Structural Design Toolkit

A lot of solutions have been developed for designing facilities associated with the structural design discipline: ModPlus, BIMStarter and others, to name a few.


However, ENECA developed its own Revit template configured for 4-6D design, and the functionality of the described solutions was not enough. To improve the project quality while maintaining the design speed, the BIM Department team developed Structural Design Toolkit (SDT).


SDT is a library of plugins for optimising the design process of the structural design discipline using a Revit template.


Problem #1

Conventional design methods in BIM programs do not give an opportunity to effectively manage multiple views or lists: copy, rename and redefine the key parameters for the required project structure.

Conventional Revit methods for this seem ineffective:

  • Revit enables a specialist to copy only one type/list.
library of plugins for optimising the design process
library of plugins for optimising the design process
  • To redefine the key parameters for the project structure, it is necessary to select the required type/list, find the required parameter and enter the value.
library of plugins for optimising the design process

Solution

We developed View Browser Plugin. This tool enables a specialist to edit a name, copy, redefine parameters for views and lists in a batch manner and, by this means, simplify the designers’ work.


Plugin’s opportunities:

  • To select the required elements;
  • To find the text fragment and replace it in the name;
  • To copy a view with the copying mode selected in advance;
  • To redefine the parameters by selecting the values already existing in the project or create a personal parameter.
Structural Design Toolkit
In addition, features that update the filters for lists were introduced.
Structural Design Toolkit

Problem #2

To understand the total consumption of steel of each grade and diameter per type of structure, accurate reporting on the steel consumption is of crucial importance when developing the structural design discipline.

plugins for optimising the design process
To display the data correctly, it is necessary to remove columns with zero or empty values manually, which can easily lead to mistakes.

Solution

To automate such routine work BPC Update Plugin can be used. This plugin updates the selected steel consumption lists.

It hides the columns that include zero or empty values, helps to select the required lists and make them in the necessary format.

plugins for optimising the design process

The plugin ensures that the obtained steel volume will be accurate.



Problem #3

BIM design is a dynamic process with frequent changes. One of these changes is the relevant values of the parameter for elements of various categories.

Manual tracking is ешьу сщтыгьштп and mistake-prone.


Solution

After analysing the designers’ requirements to parameter filling as well as to manual filling, Update Plugin was developed. The solution makes it possible to update the elements’ parameters and sheets in the model.

optimising the design process

The solution’s features:

  1. Updating openings and holes;
  2. Updating structural grades;
  3. Updating sheet parameters;
  4. Updating concrete mattress grade

As mentioned before, SDT plugins function with ENECA template only


Eneca specialists have developed more than 100 scripts and successfully implemented more than 10 developed multifunctional plugins. They develop automation solutions for Revit, Civil, Tekla, CRM-Systems and work with API. You can contact us to develop plugins and scripts of any complexity.

If you are interested in cooperation, please contact ENECA by email info@eneca.nl.