Context, Comments and QR Codes

A fast and effective way to add, track and present design issues in Revit with Enscape!

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The BIM vs CAD argument is older than last week's Thanksgiving turkey. It's not about 2D < 3D. It's about clear and effective communication. Sometimes 2D is significantly more informative than 3D. Disagree? Think of a subway map. Can you imagine trying to get from Point A to Point B using a 3D scale map of actual subways? It would be incredibly confusing! Sometimes text, pictures and colored lines are more effective than true to life 3D models.

It's much more useful to think 2D drawings and 3D models as instructions. Instructions need to be relevant and clear. And clarity requires information that's easily available and in context. While 3D is great, 2D information such as text and graphics is also important. So why not put important 2D information in context with the 3D design? Because it's fun, effective and helps you quickly track down design issues. And as a bonus, it makes for a great presentation!

In this tutorial, we're using a Face-Based Generic Family as a 3D "Comment" component in Revit. While the geometry of the family only visible in 3D, the family also contains a 2D symbolic plan representation. In plan views, the comment bubble looks like a comment bubble.

Go ahead and download the entire sample file shown below over here on Dropbox. This is the same file that I use to demonstrate Enscape best practices for lighting, materials and graphics - and it's really evolved over the years. The file might be small, but it's full of important features that really demonstrate how well Enscape can be used to visualize and explore your design with just one click!

As you can see below, the file contains a number of 3D comments placed throughout the project. The great thing about this Revit component is that it's face-based, so it'll easily "stick" to anything - even across linked files.

Comments, graphics, text and other project details can be quickly and easily added to this family component in a number of useful ways:

• Select the family component and begin typing project issues in the Comments field under the Identity Data panel. These comments can be scheduled - and even scheduled by room if necessary. You'll want to use a Multi-Category schedule (because after all - it's a Generic component). Once the component is scheduled, it's easy to select a comment line and select Highlight in Model to jump to the component. This will allow anyone to quickly see the comment in context with the rest of the project design.

• The Paint Tool has has been used to apply a material to each 3D face of the component via a material parameter. Once the Component is in the project, images can be easily assigned as an instance parameter to both faces of the Comment family. The images are visible in 3D and can clearly communicate 2D details, safety issues, changes, alerts, material lists and even hand written notes and sketches. Careful with those stairs to nowhere...or is that a stairway to heaven? :)

• A Yes/No Instance Parameter is linked to the visibility of the Comment family. By default, the Resolved value is unchecked. When the Resolved value is checked, the family is no longer visible in the project.

• Why not take this Comment component one step further? Associate the Resolved parameter to a Shared Parameter text file so the Resolved value appears in the Comments schedule. Then you'll be able to check and uncheck the Resolved value from the project schedule.
• QR Codes can be added in 2D views and sheets that link to Enscape panorama files, renderings, construction details, images, PDFs and more. There are free QR code generators that automatically link a URL in a cloud service like Dropbox (which maintains a consistent link) to the QR code in Revit. You can even scan this QR Code from a 3D view in Enscape. Try it with the image below!

• Add an image from a schedule or spreadsheet that describes a bill of materials, which belongs to the associated Comment family. These can easily be explored in Enscape and reviewed in context during design review.

• Create a separate "Review" project in Revit and link all the project files to the Review project. Then use Enscape to explore the project containing all of the linked files. When you find a design issue, use the Create View feature in Enscape to create a view in Revit.

• Double-click the newly created 3D View in Revit and add the comment family within the context of the 3D View. Press the space bar in Revit to rotate the orientation of the family so that it faces the best orientation.

• Once the orientation of the Comment family is correct, assign the appropriate image and comment to the component and it'll immediately show up in Enscape.

• Don't forget to share the Review project with your team. Or better yet, sync the project over C4R! Syncing the project via C4R makes is easy for the rest of the design teams to quickly schedule and find your comments in context with their project workflow.
• We've previously suggested creating a schedule and use the Highlight in Model to quickly jump to the issue in the model. But what can you do if the building gets in the way of viewing the Comment in 3D? No problem! While the Comment component is still selected, use Selection Box tool to quickly and easily build a section box around the issue. This will isolate the comment and context in 3D. Simply use the push / pull arrows on the Section Box when you need to see a bit more context.

The results are easily sectioned and explored in Enscape!

Let's recap! Great design workflow is not about 2D < 3D. It's about clear and effective communication. Augmenting your 3D models with 2D text, graphics and other information is incredibly useful for tracking issues. This technique easily adds important information for everyone involved in the success of the project.

By placing a 3D Comment family in the project you can quickly and easily create, assign, schedule and ultimately track important design issues your Revit project. But how to easily explore and present those the issues side by side with Revit? Enscape!

Enjoy! :)

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Read|Thomas would love to help you succeed with Revit and Enscape! Simply email us for a brief demo for you and your team. Let the Enscape team know that you heard about Enscape from us and we'll provide you with complimentary Enscape training, implementation and support! www.readthomas.com.