Which building information is best conveyed in 3D, and which still requires 2D?
◦ Which stakeholders need 2D drawings, and why has that not gone away?
2D drawings are essential for certain measurements that are essential for contractors and construction workers. They also communicate space in a unique way. The client wants to know how big or small certain spaces will feel, and 2D drawings are easier to digest and feel in that way.
◦ Give an example of something in your building a 3D view fails to communicate.
The alignment of certain walls. There are a lot of design details that can only be appreciated when your view is framed in a 2D way.
Your schedules pull information straight out of the model.
◦ How can schedules support procurement and model based estimating?
They give you the total count and fabrication requirements of certain elements of the building. If I want to know how much window framing to purchase, the schedule is going to be the best place to look.
◦ What is the danger of a schedule that is accurate about the model but wrong about the building?
It can lead to issues when preparing for construction.
◦ What did your calculated field reveal that the plans did not?
You published two versions and compared them.
◦ Why does version history matter more on a shared model than a personal one?
Because when another person is looking at your work and needs a deep understanding of the decisions you made and why you made them, looking at the version history is the clearest way to get this understanding. It allows them to look into your mind and see how and why the project evolved the way that it did.
◦ If a consultant says their work was based on last week's version, what do you need to be able to tell them?
Exactly what has changed since then and what impacts that will have on their work. The count of windows may not have changed, but maybe their placement has changed the spans of walls and materials for walls needs to be recalculated. Something like that.
◦ When should a model be formally issued rather than just saved?
When it is final and ready for materials to be ordered, and construction to begin.