Archicad - Constructor -Revit

[Anonymous]

I would like to know if Revit has anything like Constructor.

Also I believe GS should include some king of version of Constructor in to Archicad, especially I am thinking of the Control and 5d Presenter. This would give Architects a way of competing for larger project where Constructor is used.

[Scott Davis]

There are companies using Revit for construction, modeling 2D plans from the Arch to run interference checking, build construction phasing simulations, and to get material take offs for estimating. Here's an interesting blog about one of those companies:

http://www.bimx.blogspot.com/

Revit doesn't have built in cost estimating (although it used to have an RS Means cost estimating tool built in). Through phasing in Revit, one can do construction simulation and scheduling. And logistics can be handled through using families (some of which come with Revit) such as cranes, portable Field Offices, port-o-potties, scaffolding, etc.

I haven't seen Constructor in action, only read about what it can do on the website. What else does it do?

[Anonymous]

Scott wrote:
............I haven't seen Constructor in action, only read about what it can do on the website. What else does it do?

See for yourself, it's powerful. Watch each of the (4) presentation than comment.

[Anonymous]

Sorry here is the link


http://www.graphisoft.com/products/construction/

[Anonymous]

From what I've seen of Constructor, its best part is an excellent project management time line interface. It does not do interference checking as far as I know. The best program I've seen for that is NavisWorks.

[Anonymous]

Yes interference has to be a part of Archicad but I am impressed the most of the Flowline Scheduling and all the rest. I an Architect I prepare on many projects a Gantt chart, but this is something else.

[Anonymous]

Scott wrote:
There are companies using Revit for construction, modeling 2D plans from the Arch to run interference checking, build construction phasing simulations, and to get material take offs for estimating. Here's an interesting blog about one of those companies:
http://www.bimx.blogspot.com/

Interestingly enough, Laura, a Revit modeler in a construction company, puts in her wish list for 2007, in first place, "1. BIM software that is made specifically for contractors (but also works with our current tools). So basically an Autodesk version of Constructor."

see: http://bimx.blogspot.com/2006/12/my-wish-list.html

hmmm...

[Scott Davis]

Sure, a nice compliment to Revit Bulding, Structures, and Systems would be Revit Construction.....but also realize from her blog how well her company is doing with a product that is not purpose built for construction yet.

[Ignacio Azpiazu]

For Constructor to be a useful tool there needs to be a setup with the complexity of (1) a normal CAD/BIM setup times (2) a cost estimating package setup.

Most architecture offices find the (1) ArchiCAD setup itself an insurmountable hurdle.

Also, and especially so in the US, the architectural drawing/model is a very loose fit to the building. The architect does not produce shop drawings or 'shop models'. Even the structure and structural details can change a lot depending on who will actually build the thing, and that is only known after 'construction documents'.

On the other hand most US construction companies are 'virtual' companies, they bid and manage subs and have *no* (2) true cost estimating system at all because they don't need it --their subs do that, and each sub has his own system or lack of system.

If the complexity of both (1) and (2) individually is beyond most practices, the complexity of (1) times (2) can be dealt with by a Skanska or a Toyota prefabs and I don't know who else.

For those reasons I think that Constructor can work only for systems or prefab builders (say, Butler, if they didn't have their own system, or if Constructor could be customized into something better than what they have), or perhaps large production builders with their own teams and equipment that are really into finetuning their construction and cost estimating systems. I suspect that for a small design-builder the investment in systems setup would be too high, and in any case the complexity of the problem at hand can be dealt it faster, more flexibly, and as accurately (given that the accuracy of the result will depend on the accuracy of the setup) with tools that don't need that investment.

Of course Graphisoft is aware of all this from the start, and that is why they made Constructor a separate product with a totally different marketing approach.

[Anonymous]

Scott wrote:
...but also realize from her blog how well her company is doing with a product that is not purpose built for construction yet.

Laura´s work is amazing!
Now imagine if she would be allowed to do it with an adequate tool, like constructor.