design + construction strategies 30 april 2014 idiq ... of contents si building information...

Design + Construction Strategies 30 April 2014

IDIQ Contract #F10CC10036 Task Order #: 16-00 Page 0 of 54

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Table of Contents SI Building Information Management



Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 4

Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 6

Task Order Methodology ......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Subtask 1: The BIM Inventory ...................................................................................................... 8

Fact Finding ................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Defining the Business Case ..................................................................................................................................................... 9

Prototypes ................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Future BIM Inventory Opportunities .................................................................................................................................. 10

Campus BIM.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Subtask 2: SI BIM Templates ...................................................................................................... 11

Fact Finding ................................................................................................................................................................................ 11

Federal Agencies Employing Revit Templates ................................................................................................................................................. 11

Defining the BIM Template Business Case ........................................................................................................................ 12

Prototypes ................................................................................................................................................................................. 13

SI Revit Architectural Templates (with Spatial and Asbestos Data Support) ....................................................................................... 13

SI Revit Mechanical/Plumbing and Electrical Templates (with Asset Data Support) ....................................................................... 14

Future Template Opportunities ........................................................................................................................................... 14

Subtask 3: BIM and Spatial Data Exchange ................................................................................. 15

Fact Finding ............................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Existing Data Exchange for CAD to SI Explorer and CAD to Tririga ........................................................................................................ 16

Key Points on the Existing Process ........................................................................................................................................................................ 16

Defining the BIM and Spatial Data Business Case .......................................................................................................... 16

Prototypes ................................................................................................................................................................................. 17

Prototype 1: Revit to CAD + Tririga CAD Integrator to SI Explorer ......................................................................................................... 17

Prototype 2: Revit to FME Workbench to SI Explorer ................................................................................................................................... 18

Prototype 3: Revit to FME Add-in to SI Explorer ............................................................................................................................................. 20

Future Opportunities for BIM and Spatial Data .............................................................................................................. 21

Subtask 4: Asset Management from BIM .................................................................................... 22

Fact Finding .............................................................................................................................................................................. 22

Defining the Asset Management Business Case ............................................................................................................ 23

Prototype Requirements....................................................................................................................................................... 23

To COBie or Not to COBie ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 24

Future Opportunities for BIM Asset Management ........................................................................................................ 26

Subtask 5: BIM Standards and Guidelines................................................................................... 27

Fact Finding ...............................................................................................................................................................................27

Defining the Business Case ...................................................................................................................................................27

Prototypes ................................................................................................................................................................................ 28

Future Opportunities for BIM Standards and Guidance .............................................................................................. 29

Table of Contents SI Building Information Management



Subtask 6: BIM Wiki ................................................................................................................... 30

Fact Finding .............................................................................................................................................................................. 30

Defining the Business Case .................................................................................................................................................. 30

Prototype ................................................................................................................................................................................... 31

Future Opportunities for BIM Wiki .................................................................................................................................... 36

Subtask 7: Additional BIM Technologies and Applications ............................................................ 37

Fact Finding ...............................................................................................................................................................................37

BIM Viewers and Lightweight File Formats ....................................................................................................................................................... 37

Autodesk BIM 360 Glue ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 38

Support Applications for SI Project Execution - Autodesk Navisworks and BIM 360 Field .......................................................... 39

Model Checking Applications ................................................................................................................................................................................. 41

BIM Servers ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 43

Energy Analysis with BIM .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 44

Subtask 8: Action Plan ................................................................................................................ 46

BIM Inventory .......................................................................................................................................................................... 46

BIM Templates ......................................................................................................................................................................... 47

BIM and Spatial Data ............................................................................................................................................................. 47

BIM and Asset Management ............................................................................................................................................... 47

BIM Standards and Guidelines ............................................................................................................................................ 48

BIM Wiki ................................................................................................................................................................................... 48

Augmenting BIM .................................................................................................................................................................... 49

BIM Development Roadmap ................................................................................................................................................ 51

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................................. 51

End Notes .................................................................................................................................. 52

SI Building Information Management



Executive Summary

The introduction of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology to the design and construction industry has

created significant efficiencies, particularly with regard to work process for designers and construction contractors.

The Smithsonian Institution (SI), one of the most progressive facility owners in the country, undertook this study to

determine how BIM technology might support the building owner’s work process. This is a field that is ripe for

discovery because building owners do not use BIM software directly and are thus not part of the software

developer’s marketing or development efforts.

Beginning in 2007, as BIM emerged as a core component of Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC)

practice, McGraw-Hill Construction (MHC) closely tracked adoption and business impacts of BIM in the building

industry. MGH notes that BIM expansion increased by 17% in 2007 to 71% in 2012.1 MHC’s ongoing series of

SmartMarket Reports describe BIM’s business benefits, increased efficiencies, and return on investment. In

February 2014, MHC forecast BIM’s continued expansion, particularly by contractors, in the next two years.2

The Smithsonian’s AEC consultants are adopting and using BIM for their project development efforts, even though

there are no SI requirements for it. SI is already receiving BIM deliverables, although often submitted as CAD and

PDF files. The new National Museum for African American History Museum (NMAAHC), currently under

construction, is utilizing BIM to coordinate its team of 32 consultants.

The potential for using BIM’s capabilities to develop an information-laden, 3D parametric building model to

support the SI’s facilities management practice is the subject of this study. In embarking on the study, SI

management requested that any proposed improvements be accomplished utilizing existing software and the

software capabilities of the existing staff. After discussion and analysis of interviews with SI stakeholders, the

following subtasks were identified, supported by the business objectives articulated below:

1. Subtask 1: BIM Inventory

Business Objective: Development of a BIM repository (inventory) of SI facilities information that is

consistent in completeness and formats will provide SI with highly useful resource for building

information. The initial BIM inventory will include minimum SI data requirements that can be

extended in the future. SI BIM specialists will begin to create BIMs for existing SI facilities, and AEC

consultants will provide project deliverables to support and update the BIM inventory for new

projects. This will greatly reduce the time spent on project discovery, to document existing conditions,

for programmers, planners and designers.

Solution: DCStrategies created a prototype FM-BIM of the National Air and Space Museum became

the basis for development of additional models. SI hired a BIM Specialist to develop FM-BIM for other

SI facilities.

2. Subtask 2: SI BIM Templates

Business Objective: BIM templates for use by SI BIM specialists as well as AE consultants will provide

consistently structured and formatted data that can be used by other applications and stakeholders to

retrieve spatial and asset data.

Solution: DCStrategies created four BIM templates, as well as a user guide, for Architectural, Structural,

Mechanical/Plumbing and Electrical data. The templates are being evaluated by SI IDIQ AEC

contractors.

Executive Summary SI Building Information Management



3. Subtask 3: BIM and Spatial Data Exchange

Business Objective: Existing CAD data exchange workflows are dependent on manual data entry which

is prone to errors and inconsistencies. An automated workflow using BIM will be more efficient and

complete. As a starting point, this subtask evaluated ways to exchange floor plan data and spatial

data from BIM to the existing SI Explorer application.

Solution: DCStrategies documented three work processes for exporting BIM data to SI Explorer. All

four achieve significant improvements over the existing work process.

4. Subtask 4: Asset Management from BIM

Business Objective: SI frequently needs to determine the location and attributes of MEP assets.

Creating MEP and Electrical as-built BIMs would be a prodigious effort, but the potential to obtain

accurate and consistent data on SI building components at project delivery would be a strong step

forward for the SI’s asset management practice. This subtask explored ways to exchange asset data

with SI’s Tririga Facility Center.

Solution: DCStrategies outlined the framework for a data exchange process with Tririga Facility Center.

5. Subtask 5: BIM Standards and Guidelines

Business Objective: Development of a framework for publishing BIM standards to clearly communicate

SI requirements to all stakeholders in order to implement BIM requirements consistently.

Solution: DCStrategies described the requirements and priorities needed for BIM Standards and

Guidelines

6. Subtask 6: BIM Wiki

Business Objective: Provide a framework for SI personnel to develop a web site containing facility

information that is a readily accessible interactive resource. The BIM Wiki can also be used as a

preliminary staging platform for BIM information that will be integrated into templates in the future.

Solution: DCStrategies created a prototype and a “storyboard” for the BIM Wiki. SI personnel are

developing the concept on the SharePoint platform.

7. Subtask 7: Augmenting BIM

Business Objective: Evaluate and describe COTS technology solutions that have the potential to

support SI business goals in order to inform SI planning efforts by increasing the functionality of BIM

data.

Solution: DCStrategies did a market scan of existing technologies that might support SI BIM goals for

SI’s consideration.

8. Subtask 8: BIM Action Plan

Business Objective: Inform SI BIM planning efforts by evaluating technology enhancements with the

potential to support SI business goals.

Solution: Chapter 8 describes a suggested strategy for furthering the SI BIM initiatives initiated by this

report.




Introduction

Building information modeling (BIM) is both a complex software technology and a business process that develops,

integrates, and communicates information about buildings and their components. BIM uses an intelligent 3D

virtual model and associated database to organize facility information. The challenge for building owners is to

identify the BIM information that is most meaningful to facility stakeholders across the building lifecycle and to

develop a work process that makes the information readily accessible to those stakeholders.

In an effort to use BIM technology to improve product quality and work efficiencies, the Smithsonian Institution

(SI) directed Design + Construction Strategies (DCStrategies) to explore aspects of BIM development that might

enhance the operations of the SI Office of Facilities Engineering and Operations (OFEO).

SI has standardized its BIM practice on the Autodesk Revit / Autodesk Building Design Suite of applications.

Developed in this study relate solely to Autodesk Revit. The processes and recommendations in this study solely

relate to the capabilities of Revit and supplemental tools that could enhance Autodesk Revit.

SI receives BIM data from a variety of sources. In this report, the models developed by SI’s BIM Specialist for SI’s

internal needs are called FM-BIM. The models developed by AEC contractors for new projects are called project

BIM. The models developed by AEC contractors for renovation projects, which are models of a portion of the

building rather than the entire building, are called partial BIM.

TASK ORDER METHODOLOGY

Fact Finding

To better understand SI business needs and to fully define the subtasks required to complete the study,

DCStrategies interviewed OFEO stakeholders identified by SI management. The interviews provided information

about the full breadth of OFEO practice requirements and information support needs. The interview data was used

to validate areas of inquiry and determine BIM data priorities for SI.

As goals and priorities were identified, they were studied in greater detail to provide additional information about

SI needs, best practices in other organizations, and to define a framework for the subtasks. Progress meetings

presented research findings to key stakeholders on the OFEO BIM Committee, along with prototyping results,

initial ideas and recommendations. As a result of fact finding and progress meeting reports, BIM development

efforts were further refined and focused.

Defining the Business Case

After reviewing information gathered from interviews and studies and identifying information of importance to

each stakeholder group, SI and DCStrategies identified subtasks and refined the business objectives for each. The

following topics were determined to be candidates for future subtasks:

1. Identifying methodologies for developing and deploying BIM within a “Campus Information

Management” framework

2. BIM for SI Landscape Management

3. Enhanced visual display and analysis tools for capital asset management

4. BIM for Security Management and Analysis

5. BIM for Historic Preservation

Introduction SI Building Information Management



Prototypes

In order to test the feasibility of each subtask solution, DCStrategies developed a work plan for creating

prototypes. The prototypes are described as part of the narrative of each subtask in this report.

Future Opportunities

After receiving SI approval of the prototypes, DCStrategies did additional research to identify how each subtask

could be further developed in the future. These suggestions, along with a timeline for developing the OFEO BIM

practice over the next few years, is included in the chapter for Sub-Task 8: Action Plan.




Subtask 1: The BIM Inventory

FACT FINDING

Existing Models

In order to determine requirements for a BIM inventory, DCStrategies reviewed the models in the existing SI

inventory to determine the typical level of model completeness. Information gleaned from this review led to

development of prototype BIM models that became a standard for the SI BIM Inventory, and an ability to develop

a preliminary work process for improving the existing BIM inventory to a consistent level of development (LOD).

DCStrategies reviewed the existing BIM models and CAD plans in the SI files in order to establish commonalities

and gaps. This included 23 SI buildings. Our review examined the number of rooms and floors in the SI buildings

along with their overall size (gross square footage). We reviewed components included in the model and there

level of development.

Capital Project Plan

DCStrategies reviewed the SI’s Five-Year Capital Project Plan in order to identify SI buildings with large planned

renovation projects in the next few years, in order to determine which of these facilities might be prime candidates

for BIM model development.

Data from the five year plan was aggregated in a graph (shown below in Figure 1) and the National Air & Space

Museum (NASM) became the leading candidate because it is scheduled to undergo significant renovation in the

near future.

New Project Models

The BIM for the National Museum of African-American History and Culture (NMAAHC) currently under

construction, was reviewed and provided insight into how project BIMs can be transitioned into a standard SI

framework for continued lifecycle management.

Figure 1: SI Properties and Capital Project Funding (in $thousands). Source SI 5 Year Capital Plan, Oct 2013

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

Capital Project Funding by Property FY13-19 FPD + MR + OR + CON + Other Funding Sources

FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 TOTAL

Subtask 1: The BIM Inventory SI Building Information Management



DEFINING THE BUSINESS CASE

Attributes of BIM Inventory Models

A significant goal for the BIM Inventory is to support A/E project development and reduce the need for discovery

by the project team. Currently, significant effort and expense is directed at verifying existing conditions, obtaining

accurate existing measurements, locating existing spaces and documenting existing assets. The BIM inventory is

intended to diminish the amount of effort required to establish existing conditions. Space organization and

dimensions are the baseline, but BIM Inventory models will incorporate the SI-specific set of BIM templates

(described in the chapter for Subtask 2) that will further document spatial and asset characteristics, as well as the

room locations of asbestos-containing material.

SI retained a BIM Specialist to assist in developing the BIM Inventory. DCStrategies collaborated with the SI BIM

specialist to develop a work plan for upgrading existing models to meet the standards of the BIM Inventory. SI

determined that once BIM Inventory standards were established, the first group of facilities that will be modeled

are the South Mall museums.

PROTOTYPES

The desired Level of Detail (LOD) for the initial BIM Inventory was determined to be roughly equivalent to the

information contained within SI CAD plans. These plans include architectural components only, with information

roughly equivalent to the detail provided at the schematic design phase of a project. DCStrategies edited and

supplemented the existing model of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) to create a prototype for the

BIM Inventory. Models incorporated in the BIM Inventory were called “FM-BIM”.

In order to develop a framework for FM-BIM, DCStrategies reviewed SI’s existing documentation for SI buildings

on the Mall plus other prominent and/or large facilities. The review noted if there was an existing BIM model for a

building that could expedite BIM development and, in order to prioritize FM-BIM development, the approximate

number of capital projects slated for each facility was documented. These are listed in table below.

The 19 buildings evaluated represent over 12 million gross square feet of space which is over half of SI’s overall

gross square feet of inventory, shown in Table 1: List of Prominent SI Facilities, Building Area (GSF).

Property

Building Area

(gsf)

Existing

BIM

Capital

Projects

So

uth

Mall

NASM-Mall 686,713

1

Hirshhorn Museum 170,602

10

SIB 153,826

7

Arts & Industries Building 185,788

21

Freer Museum 181,159

15

Quadrangle 388,501

19

NMAI-Mall 441,231

18

subtotal 2,207,820

No

rth

Mall &

DC

NMAAHC-Mall 300,000

4

NMNH 1,483,000

3

NMAH 773,911

5

Reynolds Center 332,000

22

National Postal Museum 73,639

20

Subtask 1: The BIM Inventory SI Building Information Management



Renwick Museum 39,397

11

subtotal 3,001,947

Ou

tsid

e D

C

NASM-Dulles 524,000

12

MSC-Suitland 772,780

9

Anacostia Community Museum 33,598

17

NMAI-Suitland 164,133

Cooper Hewitt-Main, NY 67,199

13

NMAI-NYC 272,679

14

subtotal 1,834,389

Total 7,044,156

Out of SI total of 12M+

GSF of space

FUTURE BIM INVENTORY OPPORTUNITIES

Completing the BIM Inventory will require dedicated effort. A rough estimate of effort required to achieve initial

FM-BIM for the 23 buildings identified as significant is 77 to 113 man weeks (assuming 40 hours per week).

Variables, such as the skill level of the BIM developer, consistency and quality of the baseline building information

(BIM, CAD, PDF files or drawings), and the continuity of development effort can influence the timeline. A matrix

that details the estimated level of effort required for the initial set of SI BIMs is included in Appendix C of this

report. Additional opportunities to support the BIM Inventory are described in the chapter for Subtask 8: Action

Plan.

Campus BIM

In addition to expanding the number of facilities included in the BIM Inventory and expanding the level of detail

contained in FM-BIM, SI would benefit from a BIM framework for SI campuses. Extending beyond a single building

model, Campus BIM could provide a visual data platform to manage the land, landscape, site infrastructure, and

buildings components of the installation.

SI maintains several campuses, the largest of which is the National Zoo (NZP). NZP has a high level of capital

project activity, as well a diverse and complex set of information requirements that could be supported both by

BIM (for buildings) and GIS (for site and infrastructure asset management) technologies. Development of a

prototype for NZP was deemed too ambitious for inclusion in this task order, but is a future area of development

for SI. A use case that describes SI Campus building information requirements is included in this Appendix A of

this report.

Table 2: SI Top 5 Campuses by Building GSF (Source: SI Federal Real Property Profile 2011)

SI Campuses Buildings

(SF)

Buildings

(approx #)

Structures

(# assets)

Land

(# assets)

NZP-DC 752,000 152 5 89

NZP-VA 387,000 156 9 4

STRI-Tupper 117,000 11 7

SERC-Main 107,000 55 9

STRI-Barro Colorado 84,000 41 16 1




Subtask 2: SI BIM Templates

FACT FINDING

BIM templates are a well-established means of creating a standardized work environment within BIM. They serve

to foster consistency in BIM development, for both AEC project teams and support SI requirements for the model.

Templates also help expedite setup in the modeling effort.

Templates can incorporate drawing and documentation standards, data fields, terminology, model views, user

interfaces and many other items. The data contained in the templates can be readily exported to other

applications via schedules generated by BIM.

SI’s BIM standard software product, Autodesk Revit, has the capability to configure, save and deploy a standard

working environment as a Revit “template” file. Once configured, the template is saved as a Revit-format file with

the extension - “.rte “. Multiple templates can be applied to a model.

Federal Agencies Employing Revit Templates

Other federal agencies have developed BIM templates to guide development for their many ongoing projects.

These include:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

The Corps of Engineers have developed architectural, electrical, mechanical, and structural BIM templates

to support their project execution processes. The files can be downloaded, along with other BIM guidance,

from the USACE CAD/BIM Center’s web site.

https://cadbim.usace.army.mil/default.aspx?p=a&t=1&i=12

This subtask solution incorporated several of the standard USACE schedule views within the SI Revit

templates to provide support for project document development.

U.S. Air Force Autodesk Revit S-File Template

The U.S. Air Force has developed a Revit template that incorporates USAF-required spatial data. The

agency’s goal is to integrate this information into the agency’s GIS system of record.

http://www.wbdg.org/references/afbim_tools.php

This subtask solution includes spatial data fields required for SI Explorer within the SI Revit Architectural

template.

GSA Spatial Template for Revit

As the federal government’s landlord, GSA’s BIM requirements have a strong focus on documenting spatial

data in project models for eventual delivery and exchange into the agency’s space management system.

GSA’s Revit template includes views and parameters for developing spatial data, and standard GSA

conventions (in Revit pick lists) to enforce consistent data entry for room information.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/oc/offer/form?siteID=123112&id=18070429

The SI architectural template developed in this subtask includes customized views to support SI spatial

data field requirements for net floor area plan, gross floor area plan, and schedule view.

https://cadbim.usace.army.mil/default.aspx?p=a&t=1&i=12

http://www.wbdg.org/references/afbim_tools.php

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/oc/offer/form?siteID=123112&id=18070429

Subtask 2: SI BIM Templates SI Building Information Management



DEFINING THE BIM TEMPLATE BUSINESS CASE

Key business goals for developing SI Revit templates are to provide a standardized

Revit work environment to foster consistency in BIM development as well as to

enforce consistency and alignment with SI standards.

In order to provide sufficient data, three types of templates are required. The

architectural template includes space data and the location of asbestos containing

material. The mechanical-plumbing template and electrical template contain asset

information. Space, asbestos and asset information are SI’s primary data needs for

both new projects and internal SI initiatives.

The SI architectural template supports SI spatial development and standards by providing SI-required data fields

for rooms and floors, along with standard area calculations. The template also provides for standardized CAD

exports in accordance with the National CAD Standard v5 and SI document conventions; and provides

standardized views and naming conventions.

Figure 2: Revit templates - GSA Spatial (left) and USAF S-File (right)




PROTOTYPES

DCStrategies developed four separate Revit templates to support the following A/E disciplines: architectural,

mechanical/plumbing, electrical, and structural, along with a user’s guide explaining common features for all

templates and distinct features included for each discipline.

All templates include:

• Units of measure - configurable for either Imperial or Metric BIM development

• Views:

- Standard views: floor plans, ceiling plans, elevations

- Schedules

- Sheet views (and an organizational framework for the sheets)

• Object parameters for SI data fields

• CAD standards object styles, line styles, and line weights, annotations (NCS 5.0 standards)

• Standard SI title blocks, standard sheets

• Project information (supporting standard sheet documentation)

Figure 3: RoomArea spatial plan view in the NASM model - applied with the SI Revit Architectural Template

SI Revit Architectural Templates (with Spatial and Asbestos Data Support)

As shown in Figure 3 above, the architectural template includes dimensional and space attribute

information. It also includes a field that notes if asbestos-containing materials occur in the space. The

templates do not contain any customized families of objects such as doors, windows or columns, nor do

they contain material definitions as the Revit default templates were deemed sufficient.




SI Revit Mechanical/Plumbing and Electrical Templates (with Asset Data Support)

The Mechanical/Plumbing and Electrical templates include asset information, indicated in Figure 4 below.

The SI maintains a list of over a hundred items to track for its overall asset management requirements.

DCStrategies intended to include a pick list (which Revit terms a “key schedule”) of all the names and

MasterFormat codes for these items within Revit to assist in data entry. Unfortunately Revit, at this time, does not

support key schedule functionality for multi-category schedules, such as those required to support asset

schedules within the SI Revit templates.

FUTURE TEMPLATE OPPORTUNITIES

SI has begun utilizing the templates for its internal development of SI building models, beginning with the NASM

BIM development. SI has provided template-based BIMs to AEC teams with active project to get feedback. The SI

BIM templates and user’s guide should be reviewed and updated as needed, based experience within OFEO SI BIM

practice, and as SI BIM practices and guidelines evolve.

General

Asset

Information

Equipment

Spec

Information

Location Info

Figure 4: Revit mechanical/plumbing plan highlighting one asset and its parameters for SI asset data




Subtask 3: BIM and Spatial Data Exchange

FACT FINDING

With a real property portfolio of over 760 buildings and structures, including over 20,000 rooms and 12 million

square feet of space, the Smithsonian has long utilized technology to manage spatial data for its globally

dispersed facilities. SI Explorer, a customized web-based geodatabase application is the primary resource for

accessing SI spatial data, including floor plan layouts. The organization’s facilities management system of record,

Tririga Facility Center (FC), is the repository for the SI’s spatial data tables, and processes are in place for it to

synchronize that data with SI Explorer, and CAD.

Technologies that include CAD and GIS have helped to improve spatial management, but manual processes and

redundancies remain. At present, after SI CAD files are updated to reflect new or renovated spaces for SI facilities,

spatial data extracted from CAD is provided to Tririga and the data and graphics are formatted and delivered to SI

Explorer. The introduction of Building Information Model (BIM) at the SI will impact the current CAD-based

interchanges with Tririga and SI Explorer.

To incorporate BIM in lieu of CAD for SI spatial data management, and also find improvements over current work

processes for spatial data exchange, DCStrategies reviewed the current SI workflows. We diagramed the steps the

SI currently follows to extract spatial information from project CAD deliverables and exchange that information to

the SI’s geodatabase, SI Explorer. The current process is based on Autodesk’s AutoCAD application configured with

Tririga’s CAD Integrator add-in tool. The add-in serves to collect spatial data from the CAD drawing and exporting

the data to the Tririga FC database.

The current workflow to incorporate new spatial data from CAD files into the SI spatial system of record, Tririga

Facility Center, is accomplished using a plug-in tool for that AutoCAD, the Tririga CAD Integrator. The add-in is

employed by a CAD user to trace over the floor plan drawing (“polylining”) to outline gross and rental floor areas,

room areas and perimeters.

Figure 5: SI Explorer view of the NASM First Floor Plan - spatial data view

Subtask 3: BIM and Spatial Data Exchange SI Building Information Management



Existing Data Exchange for CAD to SI Explorer and CAD to Tririga

Figure 6: Existing workflow to transfer spatial data from CAD (into Tririga) and to the SI Explorer GIS application

Key Points on the Existing Process

The following steps in the current process were identified as inefficiencies that could be eliminated in a BIM-based

workflow:

• Current tedious, time-consuming steps to manually trace over rooms and area perimeters

would be eliminated by BIM.

• Manual tracing of room and area perimeter boundaries introduces the probability of human

error, inconsistencies and reduced accuracy of the data. BIM automates the calculations of

spatial calculations.

• CAD files need to be manually checked for adherence to standards before exporting to GIS,

which increases the time and effort required for the process.

DEFINING THE BIM AND SPATIAL DATA BUSINESS CASE

The most important goals for spatial data exchange from BIM to GIS are:

• Replicate the existing CAD export process from Revit, and enhancing it by utilizing the spatial

fields provided by the SI Revit Architectural template developed in Subtask 2

• Introduce additional efficiencies to the process

• Research, recommend and test options to enhance the BIM to SI Explorer workflow, by

utilizing third party software

• Test the proof-of-concept methodology for a BIM to SI Explorer data exchange workflow(s)

using the National Air & Space Museum (NASM) model developed in Subtask 1




[Note: Refer to Appendix D for a more detailed review of the Revit prototyping effort and the proposed

workflows]

PROTOTYPES

Prototype 1: Revit to CAD + Tririga CAD Integrator to SI Explorer

Because Revit has the native capability to export CAD format files from the model, replicating the current process

exactly is straightforward. However, the use of BIM introduces efficiencies by using Revit’s capability to affiliate

data fields (parameters) with components in the model. A room “object” in BIM is not solely the geometry of the

space, but affiliated attributes, including parameters such as area, volume, and perimeter. Gross and rental floor

area “views” also can be easily configured in Revit.

To test the workflow to SI Explorer, DCStrategies used the NASM model developed in Subtask 1, enhanced with

additional detail for this exercise. The detailed testing log and description of enhancements can be found in

Appendix D).

Figure 8: Proposed workflow from Revit to SI Explorer

Figure 7: NASM Floor Plan with Room Objects




Results from the Revit to CAD using Tririga CAD Integrator to SI Explorer Workflow

(Prototype 1)

The tested workflow demonstrated several benefits over the existing process:

• The BIM process eliminates the need for tracing rooms and floor outlines, currently required,

by directly exporting CAD files from Revit floor and area plans from the SI Revit architectural

template.

• The BIM process eliminates the need to manually move elements into specific layers, as is

done now with CAD. Currently, project teams organize their project CAD files to suit their

production needs whereas the SI needs the elements in a specific layer, and generally

different organizational framework in order to export the data to SI Explorer. The Revit export,

with the architectural template, creates a CAD file that organizes all of the elements in the

correct layers for SI requirements. No extra or unnecessary layers are created in this process.

• The export process from Revit establishes the “units” setting for the files. This eliminates the

current requirement to manually scale CAD drawings into millimeters (the dimensional setting

utilized by SI Explorer geodatabase. CAD deliverables typically are not developed with

millimeters as their base dimensional units).

• Revit will attach spatial data to the (exported) polylines. This data is utilized in the Tririga CAD

Integrator step of the workflow, to export the data fields from the AutoCAD drawing’s room

polylines to the Tririga Facility Center table for spatial data.

Prototype 2: Revit to FME Workbench to SI Explorer

In lieu of using the Tririga CAD Integrator, DCStrategies developed another prototype using Feature Manipulation

Engine (FME) Workbench from Safe Software, Inc. This application provides capabilities to convert, restructure, and

integrate data from one software format to another. It is particularly well suited for converting the Revit file format

directly to the format used by SI Explorer (ESRI ArcInfo).

Safe Software’s capabilities were not fully explored in this prototype exercise, but include the following:

• FME can automate the steps currently employed to manually attach Facility Center data to

space entities utilizing the Tririga CAD Integrator plug-in application. This feature would

minimize translation errors and also provide a faster translation process.

Figure 9: Proposed workflow Revit to SI Explorer via Safe Software's FME Workbench application




• FME transfers BIM/CAD data from a Autodesk Revit model to formats usable in SI’s ESRI-

based GIS application, SI Explorer.

• FME can manipulate very large and complex datasets which is potentially very valuable for SI.

• FME can be configured to perform the following actions in one step - Extract, Translate and

Load (ETL):

- Extract a specific set of information from Revit

- Reformate it

- Combine this data with facility management data in a Excel format file

- Translate it to the required GIS format (ESRI Arc Info) usable by SI Explorer

• FME can convert, restructure, integrate and distribute Autodesk Revit data for use in more

than 325 different formats. Additional uses of FME that could be relevant to the SI’s workflows

that were not tested during this task order, including:

- Extracting 2D floor plans for use in CAD applications (in lieu of Revit’s CAD export facility,

the advantages/disadvantages of this option have not been investigated in this task order)

- Performing calculations using dimensions contained in BIM data

- Importing descriptive information from BIM datasets into spreadsheets

- Integrating and transforming 2D and 3D data to create informative 3D models in GIS

Figure 10: FME Workbench work session showing a configuration for data extraction from Revit and translation to an ESRI

geodatabase format




Results from the Revit to FME to SI Explorer Workflow (Prototype 2)

FME Workbench must be configured for the specific translation process being accommodated. The software

toolkit does not provide pure ‘out of the box” functionality because translation requirements are highly variable.

DCStrategies configured FME Workbench for the SI’s Revit to ESRI translation requirements, and tested the process

successfully. The FME configuration files are included in the Task Order deliverables.

The most significant advantage to using FME in the Revit to SI Explorer Workflow is its capability to eliminate the

current manual process of attaching Tririga Facility Center data for each room to the respective CAD room

polyline.

DCStrategies did not test the exchange of spatial data within BIM to the Tririga Facility Center.

Prototype 3: Revit to FME Add-in to SI Explorer

FME Workbench can convert BIM files to over 300 different formats, but Safe Software also developed a plug-in

specifically designed to export specially formatted files from Revit (Safe Software’s *.RVZ format) to ESRI’s ArcMap

software, using FME connections. This capability was tested to see if eliminating FME Workbench created

additional efficiencies.

DCStrategies tested the FME Revit Plug-in application with the NASM model, and was successful in exporting the

Revit room elements to the SI geo-database format, in both 2D and 3D formats. The translation successfully

transferred:

• 2D closed room polylines from Revit room objects

• All of the data associated with each room in the Revit model (room parameters)

• 3D room geo-database layer with all the associated room data

However during our brief testing, we were unsuccessful in getting the FME Revit 2014 add-in to transform the

complete 3D NASM Revit model with textures into the ESRI ArcScene geo-database. This might be due to the

large model file size, which is larger than the 32-bit FME application could handle, or alignment between the FME

add-in, Revit and ESRI application.

SI uses a 32-bit ESRI GIS installation for SI Explorer because there is no 64-bit ESRI GIS currently on the market.

The SI Revit application is 64-bit as required by the recommended 64 workstation that supports Revit.

DCStrategies utilized FME’s 64-bit plug-in application to align with Revit but could not use the 64-bit FME plug-in

Figure 11 : Proposed workflow Revit to SI Explorer via Safe Software's FME plug-in application for Revit




for fully translating the NASM Revit model with textures into a 32-bit ESRI ArcScene geo-database. It is entirely

possible that Safe Software can develop a solution for this issue.

Results from the Revit to FME Plug-in to SI Explorer Workflow (Prototype 3)

This workflow provides eliminates multiple steps from the exchange process although our testing of a large Revit

model (the NASM model) failed the translation.

If this option looks promising, workflows to exchange spatial data with Tririga FC will need to be prototyped, since

it eliminates the Tririga CAD Integrator from the process, so a new process for that exchanging data with Tririga FC

will need to be incorporated in the workflow. Due to time constraints, DCStrategies did not test data exchange

with Tririga FC utilizing the FME plug-in.

FME software tools and customized plug-ins developed with the Revit API can offer opportunities for further

automation to the SI, and can be prototyped to provide increased efficiencies to the spatial workflow process, and

other requirements, such as SI Asset Data exchanges, Revit to lightweight BIM workflows, and other to be

determined.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIM AND SPATIAL DATA

The success of this effort in the future is intertwined with the growth of FM-BIM (see Chapter 1), the deployment

of a BIM Server (Chapter 6) and other enhancements to SI’s space management process. As the SI Revit template

and the spatial standards included within it are enhanced, they must be tested as part of the data exchange work

process. The Chapter 8 Action Plan describes additional goals for BIM and Spatial data.

Figure 12: Screen shot of Safe Software FME Connections add-in for Revit in ArcGIS/Arc Catalog




Subtask 4: Asset Management from BIM

FACT FINDING

The ability to locate and understand the attributes of facility assets is a recurring need for SI’s planning, design,

operations and maintenance work flows. BIM’s capability to affiliate data with model components offers the SI the

potential to collect key asset information at project delivery from the construction contract. At present, the SI is

not collecting asset management information at project turnover.

The key to fully utilizing Revit for asset management rests on the capability to exchange data from Revit with

external applications, particularly with an organization’s asset data system of record, such as SI’s Tririga Facility

Center. Revit provides several options for data exchange as listed below.

Table 3: Revit options for exporting data

Revit Export Option Description

Revit Export to Reports-Schedule Revit command option to export schedule data to a text delimited

file.

Revit Export to ODBC Revit export command that provides the capability to export data

to an ODBC connected resource such as MS Excel

Autodesk Revit DBLink Add-in

application

Utility application for exporting, linking and managing project

parameters in Revit with an external database (such as Access or

SQL) for asset tracking and management. (Available from the

Autodesk Subscription Center3).

Revit API (application program interface) The Revit .NET based toolkit supports customized program

development with any .NET compliant language including Visual

Basic.NET, C#, and C++/CLI.

Creating full MEP and Electrical as-built BIMs would be a prodigious effort, and may not be practical. However,

exporting asset information from the project BIM could easily be accommodated by Revit’s standard schedule

export capabilities (via delimited text files). This export format can provide SI with final asset data at project

completion, for eventual intake Into the Tririga FC asset management system.

Another option for a more automated workflow can be developed using a customized plug-in to Revit that is

created with the Revit API software toolkit. The plug-in tool could provide for automated data validation, aligned

with SI requirements, and could transfer data directly into Tririga, which is not possible with text files. The Tririga

import process for text or spreadsheet data involves much manual checking and alignment before intake into that

application’s data tables.

To fully support SI asset management with BIM, it is imperative that the mechanical/plumbing and/or electrical

templates are utilized correctly. Otherwise, asset data will not be consistent with SI requirements and data

definitions.

Subtask 4: Asset Management and BIM SI Building Information Management



DEFINING THE ASSET MANAGEMENT BUSINESS CASE

Collecting accurate information about new assets

entering the SI inventory after project completion, will

provide several benefits, serving to:

• alleviate the current manual discovery

process of new assets by OFMR personnel;

• jump-start the management of those assets

in the Tririga work order management

system, and

• assist the SI in maintaining an

accurate and complete asset

inventory for ongoing lifecycle

management tasks

PROTOTYPE REQUIREMENTS

The workflow developed for spatial data exchange, as part of Subtask 3 can be adapted and tested for asset data.

Although time constraints prevented testing for this subtask, the following are recommended initial tests:

• Developing BIM with the mechanical/plumbing or electrical template and 3D MEP objects,

supplemented with the appropriate asset data exported from Facility Center.

• Test Revit’s the following output workflows:

- From Revit Schedules, export to delimited text files, import to MS Excel

- Optionally, test utilizing Revit’s Export via ODBC to Excel or Access

- Optionally, download the Autodesk DBlink add-in application for Revit, install and test

connectivity from a model to a MS Access test database

• During the testing, review the SI Revit templates’ Asset Schedule for alignment with ongoing

OFEO asset management initiatives. Required fields may change and the template may need

to be updated.

At the start of project development, the SI will provide the A/E with asset data for use in developing the project

BIMs. The models will include relevant SI assets, both existing and new, as required by the scope of the project.

Assets in the project BIMs will be developed as 3D component objects, and will have a set of SI data fields

(parameters) affiliated with each. These parameters are set up in the BIM by the SI BIM Mechanical/Plumbing and

Electrical templates. The final format for delivering the asset data from the BIM deliverable must be determined.

With regard to developing a plug-in application to automate the data transfer from Tririga FC to BIM, DCStrategies

has developed a similar Revit add-in application to quickly populate Revit models with generic asset objects and

customized data attributes. This application reads data from a spreadsheet file to create generic BIM objects for

Figure 13: View of a Revit mechanical model

with SI asset data list in the background




each asset and populates each object with the correct asset data, and locates each component in the correct

room.4

There are many ways to develop a Revit tool customized for SI’s work processes, data specifications and

interoperability requirements. Unfortunately, there are no out-of-the box solutions that would provide

interoperability of Revit data with Tririga IWMS applications.

To COBie or Not to COBie

The Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) is a data exchange standard for organizing

information gathered during the building design and construction process in a framework that can be transferred

to the owner’s operations and maintenance (O&M) team.

COBie covers all information that can be included in project deliverables, which is wide ranging and may include

such items as maintenance schedules, warranty information, parts lists, shop drawings, material samples. COBie

has traditionally been focused on organizing information in a project workbook (MS Excel-based), which is

organized in a standard series of worksheets (or tabs) to contain different areas of project information.

COBie is being developed under the auspices of the buildingSMARTalliance (bSa)5. In recent years, much attention

has been focused to align COBie with BIM, and to provide a framework for developing COBie data within the BIM.

It’s important to note however, while BIM can include multiple component sets of the overall COBie framework,

additional information deliverables are accommodated within the COBie standard.

Figure 14: Image of a COBie-formatted spreadsheet, noting tabs that can be populated from Revit




COBie Functionality within Revit

Revit does not include native functionality for COBie, however, Autodesk has developed an add-in application that

provides basic functionality for developing and exporting COBie data from Revit6. The add-in creates the

parameters for COBie, applies them to components in the model, and sets up the schedule views required by the

COBie framework. The tool also provides the capabilities to export the Revit COBie schedules to an Excel file

organized in the COBie format.

A new COBie Extension for Revit (plug-in application) was released in January 2014 (version 1.0.5142.29264), and

has been reviewed by DCStrategies for this task order. Autodesk’s 2014 utility has been totally reworked from

previous versions7. Our testing found the application to generally function well, but its export process to write

Revit data to a COBie-formatted spreadsheet seemed unduly slow. For the testing, we employed a relatively small-

sized Revit model that was compiled from Autodesk sample models. This was a much smaller model/building than

most of the SI facilities. We also tested the plug-in capabilities with a larger BIM - the SI NASM model. We found

that the critically-needed COBie export process failed (the application hung, overnight, and was terminated). We

did not pursue additional testing or troubleshooting.

Figure 15: 3D coordination view of NMAAHC’s “HVAC Skeleton” from the project Revit model, illustrating the detail involved

in a whole building engineering model.




FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIM ASSET MANAGEMENT

To better inform its asset management practices, the SI can direct its BIM Specialist as well as project AEC team to

utilize SI Revit templates to develop asset data in upcoming SI project BIMs, and in the process:

• Establish a base BIM development standard within OFEO

• Develop, among the SI’s AEC project teams, the practice of developing BIM workflows and

deliverables for SI, including asset information

• Enhance the SI BIM data base, and Tririga FC, with new asset information from project

deliverables

Additional methods for developing BIM asset management are described in Chapter 8.




Subtask 5: BIM Standards and Guidelines

FACT FINDING

The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is a complex, high-end design project

for a new SI facility. The project team is utilizing BIM to develop, detail and document the building design. The

NMAAHC model provides a robust example of utilizing current BIM technologies for multi-disciplined project

development.

Although BIM was not a contract requirement for NMAAHC, the project design model was used as the point of

reference for SI BIM requirements, based both on elements that were included -- and not included, in the model.

One significant challenge presented by the NMAAHC BIM, is how this very large and complex federated model

can be transitioned (i.e. simplified) to be useful to the SI as an FM BIM. The design model aggregates models from

the multiple AE practitioners in the project team.

DCStrategies reviewed the in-progress

design model to determine how the

BIM could be optimized for SI use

after project completion. Our analysis

found:

• Redundant families of

objects

• Elements not modeled or

organized optimally8

• Alignment of work sets

(groupings of

components) are ad hoc

and geared towards

specific team

responsibilities and scope

of development - these

will not be the organization needed by an SI FM BIM.

These issues are likely common to many AEC project BIMs, and can be addressed in future processes

developed to process project BIM deliverables into SI FM BIMs.

Refer to Appendix E for a more detailed discussion of DCStrategies review of the NMAAHC project model.


Guidance and standards provide benchmark information for project teams or internal staff responsible for

developing BIM. Documenting SI requirements is a necessary precursor to enforcing those requirements.

Guidelines and standards should include requirements important to SI, and nothing else. Integrating BIM

requirements into existing contract documents or design standards would avoid the resistance often encountered

when a new set of standards are introduced.

For a technology that is evolving as rapidly as BIM, guidelines and standards will, of necessity, require frequent

revision. Publication and formatting of BIM standards and guidelines should consider this fact. The goal is to

provide adequate guidance on technical practices, yet not create additional burdens on staff focused on core SI

Figure 16: Sectional view through the NMAAHC Revit project model

BIM Standards & Guidelines SI Building Information Management



endeavors. Another goal for BIM standards development is to avoid prescribing processes that are the normal

domain of the design or construction teams.

Appendix I contains links to existing resources for BIM guidelines, the majority of which are intended for use by

project teams for the purpose of delivering a project. There are very few BIM guidelines that prescribe owner

requirements.

The BIM Project Execution Plan (PxP) requirements are typically developed by the project team, but SI may

wish to include requirements for specific data deliverables.

PROTOTYPES

A checklist to verify the completeness of a BIM’s development is a valuable tool, yet one that can be highly

variable, depending on current standards of the organizations, its aspirations and intent for BIM and the

experience of the BIM team and reviewers.

Included in the SI Revit Templates User’s Guide, developed for Subtask 2, provides a basic checklist for reviewing

the level of completion for Revit models. Appendix F also contains a separate listing of the checklist.

Software is available to validate and check the contents of BIM. See Subtask 7 for information about the newly

developed Revit 2014 Model Checker.

Figure 17: High level diagram of SI BIM project flow

BIM Standards & Guidelines SI Building Information Management



FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIM STANDARDS AND GUIDANCE

Of primary importance is the articulation of SI requirements in SI contract documents so that AEC’s provide the

necessary information in project BIMs. Developing a standard protocol for design review of project BIMs should

be established. File management and naming standards will also be important standards. The Chapter 8 Action

Plan includes additional suggestions for further developing BIM standards and guidance.




Subtask 6: BIM Wiki

FACT FINDING

OFEO accesses facilities information from numerous data archives and software applications. Its data resides in

multiple databases, project archives, shared drive folders holding reports, spreadsheets, CAD and PDF drawing

files, SharePoint sites; as well as in enterprise systems such as Tririga FC, SI Explorer, Document Locator and now

BIM.

During the stakeholder interviews, many OFEO professionals expressed interest in the concept of a easily

accessible, web-based “portal” that could aggregate building information from multiple in-house sources, and

would provide OFEO practice groups a common forum for information on SI facilities.


A collaborative intranet site, given the working title of the “BIM Wiki”, would establish a medium, on which, a

diverse range of meaningful information on a single Smithsonian facility could be presented. The site would

aggregate, as much as possible, information from existing resources and repositories already in use throughout

OFEO.

Using Microsoft SharePoint, a technology platform that the SI has utilized for many purposes throughout the

organization for the BIM Wiki was endorsed as a good suggestion. Once fully deployed, the BIM Wiki will be

accessible not only from the desktop, but from mobile devices as well, giving SI personnel the ability to readily

reference it in the field.

Figure 18: The landscape of information data systems, applications and tools employed within OFEO

BIM Wiki SI Building Information Management



Figure 19: Conceptual layout of a possible building

"Wiki" page

PROTOTYPE

For this task order, DCStrategies developed a series of conceptual web pages to illustrate multiple possibilities for

a building information “portal”.

A few key features deemed important for the site are:

• Provide links and quick access to OFEO data

resources such as Document Locator that are

“pre-configured” to point to the information for

that particular building

• Utilize visual elements such as floor plans,

graphics, photos to add interest

• Provide a building calendar that aggregates

activities for that building from other SI

SharePoint Calendars

• Sites for each building might want to incorporate

unique graphics, materials to distinguish the site

from other facilities (e.g. use sandstone

backgrounds or headers for The Castle pages)

• Incorporate a social media feature, such as a

discussion thread, to introduce more interactivity

into the site, and feedback from SI in-house

expertise about the building.

“BIM Wiki” is the working title used in this task order for the

intranet web-based application or “portal” for aggregating SI

building information. Wiki functionality, and the graphics and

functionality discussed in this report, may or may not be

incorporated in the initial deployment of the site.




Site Home Page

The BIM Wiki sites will need a top level web page to organize and provide links to the individual building “sites”.

The following graphic displays a home page concept using the “Windows 8” graphic paradigm, but any highly

visual approach could provide an interesting overview to the overall site.

Additional links on the site’s home page could be provided to sub-pages, such as a FAQ/Help wiki page for the

site as a whole, to key information initiatives such as BIM, or links to key data sources such as SI Explorer or

Facilities Digital Records.

Figure 20: Mockup of a possible SI BIM Wiki Home Page




Building Home Page

The BIM Wiki for an individual SI facility could be one page or a set of pages, depending on the amount of

information to be included. The mockup below, for the National Air & Space Museum, includes three pages, each

with different collections of information about NASM, including

• SI Explorer view - set up to view the property

• NASM Document Locator shortcuts to NASM drawings

• Shortcuts to NASM Project Folders via Document Locator

• NASM calendar (aggregates events from other SharePoint Calendars)

• SharePoint functions, such as Search, Help

• Subpage(s) + links to affiliated buildings (Hazy, Garber)

• Pre-project Planning information and links to the IFT SharePoint site for NASM

• Social Component e.g. SharePoint Communities

Figure 21: Mockup of a possible NASM Building Site Home Page




Building Sub-pages

The web-site for a particular building contain any number of sub-pages, with many options for configuration.

Some of the possible information panels that could be posted on the page include

• Building facts, the building “profile”

• Construction history

• Reports, such as the Historic structures report (HSR)

• Listing of the architectural elements and materials within the building

• Links to photo archives for the building

• Historic features - HSR report, or photos of these element

Figure 22: Mockup of a possible sub-page for the NASM ”BIM Wiki” showing additional information that can be

incorporated onto the site.




Figure 23: Mockup of another option for a sub-page within the NASM “BIM Wiki” site

Sub-pages within the overall building site could also display information from OFEO practice areas: OFMR,

Smithsonian Gardens, OSHEM, OPS, OBATS, Master Planning, and Historic Preservation. Data panels could include

information on a range of topics for the building, including (but not limited to):

• O&M data such as Facility Condition Indices or metrics - graphic reports

• Energy & Sustainability information - reports, LEED initiatives, energy use statistics

• IFT information - potentially cross-listed from the IFT SharePoint sites

• Training information - links to other sites, training videos or manuals, external resources

• SI Gardens information - plans, inventories, best practices, building-related specifics

• Master plans - current publications or ongoing initiatives for the building




Wireframe of the Site Development

The diagram below provide a rough sketch of the possible build-out for the “BIM Wiki” domain, with pages for

each significant SI facility, and sites for SI campuses.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIM WIKI

As SI develops, deploys and uses the BIM Wiki, suggestions for enhancements or improvements will come from its

users. Additional suggestions for enhanced functionality are described in the following chapter - Subtask 8 Action

Plan.

Figure 24: Wireframe sketch of the build out for SI Building Wiki web sites




Subtask 7: Additional BIM Technologies and Applications

FACT FINDING

DCStrategies reviewed and tested a range of software applications for this task order which included:

• Translation (ETL) Software for Revit to ESRI Data Exchanges: Safe Software’s FME Workbench

and FME Revit Exporter Add-In Application for Revit 2014 (Reviewed in Subtask 3 of this

report).

• BIM Viewers - Methods, technologies, and file formats to view lightweight versions of Revit

models, focusing on the Autodesk Glue application

• BIM Servers - Applications to manage a portfolio of building information models

• BIM Model Checker - Autodesk’s add-in application for Revit that performs a check of the

model against standards (USACE)

• BIM Project Support Software - Applications being utilized by AEC firms to expedite and

model coordination and verify project information deliverables (Autodesk Navisworks and

Autodesk BIM 360 Field. The Revit Add-in Application COBie was discussed in Subtask 4 of

this report)

BIM Viewers and Lightweight File Formats

In order for OFEO personnel to view Revit models, and potentially annotate project BIMs, BIM viewers and

lightweight file formats are vehicles to accomplish those activities without requiring SI personnel to master the

complex Revit application

Lightweight File Formats

PDF

PDF is an open file format originally developed by Adobe. 3D PDF has been adopted by Bentley

(Autodesk’s competitor for BIM software) as their lightweight BIM export format. Adobe has

divested support and further development of 3D PDF to tetra4d.com.

DCStrategies and SI tested the conversion of Revit models to 3D PDF, and determined that it

provides a good facsimile of the original Revit model. 3D PDF models could easily be distributed

via standard PDF files. Tetra4d provides a plug-in for Revit to execute the conversion. Note that

Safe Software also can convert Revit files to PDF (this was not extensively tested). Additional

vendors also provide support for 3D PDFs including Bluebeam, 3DA Systems, and potentially

other firms we haven’t identified.

DWF and DWFx

The Design Web Format (DWF) was developed by Autodesk to distribute rich design data to

facilitate viewing, review, printing or annotation independent of the original authoring

applications (AutoCAD, Revit). These files are highly compressed, thus smaller and faster to

transmit and access. Beside Autodesk applications, there are 3rd

party products that make use of

the format. DWFx is a newer format based on XML.

Additional Technologies SI Building Information Management



In using lightweight BIM file formats, the SI should consider:

• Translating Revit files to either of these lightweight formats is a one-way street – it is not

possible to directly import or translate PDF or DWF files into a Revit model - which may

impact processes for authoring, publishing and managing another additional category of 3D

information, along with the BIMs

• Safe Software has capabilities for handling DWF and PDF translations. If SI invests in FME

Workbench, it could also be useful in processes translations to these formats

Autodesk BIM 360 Glue

BIM 360 Glue9 is an online cloud-based BIM coordination and management application

10. A relatively new, and

rapidly improving product, the software aims to make BIM accessible to a wide variety of users, on the desktop

and on mobile devices. Autodesk offers Glue add-in applications for AutoCAD, Civil 3D and Navisworks, as well as

Revit.

DCStrategies tested the Autodesk Glue add-in functions within Revit and successfully exported NASM model views

to the Autodesk 360 cloud (in the Autodesk DWF file format). Interestingly, the model is not exported as a whole

entity. The user specifies views, either 2D or 3D, in the Revit model to export, so it was helpful to pre-set areas of

interest, such as the IMAX auditorium, that would be accessed in the Glue app. We accessed the cloud-based

model on an iPad using the free Autodesk Glue app, and also on the desktop (with a downloaded Glue

application). The desktop access was somewhat more robust in its functionality.

Figure 25: 3D PDF version of the NASM Revit model




The DWF format would be more advantageous to employ than PDF, since it operates seamlessly from within Revit

and other Autodesk applications. Also, Autodesk’s development efforts are focused on creating applications that

leverage lightweight BIM utilities, such as Glue, that use the DWF format. Both formats could be used for different,

yet-to-be determined purposes.

The Glue model retains its real-life scale and 3D (if the exported view is 3D), and components in Glue retain a set

of properties. Glue users can navigate through and around the model, calculate dimensions, annotate the model,

select objects and view their properties, and add an attachment to objects. We easily attached sample product

files to objects in the auditorium model view, and were able to view those attachments in subsequent work

sessions. It’s not clear if there is a limit to the type of file that can be attached - we were successful attaching and

viewing both PDF and DWG file types.

Support Applications for SI Project Execution - Autodesk Navisworks and BIM 360

Field

SI’s AEC consultant teams may employ additional BIM-related applications in their project development process.

Two applications that work in sync with Revit are Autodesk Navisworks and Autodesk BIM 360 Field.

Figure 26: Autodesk Glue screen shot showing the 3d NASM IMAX theater, and (at right)

list of properties for a seat object, and a PDF document a user had attached to the seat.




Autodesk Navisworks

As with Revit, this software is a component within Autodesk’s Building Design Suite that SI has established as its

BIM platform. Navisworks is generally considered as project review software for AEC professionals, offering the

capability to integrate multiple data files into one 3D forum. It offers a key capability for synchronizing multiple

models created by diverse disciplines or functions in a project. It supports over 30 file formats, not only Revit, but

also CAD, point clouds, Bentley and many other engineering and design files.

A primary use for Navisworks is performing clash detection analyses of the multiple building components

comprising the design. Construction companies are significant users of this software. Finding clashes between

components before construction provides significant cost savings and efficiencies for the project.

Navisworks has a free, downloadable viewer (Navisworks Freedom). If the SI’s project consultants provide

Navisworks files, this application could be useful for reviewing issues.

The software also provides capabilities for quantification, as well as visual project scheduling including, called “5D”

by some BIM vendors (this included 3D model plus other “Ds” for schedule data and cost information). 5D

scheduling with BIM is very useful for visualizing phased projects.

Autodesk BIM 360 Field

This is a separate and distinct software product from Autodesk’s BIM 360 Glue, but like Glue is a cloud-based

application. Autodesk Field is accessible from the desktop, but is primarily directed for use on site via mobile

devices. BIM 360 Field (formerly Vela Systems) is positioned as construction field management software providing

field data oversight functions.

Some of features BIM 360 Field provides are to:

• Markup and annotate photos and plans

• Connect equipment with object model information

• Distribute updated documents to the project team

• Document construction issues

• Update equipment records in the field

• Track issues in 2D and 3D

Figure 27: Navisworks screen captures showing (top left) a

clash detection review of a building model, and (top right),

a 5D project scheduling review. Images from Autodesk's

Navisworks product page.




The SI’s project team may be using this application on their projects, in which case, access to the SI review team

might provide additional insight to the CMs for project delivery. Additionally, the SI might have QA, safety,

commissioning, issue sign-off and asset tracking requirements - either as part of a construction project or for

ongoing O&M that BIM 360 Field can help manage. Autodesk offers a 30-day free trial of the software for review.11

Model Checking Applications

Model checking applications are a means to verify SI model development.

BIM Model Checkers

Visual model checking by experienced AEC professionals with BIM expertise is one way vet the completeness of a

BIM, but is a tedious process and subject to human variability. Revit’s model checker add-in lacks functionality and

doesn’t have a well-developed rule base.

Solibri, a Scandinavian software developer, has a Model Checker which has been on the market since 1999. The

Solibri Model Checker reviews BIM files in the IFC (Industry Foundation Class) format12

against a rule base that is

created by the end user. (The software does include about 300 pro-forma based rules to assist in developing the

rule base).

Revit 2014 Model Checker

Autodesk has developed a new Revit add-in application - the USACE Revit Model Checker -to verify that a Revit

model aligns with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers BIM requirements, commonly referred to as Attachment F13

.

This document lists contract requirements for building information models developed for USACE projects.

The Revit Model Checker checks the following components in the model:

• Spaces

• Walls & Curtain Walls

• Doors, Windows, and Louvers

• Roofs

• Floors

Figure 28: iPad screenshots of Autodesk BIM 360 Field - water pump commissioning (above) and QA/issue resolution (right)




• Ceilings

• Furniture

• Mechanical Piping

• Plumbing

• Fire Protection Systems

DCStrategies tested the Revit Model Checker with a sample BIM provided with the add-in14

(the tested model

passed the model check), and with the Smithsonian NASM model (which failed the check - not surprisingly since it

was not configured to align with the requirements of USACE Attachment F). The add-in is simple to use, intuitive

and returns results for the analysis process quickly.

In a brief discussion, Autodesk stated that the model checker has been developed with intent that it could be

reconfigured to meet other organization’s BIM standards, if they differ from the USACE Attachment F criteria. Note

that the reconfiguration must be done by programmers, not by non-technical end users.

Figure 29: Screen from a Revit work session showing Revit Model Checker add-in commands (in the red box) and a “Check

Report”, which shows results from a model check

The USACE Attachment F document could provide a reasonable framework on which to base a SI BIM Contract

Requirements document, along with the USACE Minimum Modeling Matrix (M3), referenced in the USACE

Attachment F document.

Additional screen shots of the Revit Model Checker utility and sample output from the testing can be found in

Appendix G of the report.




BIM Servers

As the Smithsonian BIM portfolio and practice matures, it will be faced with the challenge of managing not only its

core of building models of record, but multiple renditions of BIM files including:

• SI Facility BIM of Record (“FM BIM”) - verified, most up-to-date version of the BIM, and a

possible organizational framework that maintains separate BIMs for each discipline

(architectural, mechanical/plumbing, electrical, structural, civil/landscape)

• FM BIMs in development - BIMs that are in the process of development (in-house), regularly

updated

• Superseded FM BIMs archive - BIMs that have been updated to reflect new conditions

• SI FM BIM files superseded by annual updates to Autodesk Revit (e.g. archives of SI Revit 2014

files after use of Revit 2015 has been mandated)

• Project BIM deliverables, including the “as-built” project BIM(s) - Revit and other formats such

as Navisworks, DWF, IFC, gbXML, 3DS Max, SketchUp, point cloud, 3D DWG, PDF, and other

formats)

• SI lightweight BIM files - versions of SI FM BIMs of Record in DWF or PDF formats (those not

actively stored in the cloud, if Glue is in use)

• Energy models

• SI BIM templates, object libraries, materials

BIM Servers for Facilities Management

BIM requirements and workflows for owner organizations differ from those for AEC’s project-centric practices. At

this point in time, BIM is underdeveloped for owner-centric facility management solutions, and this is true in the

area of BIM Servers as well. Most, if not all, commercial or open source BIM servers are designed to support

ongoing AEC design and construction project BIM development and information sharing.

Facilities organizations need to manage BIM files for the full facilities lifecycle, of which project execution is one

component. Some important considerations FM BIM server technology would accommodate:

• Support for multiple ongoing BIM projects, requiring a versatile check-in/check-out facility,

and archiving

• Support for the multiple file collections and types, as discussed above

• A strong data component, to access and update data within the BIMs, including the capability

for automated interoperability with enterprise data systems (Tririga, SI Explorer)

• Robust administration and security capabilities that align with the SI established IT

requirements and government requirements

Current BIM Servers

DCStrategies did a market review of BIM server technologies for this task order. For reference, the following table

lists significant BIM Server applications currently available and in-use in the AEC industry (Revit or Open-source

based).

Table 4: BIM Servers

BIM Server

Application

Description

Autodesk Revit

Server

Application to support server-based worksharing of Revit projects across a wide area network.

Software is available for download with to those having a Autodesk Revit Subscription.




IMAGINiT Clarity Software package that enhances the base Autodesk Revit Server application with added

collaboration/communication, PM, reporting, exporting, and monitoring/system management

capabilities.

http://www.imaginit.com/software-solutions/building-architecture/imaginit-clarity-connect

Gehry GTeam Cloud-based platform to support AEC project collaboration and review, and includes functionality

to review 3D model, multiple file types. Product literature makes a nod towards owner use,

without much detail. http://www.gteam.com/

M-Six Veo Relatively new software venture that promotes a platform to create a shared digital repository

that includes BIM along with metadata, documents and photos in a cloud based environment.

They promote the solution for FM. Worth watching to see if it gains traction with any FM

organizations. https://www.m-six.com/learn

BIMserver.org European open source initiative, managing a development effort for what is essentially a kit-of-

parts for customizing a BIM server.

Energy Analysis with BIM

OFMR conducts regular energy analyses of its facilities. BIM models of SI facilities could provide excellent support

for these efforts. There are multiple options for modeling energy performance, but they are depend on well-

formed data model. DCStrategies has included a brief overview for Revit energy modeling best practices in this

report’s Appendix J.

Revit Modeling Practices for Energy Analysis

The Revit model must be well-constructed so that all of the spaces/rooms in the model are defined, and the

building is fully enclosed. With buildings as large and complex as those in the SI portfolio, this can require a

rigorous review by the Revit modeler. Revit’s gbXML Export functions provides, both visually and through a listing

of issues, a means to check and clear issue areas before export.

At present, the workflow to transfer a Revit gbXML file into a DOE-2/eQuest or EnergyPlus format file via

Autodesk’s Green Building Studio (GBS) application - which imports the gbXML file and can output DOE-2 .inp file.

GBS is a cloud-based application built upon on the DOE-2 whole building analysis engine (as is eQuest). A

subscription to GBS is included in the Autodesk Building Design Suite (the application suite that includes Revit).

Figure 30: Revit gbXML export menu

and export paths

Green Building Studio

http://www.imaginit.com/software-solutions/building-architecture/imaginit-clarity-connect

http://www.gteam.com/

https://www.m-six.com/learn




Figure 31: Energy analysis functions in Revit, employing Autodesk’s Green Building Studio for a range of energy and

sustainability analyses and report functions

Energy Modeling Within Revit

Autodesk Revit provides capabilities to conduct energy simulations within the application itself. It provides

commands to exchange the working model with the Autodesk Green Building Studio cloud-based application, and

return results to the current Revit work session.

More detailed analyses and additional capabilities can be accessed within the subscription based GBS software.

Autodesk provides documentation and frequent updates on all of these features on its websites and blogs.15

The

software has been undergoing many upgrades and enhancements in the past few years - check back often for

updates.

In addition to “Whole Building Energy Analysis” tools, Autodesk Revit (and its free Vasari modeling application)

provide functions to perform what it terms a “Conceptual Energy Analysis” (CEA). This process provides a method

to quickly model and analyze a building without all of the detailed information required for a whole building

energy analysis. Using a CEA approach can provide owners of a portfolio of buildings a quick means to baseline

the energy performance of multiple buildings, without a lot of effort, and also study alternatives for improvement

quickly, at a macro level.

DCStrategies quickly modeled the NASM building at a simple level of detail (LOD 1) and used the CEA tool to

quickly base performance data. (We did not check the energy data against actual performance numbers, as the

study was to model a building without existing drawings and create a model that could be processed by the

energy analysis program, GBS).

Action Plan SI Building Information Management



Subtask 8: Action Plan

This study developed an initial framework for FM BIM at SI. The primary objectives were 1) to integrate BIM within

the SI’s spatial data management practices, 2) provide improved documentation for SI’s project teams; and 3) to

envision a concept for enhancing overall collaboration on, and information resources for SI buildings. This study

produced encouraging results that should be sustained, expanded and further enhanced. SI management is

encouraged that BIM practice development will improve staff efficiency and effectiveness. Continuity and

persistence in developing the BIM practice is important in order to maintain momentum and institutional

knowledge.

Implementing the strategies described in this report will be a significant undertaking. In order to make this

process manageable, DCStrategies recommends that SI designate development of each subtask to one of the IDIQ

AEC teams. In this manner, the overall BIM strategy will become more integrated with SI projects and, if every IDIQ

contractor is working collaboratively on the BIM strategy, it will create a professional community of interest that

will facilitate adoption of BIM requirements on future projects. The action plan has independent recommendation

for each subtask which mixed, accelerated or deferred, depending on SI priorities.

Creating a professional community of interest for SI’s BIM practice will minimize the amount of direct interaction

required of SI personnel and BIM authoring tools, such as Autodesk Revit, which are highly technical and complex

applications.

BIM INVENTORY

In order to develop an inventory of FM-BIM models to serve as accurate (project) record documents for SI space

management, or supporting future revitalization projects, DCStrategies created a preliminary standard for FM-BIM

using the National Air and Space Museum (NASM).

SI’s BIM Specialist is developing additional FM-BIMs for the 20 or so most prominent SI facilities. SI should

designate an AEC team to provide quality control oversight of this work as well as to provide suggestions for

additional information to include in FM-BIM. By working with practicing AEC firms, the SI BIM Specialist will gain

insight into modeling techniques and the AEC consultants will become familiar with the goals of FM-BIM.

FM- BIMs in the BIM inventory will be developed over time. During this development period, SI will provide “in-

process” FM-BIMs to project teams. When providing an FM-BIM to project teams at kickoff, there will need to be

requirements in place to verify the spatial and asset data within the FM-BM. Projects with BIM requirements and

no FM-BIM provided, will need to have the asset and spatial data provided from Tririga FC, along with SI Revit

templates. A process to integrate the deliverables of a partial building project BIM (renovation project) into the FM

BIM of Record will be needed.

The next important goal for the BIM Inventory is development of a process and standards by which project

deliverables can be readily converted to FM-BIM. Processes for integrating project BIM deliverables need to be

established, including best practices to cull down project BIMs into a standard FM BIM level of detail are needed

Future goals are to develop prototypes for FM-Campus BIM, FM-Security BIM, FM-Landscape BIM, FM-Historic

Preservation BIM and other specialized SI BIM needs.




BIM TEMPLATES

A key area of interest for SI was acquiring better data for: a) space attributes, b) the location of asbestos-

containing materials, and c) MEP assets attributes, including locations. DCStrategies incorporated these

requirements into customized SI Revit templates to improve data in these key areas in the future and to support

future information exchanges with Tririga Facility Center.

DCStrategies created four Revit templates, along with a user guide, to provide a format and structure for both A/E

teams working on new projects and SI’s BIM Specialist to incorporate into FM-BIM. The data in the templates will

support consistent asset and space information in FM-BIM, and consequently, provide comprehensive data at

project completion for support of continued facilities management requirements. As AEC teams use the templates,

they should be enhanced and improved. SI should designate an AEC team to oversee the development and

delivery of BIM templates and revisions to the user guide.

BIM AND SPATIAL DATA

A significant pain point for SI is the current workflow for exporting SI spatial data from CAD to the SI facilities

management systems-of-record, SI Explorer and Tririga Facility Center. DCStrategies developed workflows that

replicated the results of the current workflow, but were far more efficient.

Additional testing and additional improvements are possible. As the SI Revit template and the spatial standards

included within it are enhanced, it needs to be tested as part of the data exchange work process. Safe Software’s

FME Workbench application can provide additional improvements to expedite the Revit to SI Explorer process

(with custom configuration), but will need further review with for fully testing and vetting data exchanges the

Tririga FC database. The newly released FME Revit Exporter 2014 Add-in can eliminate multiple steps from the

exchange process and significant improvements, but need further study and coordination with Safe Software.

SI should designate a firm with technology expertise to oversee and manage improved data exchange.

BIM AND ASSET MANAGEMENT

The BIM templates for Mechanical/Plumbing and Electrical support the development of key data attributes within

project BIMs and FM-BIMs. This study determined that the use of COBie in these templates would add

unnecessary complexity for both the SI and the project team at this time. COBie may be revisited in the future,

when SI’s BIM practice is more established and COBie BIM tools have been further refined through industry use.

SI should designate an AEC tem to conduct additional research and testing for asset management within FM-BIM

and as a deliverable requirement for project teams. Key requirements to be determined are the protocol for

providing asset data and FM-BIMs to design teams at project initiation, reviewing asset data during project

development, accepting asset data and project completion and integrating that information into FM-BIM, and

exchanging asset data from the project BIM deliverable to the Tririga FC asset management database. The goal is

to establish the FM-BIM development standard within OFEO, develop BIM asset workflows for SI’s AEC project

teams, and enhance the BIM Inventory and Tririga FC, with new asset information from project deliverables

DCStrategies recommends that the SI reserve action on adopting COBie for BIM at this time. COBie adds a

significant amount of complexity for both the owner and its AEC project teams. The SI will be better poised to

apply its resources in developing its BIM inventory, practice standards, and initiating project deployments. Since

the SI is not employing COBie in support of overall project delivery, BIM COBie has no driving rationale for

immediate adoption.




However, optimal data exchanges between Revit and Tririga for asset data should be handled by a Revit API add-in

application, not via spreadsheet or text format files. Follow-on studies could specify, design and develop a Revit

add-in for this purpose as well as study Safe Software’s FME in more detail.

BIM STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

There are a significant number of BIM standards published by other organization that have requirements for the

development of project BIM. SI can leverage and adopt these existing BIM standards, available from industry

groups and other federal agencies, where applicable to support SI goals. The standards and guidelines that SI

should develop that are unique to SI include:

• Articulating SI requirements in SI contract documents so that AEC’s provide the necessary

information in project BIMs.

• Naming standards and delivery requirements for FM BIMs that might include FM BIMs in

development, lightweight FM BIMs, as-delivered/built project BIMs, and a host of other

permutations. The workflow will become more complex as FM BIMs are provided for project

development, yet continue to be enhanced in-house or received back from other projects.

This area is a study in itself and should be overseen by an AEC consultant.

• As each facet of BIM practice evolves and is enhanced, documentation of assumptions and

requirements should be provided and integrated into a master document.

• Rules for how SI maintains and archives separate architectural, mechanical/plumbing,

electrical, structural FM-BIMs (as well as fire protection and security models). Basic standards

detailing the level of development and file management of these models will need to be

outlined.

• OPDC project review processes for project BIM and FM-BIM need to be established.

• Directions and guidelines for incorporating additional software functionality, such as

Autodesk Glue 360 should be developed if these systems become part of the standard SI

workflow.

BIM WIKI

SI has already started development of a BIM Wiki intranet site. The incorporation of capabilities to keep the site

interactive and dynamic, such as collaboration features, videos, and social media features that could also serve to

make the BIM Wiki a means to crowd-source the expertise of OFEO on the site for building-related issues and

information needs. Incorporating 3D features from BIM to SharePoint is a technical challenge, but new features

may be emerging to integrate views of the SI BIM inventory into the websites in the near future.

Next steps for SI, once the initial BIM Wiki is deployed, include:

• Determine which collaborative features to introduce interactivity within the site and deploy

them. Include a means to reach out to the many practice areas within OFEO for building-

related issues and questions

• Consider future research and pilot projects to introduce building models and 3D snapshots to

the site(s), to provide a realistic virtual model and improve building understanding




AUGMENTING BIM

There are a myriad of different ways that SI can augment BIM with supporting technologies, but an FM-capable

BIM server is a priority. Currently, Revit files are stored on the shared OFEO Q: drive, and named according to the

current standard practices. SI should designate a team to explore the options for acquiring and deploying a BIM

server. A summary of the potential enhancements currently available to SI to support BIM are summarized below.

Lightweight BIM and Autodesk Glue

The SI has considered 3D PDF exports of BIM and can easily create these models now using Autodesk BIM 360

Glue. This capability may be useful for communicating building information in a 3D format to SI project clients,

and other non-technical audiences. The initial review of Autodesk BIM 360 Glue using the NASM model highlights

many compelling features with that product that should be investigated further. Autodesk’s BIM 360 applications

(notably BIM 360 Glue and BIM 360 Field) are cloud-based, and SI may need to verify that these technologies

comply with the organization’s security requirements.

A lightweight BI format standard can offer SI a useful means to communicate model views to non-technical clients

and project coordinators. The Autodesk Glue application is emerging as a compelling solution that is fully

integrated with Revit, and capable of offering a lightweight format for reviewing project and FM issues, one that

can be deployed on mobile devices.

Construction Management - Autodesk Navisworks and BIM 360 Field

Autodesk Navisworks and Autodesk BIM 360 Field may offer capabilities to verify and improve asset data delivery

and field checking, which can be explored further. SI can use these programs to perform clash detection reviews

in-house because Navisworks is included in their Autodesk software suite.

Navisworks has capabilities to integrate multiple models. In the future, this may be useful if SI needs to review its

existing building models with other data (including point cloud surveys). If SI develops a methodology to integrate

a partial building model from a renovation project into its FM model of record, Navisworks may play a role.

SI revitalization projects, like NASM would be good candidates for 5D scheduling visualization.

Model Checking

The new Autodesk Revit Model Checker add-in application, based on USACE Attachment F criteria, functions as a

useful utility for BIM quality assurance. It might offer SI a valuable means to check its models, and should be

reviewed further. In order to implement a model checker in practice, SI need to:

• Develop a base set of SI BIM Standards to utilize. USACE’s Attachment F and M3 is a good

starting point, but additional customization is needed. Alternatively, SI could utilize the add-in

with the understanding that it provides a review based on USACE requirements, which might

be different than SI’s BIM requirements.

• Prototype the Model Checker with an SI project BIM would provide insights the capabilities of

this tool

A model checklist has been included in this report’s appendix as an initial reference for SI’s use. DCStrategies

believes that anything short of an automated application that utilizes a developed set of guidelines will not

provide adequate model checking.




BIM Servers

BIM Servers are repositories for BIM files and BIM data that allow models to be shared, archived and retrieved. SI

does not have a BIM server. SI uses a file naming and folder organization structure for storing Revit files which

conforms to current standards for CAD. This framework will serve to organize the files until BIM Server

technologies for FM mature and until SI accrues so much BIM data that the current process becomes unwieldy.

SI should establish a means for monitoring the development of BIM Server technology. In the interim, SI can

extend its current file organization framework to managing its BIM data. During this development phase, SI can

develop its life cycle requirements and detail work flows for BIM management which will form the basis for a BIM

Server specification.

The naming requirements developed as part of the continuation of Subtask 4: Asset Management for BIM

will need to be established to control the versioning and naming of Revit files being developed in-house.

A corollary naming convention to support SI Revit files developed for separate disciplines

(Mechanical/Plumbing, Electrical, Structural, and possibly Civil/Landscape) is also desirable.

Energy Modeling

OFMR has experience in conducting DOE-2/eQuest energy analyses, further testing could be done with the newly

developed SI Revit models. This could also help verify the models’ completeness for whole building energy

analyses.

SI should assign energy modeling review to an AEC consultant whose charge would be to explore a broader range

of energy and sustainability analyses capabilities, especially for the Zoo facilities. A process for measuring

greenhouse gas emissions, water use and other sustainability metrics, in addition to energy and fuel usage, may

also help SI better understand facility performance.




BIM DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP

The schedule lays out a conceptual timeline of activities for developing building information modeling practices at

the Smithsonian. The chart is organized in areas that generally reflect the topics outlined in this report. (The

timeline was developed in Excel and is provided with this task order’s deliverables as a separate file: SI BIM

Development Roadmap.xlsx, for further use and modifications by the SI).

CONCLUSION

This BIM study effort produced encouraging results that must be sustained, expanded and further enhanced in

order to be meaningful and valuable to SI. SI management understands that BIM practice development will

improve staff efficiency and effectiveness, but a disciplined and effective implementation is challenging given the

time and budget constraints of the agency. Using the talent readily available on project teams, IDIQ contracts and

other professionals who are familiar with SI processes and standards will help to facilitate implementation.

SI’s work in this realm can become a model for other organizations, many of which are struggling with similar

issues. DCStrategies was pleased to be part of this study and looks forward to seeing SI succeed.

Figure 32: Conceptual timeline for development of the SI BIM practice

End Notes SI Building Information Management



End Notes

1 McGraw_Hill Construction, “The Business Value of BIM in North America” (2012) http://bimforum.org/wp-

content/uploads/2012/12/MHC-Business-Value-of-BIM-in-North-America-2007-2012-SMR.pdf

2 McGraw_Hill Construction. “Business Value of BIM for Construction in Major Global Markets SmartMarket

Report” (2014). http://analyticsstore.construction.com/index.php/smartmarket-reports/GlobalBIMSMR14.html

3 Autodesk Subscription Center website is at https://subscription.autodesk.com

4 A video of the application can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvcQ8Wq8IPg

5 The buildingSMARTalliance is a council of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS). Reference the NIBS

COBie project web site at http://www.nibs.org/?page=bsa_cobie

6 COBie Utility website documentation: http://www.caddmicrosystems.com/cobieextension/help/index.html. Note

that the plug-in is not publically available at the time this document was compiled, but was obtained by

DCStrategies through Autodesk.

7 Autodesk’s Revit 2014 COBie Add-in application is currently available for download (free of charge) at

http://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/interoperability. Note that Revit add-in applications must be of the same

version as the Revit version being used (i.e. Revit 2014 requires “2014” add-ins).

8 In the NMAAHC model, DCStrategies wanted to remove “placeholder” 2D lighting and mechanical components

from the architectural model to improve its performance. Ideally, these elements, which were placed by the

architectural BIM team for reference when developing the model, should be removed when replaced by 3D

elements by discipline teams using Revit's copy monitor feature. If the architectural team wants to keep the 2D

reference elements, they should be put in different work sets so that they can be easily handled. Unfortunately

in this model, the reference elements for engineering components were created as generic models and were

not separated out and placed in the correct worksets, thus making it quite difficult to separate them out from

the generic architectural elements.

9 For more information reference the BIM 360 Glue help site at http://help.autodesk.com/view/BIM360/ENU/

10 For more information reference the BIM 360 Glue help site at http://help.autodesk.com/view/BIM360/ENU/

11 Refer to the Autodesk BIM 360 Field website for more information at http://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-

360/features/bim-360-field/all/gallery-view

12 The Industry Foundation Class or IFC format is a neutral data format (i.e. not vendor specific), to describe,

exchange and share information typically used within the building and facility management industry sector,

and is supported by the buildingSMARTalliance. Some organizations require deliverables in IFC format since it

is vendor neutral. The IFC framework has gained much more acceptance in Europe than in the U.S. Revit

support data exports to the IFC format. For more information on IFCs, reference the IFC Wiki at

http://www.ifcwiki.org/index.php/Main_Page

13 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers BIM Contract Language (BIM requirements), commonly known as

“Attachment F”, can be downloaded from the USACE CAD BIM Technology Center website, at

https://cadbim.usace.army.mil/BIMContractRequirements

http://bimforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MHC-Business-Value-of-BIM-in-North-America-2007-2012-SMR.pdf

http://bimforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MHC-Business-Value-of-BIM-in-North-America-2007-2012-SMR.pdf

https://subscription.autodesk.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvcQ8Wq8IPg

http://www.nibs.org/?page=bsa_cobie

http://www.caddmicrosystems.com/cobieextension/help/index.html

http://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/interoperability

http://help.autodesk.com/view/BIM360/ENU/

http://help.autodesk.com/view/BIM360/ENU/

http://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-360/features/bim-360-field/all/gallery-view

http://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-360/features/bim-360-field/all/gallery-view

http://www.ifcwiki.org/index.php/Main_Page

https://cadbim.usace.army.mil/BIMContractRequirements

End Notes SI Building Information Management



14 The Revit Model Checker add-in, developed for Autodesk by CADD Microsystems is available for download at

http://www.caddmicrosystems.com/industry-solution/revit-model-checker

15 In particular, reference Autodesk’s Building Performance Analysis blog at:

http://autodesk.typepad.com/bpa/2013/03/revit-2014-release-news-new-building-performance-analysis-

features.html , or the help website at https://gbs.autodesk.com/GBS/Help

http://www.caddmicrosystems.com/industry-solution/revit-model-checker

http://autodesk.typepad.com/bpa/2013/03/revit-2014-release-news-new-building-performance-analysis-features.html

http://autodesk.typepad.com/bpa/2013/03/revit-2014-release-news-new-building-performance-analysis-features.html

https://gbs.autodesk.com/GBS/Help

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