Structuring data – classifying it – is key to unlocking the full value of BIM. It’s about clearly communicating design intent in order to more accurately budget, plan and build an asset (and then more efficiently manage it over its lifetime). Without classification, data is easily misunderstood and sometimes just not usable. Well-classified data has increasing value.

In the past the classification of building information was both less important and more difficult. It cost a lot of time and effort but often yielded little value. That has changed. Classification is becoming ever more important. More valuable. And easier.

Projects today generate more data. And AEC increasingly relies on that data to automate processes, make better decisions and operate devices. Look at all the add-ons for Revit and other platforms, the CNC machines, robots and VR/AR devices. The Internet of Things.

Moreover, the teams that undertake building projects are becoming more complex. Architects and engineers are creating models for use by cost estimators, consultants, contractors, fabricators and so on in multiple other organizations and countries.

In each case, all the actors – people, software, equipment – need a common language, an agreed-upon data structure. It could be international standards. Or national classification systems. Or custom ones. That depends on the project. But if BIM managers don’t decide on classifications and model creators don’t implement them, everyone suffers. In fact today many projects do suffer from mistakes and delays due to a lack of classification. Instead of a valuable “common data environment” they have a costly “chaotic data environment”.

We’re talking about effective data exchange. Harmonization. Interoperability.

So what’s the value created by classifying BIM data?

• Clarity: Project participants can quickly find and understand the data they need
• Integration: Systems, machines, devices can automatically access and process data
• Efficiency: Owners can aggregate costs, other data in multi-asset management tools
• Competition: Public and private procurement become more open and transparent

In terms of the falling costs of classifying data, classification management tools are now emerging that really do simplify life.

Check out the latest edition of our newsletter AGACAD Advances. Quite a few contributions in this one, including pieces on:

Framing timber floors, walls and roofs.
Digital classification systems for building projects.
Prefabricated construction, including a client's story about steel framing and CNC integration.
The most recent software updates for our Revit add-ons.
Upcoming webinars and conferences.

All that and more in AGACAD Advances, October 2019. Read it here.

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As you may already know, the user interface of our software for framing wood and metal walls and floors in Revit got a makeover this past July. We're glad to announce that the UI of our Roof Framing solutions has been updated as well! So now all of our BIM framing solutions for Revit have a sleek new look.

To users of Wood Framing Roof or Metal Framing Roof, be sure to download the update in the Dock to begin using the new interface plus a few new functions that have been added (read on for more on those).

All the previous commands are still included, so don't be thrown by the new look. Although commands have been re-arranged, they've been complemented with icons and tool-tips to help you quickly find what you're looking for. See below for where commands are located in the ribbon in the new UI of Roof+.

Whether it’s clothes, food or furniture, people often tend to associate factory-made items with lack of quality. While this might be true to some extent, it’s definitely not the case with modern prefabricated houses. They’re just as good as any other building, but they’re built off-site. Imagine having every part of the structure made within the confines of a factory, delivered to the construction site and assembled in a matter of weeks. Not only that, prefabricated housing can help save money, time and also contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.

The legend of Solomon’s Temple

While it’s difficult to say who constructed the first prefabricated structure, we can be sure that one of the earliest successful attempts took place about 3000 years ago in ancient Jerusalem. This is evident from a vivid Biblical account of how the Temple of Solomon was built. It seems that every piece of the temple was carefully crafted off-site and assembled on-site:

"And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building." (1 Kings 6:7)

Prepared by Bryan Bradley of Textus Aptus

When it comes to wood and metal framing, Renata Jociene, Lead BIM Application Engineer at AGACAD, has tremendous insight and experience. She agreed to share her thoughts on the current state of BIM software for framing all types of buildings with timber and with cold-formed steel.

Q: To start, could you tell us a bit about trends today in framed construction?

Framing always played a big role in the building industry and today that role is only growing, especially with people’s focus on green solutions.

Both wood and steel framing have major advantages for sustainability – big efficiencies in both the construction and use of a facility, and recyclability. That’s true all over the world, though there are regional differences. Like in the U.S., where so much timber is available and there’s a long tradition of wood-frame houses, as I recently wrote in the article “Wooden Houses in the USA: A Centuries-Old Building Tradition”.

Framing is being used not only for houses, but for all types of buildings really. Wood is more common for residential, and metal for industrial or commercial facilities, but a lot depends on structural needs and choices. Wood framing is more earthquake resistant, for instance. In any case, big efficiency gains are being achieved with pre-fabrication solutions. The world is steadily moving to BIM, including framed construction, and “BIM-to-fabrication” is a hot keyword in the field.

In case you missed it, the user interface of our framing software for wood and metal walls and floors got a makeover this past July. Changes to the UI can be seen in Wall+ and Wall+M as well as Floor+ and Floor+M. This UI update will be applied to our roof framing solutions for Revit in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Although the UI certainly looks different, rest assured that all previous functions are still there; they've just been re-arranged and complemented with icons. To see where commands can be found in the new UI of Wall+ and Floor+, check out the images of the ribbons below. (Wall+M and Floor+M are very similar, respectively.)

We're looking forward to exhibiting at Autodesk University this coming November in Las Vegas. Hopefully many of you – our clients and contacts – will be there to share ideas about driving building design forward.

Our focus will be on three areas:

• BIM Content Management & Classification
• BIM for Prefabricated Construction
• Digital Asset Inventories & BIM for Facility Management

There's been a lot of development in AEC, and we're staying at the forefront of it to make sure our software users have most productive BIM Solutions and add-ons for Revit out there, particularly for wood framing, metal framing, precast concrete, and MEP work

We've been hard at work testing our brand new DOCK* against Revit 2020 to ensure complete compatibility. To those of you who have been anxiously awaiting the news, thank you for your patience. We're glad to say our tools are ready to use with Revit 2020!*The Dock is an interactive window in Autodesk® Revit® that allows you to access and manage all Revit® products developed by AGACAD.

Here's how to get our tools running on Revit 2020.

For current users of our software

To companies/individuals who have an active license maintenance/subscription of at least one of our tools, we've sent an email containing software activation codes and a link to download our 2020 Tools4BIM Dock. (If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder.)

NB: If you're with a company, please ask your BIM manager or IT coordinator for these codes.

What you need to do:

A cost-focused and energy-conscious Australian building design firm intent to extract all possible value from BIM considers AGACAD a key ally for the uniquely powerful and flexible functionality of its tools and solutions for Revit®.

Client Profile	BELA DESIGN BUILDING of Australia are BIM professionals offering building design and modelling, engineering expertise, and CNC services for prefabrication and modular construction. Founded in 2003, they specialize in mechanised light steel construction with masonry concrete tilt-ups. Cost- and energy-conscious, the firm administers projects online, thus extending its reach to clients well beyond its home in Palmers Island, New South Wales.

Join in this free webinar to see the flexibility of AGACAD’s Wood/Metal Framing solution for Revit, which has been enhanced by implementing some highly requested features relating to stud and sheathing distribution, joined openings, top plate supports, bracing, and more!

Expert Consultation: 30-minute presentation to be followed by 30 minutes of Q&A.