ArchiCAD and Revit Evaluation Criteria

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

We're a mid-size architectural firm (50-75 people) located on the East Coast of the US specializing in commercial, educational, higher education, retail, and corporate markets. We've been using AutoCAD and ADT for quite some time now with SketchUp being used almost exclusively for all SD and DD imaging. We've come to the conclusion that these tools have out lived their usefulness.

We've started an evaluation process looking at both ArchiCAD and Revit. Our team (8 people) will be professionally trained by outside consultants so they can competently evaluating both tools.

We need suggestions on what type of information gets included in our evaluation criteria. Has anyone gone through this process with both programs? If so, can you give us any tips or directions on what we should be looking for? What are the current advantages and pitfalls to using either program?

Is ArchiCAD generally better than Revit?

Thanks I advance for any replies. We’ll keep everyone updated on our evaluation process.

mj2

[Djordje]

OK, time to go home ...

Stop the quarrel. No software can do anything - it is just a question of whether WE know how to do something in any given software.

Evaluation presumes a clear set of criteria and a lack of bias. No place for frustration, personal attacks and "my dad is stronger than your dad" attitude, plentiful around here.

Until a person that is equally eloquent in both Revit and Archicad shows up and compares the WORKFLOW (someone anyone in his right mind should compare, not the features and the modeling of such "everyday" stuff like helical and freeform surfaces, which BTW cannot be done in either out of the box) OBJECTIVELY, every discussion is on the level of the kindergarten sandpit fight. And looks just like it.

Are we (mostly) not a bit old for that? Should we not be working? Or evaluating 11 at least?

Three days since the announcement and almost no comments? Hm?

[Rod Jurich]

Djordje wrote:
/......
Three days since the announcement and almost no comments? Hm?

Patience Djordje, give us time to work out where Casper went.

[Anonymous]

Laura wrote:
refs -- I think the main problem here is that you're stating your "facts" on an ArchiCAD forum, the majority of which are simply not true -- of course you're going to be called out. Congrats on your choice of Revit, I'm sure the majority of us are "perfectly" happy with ArchiCAD for just as many if not more reasons.

Laura, I joined this forum to keep up with and understand the evolution of the software and not to be bullied like in a "roman arena" 😉


Metonia, when I read the posts in which you made comments to what I've said (the 1st one), I got the impression that you looked more like "Graphisoft ArchiCAD Building Wishlist Manager" 😉

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[Anonymous]

I have to admit I read this thread periodically just to see what is new in the universe and maybe out of perverse curiosity. I'm not changing to Revit in my lifetime (just call me lazy, old or cheap-take your pick). Truthfully I only use about 75% of ArchiCad as it is.

I have always wondered why all these Revit guys post so often in the ArchiCad forum. Are they evangelists with a lot of free time? Hey the thread is here, it's a free world (sorta) and we as creative professionals are all seeking the truth! (sorta). Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

I did ask once if there were any ArchiCad users posting in the Revit forum and got the cute reply "Yes there are, they are all former ArchiCad users".
LOL. Nice one.

As long as GS doesn't go out of business before I retire or die, well then I'm OK.

And I will update to 11 just because I like to have the latest, not because I really need it.

A faithfully stubborn user since AC 4.5

Don Lee

[Anonymous]

I have always wondered why all these Revit guys post so often in the ArchiCad forum. Are they evangelists with a lot of free time?

.... Or looking for a job with AutoDesk. One of the main posters - Scott - now works for them!!! Wow.. that came as a surprise!!!.

[Anonymous]

more "Evaluation Criteria":

- We have just hired a new architect that did not have time to learn the Revit basics. With only 30 hours training, she is now taking a course in creating families and isn't facing any difficulties because the tools of the Revit project are the same in Revit's families: SIMPLE! ... imagine this scenario in GDL/ArchiCAD ...

Each platform had its ups and downs. We spent a VERY short time with Revit as u see.

In BIM, it’s absolutely necessary work with Parametric Objects. I know, in most cases you don't even have to know any "programming language" (in fact, We are not programming firm). We can have a “beautiful libraries”, but in most cases also we need at least to open these parametric objects and make significant modifications. We cannot run away to this.

“The family editor is in essence a "graphical" programming environment. Being more visual, this is probably the perfect programming enviroment for architects”
(in: http://revitbeginners.blogspot.com/search?q=families)

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[Anonymous]

refs wrote:
more "Evaluation Criteria":

- We have just hired a new architect that did not have time to learn the Revit basics. With only 30 hours training, she is now taking a course in creating families and isn't facing any difficulties because the tools of the Revit project are the same in Revit's families: SIMPLE! ... imagine this scenario in GDL/ArchiCAD ...

That I would like. Some simplicity in creation of GDL Objects would be really nice.

Each platform had its ups and downs. We spent a VERY short time with Revit as u see.

What you mean that you don't work that much in Revit?

In BIM, it’s absolutely necessary work with Parametric Objects. I know, in most cases you don't even have to know any "programming language" (in fact, We are not programming firm). We can have a “beautiful libraries”, but in most cases also we need at least to open these parametric objects and make significant modifications. We cannot run away to this.

In BIM or in Revit? As I stated before, In AC you have from the beginnig very good library, and in 99% of cases you don't have to create parametric objects. Yes you have to create objects from time to time but those are not parametrical and don't require any GDL knowledge. Please spear us the "but is it the real BIM tool" 'cause - yes this is the real BIM tool. And if you have doubts ask someone who is creator of BIM definition. There is none? Well there is also no uniform definition of what BIM acually is. And what significant modifications you are talking about? Looks like you are spending a lot of time (money) on adjusting your software to your needs.

“The family editor is in essence a "graphical" programming environment. Being more visual, this is probably the perfect programming enviroment for architects”
(in: http://revitbeginners.blogspot.com/search?q=families)
.

I will repeat again. This is actually one of those parts of Revit that I like.
The problem probably is in understanding software workflow, and get to like it. I'm personally not so crazy about Revit's. And I like AC's. Looks like Revit creators wanted to do their software so different that they even hide some areas of software from the users (like where is project 0,0). What I hate. But again some might like it.

[Anonymous]

Evaluation criteria can be different. mine, for instance is as follows

If i need a component like a wall (curved one, for example) to place in detail on a drawing sheet with all the dimensions, volumes (automatically calculated) etc requested for consequent production do i have to draw a component from scratch or i can reuse one existing in the project as 3d model..? (selecting different views of the component and placing them on a sheet would have been a perfect workflow) So my major major evaluation criteria is the ability of software to document BIM components in a proper way..

Another concern os if a component changes ints geometry is it changed in the drawing sheet as well (if we admit we can place component views on a sheet)


Thanks for answers in advance.

[Anonymous]

refs, could you please describe what you mean by "real BIM tools", "parametric objects" ...

[Anonymous]

Tomtomas wrote:
refs, could you please describe what you mean by "real BIM tools", "parametric objects" ...

Miki woodie/Tomtomas:

As I have mention before, for me it's not "true bim" to have to do parametric objects (windows, doors..Etc) with “slabs” tools, because it’s difficult to work with our parametric programming language. It’s like to use “ramp” tools in revit for wall under Spiral Staircases. This is “workarounds” …

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