Automating MEP design using Dynamo

Japanese firm Nihon Sekkei has utilized Revit MEP throughout the entire design (schematic and detailed design) and quantity survey phases of projects their office has undertaken. In Japan, BIM hasn’t typically been used for MEP design, but more commonly for 3D modeling and services coordination. To ensure success, Nihon Sekkei established a BIM based workflow using several means; first, Dynamo based parametric design to coordinate space and family information, which aided automatic design activities and helped engineers make more informed decisions; second, they employed custom Revit MEP tools to calculate the heat load and automatically size pipe to Japanese industry standards; and lastly, a custom Revit quantity survey plug-in, that leveraged the Revit MEP model. In Japan, quantity surveys for public buildings are produced by the design firm. To automate this process and shorten the time taken to deliver these documents, Nihon Sekkei developed a custom Revit plug-in, and added information systematically to each element to ensure outputs would meet local Japanese regulations. In this class, Nihon Sekkei team members provide an overview of their approach, including the use of Revit MEP and Dynamo for design related activities.