Category: Others

What’s new in Revit 2018

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The 2018 release of Revit has introduced some amazing features for the users. These features will enable the designers to model a complete, consistent, and coordinated designs for multiple disciplines. These features have the extensibility to both detailing and construction. The list of features are:

Co-ordinated Models

The new Revit feature, now allows the users to link their NWC or NWD files of the coordination models that are generated on Navisworks®. This feature can be helpful to compare the non-Revit and Revit model.

Scheduled Groups and Revit Links

The users can now select the fields that appear in the schedule on the Fields tab of Schedule Property Dialog Box. Also, the new feature allows the Revit experts to include the elements from a linked model.

Global Parameters

In the 2018 Revit updates, the experts can now embed designs with project-wide parameters. Furthermore, these parameters can now work with equality constraints and diameter and radial dimensions.

Multistory Stairs

The new feature of stairs allows the users to create multistory stairs by selecting the levels of the building. These stairs adjust automatically when the heights are changed. These stairs can be created from the existing stairs even at a later stage.

Railings

The new railing feature allows the users to modify the railing by chaining its height, shape, and number. Also, the path of the railing can be customized through sketch tools.

MEP Fabrication Model

The 2018 updates allow the experts build a run of connected MEP fabrication parts automatically by just clicking on the points of the model. The selection of the parts is automatic from the current fabrication service and group.

MEP Design and Analysis

With the help of the new updates in Revit, the users can now manipulate the pathways of the circuit. Also, the updates in MEP design and analysis allows the users to define their own type of space. They can also include the requirements of outdoor air.

Rebar for Complex Geometry

The latest rebar updates allow the placement of rebar as concrete objects that are of free-form. Also, it allows the reinforcement of concrete elements that are imported and their varying rebar distribution is improved.

 

These are just a glimpse of updates in Revit 2018. There are many more interesting features such as Rebar Graphical Constraints in 3D, Additional Steel Connections, Collaboration for Revit, Work-sharing, Parametric components, and much more.

Italian Architect Designs Folding House that can be built in 6 hours

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Wouldn’t it be nice if building houses became quick and moving them from one place to another became possible? An architect from Italy has proposed a new housing model which is completely different from the traditional way of building houses. He suggests a model where the houses can be folded. The assembling time of this house is not more than six hours with just three people working on it. Doesn’t that sound interesting?

M.A.Di Homes

Renato Vidal, an Italian architect and the founder of M.A.Di (Modulo Abitativo Dispiegabile) homes, assures of high quality and safe homes that can be built quickly and transported easily. M.A.Di homes are available in a few customizable models. All the models are equipped with the basic facilities such as toilets, furnished kitchen, and technical installations such as water and electrical systems.

Installation

The houses are built in modules to make the construction quick and simple. Multiple modules can be attached to build a huge house. The installation of the house does not depend on a concrete base. The house can be placed directly on any flat floor. However, for people who want a permanent house, are advised to build M.A.Di houses on foundation stakes.

Eco-friendly Optimization

Furthermore, these houses also support the installment of solar panels, LED lightings, and gray water treatment systems. Moreover, the external walls carry the color of customer’s choice. The walls basically come in wood veneers, which can be customized with natural fiber, aluminum, plaster, and much more.

Price

The smallest house M.A.Di home costs up to 30,000 USD and covers nearly 26 square meters. The maximum expansion possible is up to 84 square meters which can cost 75,000 USD on an average. The costs of the house, however, depends on the customization selected by the customers.

GROWING GLOWING PLANTS

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Technology is yet to give a completely new definition to indoor plants. Now, along with lamps, researchers are able to make even the plants glow. Engineers from the MIT have taken a critical first step to turn such a vision into reality. This is done by embedding some specialized nanoparticles into the leaves of the watercress plants. These particles induce the plants to give off dim light for about four hours. These researchers believe that further optimization in this field will make the plants bright enough to illuminate an entire workspace.

To create the illuminated plants, the team:

Selected luciferase, the enzyme that gives the fireflies their glow.

Luciferase acts on a molecule called the Luciferin, making it illuminated.

Another molecule, called co-enzyme A helps this process by removing a reaction by-product that can inhibit luciferase activity.

The MIT team combined these three components into a different type of nanoparticle. These nanoparticles were in turn used in the plants. These plants could easily emit light and glow for 45 minutes. With some further study, the team progressed in this research to extend the time up to 3.5 hours. The light generated by these plants currently is about one-thousandth of the amount required to read. The researchers still believe that they can boost the intensity as well as its duration.

For future advancements in this technology, the researching team is working to develop nanoparticles spray onto the plant leaves. This spray will make the leaves to emit light, transforming the trees and other large plants into light sources. The team is also working on ways that can turn this light off by adding nanoparticles carrying a luciferase inhibitor. This way, the team could eventually create plants that shut off their light emission in response to the environmental conditions such as sunlight.

Common Engineering Obstacles and How to Overcome Them

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The engineering professionals tackles the most pressing issues in the market. They constantly bring new solutions while working under the tight deadlines. Three of the most common obstacles that the engineering professionals faces with the actionable tips to overcome them are mentioned below.

  • Staying Updated

As an engineer, it is important to stay updated on the recent trends. Not following the trends can make an engineer fall behind. Thus, it best to read daily updates related to technology.

  • Lack of Creativity

Engineering requires the professionals to be creative all the time. Sometimes, when professionals are too occupied with the deadlines, they might miss the creativity. For this, it is best to spare some time out of the schedule. A workout away from the work area can be beneficial.

  • Boosting Productivity

Working on tight deadlines sometimes needs the professionals to sit in one position for long hours which might cause stress and body pains. To avoid such situations, it is best recommended to take stretch breaks regularly.

MARINA BAY SANDS Unique Design An Engineering Marvel

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The Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is one of the most eye-catching buildings in Asia. The building is identified and looked upon for its unique design- a set of three towers that supports a ship like structure. The amazing structure is designed by the architect Moshe Safdie who was inspired by a deck of cards.

This amazing building was completed in the year 2010. The Marina Bay Sands (MBS) hotel has a total of 2,500 rooms. The most distinctive feature of the building is not its size, or shape of the three towers, or even the 2.5-acre park developed at its top, but its three infinity pools located on the 57th storey.

Hotels located at top destinations are very well aware of the fact that having multiple pools is one of the prominent factors that draws people. Infinity pools have become the top fashion statement for luxury hotels these days. These pools have a sheet of water constantly flowing over the edge creating a no-edge illusion. This needs a perfectly leveled wall on which the water flows as a thin unbroken sheet. For this, the engineers had to take care of a lot of things.

The MBS Construction Story

  • Most of the hotels install the pools on or close to the ground to support the weight of the water, but the MBS wanted it to be different.
  • The engineers were well aware of the possibility that the three pillars might sink to disturb the perfect balance for the pools.
  • To attain the perfect balance, the firm called Specialist from Natare Corp. These were the pool manufacturers from Indiana.
  • The company used a set of hydraulic jacks to level the pools to maintain balance even if the towers moved from their place.

On completion of the project, the MBS became one of the most popular buildings in the world. Its design and construction have made it one of the most expensive buildings in the world.