Archive for June, 2009
The global integrated design firm, Perkins+Will launched the 2030 e2 Energy Estimating Tool. This free online tool was created to assist Perkins+Will’s designers in designing buildings to achieve the 2030 challenge. Specifically, 2030 e2 allows users to set target goals for four key areas: energy efficiency, green power offsets, on-site renewable energy, and grid-supplied renewable [...]
Release 4.0 now provides users with the ability to model projects in Europe with accurate European weather files. Default country-wide utility costs have been included for countries in which data from the Energy Information Administration exists. With this new release, the Green Building Studio web service introduces new add-in tools for Autodesk Revit MEP 2010 [...]
The Carbon Neutral Design Project offers a survey of currently available energy tools amongst other resources. The Carbon Neutral Design (CND) Project is a joint effort by the AIA, members of AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE), and the Society of Building Science Educators (SBSE) to produce educational and resource materials for carbon neutral design. [...]
“RevPac is a new set of productivity tools for Revit. For this initial release of RevPac the concentration will be on user interface enhancements. Later, tools to automate common tasks and streamline existing tasks will be added. Please email your suggestions to the developers as most features are going to be user driven.” This Add-on [...]
Autodesk has released a new whitepaper on the benefits of using the new conceptual design tools in Revit Architecture 2010. This white paper details how CASE Design, a design technology consultancy based in New York City, used the new conceptual design tools to more easily create massing designs, explore design alternatives, and address various environmental, [...]
“50 something architects, designers, engineers, consultants and construction professionals just attended the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Seattle Ecotect User Group. This meeting, sponsored by IMAGINiT and Callison Architecture was held at the Seattle offices of Skanska. A presentation and model sharing was given by Teresa Burrelsman of Callison, discussing the need for quick [...]
How could a butterfly inspire your next design? Opening keynote Janine Benyus presented the Biomimicry Institute’s new initiative www.AskNature.org at Living Future 09. AskNature is a searchable database of thousands of Nature’s best strategies and ideas–a valuable resource for applying biomimicry to building designs and strategies.
A database link tool is now available at Autodesk Labs: The RDBLink tool allows the user to export data from the elements in a Revit project and maintain relationships against data that exists outside of Revit. The tool allows for both import and export of the project data and will allow the user to make [...]
XL2CAD overcomes the limits and problems associated with placement of Excel spreadsheets inside Revit. It creates and maintains DXF files of named ranges in Excel that are linked in Revit. XL2CAD for Revit provides an accurate representation of the spreadsheet, including text, lines, fills, etc. It also was designed to maintain links so that changes [...]
A new release of the BIMjet Connect software was announced this week. The Connector provides a bi-directional link between Microsoft Project and Autodesk Revit platforms. Enabling Architects and Contractors to schedule complex BIM models for 4D visualization and construction scheduling. [Via BIMjet news]
