How big is your....? Survey!

[Shaun v Rooyen]

I have been reviting since R4.0. I am still not convinced we are at full effective production.
I feel isolated in terms of the methodologies we have adopted here at the practice, and the possible methods that are better, being used out there.

We work on big projects, 12 000sqm (130 000sqft) and upwards. We have succesfully completed 4 of these large projects and are still busy with 4 more. The largest is just shy of 30 000sqm (330 000sqft) There are 11 Revit users in the office.
There are certain issues that I am experiencing and was wondering how the rest of you are coping. I have set up a survey questionnaire, which I was hoping some of you would take the time to complete. Hopefully the answers would give me a better understanding as to the scope of things we are dealing with and if we are dealing with them correctly. We could possibly all learn from this. Your time would greatly be appreciated!


1. How long have you been using Autodesk Revit?
2. Do you make use of any project planning exercise in assessing the best methods available?
3. Do you use the expertise of any implementation specialist, in aiding you to assess these methods
4. What is the size in area of your biggest project?
5. What is the file size of this project?
5a. How many projects have you completed using Revit?
6. Do find the hardware and OS solutions available, restrictive and insufficient, in allowing you to really document the project.
7. How many team members are on the project?
8. What are the defined roles of the team members?
9. Are these roles sufficient and or efficient? What would you change?
10. What percentage of the documentation is done using CAD?
11. If documented in Revit, what percentage of detail components and 2d is used?
12. Do you limit the amount of modeling and complex 3d families in the project, according to what’s needed for sufficient construction documentation detail?
13. To what extent do you use detail components intelligently in your families?
14. Do you base the level of project construction documentation, on project fees/brief, or do you always work to the same standard regardless of fee structure? Do you sacrifice profit for office standards.
15. How do you deal with team members wanting to work simultaneously off site (possibly at home after office hours) on a central file with worksets?
16. Have you attempted this and have you been successful when saving to the central file.
17. In what way does teamwork using central files and worksets affect your productivity?
18. What collaboration solutions besides email are you using with individual consulting engineers and other project members.
19. Are any of your consultants using Autodesk Revit.? Does this ease the transfer of documentation, and does this eliminate errors in the process.
20. If your consulting engineers and other project members are using Autodesk Revit, have you seen a definite improvement in the timing of work flow and the quality of deliverables?

Additional comments:


“What is this, 20 questions?” You might ask. Well I have plenty more, but this would be sufficient for now.
Please be as honest and serious about this survey as possible. We could all benefit from this. I know I would like to.

Thanks for your time!

[Mike Hardy-Brown]

Hey Zeds,

Following our chat a bit earlier her is my $0.02:


I was on Revit from late V5, so quite a while now.

With working more on implementing Revit at most of our larger firms here, I am exposed to extreme various sized projects.

These range from 100m² to 15000m² +

My most recent adaptation of the standard “cast in stone” architectural practice where hierarchical problems always arise (This also includes the very easily bruised egos), is to rather diversify the roles that members would play.You will always have the spark in the office that gets it, understands it, lives it on the top end of the scale compared to the grouch that won’t change.

The spark will always jump at the opportunity of changing practices and ideas.

But what happens with 2 sparks in 1 office!!!!



I have found that it is quite useful to diversify talents in a practice.

So for example, (Questions 8& 9)

On a typical team size of about 5 or 6 to complete a project of about 12000m² you would need



Project Leader
(This person would typically lead the project in terms of client meetings, debriefing staff on any design changes etc)



Bulk Modeler
This does not mean that only one person has to do all of the modeling, rather that one person is responsible for the bulk modeling.

The bulk modeler would typically liaise with the Project Leader.

The “sub bulk modelers” could also own various other responsibilities listed below.



Family Creator
Responsible for the output of families, templates, standards.

An added function here should be for this person to always investigate faster, better methods for your office (i.e. OFFICE SPECIFIC BEST PRACTICES.)

Usually under instruction of the Tester.



Tester
The tester plays quite an important role.

The Family Creator will give the Tester a custom type family, with little explanation on how to use it, but rather that it meets the expectations the Tester asked for initially.

The tester will also be responsible for testing the model, typically changing elements, error reporting, element conflicts etc.



Detailer
This needs to be the person in the office with not necessarily the best Revit skills, but rather the best understanding of the project and Architecture in general.

The detailer would typically open the file check accuracy of sections, details layouts etc.



If you have a team working in a cyclical pattern and constantly communicating, the project is held at the centre and completed accurately and quickly.

….and now the cruncher,

Once this has successfully worked on at least 2 projects with the same team, split the team to successfully implement further teams in your office.



(To answer Q3) It is often advisable to get an outsider’s impartial opinion of a situation. Sometimes it wouldn’t necessarily be a Revit implementation specialist; (although in most cases it helps) you may opt for an office consultant to possibly stir things up.

REMEMBER…….A CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A HOLIDAY

[Shaun v Rooyen]

Hey Zeds,...


REMEMBER…….A CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A HOLIDAY

"IT IS IN CHANGE, WE FIND PURPOSE"

[Mike Hardy-Brown]

"IT IS IN CHANGE, WE FIND PURPOSE"The purpose of life is a life of purpose.....Robert Byrne
:) :) :)

[dbaldacchino]

1. How long have you been using Autodesk Revit?
Started looking into it about 8 months ago, been working on a project with it since 3rd January 2006.

2. Do you make use of any project planning exercise in assessing the best methods available?
I've just been taking it a small chunck at a time. I use our current workflow, observe what works and what doesn't or what Revit would/should enable me to do better and use that as a guide to develop methodology. Since we have in-house engineers, our main goal is to improve coordination and improve workflow in the structural discipline, especially in using analysis software. For the architectural discipline, we are shooting also for better coordination, less issues in CA etc. Ultimately we're looking into improving the quality of our projects by spending more time working on what really matters rather than the manual drafting tasks.

3. Do you use the expertise of any implementation specialist, in aiding you to assess these methods
No.

4. What is the size in area of your biggest project?
Only one project in Revit so far (current project) - 173,000SF. Largest projects for us are in the 300,000-450,000 SF

5. What is the file size of this project?
I'm still early in the process and very few views and sheets have been set up. Current file size 21-22MB and includes 2 story building, all walls and rooms in it together with roofs, floors and some doors and curtainwalls, room finish schedules, some sheets, linked site plan, raster sketches.

5a. How many projects have you completed using Revit?
None yet.

6. Do find the hardware and OS solutions available, restrictive and insufficient, in allowing you to really document the project.
At work I traded my 3.2Ghz Desktop with 2GB ram for a Laptop with 2.26MHz Pentium M (Centrino), 256MB ATI display, 2GB Ram. I find it as fast as a desktop and don't have performance issues as of yet, no worksets are enabled at the moment. I have some shaded elevations/sections with shadows enabled and I'm quite impressed with the speed with which they regenerate. Having said that, speed is never enouvgh :)

7. How many team members are on the project?
Myself and an engineer on RS at the moment. We'll soon have to bring in more people and bring them up to speed.

8. What are the defined roles of the team members?
They'll be structural drafters/designers, arch. interns.

9. Are these roles sufficient and or efficient? What would you change?
Need more design oriented people with Revit skills.

10. What percentage of the documentation is done using CAD?
Shooting for zero....only a site plan at the moment since I needed some help to meet a deadline and they have never used Revit.

11. If documented in Revit, what percentage of detail components and 2d is used?
N/A

12. Do you limit the amount of modeling and complex 3d families in the project, according to what’s needed for sufficient construction documentation detail?
I model only what's necessary for documentation (I don't model what can be achieved with a few lines on a detail, only those items that impact coordination with other trades and need to show up in section) and visualization.

13. To what extent do you use detail components intelligently in your families?
N/A yet. Only created a detail component as a guide to help me split the buildings in areas on sheets.

14. Do you base the level of project construction documentation, on project fees/brief, or do you always work to the same standard regardless of fee structure? Do you sacrifice profit for office standards.
We do what it takes to get the project done. Visualization up to now was only done on a fee basis if the client asks for it. We have a hard time ensuring people use office "standards" as sometimes they are poorly implemented. I'm developing the templates as I go on this project and I know it'll take time to get them up to speed. They'll need constant development and improvement.

15. How do you deal with team members wanting to work simultaneously off site (possibly at home after office hours) on a central file with worksets?
Don't have this problem yet and don't anticipate it to be one. We have VPN and that should take care of this problem if people want to work off-site.

16. Have you attempted this and have you been successful when saving to the central file.
Not yet.

17. In what way does teamwork using central files and worksets affect your productivity?
From what I can see, in 8.1 the workflow has been improved significantly and don't anticipate major problems or dilemmas over quantity of worksets since they're really needed mainly for visibility now.

18. What collaboration solutions besides email are you using with individual consulting engineers and other project members.
FTP for outside consultants...and FAX of course :) We have Centric Project (formerly Active Project) but we don't really use it...perhaps occasionally by a few members. Internally we also use Windows Messanger, which is awesome for remote control to help other members in remote locations.

19. Are any of your consultants using Autodesk Revit.? Does this ease the transfer of documentation, and does this eliminate errors in the process.
MEP not yet but I'm starting to mention it to our management that we need them to move forward and work in 3D too.

20. If your consulting engineers and other project members are using Autodesk Revit, have you seen a definite improvement in the timing of work flow and the quality of deliverables?
Just a few color prints of views is enough to show that quality of DD deliverables is going to sky rocket. Accuracy will improve too and standards are much easier to manage.

[tc3dcad60731]

1. How long have you been using Autodesk Revit? About 6-9 months

2. Do you make use of any project planning exercise in assessing the best methods available? Truthfully depends on the size and complexity of the job

3. Do you use the expertise of any implementation specialist, in aiding you to assess these methods? NO

4. What is the size in area of your biggest project? Seperate buildings / structures in same project - about 5000 sqft total though

5. What is the file size of this project? 60mb

5a. How many projects have you completed using Revit? 4?

6. Do find the hardware and OS solutions available, restrictive and insufficient, in allowing you to really document the project. NO

7. How many team members are on the project? 1

8. What are the defined roles of the team members?
9. Are these roles sufficient and or efficient? What would you change?

10. What percentage of the documentation is done using CAD? 90%

11. If documented in Revit, what percentage of detail components and 2d is used? About 80% in views and 20% in notes not specifically associated with a view

12. Do you limit the amount of modeling and complex 3d families in the project, according to what’s needed for sufficient construction documentation detail? Not yet because we have been getting down to the small details for having to do presentations

13. To what extent do you use detail components intelligently in your families? Have not gotten totally into families

14. Do you base the level of project construction documentation, on project fees/brief, or do you always work to the same standard regardless of fee structure? Do you sacrifice profit for office standards. We base our fees on the complexity of the projects and we NEVER sacrifice details, quality, etc due to fees.

15. How do you deal with team members wanting to work simultaneously off site (possibly at home after office hours) on a central file with worksets?
16. Have you attempted this and have you been successful when saving to the central file.
17. In what way does teamwork using central files and worksets affect your productivity?

18. What collaboration solutions besides email are you using with individual consulting engineers and other project members. E-mail them the dwf files and exported dwgs along with office visit when needed.

19. Are any of your consultants using Autodesk Revit.? Does this ease the transfer of documentation, and does this eliminate errors in the process. No, and I am trying to get them to move to Revit Structure.

20. If your consulting engineers and other project members are using Autodesk Revit, have you seen a definite improvement in the timing of work flow and the quality of deliverables?

Items not answered are not applicable

[Wes Macaulay]

This is in regards to the current team I'm working with...

1. How long have you been using Autodesk Revit?
Since Revit 4, tried it at R1 and R2 and said no way ;-)

2. Do you make use of any project planning exercise in assessing the best methods available?
Tough question in some ways; but generally we know if the project is going to be large and linked files are going to be part of the equation. We try to avoid splitting the file later.

3. Do you use the expertise of any implementation specialist, in aiding you to assess these methods
We contact the Factory when we get into something insanely large, otherwise it's good old AUGI

4. What is the size in area of your biggest project?
200,000 s.f.

5. What is the file size of this project?
70Mb

5a. How many projects have you completed using Revit?
I've lost count... say 20 of varying sizes from houses to small hospitals to towers

6. Do find the hardware and OS solutions available, restrictive and insufficient, in allowing you to really document the project.
RAM is really critical, and good networking and servers. 2Gb is a minimum for RAM.

7. How many team members are on the project?
On the largest one: three members.

8. What are the defined roles of the team members?
I take on the stuff the others can't figure out! Otherwise, no roles defined.

9. Are these roles sufficient and or efficient? What would you change?
It's fine in most cases; the office is fairly well experienced with the software

10. What percentage of the documentation is done using CAD?
All of it, with a page or two of details done by the principal in AutoCAD since he's not Revitized yet

11. If documented in Revit, what percentage of detail components and 2d is used?
Not much -- more 2D could have been done. Say less than half of the detail elements are 2D. I suppose that's not a bad thing!

12. Do you limit the amount of modeling and complex 3d families in the project, according to what’s needed for sufficient construction documentation detail?
The steel detailing was done in Tekla by the steel fabricator, which we imported into our model. The team never got lost in doing too much 3D.

13. To what extent do you use detail components intelligently in your families?
Not enough. We will be doing more of this (nesting detail components into other families) when projects warrant it. The firm does little in the way of repeat designs.

14. Do you base the level of project construction documentation, on project fees/brief, or do you always work to the same standard regardless of fee structure? Do you sacrifice profit for office standards.
Generally the level of documentation is based on scope of services in the contract. And we finish the job -- but we've never gone over budget apparently.

15. How do you deal with team members wanting to work simultaneously off site (possibly at home after office hours) on a central file with worksets?
Doesn't happen -- and if it did we can VPN in to the local workstation and drive it remotely.

16. Have you attempted this and have you been successful when saving to the central file.
Haven't tried it and don't recommend it at this time, and don't think it's possible.

17. In what way does teamwork using central files and worksets affect your productivity?
It helps us see errors in each other's work more readily -- you've got access to see the whole project, unlike AutoCAD where you're unlikely to bother reading a file someone else has open. This is a huge benefit -- more eyes are seeing the work at the same time. I can't quantify output, but I can tell you it's more thought out, so it's better ;-)

18. What collaboration solutions besides email are you using with individual consulting engineers and other project members.
FTP and desktop sharing. Buzzsaw in Canada? Sure... if you're Stantec and have their pockets!

19. Are any of your consultants using Autodesk Revit.? Does this ease the transfer of documentation, and does this eliminate errors in the process.
No. I wish they were. Some other engineering consultants we know of use Revit, but we haven't worked with them yet.

20. If your consulting engineers and other project members are using Autodesk Revit, have you seen a definite improvement in the timing of work flow and the quality of deliverables?
N/A

Additional comments:
Revit's usage at this firm shows that small firms can benefit from the software -- possibly more than large firms.

[Shaun v Rooyen]

Wow,
Thanks a stack to Mike, David,Tc3dcad and Wes so far for spending the time.

[Tobie]

1. How long have you been using Autodesk Revit?
V3.1 2001 I think

2. Do you make use of any project planning exercise in assessing the best methods available?
No

3. Do you use the expertise of any implementation specialist, in aiding you to assess these methods
N/A

4. What is the size in area of your biggest project?
500 - 1000m²

5. What is the file size of this project?
8MB

5a. How many projects have you completed using Revit?
Started with job no 600, now working on 880. 45% would have been done to full completion, including construction documentation in Revit

6. Do find the hardware and OS solutions available, restrictive and insufficient, in allowing you to really document the project.
Really nice when you have a BIG computer.

7. How many team members are on the project?
2

8. What are the defined roles of the team members?
Architect, Draughts man

9. Are these roles sufficient and or efficient? What would you change?
Yes, hard to say, very small firm with small projects.

10. What percentage of the documentation is done using CAD?
80%

11. If documented in Revit, what percentage of detail components and 2d is used?
30%

12. Do you limit the amount of modeling and complex 3d families in the project, according to what’s needed for sufficient construction documentation detail?
Yes

13. To what extent do you use detail components intelligently in your families?
Fairly well

14. Do you base the level of project construction documentation, on project fees/brief, or do you always work to the same standard regardless of fee structure? Do you sacrifice profit for office standards.
We have two different tiers for different types of documentation. We sell a product not time.

15. How do you deal with team members wanting to work simultaneously off site (possibly at home after office hours) on a central file with worksets?
N/A

16. Have you attempted this and have you been successful when saving to the central file.
N/A

17. In what way does teamwork using central files and worksets affect your productivity?
N/A

18. What collaboration solutions besides email are you using with individual consulting engineers and other project members.
Only e-mail

19. Are any of your consultants using Autodesk Revit.? Does this ease the transfer of documentation, and does this eliminate errors in the process.
No

20. If your consulting engineers and other project members are using Autodesk Revit, have you seen a definite improvement in the timing of work flow and the quality of deliverables?
N/A

Additional comments:

[blads]

1. How long have you been using Autodesk Revit?
V4.5 Jan 2003

2. Do you make use of any project planning exercise in assessing the best methods available?
No

3. Do you use the expertise of any implementation specialist, in aiding you to assess these methods
N/A

4. What is the size in area of your biggest project?
750m²

5. What is the file size of this project?
10MB

5a. How many projects have you completed using Revit?
Don't know - lost count...

6. Do find the hardware and OS solutions available, restrictive and insufficient, in allowing you to really document the project.
Much nicer on a grunty computer with lots of Ram...

7. How many team members are on the project?
1 - me!

8. What are the defined roles of the team members?
cheif, cook & bottle-washer

9. Are these roles sufficient and or efficient? What would you change?
It gonna have to me, I'm planning on adding staff...

10. What percentage of the documentation is done using CAD?
100%

11. If documented in Revit, what percentage of detail components and 2d is used?
varies maybe 1/3

12. Do you limit the amount of modeling and complex 3d families in the project, according to what’s needed for sufficient construction documentation detail?
Yes

13. To what extent do you use detail components intelligently in your families?
Fairly well

14. Do you base the level of project construction documentation, on project fees/brief, or do you always work to the same standard regardless of fee structure? Do you sacrifice profit for office standards.
Same office standard

15. How do you deal with team members wanting to work simultaneously off site (possibly at home after office hours) on a central file with worksets?
N/A

16. Have you attempted this and have you been successful when saving to the central file.
N/A

17. In what way does teamwork using central files and worksets affect your productivity?
N/A

18. What collaboration solutions besides email are you using with individual consulting engineers and other project members.
Only e-mail

19. Are any of your consultants using Autodesk Revit.? Does this ease the transfer of documentation, and does this eliminate errors in the process.
No

20. If your consulting engineers and other project members are using Autodesk Revit, have you seen a definite improvement in the timing of work flow and the quality of deliverables?
N/A

[D.Williams]

1. How long have you been using Autodesk Revit?
v5.0

2. Do you make use of any project planning exercise in assessing the best methods available?
No.

3. Do you use the expertise of any implementation specialist, in aiding you to assess these methods
N/A

4. What is the size in area of your biggest project?
6000 Sq Ft

5. What is the file size of this project?
50+ megs

5a. How many projects have you completed using Revit?
+/-55 (although those first ones look quite rough looking back at them now)

6. Do find the hardware and OS solutions available, restrictive and insufficient, in allowing you to really document the project.
This has not been an issue for us so far in documentation. Only rendering has really hit us hard.

7. How many team members are on the project?
1-3

8. What are the defined roles of the team members?
Project Leader –takes the reins of the vast majority of getting the project done – from modeling to detailing. Assistants will simply fill the gap in crunch times.

9. Are these roles sufficient and or efficient? What would you change?
These roles are neither sufficient nor efficient. We are really just beginning to contemplate tackling worksets to help us better define team roles. The firm had been small enough before to allow a single user to take a project from inception to completion. But now, with more projects coming in and a few new hires, it's forcing us to rethink our process. The big bonus of this change in thinking is the fact that Revit has quickly helped us determine the strengths and weaknesses of the newbies which we think will better guide us in setting up roles on future projects.

10. What percentage of the documentation is done using CAD?
Zero. All documentation is done in Revit. Small projects (in comparison to yours) affords us this opportunity.

11. If documented in Revit, what percentage of detail components and 2d is used?
Detail components are really the key in my mind to do the details within the project. Certainly this limits the number of lines to keep track of and aligned. I've been trying to slowly build the detail components library to our firm’s needs but free time is few and far between.

12. Do you limit the amount of modeling and complex 3d families in the project, according to what’s needed for sufficient construction documentation detail?
This is really an individual’s prerogative. Personally I like to take the time to model something. Especially if we’ll use it again or it has a visual kick that will make the client better understand either the object or the space. Others are more of the mentality that in the end the only thing that matters is the ink on the paper. It’s gotta look like it should. And many times this is easier for them to draw it up in 2d and get it out the door.

13. To what extent do you use detail components intelligently in your families?
Not at all so far.

14. Do you base the level of project construction documentation, on project fees/brief, or do you always work to the same standard regardless of fee structure? Do you sacrifice profit for office standards.
100% depends on the client. Some clients we can give the barest of details and they bring home the gold. Others are much more involved and detailing can be quite intensive. To my knowledge fees are not tied to the amount of detailing put in. Office standards are minimal. Our shop feeds off one another sharing info and requesting people follow certain minimal requirements. We’re small enough that everyone can see how other people are working and modify their style to match. Only in naming conventions of families and system objects are we ruthless.

15. How do you deal with team members wanting to work simultaneously off site (possibly at home after office hours) on a central file with worksets?
N/A.

16. Have you attempted this and have you been successful when saving to the central file.
N/A.

17. In what way does teamwork using central files and worksets affect your productivity?
N/A.

18. What collaboration solutions besides email are you using with individual consulting engineers and other project members.
Email is the primary. FTP and Buzzsaw are also utilized for the bigger clients. We’ve recently come to appreciate Buzzsaw’s coordination and communication capabilities to help eliminate confusion on drawings.

19. Are any of your consultants using Autodesk Revit.? Does this ease the transfer of documentation, and does this eliminate errors in the process.
None so far. Our structural engineers are extremely averse to picking up Revit Structure. Nonetheless we pitch it every time we can hoping somebody will bite.


20. If your consulting engineers and other project members are using Autodesk Revit, have you seen a definite improvement in the timing of work flow and the quality of deliverables?
N/A.

Additional comments:
We’re a tiny shop doing mainly residential work. I have to agree with Wes. As a small shop you can flip the switch over night much easier (if you’re willing to take the learning curve related risk). Once you get through that learning cycle it becomes much much much easier and quicker to get things moving. We’re certainly benefiting. So much so that we loathe the thought of having to do anything in autocad. :)