Revit 2021 Worksharing improvements for MEP

by Alberto Freire | May 8, 2020 | AEC

In Revit 2021 we made a significant change to the behavior of MEP elements regarding worksharing.  This was done in order to help improve the worksharing experience, to better enable collaboration amongst stakeholders, and to provide a more consistent experience.

The changes address three types of issues that have been reported with increasing frequency, as more users use Revit for more parts of their workflow, and are collaborating more with others using BIM 360 Design for cloud worksharing.

For the most part, these changes should be transparent to your use of Revit, however, we are providing this info for those of you that support other users and may need to be aware of the details.

Model Opening Error Message

The first type of issue manifested itself while users attempted to open models.  Users would receive the error message: “Can’t edit the element until “<username>” resaves the element to central and relinquishes it and you Reload Latest.”  This was mostly reported related to wires, but the issue could also be reproduced with conduit, cable tray, pipes, and duct (for design as well as fabrication).

Circular Syncing Error Message

The second type of issue had the same error message, but reproducing it was far trickier.  Through a certain sequence of events modifying various interconnected elements, users could end up in a situation where there could be a circular chain of syncing dependency, e.g., UserA is told UserB needs to save an element, and UserB is told UserA needs to save the element… requiring both to quit their session, potentially losing work.

The first two issues have the same root cause, namely, that unlike other element types, MEP elements modified as a result of a computed change would be checked out.  What does that mean?

By way of a simple example, consider the set of walls below.  If a user modifies the indicated wall by moving it ‘up’ (e.g., plan north), the walls that connect into it adjust accordingly, maintaining connectivity.  Using worksharing display status reveals with green shading that the only checked out element is the element directly moved by the user.  This is a result of Revit (not the user) computing the change necessary required to maintain the wall join condition.

Now, compare this to what happens to MEP elements in a similar situation.  In this case, a single duct is modified by the user to move the run of elements in the north direction.  As a result, multiple elements are updated based on changes computed by Revit to maintain connectivity of the elements.  In this case, worksharing display shows that in addition to the element that was directly modified by the user, all the connected elements indirectly modified as a result of the computed change are checked out as well.

Revit 2021 MEP Worksharing

What does this have to do with opening a model?

Imagine that you have receptacles hosted on the walls of an architectural model, and these receptacles are connected with wires to represent the circuiting.  You receive word from the architect that some spaces have been modified, so you click Reload Latest.  As a result, the wall (indicated in the example shown below) updates in location, the receptacle adjusts in position, and the connected wires are checked out as a result of this computed change.   Assume further that you have not yet saved these changes to central, and your colleagues are trying to open the model.  Revit will attempt to modify the wires again, resulting in the message that they can’t modify the elements during the model opening process.

As more users are adopting worksharing and linking directly to BIM 360 Docs hosted models, this scenario has been playing out more frequently, leading to user confusion because users didn’t realize what was checked out.

The keen observer would notice that the receptacle on the modified wall was NOT checked out.  This is another part of the problem in that there was inconsistency in this behavior across element types.  By ensuring that Revit only checks out user-initiated changes, and not the elements affected by computed changes, we have increased the consistency of the experience within Revit, in addition to removing the problems that can prevent a user from opening the model, as well as those that could lead to circular chains of synchronization conflict.

Synchronizing Results

There is a third type of issue that we have addressed that was resulting in scenarios where there were strange results after synchronizing, primarily affecting piping networks, but theoretically possible with conduit, duct, and cable tray as well.

In the image below, a single continuous pipe segment is highlighted between points A and B.  However, there are also pipe segments between AC, CD, and BD, in addition to the pair of flanges at C and the weld at D. As a result, elements overlap in a somewhat illogical way that were not modeled directly.

In this scenario, the root cause was a combination of the computed change above, as well as the functionality that when an in-line component was deleted, one of the pipe elements would be deleted, and the other modified to fill the gap left by the deleted valve and deleted pipe segment.  The problem was that neither the deleted nor the modified element were checked out, and thus, other users could potentially make conflicting changes.  Subsequently, when changes were merged through synchronization with central, the results could be quite strange, and not readily apparent.

As a result, we have disabled the auto-healing functionality on piping to ensure that there are consistent and predictable results when multiple users collaborate through various modeling, coordinating, spooling, and other such activities in workshared models.

In order to get broader feedback from users, and alleviate some of the immediate known challenges, we wanted to release the improvements that are in place.

We also believe that it is relatively simple/straight forward to use the Trim command to close the gap left by a deleted element as a new workflow. We also think there are bigger and more challenging problems to solve with piping elements, rather than focus our efforts at this time on the auto-heal behavior, but we welcome your feedback.  Let us know by submitting your feedback on the Revit Ideas site.

We hope these improvements enable you to work more effectively with various colleagues and stakeholders in Revit’s unique worksharing environment.  Refer to the Revit Roadmap site for further updates.

What’s new in Revit 2021

by Alberto Freire | May 4, 2020 | AEC

Written by Sasha Crotty, Harlan Brumm, Ian Molloy, Pawel Piechnik, Dan Peticila, Martin Schmid, Gernot Jeromin, and David Smolker

The Revit product management team is thrilled to share with you what’s new in Revit 2021. Revit 2021 includes upgrades suggested by you, our users, continuous improvements to core features, and exciting new functionality, beginning with Generative Design. 

With Revit 2021, we are focused on making Revit better for all disciplines centered on three core themes: productivity and ease of use, collaboration & data exchange, and improved visualization. 

Read the highlights and check out the videos below.
 

Highlights for Revit 2021

• A showstopping visual experience with real-time realistic views that make communicating design intent easier 

• Generative Design in Revit: Revit 2021 debuts generative design tools for AEC Collection subscribers. Define goals for window view optimization, massing, and layout studies directly from the design model, and explore, evaluate, and rank design options for your project from a wide range of alternatives.  Learn more about Generative Design in Revit 2021.

• The latest version of Dynamo 
   
• An improved Revit Home experience for BIM 360 projects and a UI wizard to help you set up the most intuitive way to work based on your discipline and preferred way to use Revit 
   
• The ability to create slanted walls out of the box in Revit, a long-requested feature that enables you to deliver stunning, creative designs
   
• Across the board ease of use enhancements in working with large schedules, a feature born on the Revit Ideas Forum
   
• High fidelity PDF and raster linking and uploading that make 2D documents easier to work with in the modeling environment

• Structural improvements including new steel stiffeners out of the box and the ability to create new new rebar shapes 
   
• A suite of MEP enhancements focused on usability and globalization, with new units, more flexibility in working with circuits and panels, and worksharing improvements
   
• New Europe data center for hosting cloud models (workshared and non-workshared)
   
• Of note for building product manufacturers and those interested in DfMA: Inventor 2021 supports linking Revit files as part of custom fab workflows. Definitely worth a look. 

Now, let’s dig into the new features: 

Productivity and ease of use

Get Generative Design in Revit 

Run generative design studies directly in Revit with the AEC Collection. Use sample studies or create your own with Dynamo. 

Electrical circuit naming

Electrical workflows in Revit 2021 are more adaptable to global requirements with flexible circuit naming schemes. 

Customized Revit workspace

Easily tailor your workspace to your work discipline and job role. 

Slanted walls

Intuitively create and edit slanted walls, and instantly handle slanted doors, windows, and other wall-hosted geometry.   

PDF and image linking

Link PDFs or image files into Revit from local or cloud storage. 

Row striping for schedules

Read schedules more easily with row striping on sheet views. 

 Dynamo 2.5 integration

Dynamo Revit 2.5 comes out of the box with Revit 2021. 

New Dynamo Revit nodes

10 new Dynamo Revit nodes for improved task automation support the most commonly-requested conditions for geometry joining, pinning/unpinning, and hosting of Revit elements. 

Enable View Filters in view

Quickly apply or remove view filter graphic overrides from elements in a view. 

Rotate tags with components improvements

Control tag rotation behavior so that you can create more accurate and readable annotations. 

Voids cut family geometry type and instance parameters

Use parameters to better control void functionality in Revit families. 

 Improvements to rebar detailing

Create new standard 3D rebar shapes

Structural engineers and detailers can now model standardized 3D rebar shapes, extract bending instructions, and produce shop drawings with full fabrication data for rebar. 

 Couplers for arc-shaped rebar 

Model arc-shaped rebar at a higher level of detail for improved reinforcement models and documentation. 

End treatments without couplers for rebar 

Get greater control over reinforcement end treatments with the ability to add an end treatment to any rebar without the need for a rebar coupler. 

Override hook lengths by instance

Easily specify the hook lengths for each rebar set in the project for better productivity and accuracy when modeling. 

Steel modeling enhancements

Steel object editing enhancements

Easily create and modify steel components and features for better flexibility and efficiency when detailing steel in Revit. 

 Create stiffeners on beams and columns 

A new dedicated stiffener tool will help you efficiently add stiffeners and create more accurate steel design models. 

Insert steel elements in sections and elevation views

Work with steel components in any 2D and/or 3D view. 

 Dimensions snapping to steel plates 

With more dimensioning options, you can efficiently create accurate, readable engineering documentation for structural steel. 

 Electrical design enhancements 

Single phase line-to-neutral panelboards

Revit now properly supports single phase panelboards. 

 Switchboard circuit quantity 

Switchboard schedules now show the quantity of circuits rather than the quantity of poles so that you can more easily quantify circuits in your schedules. 

Switchboard circuit phase selection 

Now you can choose the desired phase for circuits on switchboards.  

Panel schedule nodes listed under sheets in project browser 

Electrical designers get faster, more consistent panel schedule navigation and access.  

More of the functionality you use comes out of the box with Revit

New pipe flow units

We’ve added popular pipe flow units such as liters per hour, to make mechanical designers’ lives easier.  

Integrated precast automation 

Structural precast extension is now native to Revit with precast tools available on install. 

Integrated steel connections automation nodes in Dynamo for Revit 

Dynamo nodes for placing steel connections now come out of the box with Revit. 

Integrated structural analysis results 

Structural analysis results storage and exploration is now native to Revit on install enhancing the connection between design and analysis for structural engineers.

MEP fabrication extension integration 

The Revit Extension for MEP Fabrication is now fully integrated in Revit 2021. 

Collaboration and data exchange 

 MEP worksharing

 Improved worksharing provides better collaboration among stakeholders and a more consistent experience.  

P&ID Modeler on BIM 360 Docs 

P&ID Modeler for Revit is now hosted on BIM 360 Docs for cloud-based centralization of project information.  

Cloud model hosting in Europe 

Host Revit cloud workshared and non-workshared models on European data centers. 

Improved BIM 360 Project Navigation in Revit Home 

Locate and access cloud-hosted models more easily with better BIM 360 account and project navigation. 

Infrastructure discipline and bridge categories 

Revit 2021 supports bridge and civil structures workflows with InfraWorks, including extended bridge categories for modeling and documentation. 

Revit to Inventor linking 

Improved interoperability between Revit and Inventor provides better support for design-to-fabrication workflows. 

 Visualization 

Real-time realistic views 

Work directly in real time with better, easier, and faster realistic views. 

3D Solid fabric sheets visualization 

Improve coordination and reduce clashes through better visualization of reinforcement.

 As you can see there is a lot shipping with Revit 2021. A few more things to note: 

• Building on the launch of Systems Analysis in Revit 2020.1, we have made a couple small fixes ‘under the hood.’ Look out for some valuable additions to Systems Analysis later this year in our 2021 point releases. 

• We must also note a few things that we are retiring with this release:  

• • Revit Model Review has been removed and is not available for Revit 2021. BIM Interoperability Tools will replace this and will be available to download via Autodesk Account or the Autodesk Desktop App.  
  • Site Designer for Revit has been removed and is not available for Revit 2021. We are making ongoing improvements to Revit’s connection to Civil 3D and InfraWorks to support site design workflows.