Author Archives: Alan Jackson

I’m with CASE

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I don’t normally take time at all to talk about what is going on in my professional world but in this particular instance I want to speak briefly about a recent change in my career by joining the team at CASE Design, Inc.

I have spent a good deal of of my career working as an Engineer with a strong focus on the use of technologies within the industry. Mostly software based technologies such as BIM platforms and software tools used for building performance analysis and energy modeling. Recently I have also been stepping into the application development area using VB macros in Excel, python scripting and some .NET Revit API tools in C#. Almost all of my time learning these new technologies was done outside the standard working hours. Mostly because the traditional AE model doesn’t always support these types of areas when it comes to R&D time, instead focusing on traditional technical skills for particular fields with no R&D budget at all. I knew that if this was my area of interest and something I truly had a passion and skill for I would need to make it a full time job. Unfortunately these areas of technology and development don’t find their way into our industry too often in the form of companies. That is until I met the folks at CASE. Continue reading →

OpenStudio Release v0.6.0

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2011-12-23 09h34_19

<official release notes can be found at the NREL OpenStudio page> Release Notes Overview The OpenStudio version 0.6.0 release builds on the changes made in 0.5.0, which introduced spaces and space types to the model. Some of the highlights of the 0.6.0 release are support for EnergyPlus 7, template HVAC systems, Green Building XML (gbXML) import, initial integration with the Building Component Library, and annual climate-based Radiance simulations of your spaces along with lighting schedules for EnergyPlus simulations. NOTE: A temporary limitation of the refactor is that some EnergyPlus data, which was passed unchanged through tools like the SketchUp Plug-In prior to the refactor, has not been translated to the OpenStudio Model yet and therefore is lost on import from EnergyPlus IDF files. In addition, this release is not backwards compatible with data files from previous OpenStudio releases, and no tools have been provided to upgrade data files from version 0.5 and earlier. New Features OpenStudio Platform 0.6.0 OpenStudio now supports EnergyPlus 7.0 OpenStudio now supports the import of gbXML files. This version of gbXML import supports the Campus, Building, Space, Surface, SubSurface, Construction, Material, Schedule, ScheduleWeek, and ScheduleDay elements. A formal structure has been created to support the creation … Continue reading →

EnergyPlus V7.0 and OpenStudio Legacy Plugin 1.0.7 Released

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EnergyPlus Version 7.0 and OpenStudio Legacy Plug-in 1.07 Available The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released an updated version of EnergyPlus simulation software for modeling heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating, and other building energy flows. Additionally, a new version of OpenStudio Plug-in for Google SketchUp is available, which makes it possible to perform EnergyPlus simulations using Google’s user-friendly 3-D drawing interface. Visit www.energyplus.gov to learn more and download EnergyPlus and OpenStudio Plug-in now.

RealBIM: Revit MEP Adaptive Content

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My recent posts have been more Revit focus, taking a short break from the energy analysis side of things. I posted Part I and Part II on some issues that companies have that relate to graphical standards and content. This types of issues seem to be at the forefront of BIM implementations within MEP firms and unfortunately they cloud the true benefits of a BIM platform which is the management of information, such as in the form of Schedules and calculations. You would be surprised how many MEP firms I talk with still have not implemented standardized schedules. With that being said I wanted to focus on a recent problem I was attempting to solve relating to mechanical elements adapting to the environment they are in.

Revit MEP: Elbows for Engineers – Part II

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In Part 1 of Elbows for Engineers I discussed creating Elbows based on LookUp tables for Steel Sch 40 piping. In this installment I am going to show a simple way to get a more realistic throat dimension for Mitered Elbows and tips for graphical representation of a mitered elbow with turning vanes. This is actually very straight forward. By simply editing the default Mitered Rectangular Elbow and changing the Shoulder parameter to this equation… if(Duct Width < 2′, 0′  4″, if(Duct Width < 4′, 0′  6″, 0′  8″)) … you get a much better looking elbow for your documentation. See image results. I added the model line to represent an elbow with turning vanes. Some companies have different standards so do what works best for you. Enjoy!