People often think of Revit for architects and engineers who use it to test design ideas, translate conceptual designs into BIM data, optimize building efficiency, create realistic renderings, and prepare documentation with the details needed for construction teams to build the designs.
The benefits don’t end when the documents are passed from the architects to the contractors. In fact, the benefits of having Revit models of planned buildings or structures continue through the construction phase and even through the owner-operator phase.
In this blog post, we focus on Revit and the construction industry. We will address how it is used by owner-operators in a future post.
Because the BIM process automates many challenges faced by companies in the construction industry, several governments have mandated the use of BIM for government projects to save time and money through better planning, designing, and management of buildings and infrastructure. In countries where BIM is not mandated, many construction companies are choosing to implement BIM anyway, because they are watching their competitors who follow BIM processes automate activities that help them gain competitive advantages in terms of win rates and successful project completions.
Revit and the Construction Industry
Because Revit is the most popular BIM tool in the world, it is safe to say that as BIM usage spreads throughout the construction industry, the use of Revit will increase as well. Construction companies that use Revit will realize several advantages, including:
Clearer Communications with Architects
Realistic 3D models created in Revit dramatically reduce any delays caused by misunderstandings about the architect’s design. The documentation includes all the parameters and shapes of the structural elements, part details, and systems such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, which the contractors can reference throughout the construction project.
- Better Stakeholder Communications
With the integration of cloud technology, project data can be accessed from anywhere, allowing project managers to keep their teams and other stakeholders current on project status.
- Revision Management
Change happens, even when the architectural drawings have bene finalized. The client may have a new idea, supply chain issues may impact product availability, or manufacturers may make changes that need to be addressed in the design. Contractors that use Revit can make changes in the existing model, recalculate parameters, and confirm that the new designs don’t negatively impact other elements.
- Accurate Materials Lists
Ordering too much material, not ordering enough, or ordering the wrong material are common problems with construction teams that cause cost overruns, delays, and frustrated teams and clients. Construction companies that use Revit can minimize waste and reduce costs by using Revit to automatically calculate the required amount of resources and the budget.
- Stability Testing
Revit software can be used by contractors to detect structural flaws by assessing the stability of foundations, systems, fixtures, materials, and more. This pre-construction step helps confirm that an architect’s design can be successfully and safely built, potentially saving a tremendous amount of time and money.
- Clash Detection
As designs change, the risk of clashes increases. Hard clashes, when two components occupy the same space, and soft clashes, when an object encroaches into the tolerance space of another object, can create a huge amount of rework if not found until after construction has started. Revit users can easily detect clashes in designs and generate clash reports that engineers can use to fix the problems, saving time, money, and the contractor’s reputation.
Ideate Software Add-ins for Revit and the Construction Industry
We develop Revit plugins for architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operator companies around the world:
- Ideate BIMLink – Control Revit data with precision and speed
- Ideate Explorer – Audit Revit models with certainty
- Ideate Sticky – Integrate and format non-BIM data into Revit projects
- IdeateApps – Simplify everyday Revit tasks with efficiency and elegance
- Ideate StyleManager – Analyze, delete or merge non-standard Revit styles
- Ideate Automation – Run time-intensive BIM tasks silently in the background
Here are some videos with demonstrations of how to use our software for specific construction workflows:
- Leverage Revit coordinate data for VDC to bring new levels of quality control and efficiency
See three examples of how Revit coordinate data can support both pre-construction and construction tasks to improve your project’s bottom line.
- Streamline VDC Tasks
Dive deeper into methods of streamlining VDC tasks by watching the recording of this 30-minute webinar.
- Review issues with construction sequencing
Watch this four-minute video to see how a project scheduler, who doesn’t know how to use Revit, can use Ideate BIMLink to export Revit data into Excel to enter or edit data, and then import the updated data back to Revit, which can create 4D models that construction teams can review for issues and opportunities. The video includes final steps for Navisworks users.
- Get comprehensive quantity data with a 2-step quantity takeoff
Watch this three-minute video to learn how to harness the power of pivot tables and Microsoft Excel when performing quantity takeoff tasks in Revit. Also learn how to expedite the creation of a formatted quantity takeoff. The example in the video show how to use the Ideate BIMLink sample file template, created in Excel, to get comprehensive quantity data in two easy steps.
For a FULL list of Ideate BIMLink videos for Construction and Facilities, please see the following link: Ideate BIMLink for Construction and Facilities
- Keep all team members up to date on critical ancillary information
See how live-linking important Excel, Word, or PDF documents, such as work orders, safety reports, and insurance certificates can ensure your team has quick access to current information, so they can respond to requests quickly and correctly.
- Publish project PDF information on a consistent and repeatable basis
Ideate Automation is a scripting solution that is designed for use with Ideate software solutions such as Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Apps, and Ideate StyleManager. It can also be used without Ideate Software solutions to report on Family information or publish information from a series of Revit models.
Learn More
Visit www.ideatesoftware.com to learn how Ideate Software Revit plugins for architecture, engineering, construction, and owner-operators help users save time, increase model accuracy, improve deliverables, and elevate design. Give them a dry by downloading trial versions or purchasing the “get to know us” bundle for access to Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, IdeateApps, and Ideate StyleManager for six months.
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If you have any questions, reach out to us. We are here to help you understand and use our Revit plugin solutions.