There's no doubt that Building Information Modeling (BIM) has radically changed how today's construction management and field operations function at a root level. Understanding how to best use BIM in today's complex construction projects takes a lot of work. This class will focus on how to use today's architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) BIM software in your field operations with BIM coordination, virtual design and construction (VDC) processes, field layout, and creation of as-builts. We'll focus on some advanced techniques and best practices in Revit software in order to help facilitate an easier BIM coordination process using Navisworks Manage software. We also look into how Point Layout, Total Stations, and related tools have revolutionized how trade subcontractors optimize their processes and facilitate prefabrication and installation. We'll also cover the current developments in Revit software's latest fabrication capabilities and how it is supplanting the traditional AutoCAD market share.

The largest challenge when moving from Fabrication CADmep software to Revit software is your database. Your Fabrication Database has been altered and added to for many years now. But how well will it convert to Fabrication Parts in Revit? The class will review lessons learned from assisting many MEP organizations (from all three disciplines) to successfully move. The class will review tools developed by AEC Resource and MSuite to help you evaluate and prepare your database for the conversion. The tools can help you understand which items in your database may not convert properly, why they might not convert, and how to clean up the properties in your database. The tools will tell you which parts will transition well, and what do you do with those that won’t. When do you look at Revit Families to fill the void in your database transition? Moving a project using a .MAJ export from either Fabrication CADmep or Revit means you most likely will have some errors. Tools from MSuite will help identify and locate those errors.

In this session, we’ll look at a project in the Saudi Arabian architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry based on a 2D construction contract. The case study is a health care project (540,000 m2) of 650 beds, in addition to 373 day case beds. The health care facility and research center contain 6 medical buildings (380,000 m2—oncology, dialysis, cardiology, ICU, and so on) attached together by a 58,000 m2 service tunnel to 45,000 m2. There are 2 central utilities plants, a CUP power house, a medical power house, and a medical gases building. Moreover, there is a 90,000 m2 academic and research building. Saudi Binladin Group realized that Building Information Modeling (BIM) is seen as an answer to many of the problems confronting the AEC industry. In 2012, we identified possible changes to facilitate the implementation of BIM in an unaccompanied environment. This session features Autodesk Desktop app and Navisworks Manage. AIA Approved

IQL will show how there are different ways of working/interacting with the built environment and explain the integrated project delivery: client, project manager, and main contractor being 1 team with the same goal approach. We'll explain how we developed a strategy, managed the design, and delivered from concept design to project handover using different digital technologies at different stages. This class will demonstrate how we've created a strategy and EIR for a project that will run for the next 8 years and which will attract future tenants. We’ll show this from a project management point of view: management of the design stakeholders, management of design, BIM for master planning, quantification, the use of BIM for visualisation/VR, and BIM as a product to attract tenants. From a construction management view, we'll demonstrate trade design coordination, supply chain management/education, BIM on-site, 4D sequencing and construction optimisation, and BIM use for tenant engagement.

This session will be an overview of current Revit software workflows for electrical contractors, the difficulties they present, and how the GTP electrical add-in solves them. Learn how to automate conduit scheduling and data management within Revit software to solve some of the biggest scheduling problems. See how information from estimators and engineers can be used to drive project standards. Find out about ways that the field can provide information for modeling staff, see information from the model, and ensure that the model includes changes and information requested. This session features Revit and Navisworks Manage. AIA Approved

This session will discuss how to propel your company into Revit 2017 software, exemplifying the advantages of using a singular model throughout the preconstruction process. Learn how Victaulic’s Building Information Modeling (BIM) group made the transition to Revit software to go from design intent to fabrication spools using the improved functionality of Fabrication Parts. In this session we will take a Revit design model and convert to fabrication parts, make design and coordination changes, define and detail fabrication spools, and create all construction documentation without ever leaving Revit software. Attendees will gain first access to new Revit 2017 software add-ins that streamline this process with prepopulated templates and content libraries. The session will reinforce best workflow practices, and give users the tools they need to take their businesses to the next level. This session features Revit MEP and Fabrication CADmep. AIA Approved

"Managing the risk in labor costs on a construction project is critical to the success of any contractor. Using a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) based on the model during pre-construction helps ensure thoroughness of the design and budget, and serves as an early foundation for effective cost management. This establishes benchmarks against which to measure and verify during construction. Effective labor management requires documenting and verifying against these benchmarks on what was installed and how efficiently. Construction projects can be complex and fast paced making it additionally challenging to collect accurate information about the status of a project. Through the Forge Platform, contractors can leverage BIM 360, WBS, and an integrated labor delivery process to help measure productivity. In this presentation, we will discuss how this creates a vital link between design, estimating and project management and the many benefits of including this data within the model."

AEC industry is getting heavy datafied and this trend will continue in the next years . Data science enables to extract knowledge of complex data for enhancing decision taking, along all project phases. This class will show how MEP engineers can enhance Dynamotized HVAC analysis by using machine learning techniques. So, the goal is to predict HVAC systems performance, when some of the design parameter inputs are unknown along design process. To be more specific, this class will cope with HVAC design calculations by integrating Autodesk Revit 2018 and Dynamo with Microsoft Power BI using R scripts. The machine learning technique shown will be supervised learning and an example of ventilation and heating systems analysis will be explored. Moreover, it will show best practices to gather BIM historical data and define the explanatory variables set needed to create machine learning algorithms. Machine learning skills are something that everyone can learn and that AEC industry needs.

Get familiar and up-skilled with architectural metalwork detailing using Advance Steel. In this hands-on lab you will learn how to detail a balcony unit complete with custom user sections and glazed panels. I will show all the tools in Advance Steel Revit that can be utilised for architectural metalwork detailing. As part of the lab, we will create all the required fabrication drawings and bill of materials. I will also share my tips and tricks about architectural detailing to help you produce your fabrication details

In this new digital era, "the Era of Connection," building professionals are facing a lot of challenges to digitize their processes for designing and delivering buildings. In this class, you'll get a full overview on how the products of the Architecture, Engineering & Construction Collection can be used in the most efficient and integrated way for structural engineers to meet this urge for full-process digitization. You will learn which workflows can be set up with Revit software, Advance Steel software, Robot Structural Analysis software, Dynamo, BIM 360 Design software, and BIM 360 Docs software to streamline the process from design to fabrication for steel and concrete structures. You will also learn about how the products within the AEC Collection are mapped with BIM project lifecycle phases and industry persona.

Over the past 8 or so years, BIM has seen a steady growth in its use and application across the UK. This however has been mainly restricted to 3 core disciplines relating to MEP, structures, and architecture. Something is starting to shift slowly following growing pressure for intelligent design, particularly surrounding temporary works, health and safety, and more specific detailing. The market has seen an explosion of products determined to meet these demands, but the ability to coordinate design and modelling is still lagging in areas. We are also witnessing heavy constraints being placed on designers, with existing tools falling short in terms of digital design capability, resulting in users falling back to manual design or modelling. So how is Graitec helping to tackle these challenges through the uses of design and analytical products? In this session, Product Director Joseph Pais will present the challenges facing these developments, highlighting the role software products are playing in meeting current and future challenges to the design and fabrication space. This session takes a closer look at the industry in the UK and wider market, debating how different countries have been responding to the solutions offered by Graitec. This session will be highly interactive with the audience having the opportunity to ask the presenters for their opinion on marketing trends and the role Graitec plays in addressing these.

When dealing with a large number of projects, companies often need to hire more people to handle the workload. Teaching these new employees how to click the same sets of buttons every day is tedious for the user and costly for the company. Even adopting BIM (Building Information Modeling) processes and technologies like Revit API can be insufficient and limited, which leads to production bottlenecks. In this class, we’ll learn how Forge helped Blackbird Industries to produce sets of cloud-based workflows to overcome these challenges, empowering non-Revit users to create virtually unlimited sets of models ready for fabrication and construction, from any device, at any time.

Imagine! You have youthful 20-somethings working with a 60-year-old team member on the same project. These team members work for the same employer but have very different expectations of and perspectives on the company. Many companies are facing the challenge of employing a range of 4 (soon to be 5) generations. These include The Greatest (born before 1945), baby boomers (’46-’64), Gen Xers (’65-’80), Millennials (’81-’01), and soon Generation Z (2001 onward). Millennials are emerging as the largest population in the workforce, and this has left some of the other generations wondering if we are entering ”Millennial Madness” with a dysfunctional workforce. For engineering and fabrication companies, what are the challenges to overcome, strengths to capitalize on, and paths forward for success? This presentation will present sound research, solid solutions, and a cure for Millennial Madness!

"Forge brings data at the center, enabling discipline leads and designers to manage and modify data in the cloud - within a common data environment. This class will show how to break down silos of a traditional MEP design process with static, disconnected and unstructured data that leads to inconsistent models. This is replaced by an agile design process using a web-based Forge application, which enables MEP designers to read, add and modify design specification data for MEP objects directly from the browser into BIM 360 models. Also, this class will show how MEP specification lists can be auto-generated using BIM 360, Forge APIs, and Microsoft Azure SQL database. This brings MEP designers, BIM drafters and other stakeholders together into the same ecosystem—making it easier for everyone to create a structured data model without the need for advanced skills with BIM tools such as Revit."

In this presentation, we'll highlight how using level of development (LOD) status by element helps model authors know how complete their models are. We'll also demonstrate how, at different coordination events in a project, all parties can use LOD to indicate to each other their completion of design in the project by using the LOD score as a trigger for other dependent trades to move forward with their design efforts. For example, a structural engineer can use LOD element status in his or her own structural model to know what parts of the model are still subject to change. When the structural engineer is finished with exterior columns and many of the internal columns, those confirmed elements have a LOD status of 350. However, the steel around the internal elevator shaft area will be at a LOD status of 300 because the elevator equipment hasn't been selected yet. By visualizing the LOD status at a glance, the structural engineers know where the model still needs attention.

Concluding the class presented at Autodesk University 2015, Elliott Crossley returns to discuss the construction phase of a £330 million project in the UK. This class reveals the strategy and workflows involved in integrating fabrication information back into the Building Information Model, divulging the toolbox of a multidisciplinary design team at BDP from inception to completion, challenging current technology throughout, to deliver an Asset Information Model suitable for use in building operation.

This course will look at the rapidly changing dynamics of mechanical prefabrication and the journey from the first expansion into prefabrication through expansion to new business opportunities supplying complete modular mechanical systems beyond their current geographical reach. We will explore the opportunities that have driven the change, obstacles encountered, and the technological solutions that have enabled the transformation.

In this class, we will discuss using Fabrication Parts in Revit software from Comfort Systems’ point of view. We will discuss the current state, the struggles we have encountered so far, and what we have been able to do with the API to enhance Fabrication Parts in Revit with the 2018 and 2019 release. We will show some proprietary tools we have developed to automate some processes within Revit. We will also show examples of models created using Fabrication Parts, what we can do with the data from these models, and how we are fabricating from them.

In today's fast-paced world it is becoming increasingly important to know how to utilize the design information received to create the most efficient and accurate plan for the construction of the designed systems. We'll talk about how we work with design models outside of Building Information Modeling (BIM) coordination to get more accurate information to estimators, foremen, and electricians. There will also be a brief overview of how we approach the subject of prefabrication from an electrical view.