REVIT vs ARCHICAD
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I'm trying to steer our architectural firm into BIM. We do mostly residential & light commercial (with an emphasis on Custom luxury home).
My current workflow is 2D plans in AutoCAD and Sketchup 3D modeling for Schematic Design. After that I export the Elevations and roof plans in CAD and have my team take it from there and do Design Development, CDs... etc.
I would like to move into BIM, but still have the flexibility to work with sketchup and I was wondering if one program over the other one plays better with sketchup.
The way that I envision it (not sure if it's possible)... is doing everything in BIM but if I need a cool detail I could export it from sketchup as a dumb geometry and integrate it into Revit/ArchiCAD
Basically, I wanted to know what my fellow Sketchup user are using.
thanks!
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If you use SketchUp alot mate, try Spirit Architetcure by Softtech. It is a German based company with an international arm in the States.
http://www.softtech.com/Gary Segal is the technical director and is very helpful.
Why Spirit? It is the only CAD program as far as I know that exports directly into SketchUp and visa versa.....
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Interesting... last time i tried Spirit was maybe 15 years ago and the only thing i remember was the horrible workflow which was completely contrary to the usual routines like in acad. I didn't know that it still exists...
But this skp import/export thing sounds good - but it can't be linked and update the changed elements like Acad/Revit to Max?
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@utiler said:
If you use SketchUp alot mate, try Spirit Architetcure by Softtech. It is a German based company with an international arm in the States.
http://www.softtech.com/Gary Segal is the technical director and is very helpful.
Why Spirit? It is the only CAD program as far as I know that exports directly into SketchUp and visa versa.....
The idea is to move into BIM with a program that everyone else is using.... That would simplify coordination with engineers and when hiring new people.
Revit seems to be more mainstream than AechiCAD, so most likely we would go that route unless I get an overwhelming response here for ArchiCAD.
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Just from a coordination point of view, I detest getting CAD files from ArchiCAD. They are the grungiest 2D CAD files I ever have the displeasure of working with. All the walls are hatch blocks, and they're broken up in wall segments, nothing is to exact tolerances. Just my 2 hating cents
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I'm running in the opposite direction! I had ArchiCAD and it can be the right tool for the job depending on the type of work, but I'm generally happier modelling in SU (Pro). Unfortunately due to the total failure of LO to export anything of value in DWG format I am having to go back to a copy of AutoCAD / DraftSight, and importing xrefs from SU to be able to work with a key customer who insists on having editable DWG files. If you need DWG output then Revit may be the better of the two, but ArchiCAD can export DWG as well.
<rant>I'm yet to be convinced of the mythological Holy Grail of BIM and expert CAD systems; the first thing they do is generally restrict flexibility and creativity and then they tie you in knots chasing data input errors and looking for overrides when parts of the drawing don't connect properly. Make sure you do real world tests on any system before committing</rant>
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I coordinate with engineers all the time. I give them a full 3D export of the SU model in V10. I also give them an Acad export of my layout file in PS. Never had any issues whatsoever. In fact the Revit users rave at the simplicity compared to the architects using ACAD, due to the layer structure of my SU model.
FWIW, I do mainly high end residential work as well. I use nothing but SU & LO.
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@unknownuser said:
I also give them an Acad export of my layout file in PS.
What does this mean? Thanks!
Hey. Bet you're glad to see some snowfall.Peter
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@pbacot said:
@unknownuser said:
I also give them an Acad export of my layout file in PS.
What does this mean? Thanks!
Hey. Bet you're glad to see some snowfall.Peter
PS= Paper Space. LO let's you export either model space or paper space.
On the snow.....right now it is barely coming down. We've got next to nothing! What a bummer of a ski season so far!
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When talking about BIM you need to ask yourself what you're looking for.
Take the words "Building Information Modeling"- What does it mean? It means Information about a Building through [the interface of] a Model.
By that definition, SketchUp is BIM software.
Software companies like to confuse the issue when talking about features of their software, such as parametric modeling, room areas, scheduling, etc. They give the strong impression that anything else is not BIM. This is total deception. Don't get me wrong, these features are hugely advantageous for massive greenfield modular projects, but where one-off buildings are concerned you need to seriously question the return on investment where your platform requires you to create bespoke parametric elements for every single object in the model.
How is SketchUp BIM?
Surfaces contain area data.
Groups & Components contain volume data.
Objects can be programmed (including parametric and other features)
SU exports data to spreadsheets.
SU supports energy analysis, cost analysis
SU Pro creates construction documents (when you know how- Nick is a great exponent of this process)
There are a vast and growing number of automated plugins for ease and speed of virtual construction (e.g. 1001bit tools, Buildedge, etc.)
SU files are now accepted by Tekla BIMsight.
SU interacts very nicely with Google Earth.
There are several add-ons for rendering SU models.I don't know what your requirements are and maybe you are right to go for the above packages- but I just question the need for parametric-only software for bespoke limited/ one-off building design & construction.
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