How to improve speed and project performance by using Revit (Part-1)

How to improve speed and project performance by using Revit (Part-1)
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Building Information Modeling is a commonly used process in the construction industry. It manages, creates, and enhances building design and information which is then representable to the clients.

For completing complex or simple projects, Revit software is used, which generates the 3D BIM Services Model of all the disciplines which helps to improve the productivity of the designers and detect clash-free models.

Revit for architectural design is gaining momentum in recent years. It is digital design software which allows the user to create a 3D Model on the principles of BIM Services. It is a form of building design that is used for creating sustainable and environment free buildings. Architects who use Revit can quickly meet the requirement of creating sustainable projects required by the clients. Revit’s Energy Analysis plug-in enables the Users to calculate the energy consumption and simulation of a particular project Model.

Using Revit can surely make your project leverage many benefits such as schedule the elements of projects quickly, track all the changes made in the project, and check the reflected changes in views and schedules.

Let us have an overview of tips that will make you more productive in Revit that enhances workflow and build models quicker.

Tips to speed up project performance in Revit

Many schematic tips can be used for improving productivity and speed up the model In Revit. Tips are as follows:

Auto Section Box: – The Auto Section Box is an add-in in the Revit software that saves times to look into the 3D Model no matter of the locations of the Model. This add-in allows the users to automate the position of a section box around any element in a 3D View. You have to select the item to be viewed from views or schedules. Go to the add-in option, click on auto section box to choose the view and fill the size of the section box. The 3D Section view will open up with a box positioned around the element you had selected. In this way, you can view or go to a specific part of the model. For example, the floor part of the model can be seen and cut off and be looked upon in the 3D Model. Use cut AS for launching this tool quickly. It can narrow down the area while working to increase the visibility of elements that Revit is processing.

Scope Box: –Scope box is created in plan view. It helps in focusing on a particular part of the plan.

Double-Click Options: – Interface in Revit software for the available elements can power-up your double click options by making double click action to jump right and edit the elements. Activate any view on a sheet on the double click and double click outside the view to deactivate it. To set this click on big R then move to options forward to user interface and go to double click options which can be customized or set all to edit family and activate the view.

While working in Revit, you need to avoid double-clicking to open anything like we used to do in normal terms as it can mess up your workflow. It will consume more time on rectifying mistakes while double-clicking.

Keyboard Shortcut Keys: – Shortcuts are made to make your work faster and save time in activating and deactivating viewpoints of projects. Open keyboard shortcut by pressing K & S where there is some unique work station and others can be adding up. Same shortcuts can be used for multiple commands, use an arrow key to use over the command available. Press space bar to see the display in an area on the bottom left of the Revit window. Pressing FF, it can launch every finish commands in Revit such as Finish Sketch, Finish Model, etc.

In order to Create Custom Revit Shortcuts, We can assign Keyboard Shortcut Keys by going to the Menu-Options-User Interface-(Keyboard shortcuts) Customize. Once you click on customize, it creates a Dialogue box in which we can Search for a Command and assign a Shortcut key to the same.

With Double Click option and FF shortcut keys you can edit the boundary of a floor or outline and can export your shortcut settings as a text file or load them on your computers. Shortcut RR allows you to render the model to fix any issues quickly. SD shortcut is for the shaded edge was other shortcuts such as CL are to activate the tool to add a load-bearing column to model.

Use of Internal Notes: – Designers often use internal notes in their projects to keep track of changes. Design note makes the model easier to be viewed by people who haven’t worked on it. It is the sole purpose of communication with staff working on the same project. Creating notes is a common practice that is often used in larger projects and removes those notes once the model is finalized to go for print, which can be hassle-free if used text types. Make all the notes to invisible text types and print the model.

Use of Scheduling: – Every model prepared in Revit has a substantial database of information stored, so any changes are done within the database rather than the model. In Revit, using schedules can make you view different parts of the model. These are not reports which you can edit whenever required, and it consumes a lot of time when using schedules.

In order to add schedules in the project, go to the View tab and go to Schedules dropdown. In the Schedule panel, we get multiple options, and we can get information about a particular element or various elements. This also helps in calculations related to project costing and efficiently lists down all the details.

Use of Plug-Ins & Apps: – Revit is one of the most popular digital design software where the developers create plug-ins and apps to use regularly. Plug-ins are needed to be developed depending upon the requirements of designers working in Revit to make their work more productive. Plug-ins are used generally for every task or for creating library resources. Through the Revit platform, the designers can create convert models and elements in other design software. Right, plug-ins would speed up your projects and reach out more to Revit design software.

Right Hardware Options: – Revit uses lots of space of a computer machine, and hence, you need a well-configured machine to run Revit software and work with it. Revit gets updated with different versions and therefore at times can result down the machine’s limit. Invest in such certified workstation where Revit ultimately work better to work in the project effectively.

Using Temporary View Properties: – Revit makes the use of View templates which can work on the latest versions of the software. Several properties can be added in temporary views. Revit allows you to get access to temporary views and view control bar. It can be used to restore a temporary state to what it was before looking into the properties. It works like an undo button for your temporary views.

This view property allows you to apply different templates to a model that can be quickly activated and deactivated to see the model in several views.

Read : Part-2

  • Divya Dave

    Divya Dave is a Senior Manager with Tesla Outsourcing Services. An engineer and management graduate, she has been working with the outsourcing industry now for more than a decade. With a passion for writing, she writes on topics that provide an insight into CAD, BIM, and 3D Visualization services for the Architectural, Structural, and MEP disciplines. Her focus is to enable architects and engineering professionals in the AEC industry to adopt the right technology so as to increase their efficiency and profitability.


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How to improve speed and project performance by using Revit (Part-1)
Written By:
Divya Dave
Divya Dave is a Senior Manager with Tesla Outsourcing Services. An engineer and management graduate, she has been working with the outsourcing industry now for more than a decade. With a passion for writing, she writes on topics that provide an insight into CAD, BIM, and 3D Visualization services for the Architectural, Structural, and MEP disciplines. Her focus is to enable architects and engineering professionals in the AEC industry to adopt the right technology so as to increase their efficiency and profitability.