
NOTE: Pros + Cons for Precedents
Jul 26, 2017 · 4 min read
Note: 0002 — Wednesday 26 July 2017
Below are a series of notes on existing Cloud based web applications and plugins:
BIM Assure — http://bimassure.com/

PROS
- Cloud-based collaborative model checker
- Has rules embedded in the application that goes through your uploaded BIM model and highlights data issues that you search for
- Automates model checking (saves time)
- Receive complete and accurate BIM Model
- Provide access to anyone on project team
- Unlocks BIM data
- Steps:
1. Publish model onto web application
2. Analyse the model. Find problems through set up rules. Fixes the model.
3. Syncs back into source model.
CONS
- Can it pick up 2D elements?
- Model only — not drawings
dRofus — http://www.drofus.no/en/

PROS
- Planning, Data management and BIM collaboration tool
- Provides all stakeholders comprehensive workflow support and access to building information throughout the life cycle of the build
- Plan, manage and maintain data for departments, rooms, room templates, finishes, items, systems and components in one single cloud based platform
- Is an SQL server database that can handle any sized project
- Data Centric Approach to BIM, Design integration (architects, engineers, contractors)
- Bi-directional synchronization between dRofus and project models
Kinship — https://kinship.io/

PROS
- Cloud based web application that speaks with Revit (as an add-in) to manage your Revit content library (families)
- Syncs with central Revit file
- Stores families, system families and groups in a library, project changes
- Manage, analyse and search through your Revit model about the families used in your BIM model
- Available from any browser on any web device. No Revit required!
UNIFI — http://unifilabs.com/

PROS
- Architectural, Engineering, Construction and Manufacturing can use UNIFI as the single source cloud platform to create, manage and analyse their digital content
- Instant search in cloud content
- Inserts directly into BIM model
- Accessible anywhere
- Unlimited storage (multiformat — Revit, AutoCAD, Sketchup, jpg, pdf, xls, doc files, etc.)
- Built on Amazon Cloud Infrastructure
- Generate schedules
- Overwhelming large database of BIM content on a corporate server that lacks organisation and naming conventions make it difficult to search content. Saved searches, tags, favourites save time.
Flux

- Connects building data through the cloud
- Multiple programs are able to speak to each other through their custom plugins
- Uses J-SON programming language to recreate the geometry and store it within the cloud
- Shares data and not files
- Has an environment to extrapolate and manipulate the data streamed into the platform called “Flow”
- Provides tools and infrastructure to build your own applications
A-Frame

- A web framework that is built for users to be able to build their own virtual reality experiences — WebVR
- Supports most VR headsets for immersive experiences (Vive, Rift, Daydream, GearVR, Cardboard, augmented reality applications
- A compacted library built from three.js
- Runs with full project set-up and only HTML
- Object driven and since it uses DOM elements, accessing and manipulating the architecture underneath can be annoying and tricky
three.js

- You have more control in ThreeJS than A-Frame
- Much more code is needed compared to A-Frame
- Create and display animated 3D computer graphics in a web browser that uses WebGL
Unreal Engine on the Web

- Allows game developers to publish their work onto a native web browser platform to be accessed anywhere via the web
- Visualisation and interaction purposes — not so much for documentation
There are plenty more tools available in the realm of the industry in order to create links of communication between Clients / Architects / Engineers / Contractors / Manufacturers / etc.
© Emily Y Leung and Project Redback, 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Emily Y Leung and Project Redback with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Last modified on Wednesday 26 July 2017

