What make rendered images and walkthrough videos so important for clients?

The process of providing photorealism to architectural images and models with software solutions like 3ds Max and SketchUp etc is called rendering. That means the life-like architectural images produced by rendering artists for interiors and exteriors of a building cannot be created without the use of these 3D rendering and modeling software solutions. The concept of communicating building design to clients through architectural images existed even before the advent of rendering software products, but at that time design and construction professionals used to optimize color pencils for making them attractive. But the architectural drawing on which photorealism is produced by rendering artists through software solutions is beyond perfection.

Both architectural images (images produced through interior and exterior rendering) and walkthrough videos are very important for architects as they can easily communicate their design concept to promising buyers, real estate agents and building owners etc. I think all of us agree with the saying that ‘a picture speaks thousand words.’ That means instead of verbally describing something to people it is better that we provide a picture of it to them which can make more sense. Similarly when architects try to represent their architectural design to clients, it is appreciated if photorealistic images are presented to them. High quality rendering tools become available to rendering artists when they execute 3D rendering services with the support of 3ds Max.

But, what are those elements which are necessary for producing naturalistic or life-like effects in architectural images?  Well, this is an important question, isn’t it? Realism cannot be produced in an image until and unless we add such elements which can bring life to it. For example, if an image represents the living room of a building, then it is necessary that all the elements which are generally found there are included in it such as sofa set with centre table, flower vases and exquisite paintings etc. Apart from that a huge role is played by lighting effects, shadow effects and texture etc when it comes to providing naturalistic effects in 2D architectural drawings. 

So with the support of photorealistic Architectural BIM Services walkthrough videos, AEC professionals can represent the building design to potential buyers in the most appropriate manner.

What is the prime goal of clash detection process?

For the identification of field conflicts and physical conflicts between the elements of architecture, structure and MEP, Architecture, Engineering and Construction professionals have to take the support of clash detection process. In other words the main goal of clash detection process is to figure out the physical collisions between multidiscipline design elements and the time based conflicts which are determined by AEC professionals on the actual location.

Clash Detection Services basically performed before executing 3D coordination in Revit. Now you may think that why is it important to perform clash detection before executing 3D BIM coordination. Well, clashes are identified prior to coordination so that when multidiscipline models are combined in Revit, their elements do not overlap each other. So we can say that by performing clash detection process in Navisworks, it becomes easier for design and construction professionals to coordinate architectural, structural and MEP models in 3D modeling and building design software Revit.

All the major design and time based conflicts are successfully eliminated by design and construction professionals through clash detection before the actual field work starts. The elimination of design and time based clashes help in reducing rework, improve onsite safety, minimizes wastage and finally curtails the project cost to a significant extent.  Due to the eradication of clashes in design and scheduling, AEC professionals can reduce the construction time to a great extent. This has a very positive impact or result on the productivity of architects, structural engineers, MEP engineers, general contractors etc. Since all the errors and conflicts from the design are effectively located and resolved, it can bring great efficiency during fabrication of building components. Increased on-field productivity is the direct benefit of clash detection process.  The productivity of design and construction professionals cannot be reinforced without identifying and sorting out different kinds of clashes.

The reduced cost of construction project is a big achievement for general contractors and owners. The composite building model which is developed after resolving clashes is capable of producing accurate as-built drawings for different building trades. 

Who all are the actual beneficiaries of BIM?

The main reason for implementing Building Information Modeling in construction business is because it provides sufficient benefits to architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, plumbing engineers, contractors, owners and fabricators etc. There are a lot of people who still think that Building Information Modeling is all about constructing 3D parametric models for architecture, structure and MEP, but their understanding about BIM is far from reality. Their understanding about this dynamic concept (BIM) does not represent its problem solving capacity adequately which is eventually the digital representation of entire information associated to construction project.

All the physical and functional characteristics of a facility are adequately portrayed by 3D multidiscipline models. For example chief architect can provide entire information associated to architectural framework to building owners and contractors through 3D architectural model. On the other hand if structural engineers and MEP engineers want to provide comprehensive design information to fabricators about architectural and MEP BIM Services design they can easily provide them with relevant parametric models. With the assistance of structural and MEP models fabricators can obtain detailed design information about the components of these models which is essential for them during the fabrication process.

For construction professionals BIM models can provide complete information whatever is required by them for developing a building. Architects and engineers can easily foresee all the complications and challenges which can be faced by them when they begin with actual construction work with the help of BIM models which are created in Revit. Complications and challenges can be identified by AEC professionals with the collective evaluation, assessment and review of 3D, 4D, 5D and 6D BIM models. The potential construction challenges which are identified by design and construction professionals after reviewing BIM models can be easily controlled by them by implementing changes in design, strategy and equipments etc. In this way architects, engineers and contractors can receive substantial benefits from Building Information Models. Similarly accurate BIM models from which design problems are sorted out help in flawless construction which saves time and money and building owners are direct beneficiaries of that. In this way all the people who are connected with AEC industry are significantly benefited by BIM. 

How is steel detailing process significant for the durability of the building?

For the development of highly durable buildings and structures it is crucial that the design developed for them fulfills all design criteria effectively. Effective building design and its appropriate construction results into the development of high performing and durable buildings. Structural BIM Services design remains an important part when it comes to the development of highly load resistant and durable buildings. Steel detailing which a crucial aspect of structural engineering process plays an important part in the development of strong and durable buildings.

Durability of any building lies on the fact that its structural framework should be highly capable of resisting all kinds of applied loads. Load resistance is not enough its appropriate transmission is also important when it comes to analyzing the strength and robustness of the building in question. And for the achievement of these things it is important that steel members such as columns, beams, joists and trusses are effectively designed and fabricated. That means once the design is completed, design and construction professionals must generate detailed drawings for steel parts which can be utilized by manufacturers for their fabrication.

The drawings which are generated by steel detailers for the optimization of manufacturers are called fabrication/shop drawings and they incorporate fabrication related details in a very organized form. Complete details about the shape, size and dimensions of steel parts are incorporated in fabrication drawings which are produced by detailers with the close support of contractors, structural engineers and architects. Same process is applied when detailers create detailed erection drawings which are used steel erectors when they start assembling steel parts during structural installation. Durability of the building can only be assured if effective design is created for it, when its components are manufactured properly and finally when they are effectively installed.

For performing steel detailing it is mandatory that required steel detailing standards are utilized during the process. American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), World Steel Association, British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) and Canadian Institute of steel construction (CISC) are some of the important international organizations which have developed important steel detailing standards that are used worldwide. 

What process is implemented for the insertion of laser scanned data in Revit?

The technical term which is used by international Architectural, Engineering and Construction fraternity for 3D laser scanned data is point cloud data. The point cloud data becomes available to design and construction professionals after the application of laser scanning process which is extensively implemented for acquiring accurate building geometry and dimensions of the as-built building. For the effective accomplishment of renovation, contribution of 3D laser scanners is unforgettable since without them geometrical information and building dimensions cannot be captured.

Once the entire building is fully scanned, multiple scans which are captured throughout the process are clubbed together with a highly constructive intension of acquiring detailed design information of the surviving building. Once that motive is fully accomplished the scanned data is provided to AEC professionals (architects, engineers and modelers) for the creation of parametric Building Information Modeling for multidiscipline building systems such as architecture, structure and MEP. But the raw point cloud data cannot be inserted as it is in Revit so it is important that indexing and scaling is done for it which coverts it into effectual file formats. The file formats which are produced by Revit after performing indexing for 3D laser scanned data are .rcp and .rcs file formats.

 Design and construction professionals find no obstacles when it comes to linking these files in Revit projects and hence they can effectively refer geometrical information of the surviving building in 3D.  With the reference of 3D geometrical information about the existing building through point cloud files it becomes significantly easy for design and construction professionals to construct multidiscipline 3D models.  For referring as-built information point cloud files must be inserted appropriately in Revit projects. For inserting them users are required to click point cloud icon in the Link panel which can be accessed by going to Insert tab.  

After this for determining which file to link in Revit, users are needed to navigate to the folder which holds the files and then select it. If the appropriate point cloud file is selected by users they should next be selecting accurate positioning option for it. After the selection of positioning option, users should click OK, which results into the placement of the linked geometry in the specified location in Revit project.