Chengtao Zhang

Submitted For
Module 5 - Points to Ponder
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Please share your comments on 2 of the following Points to Ponder questions. (Choose 2 of the questions below.)

What are the principal advantages of using a single building information model of the existing conditions as the foundation for modeling proposed additions or renovations?

Advantages:

  • You can directly reference existing structures and elements while modeling new work, which allows for precise alignments and measurements with respect to the existing elements.
  • Revit’s phase feature allows us to track changes over time and compare the before and after changes
  • All stakeholders can work from one central source, which resolves issues with different versions and databases.

Why not create a separate model for the new proposed design?

  • New design would lose the original model’s geometric reference and alignment
  • There would be time wasted trying to recreate parts of the existing building that was already modeled.
  • Stakeholders would not able to see past and new changes simultaneously.

What sort of complexities are introduced when you construct a building complex in phases?

  • What happens at the interfaces between the buildings as the phases advance?
  • How can you plan and prepare for these complexities as your create your initial building model?

What are the principal advantages of using a single building information model of the existing conditions as the foundation for modeling several proposed design alternatives for a portion of the building?

Advantages:

  • All design options can be developed within the same existing building model, which allows for more precise alignments.
  • Changes to the existing model can be automatically updated across all design alternatives
  • You can apply the same display settings to all alternatives and have them side-by-side in the same sheet.

Why not create a separate model for each of the design alternatives?

  • You would have to recreate the existing model in every single alternative model.
  • It would be difficult to maintain the same levels, grids, and annotation standards across all versions.
  • Updates to the existing building would have to be applied to each alternative.

In your project, which features of the proposed design did you choose to model as design alternatives?

  • Why did you choose these building features? And what were the biggest challenges in modeling them as the design alternatives?