We also use Microstation Software…

At C A Design Services, we’re big users of Autodesk CAD software, such as AutoCAD and 3D Studio Max, and more recently Revit; but most customers aren’t aware of our Microstation Services.

Microstation Experience:

We are currently working for a major client on a long-term engineering based project,using Microstation.
The work includes maintaining and updating existing drawing records, and creating new drawings as required. This is a varied project, which draws on a number of CAD drafting disciplines, including the use of document control systems, revision of drawings following redline mark-ups, and digitising and redrawing archived hard copy drawings. On top of this, the drawings are necessarily complex, therefore attention to detail and quality control procedures are paramount.

The team have also been involved in various projects for other clients, including:
•    Redrawing a series of P&ID, HVAC and General Arrangement drawings in Microstation format to a very tight deadline
•    Updating a series of construction drawings to client requirements
•    Reworking a series of track and overhead line equipment drawings for a rail operator
•    Clinical Space Planning in an on-site resourcing role

Examples of the types of drawings we have produced are:
•    Schematic Diagrams
•    Wiring Diagrams
•    Single Line Diagrams (SLD)
•    General Arrangement Plans
•    Section and Elevation Drawings
•    Geographic Route Drawings
•    Plant Layout drawings
•    Compressed Air Diagrams
•    Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (PNID)
•    Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Drawings (HVAC)
•    Other Mechanical & Electrical Plans
•    Block Diagrams
•    Fire System Plans
•    Space Planning Drawings

We also provide other Microstation based services, such as the cleaning up and updating of your raster files using Bentley I-RAS software, or carrying out Microstation to AutoCAD file conversions.

So if you have any Microstation queries, please do not hesitate to contact Ross Cooper or Mark Johnson in our sales team for further information.

Daniel – CAD Technician

C A Design Services

Should CADS make a full transition to Revit?

You’ll probably have gathered from previous posts that CADS is very keen to keep up-to-date with the newest technology. CADS Space Planning team are no exception. As a department we have recently been taking steps into investigating the use of Revit to deliver our projects. I’ve been challenged with investigating what benefits the use of the Revit programme would bring to the office and ultimately to our clients.

Having worked in-situ with a client recently it appeared that they had made a complete transition to Revit and that although the cross-over period had been a slow one, other programmes had eventually been completely phased out.

The question is should CADS make this full transition too? Or should we remain multi-software users, adding Revit to our arsenal to stay flexible in our market?

Given the nature of what we do, I think we’d be wrong to phase out our other planning tools completely, in favour of Revit. Our projects are led from the top through Architects and/or Trusts. They specify how the project is run and dictate what programmes and methods they require. As suppliers, CADS has to adhere to the requirements.

So there are a number of benefits of our working knowledge of multiple programmes, and on live projects this has meant that we are adaptable, able to understand the clients sometimes difficult requests, and can put a strategy into action using the full toolkit of AutoCAD, Micro station and Codebook in conjunction with each other.

In trying to meet a clients’ requests recently it actually proved useful in discovering that we could use a greater amount of codebook tools than previously thought on other projects, such as creating link code schedules and room labelling.

So, how should we be responding to the changing market place and the introduction of Revit? My recommendation is to carry on with what we’re doing – up-skilling team members to become advanced Revit users, without losing our existing expertise in the other tools. But will these tools eventually become redundant? What do you think?

Steven Ellis

C A Design Services

We’ve been talking a lot about Building Information Modelling – or BIM – recently. It seems to be on everybody’s lips, and yet there are plenty of individuals and companies that don’t fully understand what BIM actually is.  I’ve been discussing BIM with some of our main clients, and the same questions come up again and again…

1. What is BIM?

In short, BIM is a process.  It encompasses the development and use of computer software to model the construction and operation of a building using a library of objects.  A building information model includes all spaces, structures, components and materials within the building, as well as their essential information and properties.  Building information modelling is not a particular piece of software. It is both a process and a method by which a project can be described.

2. Where do software packages such as Revit fit in?

First let me clarify, Revit is not BIM. Revit is actually a BIM authoring and editing tool that can be used to build and modify building information models throughout their lifecycle.  There are many companies out there getting Revit and drawing 3D buildings incorrectly thinking this is BIM. There are plenty of other BIM authoring tools out there, ArchiCAD and MicroStation to name two.

3. How does everyone else look at a BIM Model?

Not everyone in the project process needs a BIM authoring tool. In fact only stakeholders responsible for editing the Building Models require it.  Everyone else can view the BIM model in one of various export formats including graphical outputs:- .DWG, .DGN, .PDF or .NWD or numerically (for instance spatial data or equipment counts) in .xls.

4. How easy is the conversion to BIM?

To convert to BIM is not as complex as you may think.  BIM specialists such as ourselves can assist with the migration of existing data from AutoCAD or Microstation to a common BIM format, and link to a reporting dashboard or external application.  Data migration can take place quickly using our team of BIM specialists.

If you have any BIM related questions, contact me below and I’ll do my best to help you out.

Guy