Improve Automation in AEC with

Computational Design
Dieter Vermeulen
Technical Sales Specialist AEC
Computational Design & Engineering
@bim4struc

© 2018 Autodesk, Inc.

@BIM4Struc
About me
▪ Computational Design & Engineering

▪ Passionate about Generative Design in AEC

▪ Structural Engineer based in Belgium

▪ +15 years experience in structural engineering

@BIM4Struc www.revitbeyondbim.wordpress.com

www.linkedin.com/in/dietervermeulen www.autodesk.typepad.com/bimtoolbox/

www.youtube.com/user/RevitbeyondBIM AU Online Profile

@BIM4Struc
 GLOBAL
TRENDS

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@BIM4Struc
 10 BILLION
PEOPLE BY 2050

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 68%
IN CITIES BY 2050

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 3,600
MORE BUILDINGS PER DAY

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 MORE
IS INEVITABLE

@BIM4Struc
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 LESS
IS A REALITY

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 30 %
GLOBAL WASTE

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 OPPORTUNITY OF

BETTER
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 CREATIVITY
MORE AUTOMATION
OPPORTUNITIES

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 PERCEPTIVE
BETTER INFORMED
SUSTAINABLE

@BIM4Struc Image courtesy of Gensler.

 TIME
LESS RISK
WASTE

@BIM4Struc
Autodesk Vision:
Imagine, design, and make a
better world

@BIM4Struc
Autodesk Vision:
Imagine, design, and make a
better world

Autodesk Mission:
We automate our customers’ design and make processes so they can
realize the Future of Making Things– which enables them to do
more, better, with less negative impact on the world.
@BIM4Struc
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 Traditional Design
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 TRADITIONAL DESIGN
Designer/engineer uses computer
as passive machine

one one limited

human + computer = design
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 Parametric Modeling

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Sketching

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Parametric Modeling

a=2
b=1
a–b=c

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Parametric Modeling

a=2
b=1
a–b=c
f(x)
@BIM4Struc
Parametric Modeling

a=2
b=1
a–b=c

@BIM4Struc
Parametric Modeling

Assign Parametric
Create Geometry Modify Parameters Document the Idea
Constraints

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Parametric Modeling
Autodesk Revit

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 Computational Modeling

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Computational Modeling

@BIM4Struc
Dynamo
Ecosystem to increase capabilities
Difficulty

REVIT API

REVIT
DYNAMO

Expressive Power
@BIM4Struc
Dynamo to simplify things
Programming vs Visual Scripting
void GetElementParameterInformation(Document document, Element element)
{
// Format the prompt information string
String prompt = "Show parameters in selected Element: \n\r";

StringBuilder st = new StringBuilder();

// iterate element's parameters
foreach (Parameter para in element.Parameters)
{
st.AppendLine(GetParameterInformation(para, document));
}

// Give the user some information

TaskDialog.Show("Revit", prompt + st.ToString());
}

String GetParameterInformation(Parameter para, Document document)

{
string defName = para.Definition.Name + "\t : ";
string defValue = string.Empty;
// Use different method to get parameter data according to the storage type
switch (para.StorageType)
{
case StorageType.Double:
//covert the number into Metric
defValue = para.AsValueString();
break;
case StorageType.ElementId:
//find out the name of the element
Autodesk.Revit.DB.ElementId id = para.AsElementId();
if (id.IntegerValue >= 0)
{
defValue = document.GetElement(id).Name;
}
else
{
defValue = id.IntegerValue.ToString();
}
break;
case StorageType.Integer:
if (ParameterType.YesNo == para.Definition.ParameterType)
{
if (para.AsInteger() == 0)
{
defValue = "False";
}
else
{
defValue = "True";
}
}
else
{
defValue = para.AsInteger().ToString();
}
break;
case StorageType.String:
defValue = para.AsString();
break;
default:
defValue = "Unexposed parameter.";
break;
}

return defName + defValue;

}

@BIM4Struc
Why should you consider Dynamo
Benefits
▪ Provide simple, coherent, and capable programming tools for people who make things

▪ Foster a collaborative design computation ecosystem

▪ Share tools within teams and across disciplines

▪ Generate sophisticated designs from simple data

▪ Automate repetitive tasks

@BIM4Struc
Computational Modeling

Generate Evaluate Geometry Detailed Model

Get Boundaries
Geometry Modify Parameters Creation

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Building Mass to Detailed Geometry
Computational Modeling with Revit and Dynamo

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Façade Panels with Mathematical Influence
Computational Modeling with Revit and Dynamo Player

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Mars Torus Arena | Design to Fabrication Data
Computational Modeling with Revit and Dynamo

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Catenary Shell | Design Surface Evaluation
Dynamo Sandbox with DynaShape

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 Generative Design
@BIM4Struc
 GENERATIVE DESIGN
Computer and designer/engineer
unite as cocreators

unlimited 100s to 1000s

one computational
human + algorithms + cloud-computing
power
= of
design options
@BIM4Struc
Generative Design
Process

Initialization Generative Design Post-Processing

EVOLVE

DATA GENERATE EVALUATE SELECT

Contraints Manual design

and requirements refinement

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Generative Design
Optimization process

Design parameters Design geometry Design measures

(genotype) (morphogenesis) (phenotype)

Optimization
(evolution)
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@BIM4Struc
 Option Generation

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Option Generation
Automated generation of a large set of options to filter out the best solution

@BIM4Struc
Project Fractal
Private Beta project for option generation
▪ Not a commercial service or product

▪ Only for testing purposes / feedback gathering

▪ Connects with Dynamo Studio

▪ Design Exploration software that supports optioneering workflows

▪ Brute-Force Search methods

▪ Will be discontinued Jan 21, 2019

@BIM4Struc
Crane Position Optimization

Crane Position
Create Design Model Export to SAT files Position Optioneering
Analysis

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Crane Position Optimization
Option Generation with Project Fractal

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Armadillo Roof | Panel Fabrication Readiness Options
Option Generation with Project Fractal

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 Design Optimization

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Refinery
Public Beta Project for Generative Design in AEC
▪ Explore and optimize designs

▪ Uses NSGA-II optimization algorithm

Learn more here:
https://www.iitk.ac.in/kangal/Deb_NSGA-II.pdf

▪ Advanced results display

▪ Syncing selected option back to Dynamo

▪ More information and beta access:

www.autodesk.com/solutions/refinery-beta

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Design Optimization with Refinery

Optimization with Selection of best

Data and Constraints Generate model
Refinery solution

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Floor Area Ratio Study
Optimization with Refinery

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Mars Torus Arena | Randomization
Randomization of options with Refinery

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Spatial Truss Deformation
Optimization with DynaShape and Refinery

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Roof Patterning Study
Optimization with Refinery

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Rollercoaster Modular Fabrication
Optimization with Refinery

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Getting started with Refinery

▪ Download Refinery from the Beta site:

https://beta.autodesk.com/key/refinery

▪ Refinery 0.4 works with Dynamo 2.0.2 or daily builds of 2.1

▪ Still in Beta, so expect some quirks

o Known issues include a large amount of graphical data generated
➢ Check %appdata%/Refinery if running out of diskspace
o Provide feedback on where you want us to go with it!

@BIM4Struc
Feature Comparison
Project Fractal vs. Refinery

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Generative Design
Technology Progression

TRADITIONAL DESIGN GENERATIVE DESIGN

RECORDING DECISIONS DESCRIBING GOALS + CONSTRAINTS

PARAMETRIC COMPUTATIONAL OPTION DESIGN MACHINE

MODELING MODELING GENERATION OPTIMIZATION LEARNING

@BIM4Struc
Generative Design
Technology Progression

TRADITIONAL DESIGN GENERATIVE DESIGN

RECORDING DECISIONS DESCRIBING GOALS + CONSTRAINTS

PARAMETRIC COMPUTATIONAL OPTION DESIGN MACHINE

MODELING MODELING GENERATION OPTIMIZATION LEARNING

REVIT DYNAMO FRACTAL REFINERY

@BIM4Struc
Value proposition of Computational Design
Dynamo in the AEC Collection

• Enables BIM-connected computational design (link with Revit)

• Extend and customize BIM-connected model behavior in a simple
environment
BENEFITS • Quickly explore parametric design concepts
• Solve complex geometric problems from simple data, logic and
analysis
• Evaluate designs and analyze geometry

• Study more design options in less time

• Manage risk by exposing tradeoffs and understanding systems
and connections at the conceptual phase
BUSINESS • Gain more projects with a high degree of complexity
• Greater design insight with less manual effort
VALUES • Gain time by automating repetitive tasks
• Communicate your work easily and efficiently with project teams
with shareable content
@BIM4Struc
Interesting Links
▪ Dynamo Blog post about Refinery
http://dynamobim.org/introducing-project-refinery/

▪ Autodesk Generative Design

https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/generative-design/architecture-engineering-construction

▪ Exploring the Future Of Making on Autodesk Redshift

https://redshift.autodesk.com/

▪ AU Classes about Generative Design

https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/au-online/profile?code=Ly7Q7iB6RnpX5p/oiyTtRw%3D%3D

@BIM4Struc
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Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
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