Submitted For
Module 7 - Points to Ponder
Please share your comments on 3 of the following Points to Ponder questions. (Choose 3 of the questions below.)
Which types of structural framing systems and materials are most commonly used in the US for residences? For office buildings?
What factors determine why these are the most used materials?
- Wood is most commonly used for framing residential buildings in the US, with concrete used for structural foundations. Concrete and steel are most commonly used for office buildings. This difference is mostly because of the different loads each will experience. Office buildings are typically much bigger, so a wood structure would not be strong enough using standard sizes. The expected loads, architectural styling, ease of maintenance, effectiveness in its immediate environment, and local abundance all play a role in these being the most used materials.
Why do different teams of designers and subcontractors link and share their models during the design process?
What are the advantages of linking models?
- Multiple teams will link their models to see new updates in real time. This is the main advantage in linking, instead of archaically trying to log and line up changes by hand.
Are there any disadvantages to linking models?
- A disadvantage to linking a model is that everyone needs to be familiar with the same software. This version of Revit we use may be great for architects, but have plenty of limitations for an MEP, a site engineer, or a structural engineer. And some designs may get lost or simplified in the conversion to this model type.
How do you think design coordination was done before we started using digital models?
What advantages does doing this coordination digitally have over previous methods?
- Previously, design coordination likely occurred on a weekly basis at check-in meetings, where all parties brought their plans and went over the various dimension and component changes that needed to be logged by the others involved and adjusted accordingly on their plans. Digital coordination makes everything much more legible, easier to delete/change things (as opposed to erasing or whiting out), and the teams do not need to physically meet at all to coordinate now.