical loads in buildings in the earliest stages of design.

The complexity and limited accessibility of MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) data have hindered its broader use. Traditionally confined to users proficient in specialized technology like Revit software, interactive dashboards are now a more intuitive way to consume and use this data. With Autodesk Power BI Data Connector, data from traditional authoring applications can seamlessly integrate into Power BI, providing a consolidated view of key metrics. This class will explore how to create Data Exchanges and use them to build interactive dashboards through practical examples such as the Electrical Systems Dashboard for reviewing calculations, material takeoff across multiple projects analysis using the AEC Data Model API, and a Space Dashboard for senior engineers to assess thermal loads and airflow. By the end of the session, participants will learn to create visually appealing reports and dashboards that offer a single-pane view of critical metrics, KPIs, and trends.

It’s time to bring back a favorite session on managing Revit MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) systems. A key component of the Revit workflow, systems define the relationship between HVAC, piping, and electrical components, but they also provide alignment with critical data that helps progress design models toward true digital twins. In this session, we’ll begin by reviewing the analytical systems that help define the hierarchy of a system. Then we’ll cover the four-step process that creates the relationship between target and source devices, and helps with the creation of connecting geometry. We’ll also examine best practices for system families to prevent model issues, and we’ll wrap up with ways to collect and share data with external sources. This session will concurrently cover air/fluid/electrical systems in a way to help you understand how to make your systems work consistently and correctly. And you’ll get a free parting gift of a template and content to help you get started, so join us for the fast-paced and entertaining session!

In this class we will present how to define your electrical design in Revit software. We will explore the advantages of using a Building Information Modeling (BIM) model for an electrical installation, and address electrical families and connectors, electrical systems, light calculation, and documentation.

In this session, we’ll learn how to make the most of Inventor software and toolsets like AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Mechanical, and AutoCAD Plant 3D software by seamlessly connecting them. We’ll also learn about using tools like Electromechanical Link and Inventor Link to keep 2D and 3D models in sync, ensuring your designs stay updated across all platforms. And we’ll learn how Navisworks software can bring together AutoCAD Plant 3D and Inventor for smoother coordination and collaboration. Whether you’re working on electrical systems, piping layouts, or mechanical components, this session will provide you with practical tips and tricks to keep everything in sync and running smoothly across the team. Additionally, we'll learn how to generate 3D representations of 2D factory layouts using Factory Design Utilities software.

The title of this class speaks for itself. You will learn everything you need to know about Revit MEP software, focusing entirely on the electrical side. Topics will include managing your project template; creating 2D annotation symbols and electrical families; creating more efficient diagrams; using filters for your electrical systems; and laying out fixtures. We'll also look at devices and equipment, circuiting, and scheduling. We will cover techniques for achieving better coordination between disciplines (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) and making the most out of Revit MEP software, and we will discuss some best practices. We will also share with you an actual project that implemented items discussed during this lecture.

In 2019, this course received the Top Hands-On Lab for the event—and the last few years have dramatically changed how we all work and learn. The good news is that Autodesk products continue to evolve, and it's time to revisit this technical instruction course to make sure you're getting the most with your Revit MEP tools. We'll begin with an overview of energy modeling improvements and how electrical and HVAC analytical tools improve this workflow. Next, we'll examine HVAC and electrical system tips and new features to improve your engineering modeling results. You'll learn ways to manage your MEP connectors for consistent system results, and we'll close with updates on creating your schematic designs efficiently in Revit. The handouts will also include a ton of relevant data and samples beyond the class. Make sure you sign up early for this course, as it fills up quickly every time—and come have a blast with us!

Embarking on the journey to use technology to deliver electrical construction projects is both exciting and daunting. The opportunities to enhance field operations and use prefabrication are only limited to a team's imagination and ability to collaborate. In this session, James Sullivan will share his experience on this journey as a superintendent, department manager, and consulting firm owner, and help the small to mid-sized electrical contractor make the leap into the world of building information modeling (BIM) and prefabrication. Compressed schedules and the ever-increasing complexity of electrical systems means that BIM and virtual design and construction (VDC) capabilities are no longer a competitive advantage—they are a requirement for admission into the large construction market. Sharing experiences around team structures, roles and responsibilities, and integration will help attendees learn to grow their company's capabilities by using BIM/VDC workflows, and fully integrate them to augment the delivery of their projects.

This class will show you how to work programmatically with Autodesk Revit MEP software models. We will provide an overview of the entire Revit MEP API and specifically focus on the major enhancements in Revit 2013. The most important 2013 feature is the routing preference functionality. The 2013 light and light group API will also addressed. An overview of the available samples will be provided. All MEP domains including HVAC, electrical, and plumbing will be addressed. We will show how to analyze existing systems and create new MEP models from scratch. We will cover mechanical and electrical system traversal; display of system hierarchies in a tree view; components such as circuits, ducts, pipes, fittings, connectors, cable trays, and conduits; and automatic calculation and sizing based on room and space requirements. Note that prior .NET programming and Revit MEP product experience is required and that this class is not suitable for beginners.

This session will detail how to use Revit software and building information modeling (BIM) for complete load calculation with the help of API development, from power outlets to lighting fixtures and up to the main switchboard. In an underground railway station project, a total load of approximately 4,000 amps has been successfully calculated for the electrical system design. We understand there are difficulties to simultaneously use BIM for electrical engineering, 3D modeling, and 2D drawings in a single model. This case study will demonstrate it can be successfully achieved with great efficiency. We'll explore: 1. How to make smart families that are efficient and easy to use for calculation and 3D and 2D representation. 2. How to connect the circuits and pass the load upstream for the whole system, including UPS and duty-standby situations. 3. How to calculate electrical load from other disciplines, such as HVAC and Comms. 4. How to calculate electrical load from other models, e.g., electrical load from tunnel models to station model.

Many of the major design and construction firms already rely on Building Information Modeling (BIM) for data center designs in order to take advantage of 3D clash detection and the production of coordinated construction documents. However, most don't realize that those functionalities are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the usefulness of BIM models. This class will give an overview of how to utilize BIM to expedite and enhance the workflows that include computation fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling with both Simulation CFD software and 6SigmaRoom software from Future Facilities for troubleshooting and optimizing airflows; electrical-system power calculations with the suite of tools from SKM Systems Analysis, Inc.; energy analysis, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-compliance modeling, and load calculations using eQuest software or Trane's Trace700 software; and generation of automated bills of materials using Excel spreadsheets.

Revit systems help us to define the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design in several ways, but the main purpose is to understand the relationships between system equipment, such as air terminals to air handling units, or from light fixtures to panels. This lab (which has won multiple Autodesk University awards) will teach you the key steps needed to control project system settings, then demonstrate how to capitalize on (or disable) sizing and analysis tools related to the system. We'll cover creating the target-source relationship between parts, and then we'll review using the systems to improve the quality of your documentation. On top of this, you'll get a project template that already defines everything in the class, so you can take advantage of these topics immediately. The class will cover HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning), piping, and electrical items, so join us for this fast-paced, but thorough, lab-you'll be glad you did. This session will feature Revit MEP software and Revit software.

Developing a construction workflow for electrical systems in Revit software can be time consuming and inaccurate. This session will explore new tools to assist in electrical cable routing, cable selection, and construction management. You can extract intelligent data from the design model and use it to calculate exact requirements and bill of material for electrical systems. This session will also show you new tools to assist creating pull tickets, cable inventory, and installation status. Come see how electrical contractors can finally begin to use the intelligence that is built into the design model.

This class will demonstrate how using a Revit model as a single source of information for MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) engineering design, installation detailing, and fabrication data can reduce rework, increase accuracy of the model, and improve workflow efficiency of the entire design process. The class will be demonstrated from the point of view of electrical systems, but the lessons can be applied to other trades as well. Challenges this class will address include the following: 1) How to create Revit families that address the needs of all involved in the project (engineers, installers, owners, fabricators, other trades), and how to make them easy to understand and use; 2) How to maintain a balance of enough information to accomplish design goals but not add too much information that model performance is slowed or undue burden is placed on the designers; 3) How to identify opportunities for kitting and assemblies by using modeled data in Revit software. We'll also cover strategies for an iterative design workflow between engineers and installers.

This class will show enhancements for Autodesk’s Structural Precast Extension for Revit software from the German-based company IDAT. You’ll see how easily you can tag the precast assemblies. Learn a new way to create parametric reinforcement definitions inside a Revit family. With the click of a button, create real Revit reinforcement out of this definition. Create and control custom fabric sheets easily. Automate and define connections for columns, beams, and foundations with own families. For each precast element, different shop drawings can be configured and automatically created. For example, a wall can have a shop drawing for the panel itself, one for the reinforcement, and one for the electrical system. With additional programs, define the stacks for the transportation of the elements and the layout of the production tables in the factory. You’ll see how these enhancements speed up the creation of precast elements with Revit.

Change orders are frustrating and expensive. Preventable change orders are even more frustrating. For an MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) firm, uncoordinated equipment is a huge source of preventable change orders and RFIs. Revit software doesn’t natively allow users to link mechanical and electrical equipment for coordination. Coordinating mechanical and electrical requirements in an MEP design requires a lot of data to flow between team members. Historically, our firm used PDF cutsheets, spreadsheets, and emails. But this data is static and can’t take advantage of our parametric families. We’ve created a Revit add-in that displays real-time data from both disciplines, side by side. This allows us to flag problems automatically and prevent mismatches in construction documents. In this session, we’ll discuss the methodology we used to create this coordination tool, and how it prevents expensive change orders, keeps projects on schedule, and can be extended to integrate with Autodesk Forge and Microsoft Power BI.

This class will provide an overview of BIM implementation on one of the world's largest projects, the Panama Canal Third Set of Locks project which includes two massive lock facilities - one on the Atlantic side and another on the Pacific - each with three chambers and complex mechanical and electrical systems for locking Neo-Panamax vessels.BIM technology was used to manage the design and construction of this complex project.What if we started the Panama Canal Expansion today, with the dramatic advances in BIM that have occurred in only the last few years? With InfraWorks - which was not available during the planning phase - we can propose site design and road layout with GIS information. With Revit Parts - which was not available during the design phase - we can slice a model easily with sketch lines to produce the lift models for the concrete pouring sequence.With BIM 360 cloud services - also newly available - we can work better across regions and continents for design collaboration.Integrating these BIM tools with Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technologies, we can now better visualize our design during the construction process. This presentation will present a "what if" scenario, to study how the design of this mega-project would proceed today, and to propose a new design template for the future.

Revit software systems help us to define the MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) design in several ways, but the main purpose is to understand the relationships between system equipment, such as air terminals to air handling units, or from light fixture to panel. This hands-on lab will teach you the comprehensive steps needed for controlling project system settings, and then it will demonstrate how to capitalize on (or disable) sizing and analysis tools related to the system. We’ll cover creating the target-source relationship between parts, and then we’ll review using the systems to improve the quality of your documentation. On top of this, you’ll get a project template that already defines everything in the class, so you can take advantage of these topics right away. The class will cover HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning), piping, and electrical items, so come and join us for this fast-paced but thorough lab—you’ll be glad you did! This session features Revit MEP and Revit. AIA Approved

Insight is a component of Revit software offering powerful energy-modeling capabilities through all stages of design. This course will cover the use of Insight to analyze Revit models, from the very earliest conceptual stages all the way through issuing construction documents. By using these methods, attendees can achieve their Architecture 2030, B3, and even net-zero goals. Attendees will learn how to use this powerful software to predict and optimize energy use, evaluating factors affecting both architects and engineers. With Insight, it is possible to analyze a wide range of potential design choices and chart a clear course toward reducing overall energy use, designing sustainable buildings with an easy-to-use and intuitive process.