Benefits of Using Revit for Structural Firm

[nybecc]

I am a complete nub to Revit but my boss has asked me to make a list of how this may be beneficial to our company. So any insight that I can get for people who know this program and its benefits would be of a great help.
Thanks,
nybecc

[Craig_L]

From a structural discipline there are several advantages (also a few disadvantages, or obstacles)

Greater co-ordination cross discipline -
If you utilise the features of the program and link directly to your architect model, and other disciplines, there is much greater reduction in co-ordination errors. Co-ordination still requires effort, the process however will change, but your outcomes are far more reliable.

Efficient cross-referencing -
Ever worked on a huge project, had to move a sheet up or down in the set numbering, and then had to go and renumber all of your section callouts and cross references to accomodate the changes? Revit eliminates this issue by automatically cross referencing items.

Efficient/accurate member callouts for scheduling -
In revit, if you have modelled your structural elements in 3D (as opposed to just drawing a line which is also an option but not a good one) If you have modelled them, your member schedule can be created and listed automatically. If the size of an R3 rafter (for example) changes from a 200UB to a 250UB you change the size in one location, and all instances of R3 will update accordingly, and your schedule will also update accordingly, this eliminates again, cross referencing errors that happen between your framing plan, elevations and schedules. Schedules range from pile, footing, steel, timber (you name it really if you modelled it, you can schedule it)

Error free tagging -
If you tag or call-out your members in a section they will always return the correct member size or reference tag similar to the scheduling.

Transmittals, and Drawings lists can also be scheduled automatically, and this can be a huge time saving from a document control perspective, also your issuing and title blocks update automatically dates are placed etc allowing uniform delivery of your documents and the information contained in them.

All of these above things will lead to time savings, allowing the drafter more time to focus on modelling/drafting the project rather than burying them in paper and processes.

Detailing -
Detailing is improved in that your members are already drawn, to scale, and true shape/size. All you need to do is fill the detail out with notes, and some minor detail items to customize them to your office standards. I find detailing much faster in revit, and everything is always in its correct orientation (assuming your model is correct)

The drawbacks are that you need to change your workflows, and your management styles for your project. This will come with experience and as you gain a feel for how a project pans out, and learn how to work around the many little annoying bugs and also set up your office standards, you will find great time improvements as you progress down the revit competency channel.

It also offers capabilities to link and export or import from structural design packages, some are more hassle free than others.

You can also link in a survey and create a 3D topographical survey from it. Allowing you to cut retaining wall sections (for example) that will show you the actual correct amount of soil being retained rather than having to traingualate and estimate from a survey file manually. This can be used to calculate cut and fill volumes as well.

I've only touched on a few benefits..
the major drawback is the retraining, and the initial headaches as the firm makes the switch to a different software, that as I mentioned, will challenge you to change your workflows and proceedures to accomodate it.

The attached graph is great for your boss who will be interested in visuals, it shows that revit picks up design faults alot earlier in the design process, this can (and generally does) lead to a slight increase in the design time, but great cost savings to the developer down the line, as it eliminates issues before going to construction. Imagine that you are effictively building a virtual copy of the structure, and you will find clashes or malfunctions during design and document, rather than on site where it is far more costly.

[andrew.boardman1]

give you an edge to show off your company.
do you some pictures