form analysis and test out design scenarios. It is easy to learn and use and has plenty of freely available learning tools. However, the development of Ecotect could use some attention in critical areas. Interaction with the tools and the UI are decidedly not like the corporate portfolio of design tools. Interacting with the model and using the mouse does take a little adjustment, especially when you are used to using Revit or 3DS Max. Some of the orbit, pan and zoom operations are opposite those in other applications. Also, when a tool like Ecotect is used on multiple projects in your office, you may notice that the larger master-planning and highly detailed models can begin to tax the system (though careful modeling can mitigate much of this). Given the origins of Ecotect in Australia and the UK, there are not as many weather files bundled for all regions as would be expected. While within the application there are links to obtaining additional weather files online, from both Square One and the U.S. Department of Energy, having that content out of the box would be more useful. The process of creating accurate weather files for Ecotect from the USDOE Energy Plus site is not spelled out completely in the help file, and without proper care of the data, it could provide inaccurate results. Additionally, for some analysis, it would be nice to have hourly rain data, which is randomly seeded into a few files, but not all. There have been two Autodesk branded releases since the acquisition of Ecotect, and that’s impressive work. However, as of the writing of this, Ecotect Analysis 2010 is only available in the US, other regions having access only to Ecotect 2009. Localization (or “localisation” depending on your preference) has been similarly slow in coming. It’s also a little baffling that the latest release allows only a network installation. This could be an obstacle to sole proprietors, who may lack a server setup (and the dedicated IT staff to create that environment).
into Ecotect is limited to name, volume, area and the names of the bounding elements. Furthermore, knowing that Ecotect plays a part in a larger ecosystem of tools, there could be better integration with the design and documentation process. A clear strategy of data and graphic information flowing back and forth between Revit, Ecotect and Green Building Studio is lacking.
feature focus
Cross-Discipline
A sneak peak at what’s to come can be found on Autodesk Labs. For a limited time, Revit users can download the Solar Radiation Technology Preview plug-in which enables incident solar radiation analysis to be performed on mass models directly in the Revit project environment. http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/ecotect This is only a single type of analysis, and, while the data produced has visual representation, the reporting and interrogation of that data is rather limited, when compared to Ecotect. Where this tool is powerful is in its ability to iterate quickly through complex geometry within a single environment. Does this indicate that there may be more integration in the future? Of course, we can’t know until (unless) it materializes, but this peek into the goings on at the factory does look promising. What are you waiting for? Start at the Start!
Many users who are accustomed to working with Ecotect make their wishes known on the wiki (mentioned earlier in the section called Understanding Tradeoffs) and the newly created Autodesk discussion forum dedicated to Ecotect.
Sean Burke is a Digital Design Technology Specialist with extensive experience in the architecture profession. Sean has his own strategic BIM implementation practice, SDB Consulting, and is a LEED® Accredited Professional. He is considered a leading expert in Building Information Modeling (BIM) processes and tools for the design and construction industry. Sean has presented at Autodesk University and many local user groups. As a technical consultant with Autodesk, he provided training and implementation for firms throughout North America. He has a B. Arch. degree from Roger Williams University, and currently resides in the scenic Pacific Northwest.
h t t p : //d i s c u s s i o n . a u t o d e s k . c o m /f o r u m s /c a t e g o r y. jspa?categoryID=189
Sean’s blog, “Paradigm shift” (http://www.seandburke.com/blog), explores the trends and integration of Revit and sustainable design.
A consensus opinion is that, in the near future, it would be nice to see stability improvements, and code that takes advantage of multiprocessor and 64-bit workstations.
For more information visit: http://www.seandburke.com. He can be reached at: web@seandburke.com.
Future Integration? Perhaps. A best practices white paper produced by Autodesk, “Using Autodesk Ecotect Analysis and Building Information Modeling,” can be found on the Ecotect Analysis product page http://www. autodesk.com/ecotect). It covers the process of preparing and exporting a Revit model for use in Ecotect. However, while the export/import mechanisms that exist are very flexible and graphic data can be gleaned from other design tools such as Autodesk Revit and Google SketchUp, the level of non-graphic data that is passed fall_2009
www.AUGIaecedge.com
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