Revit has been a mainstream tool for building designers for several decades now. If you design with AutoCAD and need a reason to switch to Revit, here are six:
It encourages you to be a better engineer
The typical Revit workflow for an MEP engineer is:
- Determine the system load
- Select and place source equipment
- Determine discrete loads
- Select and place target equipment
- Route from sources to targets
Many engineers get caught up in finding the pathways through the building for their discipline before they know what size those pathways are. Revit encourages you to document the engineering before you document the design.
Advanced design analysis
Every element in a Revit model has properties associated with it. These are “parameters”. They convey information such as power requirements, air flow, temperature, color, heat transfer coefficient, etc. Any property that you want to assign to an element can be assigned through a parameter manager.
The intelligent model in Revit MEP allows engineers to perform simulations and analyze system performance, such as calculating airflow rates in ductwork systems or assessing electrical load requirements.
For example: duct sizes can be automatically selected based on the air flow of the connected elements.
Comprehensive 3D BIM modeling
Revit MEP allows engineers to create detailed 3D models of MEP systems, providing a more accurate representation of the entire building project.
Think of Revit as a 3D database. There is data associated with every element in the model, and every element is located in a virtual 3D world relative to every other element in the model.
- Physical representation of the element
- Physical location of the element
- Nonphysical properties of the element
- Relationships between other elements
Automated documentation and data extraction
Schedules, bills of materials, and other construction documents can be automatically generated from the Revit MEP model, reducing manual data entry and the risk of errors.
When properly set up, changing an element in your model automatically updates any schedule where this element appears. Once a schedule is created, you never have to update it again.
Enhanced collaboration
The MEP engineer applies his/her design within linked models from the architects and structural engineers. By working in a 3D environment, the MEP designer is able to accurately place elements in coordination with walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and structure.
Clash detection
You’re not going to catch all of the clashes with your collaborators. Revit has real-time clash detection, automatically identifying conflicts between MEP systems, architectural elements, and structural components, saving time and money during construction.
For example, you can search for clashes between pipes and rooms. Pipes typically are in walls or above ceilings. If you have a pipe in a room space, you want to know about it.
These advantages make Revit MEP a more comprehensive and efficient tool for MEP engineers compared to AutoCAD MEP.