October 27, 2016

Revit Construction Sequencing: Task Name with View Filters

A Revit model can be organized for export according to the sequence of construction. This sequence for assembly can be appended and assembled in the proper order in Navisworks Timeliner. This makes the Navisworks project scheduler’s task much easier regarding co-ordination of effort.

Since Revit lets you use custom shared parameters, such as “Task Name,” you can assign a construction sequence to Revit Categories and Parts. It also lets you apply View Filters (color overrides), allowing you to color code them according to task. Since View Filters can be turned off/on in a view, you can create views to export the construction sequence. See details in the example below. The building used in the example is from a proposal for a prefabricated house as designed by Eduardo Fernando Catalano in 1945.

Once these tasks are in Navisworks, they can be assembled within the Timeliner feature, and saved out to create a simulated construction sequence.
Color coding using View Filters to visually confirm assignment to a task
Both Revit Categories and Parts can have an assigned task. Parts are sub-divisions of a Revit Category, such as the concrete pours within a floor.

Concrete pours for a Floor
The structural construction sequence can then be simulated in Navisworks.

To learn more about how to use Revit and Navisworks for construction sequencing, please watch my accompanying video to this post.

For more information on the software solutions, training, and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.


AEC Senior Application Specialist
Jim Cowan’s extensive AEC design industry experience, Autodesk design solutions expertise, and status as an Autodesk Certified Instructor have made him a sought after university curriculum developer, instructor, and presenter. Jim’s areas of expertise include eLearning, interoperability between solutions, and overcoming barriers to the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Educated in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot–Watt University and in Landscape Architecture at the University of Manitoba, Jim has special focus on sustainability issues: daylight analysis, sun studies, lighting analysis, modeling buildings, and conceptual energy modeling (models with shading devices). You can learn more from Jim on his YouTube Channel.

October 13, 2016

Bluebeam Revu: Basics

At Ideate, we have recently made enhancements to our core curriculum and are offering several new training courses. Our goal is to always be providing our customers with more value, more options, and the assurance they will have access to continued education and support after they have taken a course with us. One of these new courses, I am very excited to announce, is Bluebeam Revu: Basics. 

Bluebeam Revu: Basics will focus on the fundamentals of Bluebeam’s award-winning PDF markup and collaboration software. As a Bluebeam Certified Instructor (BCI) and Technical Consultant (BTC), I will have the pleasure of instructing our first certified Bluebeam Course, starting this December.

As you might be aware, a large percentage of the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner (AECO) industry has adopted Bluebeam Revu as part of their PDF markup and collaboration workflows. With Bluebeam Revu, users can easily generate markups on PDF’s and collaborate with other users during live Studio Sessions. Because Bluebeam Revu saves files in PDF format, any recipient can easily open files using their own PDF software.

Our Bluebeam Certified Course will shorten the learning curve for attendees by focusing on the foundational skills needed to use Bluebeam Revu and achieve greater productivity with any project type. We will be focusing on PDF markup and collaboration workflows through the use of hands-on activities and AECO industry-based datasets. To ensure trainees are well equipped with resources after training, everyone will be given a quality workbook and datasets to take with them.

Topics for this course include the following:


• Introduction to Revu
• Overview of the Revu interface, navigation, and profiles
• The Markup Tools
• Revu Stamps
• The Tool Chest
• The Markups List
• PDF Creation
• Document Management and Setup
• Introduction to Studio
• Studio Sessions
• Studio Projects
• Additional Resources
• Next Steps
• Q & A


If you are ready to get started learning the best way to work with Bluebeam Revu for markups and collaboration, come join me this December at our San Francisco office for what should be a very compelling first class!

For more information on Ideate, Inc.’s Bluebeam Revu: Basics training course, be sure to visit the Ideate Training page.



Sash Kazeminejad
AEC Senior Application Specialist 
Sash is a registered Architect and LEED Accredited Professional who holds a Master of Architecture from Montana State University. Sash’s experience includes project management, BIM management, and design for architectural firms in California, Montana, and Oregon. In addition to being a Bluebeam Certified Instructor, Sash is As an Autodesk Certified Instructor, Sash who provides Revit Architecture training and solutions for AECO firms. @sashpdx 

October 11, 2016

Revit 2017: Reduce Duplicate Mark Warnings

Prior to Revit 2017, the Mark Value was automatically assigned to the MEP model elements.
In order to minimize the number of duplicate Mark Value warnings generated and maintained when multiple users are working on the Central File, Mark Values are no longer automatically assigned to the MEP categories listed below in Revit 2017:

• Cable Trays
• Cable Tray Fittings
• Conduits
• Conduit Fittings
• Ducts
• Duct Fittings
• Duct Placeholders
• Duct Insulations
• Duct Linings
• Flex Ducts
• Flex Pipes
• Pipes
• Pipe Fittings
• Pipe Placeholders
• Pipe Insulations
• Wires
Bottom Line: Improve performance by minimizing the number of duplicate Mark warnings.

Please watch my video tutorial Revit MEP 2017: Reduce Duplicate Mark Warnings to learn more.

For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the 
Ideate Inc. website.

Vasudha Dixit
ENI Application Specialist 
Vasudha is an MEP Application Specialist at Ideate, Inc. based on San Francisco office. She has a Master’s degree in Energy Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago where she specialized in HVAC design, green buildings and energy analysis. Prior to Ideate, she interned at a few multinational companies where she performed finite element analysis for design validation of components. Vasudha provides Revit MEP training and support for various AEC firms.

October 6, 2016

Rethink Autodesk Dynamo Studio Software with BuildingSP’s Brett Young


Do you only think of Autodesk Dynamo Studio software as a visual scripting language that can simplify API programming for the Autodesk Revit platform? If so, Brett Young, the CEO and founder of BuildingSP, would like to challenge your perception.

Brett, who holds a BS in civil and environmental engineering from UC Berkeley, has extensive experience on this subject. He gained that experience by founding and managing Modulus Consulting, a BIM consulting firm, and from spending nine years managing large commercial construction projects for Cahill Contractors.

He believes Dynamo, and tools like it, will fuel disruption in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. When talking about disruption, he says, “flat labor productivity, a growing global population, and a tough labor marketplace for AEC are just a couple of indicators that we, as an industry, are experiencing significant changes on both the demand and supply side of our marketplace.” He adds, it is unlikely an outside force will quickly disrupt the industry’s core business, because the industry is very reliant on human systems. Instead, he believes, “individual companies will learn how to dominate their regional and vertical markets using a common formula of people-driven tech and human-centered automation.”

According to Brett, this is where Dynamo Studio software comes in: “It is human-centered automation – it scales what you do, makes you more competitive, and builds tools you control.”

Read the full article on the topic from Brett, “Why Dynamo by Autodesk Is Important for AEC.” 

For more information on BuildingSP and the services they provide, visit their website.

October 4, 2016

Revit 2017: Optimize Building Performance Outcomes with Autodesk Insight 360

Autodesk Revit 2017 includes access to Insight 360 as part of your Revit subscription. Insight 360 provides Revit users with a fast, intuitive and outcomes-driven guide to better building energy and environmental performance throughout the building life-cycle.

Insight 360 integrates many exciting workflows such as Revit Energy Analysis and Lighting Analysis. 
Whether you are an architect, engineer, owner, or a building stakeholder, Autodesk Revit 2017 plus Insight 360 is a powerful guide to building energy and environmental performance.
Here is a short video on how to optimize building performance outcomes with Insight 360.

For more information on the software solutions, training and consulting Ideate provides, please visit the Ideate Inc. website.

Vasudha Dixit
ENI Application Specialist 
Vasudha is an MEP Application Specialist at Ideate, Inc. based on San Francisco office. She has a Master’s degree in Energy Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago where she specialized in HVAC design, green buildings and energy analysis. Prior to Ideate, she interned at a few multinational companies where she performed finite element analysis for design validation of components. Vasudha provides Revit MEP training and support for various AEC firms.