Hi fellow AUGI members,
Help please!!! Our team is about to engage in a massive mixed-use project (consists of shopping center and 2 carpark bldgs.) having around 50 hectare (yes more than 5million sq ft) of total building size with the scope to utilize Revit MEP 2015. I have been involved previously with huge projects (500k sq ft below) but not a size of this new project. We are an engineering consulting team and I will be managing the MEP models in the office working with our Structure and Civil teams which will be also using Revit and Civil 3D respectively.
I have been using split MEP models from my past projects for performance reasons but those ones have smaller linked archl and strucl models, and I have had no issues dealing with it even if one MEP model had to be reached to 250mb size (max. I have tried). This new project is kind of a big challenge to me as at this stage, the archl model for the main bldg. had already used 300mb of size. That's how the architects modeled it and it's just 1 central file for the model because the sheets were in a separate .rvt file. There are 2 other multi-storey carpark bldgs. which was in a separate model having used around 50 and 40mb which will be linked also to the central model. I believe the 2 separate bldg. could be handled easily as our strategy is to model the MEP of this bldgs separately. We all know that these archl models will grow in the later stage so a good MEP model strategy should take place in the early stage.
Below is the strategy I made and sent to the architects:
Main Bldg :
1. Split the MEP model into 8 zones (each zones means 1 mep model combined and not divided by discipline for easy coordination, this is 4-storey including roof)
2. LV & Transformer Rooms (around 5-6 no's. in the bldg) each in a separate model
3. HVAC Chiller & Pump Room in a separate model
4. Cooling Tower Yard in a separate model
Carpark (2 separate bldgs.) :
1. Carpark 1 as 1 MEP model
2. Carpark 2 as 1 MEP model
Now here's my query, is there anyone have had experience of this project size to share it with me, or even if not of the same size but it would be greatly appreciate if you guys can give me some tips handling this kind of project. I am pretty sure many of you have dealt with massive projects before and I would like to hear it from your experience. Thanks in advance.
What worries me is I could not measure on how each split MEP models of the main bldg will be in terms of size considering the linked archl model is already 300mb and will become bigger later. I am aware that the size can be reduced when linking to MEP model and after removing some unnecessary objects from it but this is the first time I am linking a 300mb file. It's like 90% of the MEP model in each zone is taken up by the archl model so there's only 10% left to do to have a healthy model and avoid slowing it down.
My question in mind is should I propose to the architects to split their models too? or may be advise them to use unique zone worksets so we can turn it off the areas not needed (I am not too sure if they will agree to this but we can try)? I have checked the expansion joints of their models thinking of splitting the MEP based on that but the area coverage of some joints are too huge in size so it made me to decide and proposed for MEP zoning.
My estimated resource to work for the MEP modeling is 12-16 people and we are running 32gb machines. Resource and IT stuff wont be a problem but we don't have much time if I make mistakes later when MEP models become unworkable.
Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks again.
Kind regards,