Navisworks Timeliner

The TimeLiner tool adds 4D schedule simulation to Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2010. TimeLiner imports schedules from a variety of sources, allows you to connect objects in the model with tasks in the schedule and simulate the schedule showing the effects on the model, including planned against actual schedules. TimeLiner also allows the export of images and animations based on the results of the simulation. TimeLiner will automatically update the simulation if the model or schedule changes.

An I guess that is what it does, even though its a fiddly process with a number of steps most of which cannot be readily automated. But even saying this, timeliner really is a useful and helpful tool.

I can actually see where this would be very beneficial in tying together design components from a number of separate disciplines and checking interactions for potential construction issues, however, I'm not sure I'd want to be in charge creating and checking the schedule\model links. Hitting the play button and watching your project evolve time-lapsed as task after task go from translucent green to approximated finish surface is pretty cool, error trapping less so.

But hey, if you can get the civil guys to link their tasks, then get the drainage guys to link their tasks, then get the architecture guys, then landscaping, then presto, a fairly practical method of communicating internally or externally the progress of the works is born.

Not perfect but more fun that sitting with a giant gantt chart and reams of paper plans and phasing plans.

Navisworks ... The Good

I'm going through a number of tutorials from the guys and Cad Learning, just following along from start to finish and trying to gauge how the software could be used to manage previous projects I've been involved in.

Obviously the software is designed for the manager who is removed from the nitty gritty model design\construction and the plan production aspect but it still requires a decent learning curve and is a pretty involved piece of software.

On first blush, the clash detection, the redline capability and the schedule timeliner seem the most useful, with maybe features such as the animation and scripter functions of less value, the animation for example seems not quite polished enough for presentations and I'm pretty sure that is its intended rationale.

Oh and the Navisworks Interface

I'm so used to looking at the new 2010 Vertical Product Ribbon Interface Menus that going back to the archaic looking Navisworks interface looks like we're back to using Amigas.

Navisworks and Revit

I already have a fairly good grasp of Navisworks and Revit, but then again I've never had formal classroom instruction and I've never really worked alongside somebody who I'd considered a power user of either of the software packages.

How then to tell if my methods of working are efficient, logical or even correct? If only I had a series of video lessons to instruct me in the many and varied features available?

Hey.

The aforementioned Cad Learning has literally hundreds if videos on the subjects. Cool.

I've download all of the datasets and all of the trial versions of the software and I'm going through every single video step by step and examining every discrepancy between how Cad Learning's professionals use the software and how I'd been using the software up until this point.

And the conclusion, well [shrug], I meant to fall off my bike.

Actually much of the method of working has been vindicated and I've learned a good number of new tricks, so chalk up another benefit from winning that pesky Top Daug thing.

CadLearning

So as part of my prize for being Top Daug (in addition to getting a T-shirt) I get a year long subscription to CadLearning.

The seem to have a pretty deep list of short videos on most of the software I'm keen to get a handle on; a good investment from what I've seen of it so far.

Phew! ... this is a big network

Still working on creating the highway drainage model for US206 Hillsborough Bypass.



Long process to convert dumb graphical information to intelligent Civil Design drainage networks, but good practice with complex layout and unique custom structures and pipe types.

I'm not really enamored with the part builder aspect of drainage networks; the custom drainage design does seem a little cumbersome and non-intuitive and combined with poor manual and lack of in-depth help means that it isn't the most fun.

Grading Groups

Civil 3D grading tools vs InRoads grading tools

It's probably going to end up being Civil 3D but they are much more difficult to utilize as they are a separate type of drawing object class rather than a technique for creating regular surfaces. Longer to learn but when implemented clearly they'll be more flexible and can be more easily modified rather than InRoads "start the surface again" modus operandi.

And of course it doesn't help that Civil doesn't run that smoothly on my system and crashes fairly often and fairly spectacularly.