Technology in Architectural Practice

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The AIA Technology in Architectural Practice Knowledge Community (TAP) serves as a resource for AIA members, the profession, and the public in the deployment of computer technology in the practice of architecture. TAP leaders monitor the development of computer technology and its impact on architecture practice and the entire building life cycle, including design, construction, facility management, and retirement or reuse.

    

  • 1.  BIM Model Archiving and Versioning

    Posted 08-17-2020 11:00 AM
    I have not found a discussion thread that talks in depth about the need to reference old Revit models entangled with the limitations on backwards-compatibility and the lack of Revit software support for versions more than 3 years old.  We adopted Revit in 2007 and are fully committed with 100% production of construction documents coming from the Revit platform. One discussion I read on another forum suggested upgrading each model to the latest version of Revit as they are released.  With hundreds of models developed in the past 13 years, upgrading our old models now would be nearly impossible.  

    If we were still a CAD based office, I believe we could open a copy of a 13-year-old file and work on it today without much issue.  I cannot say that for our Revit files.  I would imagine owners would have an even tougher time keeping file versions up to date with the number of files they are maintaining in their archive.  What are you doing to keep models viable for current versions of the software?  Are we doomed to see the production of Revit files as a one-and-done effort? I hope not.


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    Sidney Griffin AIA
    Design Technology Director
    VMDO Architects
    Charlottesville, VA
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  • 2.  RE: BIM Model Archiving and Versioning

    Posted 08-18-2020 05:36 PM
    Edited by Jeremy Stroebel 08-20-2020 12:18 PM
    We don't worry about it until we need them.  Then we upgrade as needed for versions we no longer have deployed (normally we keep 3 versions at a time, either previous 3 years or current + 2 previous once we roll the newest version out) when that file is needed.  Only issues with upgrading files has been the font sizing change from 2016 -> 2017 (I believe this was the right years) that caused some documentation to be changed, but we would tweak text styles to fix this in these files only.

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    Jeremy Stroebel
    IT Director
    Browning Day
    Indianapolis IN
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  • 3.  RE: BIM Model Archiving and Versioning

    Posted 08-18-2020 05:54 PM
    Edited by Angi Izzi 08-18-2020 05:55 PM
    You might also find the Revit Cloud Model Upgrade helpful. This was a feature that was created for this very issue to allow projects stored in the cloud to be easily upgraded to the latest version. 

    https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/bim-360/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/ENU/BIM360D-Document-Management/files/BIM360D-Document-Management-About-Document-Management-to-upgrade-revit-cloud-models-html-html.html

    Best,


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    Angi Izzi
    Head of Partnerships & Integrations
    Autodesk, Inc.
    San Francisco, CA
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  • 4.  RE: BIM Model Archiving and Versioning

    Posted 08-19-2020 09:33 PM
    I find that hard to believe, so you are saying you can not open old files in a software package you paid for and continue to pay for upgrades on? That is preposterous.

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    Andrew Dwight
    Designer/BIM manager AAD Build
    BDM RubySketch
    Sydney Australia
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  • 5.  RE: BIM Model Archiving and Versioning

    Posted 08-19-2020 09:39 PM
    Edited by Jeremy Stroebel 08-19-2020 09:39 PM
    It is not the case.  Old Revit files can be opened in newer versions of Revit after going through an upgrade process that is automated on open.  Older versions cannot open a newer file though.

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    Jeremy Stroebel
    IT Director
    Browning Day
    Indianapolis IN
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  • 6.  RE: BIM Model Archiving and Versioning

    Posted 08-18-2020 06:12 PM
    We have been a Revit shop since 2003 and I still have installers back to version 9 (version 9, not 2009). I have an old machine with Revit versions 2009 through 2020 installed and can't remember the last time someone asked me to use anything older than Revit 2015, and even those requests are few and far between (maybe once a year).

    You can request installers from Revit for versions older than the 3 current versions. 

    Like Mr. Strobel said, don't worry about it until you need it.

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    Ben Trusty AIA
    Senior Project Architect / BIM Manager
    Randall-Paulson Architects Inc.
    Roswell GA
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  • 7.  RE: BIM Model Archiving and Versioning

    Posted 08-19-2020 09:38 AM
    Sidney
    I share your concern regarding the backward compatibility of Revit. WE are currently maintaining multiple versions of Revit software on computers and having to add a tag to the project name to identify the version of Revit a model was developed in. This works for a short term, but as computers are updated and replaced old versions of software will not  be re-installed. Are the old models then worthless. One of the selling features of the Revit platform is the value of the data to owners beyond the initial construction project. How is that working? We maintain licenses to multiple CAD software program to be able to respond to owner preferences and desires including AutoCAD and MicroStation. At what point is the practice of Architecture going to be more about good design and advancing Building and Construction Technology and less about learning the latest version of a software package that has not seen any significant improvements for Architects and has not truly delivered on what it has been promised by Autodesk. The younger generation is coming out of colleges knowing a little about multiple drawing and rendering programs and nothing about how to put a building together. My original drafting tools that were good in 1978 still work today and the only upgrade required is changing the lead in the lead holder. No additional training or ever increasing costs for software  maintenance agreements for useless tech support required. And, the drawings I put in a drawer 30 Years ago can be easily referenced and edited today.

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    Michael Serdiuk AIA
    NSA Architects, Engineers, Planners
    Plymouth MI
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  • 8.  RE: BIM Model Archiving and Versioning

    Posted 08-19-2020 06:43 PM
    And thus the importance of providing an .IFC file BIM Model as a deliverable, where the client/owner should be the first one interested in obtaining it. This should be one of the first things laid out on the EIR and BEP.
    Adopting a openBIM approach should be for the benefit of all stakeholders and not being software/version dependant.
    Think of operations and maintenance stage. Having to have a repository of installers of old versions of the software just in case, or depending on which year it will be used doesn't seem practical, nor logical, for the firm/design studio and much less for the end user or client.

    One last note, other BIM software platforms by other vendors do not have this version limitation.
    It´s a broad topic.

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    Alex J. Nader - Intl. Assoc. AIA
    BIM Expert and Consultant l LEED Green Assoc.
    ARQPRO - Design, Architecture, BIM
    www.arqpro.net
    alex.nader@arqpro.net
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  • 9.  RE: BIM Model Archiving and Versioning

    Posted 08-20-2020 12:18 PM
    I know prior versions of Revit have not played well with IFC and this was a hurdle for Revit shops to adopt this mentality.  I'm not sure if this is still an issue as we don't have much (if any) demand for this from our clients.  This would be ideal as it would allow for clients and future designers/engineers to utilize whatever tool that complies with the standard.

    As for the old installers, I think this thread has gotten lost somewhere.  Older files can be opened in newer versions of Revit.  There is no need to keep older versions for opening old files.  The only reason to maintain multiple versions of Revit is to avoid upgrading the file mid-project.  The reasons for this may be that the entire team isn't on a newer version yet, or avoiding any possible issues with upgrading mid project.  I have never had an issue upgrading a file (although I'm not saying it hasn't happened ever, as it is a database schema change).

    We have plenty of old Revit files on our servers and this isn't a big problem.

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    Jeremy Stroebel
    Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects
    Fishers IN
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