Your first task when switching to BIM
November 16, 2022
When learning BIM, the first task is always the same, no matter what program you use or why you made the switch.
CAD vs BIM
Here We Go Again
August 18, 2015
Jon recalls the transition from hand drafting to CAD and sees some frightening similarities to our current struggle with the shift from CAD to BIM.
Self-awareness vs Environmental-awareness: A working definition of BIM
March 5, 2014
From pencil to CAD to BIM, we have come a long way in the past fifty years. What makes BIM so special & different? Here is my working definition of BIM.
In 2014 go BIM or Go home
February 11, 2014
It’s time that all architects switch to BIM. This is 2014 after all. Are you in? Or are you going to quit?
Creation, Movement, and Revision: Simple Architecture Tool Tests
November 6, 2013
Can we distill the benefits of ArchiCAD, Revit, Sketchup, Hand drafting, etc. down by looking at simple architecture tool tests? I think so. Here’s why.
Of Bows and Arrows and Machine Guns
July 25, 2013
I was reading The Economist today. The specific article was on the origins of warfare and about whether humans are inherently warlike. The good news is that we are probably not predisposed to war, unless we are part of the Tiwi people… The article is worth a read. But here’s the quote that got me thinking about our recent discussions: “The machine gun is so much more lethal than the
It Happened Again: someone reminded me that Computers are Just Tools
July 23, 2013
Today on Twitter, in response to this post about the most amazing BIMx model I’ve seen, I saw a Tweet that went like this: “4all their power computers are just tools #architects still need 2do the hard work of #design” Yes, but. Anyone who thinks using computers is about making things easier is wrong. Well maybe not wrong, but missing the bigger picture. Using computers (and technology in general) is
Guest Blogger Shivang Rajvir: Top 9 BIM Myths in India
June 6, 2013
Jared’s Note: Shivang originally wrote this with his ArchiCAD students in India in mind. The issues are universal so I thought about shortening the title to just “Top 9 BIM Myths”, but I really like that the original title highlights that we’re all facing the same BIM implementation challenges all over the world. Whether Boston or Bangalore, we’re all fighting the same fight, trying to get everyone to see the
I Didn’t Mean to Show that vs I don’t Know what I just Drew
April 24, 2013
This is part 3 of a series of posts This series of posts started in December 2012 and talked about different aspects of documentation during BIM implementation within a firm. Changes during the documentation process because of BIM is a huge topic, one that often gets overshadowed in the bigger discussions of BIM. And this isn’t even bringing up the idea that the ‘documentation phase’ doesn’t necessarily exist anymore. Part
Which BIM software should I use?
March 29, 2013
Which BIM software should I use? When you really look at that question, the answer is insanely simple. The one you will enjoy using most. All BIM programs (Revit, ArchiCAD, Vectorworks, Bentley Systems, Allplan…) have their pros and cons. Some do more than others. Each has its strengths when working with others (ie, collaboration and interoperability). Each program handles all the levels of BIM differently. But none of that really
Why you failed at BIM (you were impatient)
January 29, 2013
While writing a post about a former coworker, I paused to create a few diagrams explaining why others in his position often fail to make the switch to ArchiCAD and BIM. These three diagrams help illustrate what causes people to panic during their early adventures with a new way of working. A note about the fail line. People who give up at this point typically keep spinning their wheels without
BIM creates different types of graphic errors
December 28, 2012
Raise your hand if you’ve had this situation occur: A non-BIM user is redlining (pinklining?) a set of drawings created with BIM. They panic and freakout. They see an error that if it was done in 2D would be a disaster. Or the sign of complete ignorance. Can you imagine drawing a floor slab in the wrong location by hand? It’s a simple fix in BIM. Perhaps a slab got
Frustrating ArchiCAD Things That Need to be Changed: You
October 23, 2012
Okay that title is a little facetious. But you should expect that from me by now. There is a wonderful thread on LinkedIN that was started two weeks ago on the ArchiCAD Residential Designers Group. You need to be a member to view it, so a direct link to the thread is a little annoying to include. If you’re a residential designer who uses ArchiCAD, it’s a great group to
How BIM can Bankrupt Your Firm
October 15, 2012
Why do some firms embrace BIM and rave about its benefits while other firms try BIM and fail miserably? We all know this diagram: But here’s another diagram. This is the one that describes firms that panic, firms that succumb to Fear, Uncertainty, and Dread (FUD), firms that after one or two attempts let their boxes of Revit 2010 get dusty on the shelves or backslide into using ArchiCAD 12