Google SketchUp and Synchro - Project Scheduling
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nice one. I assume to effectively use your model in Synchro you are forced to structure your SketchUp model with object oriented grouping- I like that!
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It seems a bit half hearted to me. Given the amount of computing power available nowadays, the ability to generate Sketchup displays with Javascript via the web dialog and that component attributes and their start dates and durations are identified, the truly modern way for project scheduling would be an animation of the construction or assembly process (of course store locations and distribution and hoisting routes would need to be also identified). For example,you could simulate raising brickwork with an iteration of "brickwall1.pushpull height" type thing. But the main points include better awareness of the process and detection of clashes not only in design but in distribution, hoisting and installation.
Here's a rather strange video I posted before, just to show that animation of individual sketchup components or groups along movement paths can be quite straightforward.
[flash=425,355:2mt0qysr]http://www.youtube.com/v/FmQEQr-_EoE[/flash:2mt0qysr]
and of course this is not only applicable to construction but also to any kind of assembly or activity that involves movement.
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@unknownuser said:
...the truly modern way for project scheduling would be an animation of the construction or assembly process ...
Chris, 4D is all about animating construction processes and I suspect that this is exactly what this product does, although it isn't clear from the video.
A couple of years ago ArchiCAD was pushing a new construction scheduling system called Constructor. After the subsequent sell-out to Nemetschek this product disappeared off the ArchiCAD portfolio. Apparently it was spun off as a separate operation : http://www.vicosoftware.com/Products/Constructor/tabid/46258/Default.aspx
And why is this interesting? The man in charge of Visco is Mark Sawyer, ex @Last CEO responsible for selling Sketchup to Google! This bloke is in the business of developing market share for new technologies and then selling it on to the big guns, - so watch this space.
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@toxicvoxel said:
And why is this interesting? The man in charge of Visco is Mark Sawyer, ex @Last CEO responsible for selling Sketchup to Google! This bloke is in the business of developing market share for new technologies and then selling it on to the big guns, - so watch this space.
Thanks, indeed very interesting ... see the 3.5 min video
[flash=425,355:29o0s08x]http://www.youtube.com/v/Ejkxu67jtE4[/flash:29o0s08x]
I don't want to make a big scene about the definition of animation, but it seems to me, to qualify you only need to put a Sketchup model and Primavera type scheduling tools into a single interface, and, onClick "animate" relevant parts to be hidden or "lit up."
My way is to take Sketchup models of components and actually assemble them using Javascript functionality. This means anyone can do it, attaching data to individual records for the aspect they are responsible for (see attached file). I think this is more authentic animation, more adventurous, of universal application and with greater potential; don't you think so?
Chris
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@unknownuser said:
..but it seems to me, to qualify you only need to put a Sketchup model and Primavera type scheduling tools into a single interface, and, onClick "animate" relevant parts to be hidden or "lit up."
Having been involved in the software development of one 4D software system I can tell you that things become a lot more complex than just moving and hiding elements when you start considering the complexities of many-to-many task-to-element relationships and tasks that apply to super-groups and sub-elements. And things have to be that complex before project planners will take it seriously as a system.
4D construction simulation systems while not being in mainstream use has been in development/use for at least 15 years. Navisworks e.g have had a very basic system for some time and many universities across the globe are doing research on the subject. There are actually quite a few commercial systems out there but due to the lead time required for modelling & the complexities involved in scheduling highly complex models (which typically have to be broken down into the smallest separate elements for scheduling), adoption has been slow.
Autodesk hired a 4D specialist a while back so look out for 4D simulation in future products. It fits well with their long term BIM strategy.
(http://aecnews.com/articles/1081.aspx )
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My comments were about the Synchro/Sketchup combination. Watching the video again it is very clear that the model is static, with animation confined to hiding and colour changing (no moving).
@toxicvoxel said:
... things become a lot more complex than just moving and hiding elements when you start considering the complexities ...
I think then you agree this Synchro "solution" is half-hearted and I hope you agree that a fresh, modern, non-proprietary, commercial approach to overcome the complexity is worth pursuing.
That's the main point of my posting,
Chris
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Chris, I would encourage you to persue it if you have the time. For a solution to be useful for time planning purposes it needs to integegrate with legacy project management software otherwise you potential target market will not be interrested, however 'fresh' your solution may be. Project planners will not be interrested in maintaining two data sets and will not discard traditional devices such as PERT and GANTT in favour of 4D, no matter how intuitive your data input may be.
@unknownuser said:
I think then you agree this Synchro "solution" is half-hearted
You are putting words in my mouth. I cannot comment on the merrits of Synchro without looking at it in depth, but what I do know is that the system would have gone through years of development and could hardly be described as a 'half-hearted' solution.
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