Sefaira - Rapid Energy Modelling Tool

This one is fairly new in the market of (cloud based)BIM/sustainable design tools. I was lucky enough to see this in action a few weeks ago and I think that this tool has some very good potential at early design phase.

Sefaira accepts, at this very moment in time, sketchup models and within minutes gives you quick energy calculations and nice reports. It also enables you to calculate multiple design options within minutes and compare them side by side without needing to alter base geometry.

"Sefaira Concept enables architects and project teams to create better performing buildings with a powerful web-based sustainability analysis platform. It performs whole-building analysis of energy, water, carbon, and renewable energy potential, while an intuitive interface allows for fast, iterative exploration of design options."

Images courtesy: Sefaira

My Opinion:

To be honest with you I haven't tinkered with this tool yet but seeing live demo and speaking to the reps, this tool looks like a very agile, lightweight early design tool. Combine this with another agile tool such as Sketchup and we have a very powerful tool to make some early sustainable design studies. And the fact that this is entirely cloud based, you get infinite power of cloud computing (depending your Internet speed of course!).

I would be interested to know your thoughts on this.

Further reading:

Sefaira
AECBytes

Door From and To Value in Schedule - Free Revit Plugin - Update

Following on from my previous post about this free Revit plugin I have had some very positive/good feedback and comments.

Recently it was brought to my attention, thanks Erich and Eldon from Australia, that this plugin doesn't respond as intended when there are multiple phases in the file and doors are not modelled on the last phase in the list.

Here is the updated version that works with multiple phases in a model, irrespective of "doors created phase".

**Download DoorSwing Revit2012 - Phase Update**
**Download DoorSwing Revit2013 - Phase Update**

Revit Intermediate - Revision Management

As we know “there are 100 ways to skin a cat”, after reading my last blog post about basic methods of revision management in Revit a good friend of mine Andrew Victory kindly sent me the other four methods he has been showing to his group of users. Thanks Andrew for sharing this with the community.

As you can see these methods are relatively advanced methods and need some careful planning and implementation. Also he recommends to have a look at AU2011 class material on this very subject. 

Again, choose the one you like and most comfortable with to meet your requirements.

**DOWNLOAD PDF**