More Insights from DPR and the New Collaboration Technology of ArchiCAD 13

Following the article on "Model Based Estimating to Inform Target Value Design" published last month, DPR Construction returns this month to provide some more insights on BIM in the form of a Viewpoint article entitled "Transcending the BIM Hype: How to Make Sense and Dollars from Building Information Modeling." Authored by Eric Lamb, Dean Reed and Atul Khanzode, the article analyzes the rapid adoption of BIM technology from the perspective of the “Hype Cycle” devised by research and consulting firm Gartner Inc., which captures the over-enthusiasm and subsequent disappointment that typically occurs when a new technology is introduced. The authors argue that the use of BIM technology has hit the “Peak of Inflated Expectations” in the AEC industry. To move beyond the hype of BIM technology and the settling for “low hanging fruit” such as visualizing design intent and seeing conflicts, we must continue to develop and build upon best practices for deploying BIM on projects. They go on to share several lessons, based on DPR’s more than a decade worth of experience doing VDC (virtual design and construction), to help move the industry forward and to assist architects, engineers, contractors and owners in maximizing the rewards of adopting and integrating BIM into their business.

It's back to product reviews this month, as we take a look at ArchiCAD 13, the new version of Graphisoft's popular BIM application. It is an exciting release as it includes a server-based collaboration solution, making it the first BIM application to have this capability. With a flexible element reservation system and a technology that detects and transmits only the changed elements between the client computers and the server—shrinking the average data package size from megabytes to kilobytes—ArchiCAD 13 has the potential to revolutionize BIM-based collaboration by allowing team members to work together easily and quickly in real-time on modeling projects, from anywhere in the world where a standard broadband Internet connection is available. We will explore this technology in depth and look at the other new features in ArchiCAD 13, including 64-bit support, view rotation, embedded libraries, improved curtain wall editing, and various other productivity enhancements.

Also on the agenda is a Tips and Tricks article from Scott Onstott that shows how to tour Google Earth with a an inexpensive SpaceNavigator input device from 3DConnexion. It uses a new feature in Google Earth 5 that allows you to record tours, and it's just the thing needed to playback the trajectories flown using the SpaceNavigator.

Do continue to check out the AECbytes Blog for reader comments and the VendorHub to get a consolidated view of all the technology providers in AEC.

Thank you!

Lachmi Khemlani

Editorials > September 2009