By Garry Stockton
On a recent CPD event, I was surprised to learn that many organisations using Revit don’t have a process in place for checking their Revit models integrity. This is becoming more crucial as projects are becoming more complex and model data integrity is a crucial aspect of deliverable quality.
There is a simple checklist where the CAD Manager/BIM Manager or BIM Coordinator can verify model content and process making sure that the Building Model is constructed in accordance with your standards and project requirements. This checklist is part of a protocol to maintain model integrity.
Verifying model integrity periodically throughout the project reduces the risk of incorrect modelling causing misinformation and/or additional unnecessary work.
Validation of the model provides a guide to address any potential model issues, the intention being that the recipients of the model know the file is fit for use and will not require additional work to fit within the project framework.
A Model Audit should be carried out periodically throughout a project to verify model content integrity by the Project Model Manager as well as by the BIM Manager.
A copy of this audit is to be kept on file, as well as sent to the BIM Manager upon completion. It is a basic two-page checklist.
Below are some ideas of the items:
- Is the Project Information Data completed?
- Has True North and Project North been established and used correctly?
- Is the Standard Project Browser being used properly?
- Complete spell check (you will be surprised).
- Is all text in upper case?
- Delete unnecessary Reference Planes and 3D views.
- Purge the "coordination" model.
- Have Revisions, Site Instructions, C/O’s been completed according to the Standards?
- Are Annotation styles consistent with Standards?
- Are Dimension styles consistent with Standards?
- Are Drafting Lines being used where the Linework Tool would be better (and vice versa)?
- Are Line styles consistent with Standards?
- Is the level of detail in the model appropriate for the scope of work?
- Are objects on the correct workset?
- Is content approved by Model Manager?
Some of the above are basic and common sense, but it's always good to be able to check it off and know that it's been done.
Integrity in modelling is key to quality, risk mitigation and general good practice!