Voyansi Voices Blog

Revit “Programming Techniques”

In our previous discussion on the Revit API, we reviewed the concept of using the Revit API to craft a plugin to extend the out-of-the-box functionality within Revit. Conceptually speaking, the Revit API is a library of definitions and protocols that can be interacted with through a programming operation to create a capability within Revit. Once one understands the basic premise of creating a Revit plugin, the logical next step is to consider the methods available to undertake the actual “programming” of the plugin.

The majority of applications for the AECO (Architecture, engineering, construction, operation) industry are desktop applications (primarily MS Windows© based).  These applications tend to be expensive in cost, especially so today with ‘subscription’ modes of licensing becoming more common. 

Design often starts with a glimpse of the conceptual end vision. It will go through many iterations of growth and change and gradually incorporate layers of information, such as the environment, code, programs, material, structure, budget…but at the beginning, before everything is settled and tracked down to the granular details of every screw and sealant bead of a window sill, as can be done in a BIM model, designers tend to prefer tools/software with flexibility and more freedom that allows them to apply and visualize their creativity before everything is fed to detailed engineering.

The term API is an abbreviation for Application Programming Interface. It is a set of definitions and protocols used to develop and integrate application software, allowing communication between two software applications through a set of rules.

As a Designer in the AEC/BIM arena, you often hear about needs such as increasing automation, workflow improvement, reducing repetitive and time-consuming tasks, and preventing human error. On the technology front, much of the time Dynamo is the tool that is turned to in order to address those needs.

Voyansi and BIM Services

Picture this scenario:  You are one of the largest companies in the wood and engineering industry and you want to become more efficient by speeding up your processes. This means redefining practically all of your workflows to fit new demands. They know it's one of those jobs where there's much to be gained if done right, yet much to lose if the results do not meet expectation.

This was the scenario facing RedBuilt and they turned to Voyansi to ensure the project was a success. 

I believe that humans, like plants and other animals, need time to get used to new environments. Understanding them, familiarizing themselves with their characteristics and peculiarities, is the first step. Of course, this applies to any change you face in your life: From moving to another city, to becoming a new Revit user.

Not so long ago, coordination between team members was a major issue. Not only everyone had to adjust their schedules, but also be fully aware of the project’s latest updates and modifications. This often led to confusion, lots of hours spent in old versions of a project, and the worst part: shuffling of deadlines.

Luckily, the scenario has changed. You know about BIM360 and other cloud collaboration platforms. We all know that cloud collaboration is here to make our life easier, especially in a post-pandemic world where many employees will work from home. But what if your organization is smaller, or does not have the budget to pay for high-cost licenses? 

Last year, many of our clients and our company changed the way we worked. For our larger clients already using Bim360, there was not much of a shift other than the space's employees were collaborating from. The software allows models to be collaborated on, simultaneously, by many team members, in real-time. Changes, suggestions, and improvements no longer take long periods of time. They can be discussed and implemented in minutes, and of course, this means quicker project delivery.

As my first piece of advice, the key to success in any training program is to balance and give importance to organization and methodology along with technical and practical training content. 

Ideally, your staff training should be thought of as a program rather than an isolated one-time event. Your program should contain specific objectives that your training program aims to achieve. 

For this reason, I’m dividing these ten tips into five generic ones (tips that apply to all training programs) and five specific to Revit.

I saw a post on a forum the other day of an architect who sent a marked-up drawing as part of a CAD to BIM project. It was a relatively small structure that was being modeled. Maybe 1500 square feet. This got me thinking, why did they not just bother to go out and scan the structure? Laser scanning 10 years ago may have seemed exotic. Today it’s commonplace enough that I have a small lidar scanner in my phone. I use it to measure things in my house or create simple 3d models. 

Maybe the architect in question was simply unfamiliar with reality capture technology, so I decided to write this post explaining the concept for those new to this way of working. Before you jump in, it’s essential to understand two key concepts: Point Clouds and Survey Points are central to working with BIM (no wonder why reality capture services are so important to us). If you are just getting familiar with reality capture technology this is an essential concept to understand.