AceCad BIMReview

Categorised annotations, consisting of a leader and a colour-customisable text box, always face the user, regardless of model orientation

In the past year, AceCad has reinvented itself as a provider of BIM collaboration and project management tools. We look at its latest release, a low-cost, multi model, BIM project review and communication tool.

by Greg Corke

For years there was only one real choice when it came to co-ordinating and reviewing multi- Product: BIMReview Supplier: AceCad Software BIMReview AceCAD BIMReview is designed to be used across the entire AEC sector, from architects, BIM managers, engineers discipline BIM models. That was Price: £350 and fabricators, to contracNavisworks. Launched by Website: bim-review.com tors, site managers, customLightwork Design and bought by ers and suppliers. Autodesk in 2007 Navisworks is A key part of the software undeniably powerful, but has historically is its ability to bring in data from a variety been quite expensive. of sources. In addition to industry-standard

While it took a while for the AEC market formats like IFC, CIS-2, STEP and IGES, to catch up, there are now a number of lower AceCad has developed good links to Revit cost alternatives. Last year Tekla launched and Tekla Structures. Here, bespoke plugBIMsight, a free to download collaboration ins allow users of Revit and Tekla Structures tool, and more recently Gehry Technologies to export their models to BIMReview’s began a preview of GTeam, a cloud-based native BSWX format. 3D collaboration platform (see page 24). Those modelling to an exact co-ordinate

Another new BIM project review tool is system should not have any trouble co-ordiBIMReview from AceCad Software. It is nating multiple models. However, when they new, as in the sense of it has just been do not line up, models can be adjusted for released to market, but not in terms of the scale, size and orientation — by eye or by underlying technology. BIMReview is an dialling in values. Typically this will be evolution of AceCad’s mature StruWalker architectural, MEP or structural models, but product, originally a companion to the steel could also be different sections of a particufabrication software, StruCad, which was larly large project. bought by Tekla last year. BIMReview is 64-bit, so in theory there is

BIMReview is one of a range of new prod- no real limit to model size, as long as your ucts from a new look AceCad Software that workstation has sufficient memory and a focus on the wider AEC market, from multi- 64-bit operating system. discipline design to procurement, all the way We tested on a more moderately specified to construction. 32-bit Windows machine with 3GB of RAM

AceCad describes its new collaborative and an entry-level professional 3D graphics BIM project review tool as a visualisation card. This handled most models well, but wrapper for rich BIM model data. It can co- larger models became a little sluggish in 3D ordinate all types of BIM models, visualise and the machine sometimes ran out of memdata in many ways, detect clashes, annotate, ory when combining three IFC models: a and perform construction planning — and 20MB architectural, 20MB structural and a all this for just £350. complex 200MB MEP.

Once inside BIMReview there are many ways to visualise the BIM data. Entire models or specific components can be made transparent using a neat slider that controls how see through they are. This is very useful for looking inside buildings, perhaps to reveal the MEP model or specific components such as columns or stairs.

Models can also be cut away using clipping planes in any orientation. There is full control here, with everything happening in real time, so it is easy to drill down to expose a specific section of a building.

For presentations, the tools are pretty basic, but do the job. Materials can be assigned to the model to add realism. It is nothing fancy, and certainly not photo-realistic, but can be a good way of communicating material choices for buildings. For context, background images and terrains can also be included. Models can also be exported to Google Earth.

To add a little more spice to presentations, animations can be created. Simply move the model around to define points (key frames) that the camera follows. Then click play. It literally takes a few minutes to produce a decent animation, which can then be exported as an AVI or WMV file. All about the data BIMReview is not just about visualising BIM models. It is all about the data, where the model acts as a 3D index to the underlying attributes. Users can enquire about any object within the model and it will instantly bring up the embedded information.

It is also possible to visualise a model the-

matically, in relation to its attribute infor- Structures and Revit, the data can also be architectural, structural and MEP and, if mation. Models can be automatically colour read back into the authoring BIM tool. required, pick specific parts of the model to coded for example, by member size, materi- Extended User Attribute data can also be focus on. Certain types of elements can be al type, with a legend showing correspond- tied in with detailed Gantt charts for project filtered and ignored in the clash check, ing attribute values. planning. With direct links to the model, including nuts and bolts.

For those that want to dig into the BIM each task can be visualised. For example, Once clash checking begins, the system model database, this can be found in a grid showing which parts are completed, or due goes off and does its thing. This can take a panel at the bottom of the screen. This for delivery on a certain date. while with large multi-discipline models, spreadsheet style table enables users to It is also possible to produce sequence but our 100MB architecture and MEP IFC browse the model by all types of attribute animations to help plan construction test files finished within two minutes. data, filter the information, and even per- sequencing on site. Next year, the software Clashes are presented in the modelling winform simple spreadsheet operations, dow as coloured 3D icons, and in a such as ‘sum’ or ‘average’ to produce summaries. Data can also be exported to Excel. If you are ‘‘ looking for a simple, yet spreadsheet-like data grid. From the data grid, users can step through each clash in turn.

Naturally there are permanent powerful BIM review tool, with The system can be made to autolinks to the 3D model. To view an object in context, simply right an upgrade path to handle more matically zoom to the problem in question, at the same time making click and it will zoom in on the managed workflows throughout the rest of the model transparent so 3D window. BIMReview is not just about working with data that has been the supply chain, we recommend a test drive the clash stands out. As each clash is addressed, the status can be changed from ‘not created in the BIM authoring tool. It is also possible to add custom data. These ‘Extended User Attributes’ can be ’’ will be able to compare planned sequencing reviewed’ to ‘reviewed’, ‘logged’ or ‘resolved’. This is also reflected in the colour of the 3D icon in the model winused to define new collaborative workflows. with actual sequencing. dow so it is easy to get a feel for progress.

Extended User Attribute data can take For sharing data, Gantt charts can be Notes can be added to explain the clash in many forms including length, time, weight saved as part of the BIMReview file and more detail or how to resolve it. Files can and volume. Time is perhaps the most inter- viewed by other users. Data from Microsoft also be attached to the model — a PDF or esting as it means BIMReview can be used Project can also be imported. Primavera photo of a hand sketch, for example. These to visualise project schedules. and CSV import will come in 2013. can be embedded in the BSWX file or a link

For example, in order to plan the delivery can be added to retrieve the document from of building components to site simply high- Clash detection a server or website. light the relevant parts of the model in the Clash detection is a very powerful feature Tasks can also be assigned to an indi3D window, right click and add a date. This of BIMReview. Users can dial in specific vidual for inspection. Each clash also data can then be shared with other project values for overlap tolerance and mini- shows the spatial location (X,Y,Z) which participants including engineers and con- mum distance. will help locate the problem in the origitractors. With bi-directional links to Tekla Simply select the models in question, e.g. nating BIM software.

As the clash report is essentially a database, the table can be organised in many ways. Columns can be sorted A to Z, data collated and everything can be exported to Excel for reports or further evaluation. Annotation and communication BIMReview offers simple, but effective annotation tools. Categorised Annotations, consisting of a leader and a colour-customisable text box, can be added to any part of a model.

Annotations are ‘3D aware’ and are not specific to any one view. As the user rotates the model on screen the annotations move accordingly so can always be read clearly.

Annotations can also be managed from a data grid that appears on the right hand side of the screen. To help collaborate with overseas teams, a Google Translate plug-in translates text at the click of a button.

To draw attention to an area in the model, as opposed to a specific part, viewpoints can be created and notes added. Then simply click on the viewpoint and the model view automatically zooms in.

Measurements are pretty standard fare, with the software providing a range of selectable snap modes to help pick exact points. Redline tools are a noticeable omission but, according to AceCad, will be included by the end of the year.

Collaboration works best when BIMReview models are shared, but those without access to the software do not have to miss out. Screen grabs can be taken at any point and then sent via email in a single click. When annotations are included, this can be a simple but effective way of sending out a Request for Information (RFI), though there is no traceability.

To enhance workflow back to key BIM authoring tools, annotations can also be brought back into Revit and Tekla Structures, though these are embedded in the model as Extended Attribute Data, and not as a visible markup. Conclusion AceCad has packed a vast amount of functionality into BIMReview, particu-

BIMProject & BIMServer

BIMReview’s strength lies with its ability to review BIM models and add value to the data. It isn’t so strong on traceability though, and working through each process largely relies on manual workflows. This is where BIMProject, AceCad’s BIM content management tool, comes into play. To help manage more advanced workflows, particularly in relation to project control and construction planning, BIMReview can be tightly integrated within BIMProject. For example, RFQs and RFIs can be handled by BIMProject’s document manager, which keeps track of which requests are outstanding and logs every step of the workflow so there is a complete audit trail. In early 2013 Acecad will also release BIMServer, a cloud-based service that will boast all the features of BIMReview, plus revision control, document tracking and supplier management all from within a browser. Viewpoints can be created, and notes added, to help draw attention to a specific area in the model

larly considering it costs a mere £350. Its model review tools are impressive, but there is a lot more to the software than model co-ordination, visualisation and clash detection.

Where BIMReview really excels is with its tight integration between BIM data and 3D model. With good application of Extended User Attribute data there is huge potential to take more control over a project as it moves from design to procurement and into construction.

Having been privy to some future developments in the pipeline it is clear AceCad has big plans for the software. Improved markup tools, enhanced construction planning and support for major point cloud data formats are some of the highlights to look out for in the next two releases.

One downside of BIMReview is that it is file-based, which makes it more of a challenge to work with geographically dispersed teams, though standard collaborative tools like GoToMeeting get around this to some extent. It will be interesting to see how AceCad’s forthcoming BIMServer product solves some of these challenges by offering similar capabilities in a web-browser.

BIMReview is available as a 200MB download on a free seven day trial. If you are looking for a simple, yet powerful BIM review tool, with an upgrade path to handle more managed workflows throughout the supply chain, we recommend a test drive.