Revit

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Revit is architectural CAD/BIM/Quantity Surveyor software for Microsoft Windows currently developed by Autodesk. Like ArchiCAD, it allows the user to design with parametric modelling and drafting elements. This type of software is sometimes called Building Information Modeling software. What sets Revit apart from all other BIM programs is the fact that it is the only program of it's kind to provide full Bi-directional Associativity. A change anywhere is a change everywhere, instantly, with no user interaction to manually update any view. Autodesk purchased the Massachusetts-based Revit Technology Corporation for $133 million US in 2002 [1]. The latest released version of Revit Building is 9.1 (August 2006).

[edit] Revit Product Lineup

Since purchasing Revit, Autodesk has developed three versions of Revit for the varying building design disciplines:

  • Revit Building, for architects and building designers [2]
  • Revit Structure, for structural engineers [3]
  • Revit Systems, for mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers [4]

[edit] How it Works

Revit is a single file database that can be shared among multiple users. Plans, sections, elevations and schedules are all interconnected, and if a user makes a change in one view, the other views are automatically updated. Thus, Revit drawings and schedules are always fully coordinated in terms of the building objects shown in drawings.

The base building is drawn using 3D objects to create walls, floors, roofs, structure, windows, doors and other objects as needed. Generally, if a component of the design is going to be seen in more than one view, it will be created using a 3D object. Users can create their own 3D and 2D objects for modeling and drafting purposes.

Small-scale views of building components may be created using a combination of 3D and 2D drafting objects, or by importing drafting work done in another CAD platform via AutoCAD DXF, AutoCAD DWG, or MicroStation DGN.

When a project database is shared, a central file is created which stores the official copy of the project database on a file server on the office's LAN. Each user works on a copy of the central file, stored on their workstation. Users then save to the central file to update the central file with their changes, and to receive changes from other users. Revit checks with the central file whenever a user starts working an object in the database to see if another user is editing the object. This prevents two people from making the same change simultaneously and prevents conflicts.

Multiple disciplines working together on the same project make their own project databases and link in the other consultants' databases for verification. Revit can perform interference checking, which detects if different components of the building are occupying the same physical space.

Revit uses .RVT files for storing BIM models. Parametric families (blocks) can be imported from .RFA files. Families do not require programming skills and there are many sources of pre-drawn RFA libraries.

[edit] External links

Revit Building, Revit Structure & Revit Systems share a common ODCB database enabling mutidisciplinary worksharing within a single file. Through a Remote Desktop connection, shareholders can work together across a LAN using T-10 transfer rates. This workflow scenario is distinct from an older tradition of linking files where data is transferred across T-1 lines with limited bandwidth.

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