Mastering Autodesk Revit MEP 2016

Autodesk Official Press

Simon Whitbread

• Publisher: Sybex
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781119059387
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: CAD-CAM
• Index: Computer Science

Get up and running on Autodesk Revit MEP 2016 with this detailed, hands-on guide

Mastering Autodesk Revit MEP 2016 provides perfectly paced coverage of all core concepts and functionality, with tips, tricks, and hands-on exercises that help you optimize productivity. With a focus on real-world uses and workflows, this detailed reference explains Revit MEP tools and functionality in the context of professional design and provides the practical insight that can only come from years of experience. Coverage includes project setup, work sharing, building loads, ductwork, electrical and plumbing, and much more, with clear explanation every step of the way. The companion website features downloadable tutorials that reinforce the material presented, allowing you to jump in at any point and compare your work to the pros.

This is your guide to master the capabilities of this essential productivity-enhancing tool.

• Generate schedules that show quantities, materials, design dependencies, and more
• Evaluate building loads, and design logical air, water, and fire protection systems
• Create comprehensive electrical and plumbing plans tailored to the project
• Model your design with custom parameters, symbols, fixtures, devices, and more

If you're ready to get on board this emerging design, collaboration, and documentation paradigm, Mastering Autodesk Revit MEP 2016 is the one-stop resource you need.

Part 1

General Project Setup

• Chapter 1: Exploring the User Interface
• Chapter 2: View Templates and View Filters
• Chapter 3: Worksets and Worksharing
• Chapter 4: Project Collaboration
• Chapter 5: Multiplatform Interoperability: Working with 2D and 3D Data
• Chapter 6: Parameters
• Chapter 7: Schedules

Chapter 1
Exploring the User Interface

The Autodesk^® Revit^® MEP 2016 software is similar to the majority of the software produced by Autodesk in that it uses a ribbon interface. This allows for not just ease of access to the tools needed for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design and modeling but also a familiarity between those different software packages, making the transition between them easier.

Although this book is titled Mastering Autodesk Revit MEP 2016, having a good knowledge of where tools are located and how to access the commands easily is the best way to efficiently use the software, so I included this chapter on the user interface. Improvements and changes have been made to the user interface for this version through the addition of tools in contextual tabs and improved functionality.

The ribbon-style interface works well in Revit because it allows many of the tools to be organized in one area of the interface, which gives you more screen real estate for viewing the model. Although the user interface is customizable, you are limited in the amount of customization and number of features that you can change. At first this may seem a bit restrictive, but as with any software, with familiarity comes an increased proficiency.

Some features have been added to improve workflow and efficiency, and typical workflow features that were previously accessed through buttons in the interface are now available as part of the interface itself.

In 2012, Autodesk introduced the Autodesk^® Revit^® program, which combined all the features of the Autodesk^® Revit^® Architecture, Autodesk^® Revit^® Structure, and Autodesk^® Revit^® MEP platforms. This version is available to those who purchase either Building Design Suites Premium or Ultimate packages released by Autodesk and gives users the option to deploy/install either each separate version of Revit or the all-inclusive one, giving them all the available Revit tools in one box. Knowing your way around the Revit MEP 2016 user interface is the first step to reaping the benefits of using a building information modeling (BIM) solution for your building projects.

In this chapter, you will learn to do the following:

• Navigate the ribbon interface
• Utilize user interface features
• Use settings and menus

The Ribbon

If you are familiar with the Revit MEP user interface prior to the 2010 version, transitioning to the ribbon-style interface may indeed take some getting used to. Once you understand the way that the ribbon is set up and how you can customize it to better suit your workflow, you will see that it is an optimal interface for a BIM and design application. If you are transitioning from an earlier ribbon interface, you will inevitably notice some changes to the location and order of the tabs and the introduction of additional tabs/commands.

Using Tabs

The ribbon portion of the user interface consists of several tabs, each organized by panels that relate to the topic of the tab. Each panel contains one or more buttons for the relevant features available in Revit MEP 2016. You can access a tab by simply clicking the name at the top of the ribbon. Although each tab is designed to provide a unique set of tools, some of the features of Revit are repeated on different tabs. Depending on your screen resolution, some of the buttons on the panels may become compressed to fit on your screen. In addition to this, there may be subtle differences in these images and those you see in your Revit interface. This is because the software used for the images in this book come from Revit, rather than Revit MEP. The panels and tools for each tab are described here (not all panels are shown for each tab):

1. Systems The Systems tab, shown in Figure 1.1, is the main tab for MEP modeling tools. Once known as the Home tab, this tab has been renamed to allow for continuity between Autodesk Revit MEP and Autodesk Revit. The tab is divided into panels that are specific to each of the main disciplines. Each of the discipline panels has a small arrow in the lower-right corner that provides quick access to the discipline-specific settings dialog box (1) or, new to Revit MEP 2016, the Fabrication settings dialog box (2).

   

   Figure 1.1 The Systems tab

2. Architecture and Structure There will always be a need for creating architectural elements in a Revit MEP model, whether this is purely during a Copy/Monitor operation or if you are building an as-built model and have no architect to work with. This tab features most of the architectural tools required for this. From the Build panel with the basic architect's tools to openings, grids, and rooms, these are all available on the Architecture tab. Note that access to Color Schemes and Area And Volume Computations is available by clicking the small diagonal arrow on the Room & Area panel, as shown in Figure 1.2.

   

   Figure 1.2 Architecture and Structure tabs

   The Structure tab contains tools for modeling structural elements as well as some common tools for grids and reference planes. Both of these tabs are available in their entirety if you install Revit as part of a Building Design Suite (Premium or Ultimate) package.
3. Insert Whether you want to link another Revit project file, overlay De...