Comments on RST2010 press release

[JH75]

I have read the press release on RST2010.
I know it is early stages and I might jump the gun here but I have to say it looks a bit thin. Hopefully there is more to RST2010 than what is in the press release.
From our point of view we don't need to do shop detailing (precast and steel) as 9 times of 10 the builder has engaged a subcontractor for that. Our job is to produce the engineering drawings and reinf. layouts etc.
This is the part where I think RST is really suffering - to create reinf layout. The Area and Path reinf tools are not flexible enough and hard to customize. I have been trying to customize them and almost got there but I still find it is quicker to draw a line and use a Linsebased extension component for the extension line. The 3D reinf looks OK but you can't tag it in plan view which makes it almost useless (for us).
And for the Drawing Tool located in the extensions it would be really good if you could export a drawing of a say a beam and it creates a view in Revit rather than Autocad. (I know I can link it back in to Revit)

I think that it would have been better if they had put more effort to fix up some of the existing tools rather than developing these new tools such as bridge design etc. Imagine if they had put those resource towards improving the existing tools instead such as tagging slab edge, introduce spiral reinf for columns (for all our projects that has round columns we use spiral reinf.)

I see revit as an excellent tool to produce our CD's and not a Shop Detail program.

Don't take me wrong as I really enjoy working with revit and would not go back Auotcad.

Press Release can be found here:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=11268974

Thanks
Jonas

[priitl22047477]

I just want to say that I hope that more detailing options come to Revit. I do most of my design from preliminary design to shop drawings. So i don't want to leave Revit in any stage.
I hope they convert more old RCAD (nowASD) functionality to Revit. And yes I need more possibilities to draw, distribute and show(display options for) rebar.
I welcome new steel connections - its a start.

[m20roxxers]

Jonas.

In regards to reinforcement, have you tried creating 3D families that support 2D symbols in both top view and side views but no modelling information. I find this a better way to create reinforcement that works in plan as well as section and can be scheduled.

In regards to RST 2010 I feel from the press release that while a couple of nice features this is more finalising some major features asked for in the last couple of years. accessing Conceptual options and opening the Revit API are two very large and signifcant increases. Unfortunately that leaves those without API experience little to enjoy. I guess it's up to next year. :)

[chad_lueptow]

I would have to agree. I have contacted Autodesk through Subscription Support numerous times about the design-bid-build process and what information structural drawings should show on them. They seem to be a bit confused about "structural design drawings" and "shop drawings".

My top 5: (I have communicated these to Autodesk numerous times)

1. Ability to graphically schedule steel columns WITH baseplate, anchor bolt, and base or splice detail reference (I do not need a shop drawing of the column created from ASD)

2. Ability to graphically schedule concrete columns WITH reinforcing information (I do not need a shop drawing of the concrete column created from ASD)

3. Ability to graphically schedule concrete beams and joists WITH reinforcing information (I do not need a shop drawing of the concrete beam created from ASD)

Ideally Revit Structure should be able to know what rebar shapes are model in it's hosts (columns, beams, etc.) and be able to schedule it based on it's host. (IE. Schedule a concrete beam and show what rebar shapes it's hosting)

Currently, I can model each and every bar in 3D and create hundreds of shop drawings, but I can't put a schedule in my set that shows what bars are in what beams. It's madness.

I wonder if Bentley Structure can do this........

[Jshaver]

I too welcome the new features of RST2010 with open arms but at the same time I am left scratching my head...

While I think Revit is a step in the right direction regarding BIM there are so many basic limitations with the program that need to be addressed that are much more important to the typical Revit user than most of the items mentioned on the press release. Looking back on previous releases I get the impression AutoDesk puts most of their efforts into adding new features rather than fixing the bugs and limitations with existing tools. I remember hearing early on about how much time this parameteric program was going to save us and how much better the coordination procedures were going to be due to the copy/monitor tools Revit employs...How many of us are using the Arch model just like an Xref in AutoCad due to the limitations of the tools?

Disregarding the long list of modeling items, how many times do we have to beg for the simple drafting task items such as a functioning text editor, native consistant view placement, intellgent copy/monitoring that works, or a fully functional analysis link to etabs or sap 2000...etc

Regarding detailing:
It seams as though even Autodesk is leaning on AutoCad as a crutch for detailing rather than refining the process within Revit. At least this way they can sell licenses for both right ;). Personally I think Revit as is can handle detailing entirely on its own but more refinements would definately help the processes along.

Regarding Bridge modeling:
Perfect timing. Isnt there a bill in the works that is creating billions of dollars for road and bridge maintenance construction work throughout the US?

Regarding the free-form geometry/analysis:
Cool...

Regarding slanted columns:
YAY!

Regarding the new Ribbon system:
No, no, no......Now it takes an extra 2 clicks to do everything and I lose even more screen space, unless the ribbon system behaves like in AutoCad where I can drag it down to create a vertical pallett and then move it over to a second monitor. This ribbon system would also be more tolerable if keyboard shortcuts could be mapped to specific families rather than categories...just like a command line... or if I could drag a view window onto a seperate monitor.

I will stop ranting for now before this post gets too long ;). Who knows maybe some of the previously mentioned limitations (along with the outstanding wishlist items) are being addressed and were just omitted from the press release...

[Jshaver]

Chad_lueptow, I can not help with items 2-3 in your post but it is possible (to some extent) to include the baseplate info in a native graphical column schedule.