MAP PINS & MORE

 

It's well known that BIM workflows require more effort "up front" with a significant payback later on one once you have enough geometry and data in the model to support the improved analysis and collaboration potential. (compared to say 2D CAD)  My work on Hampshire Churches, while quite different from most commercial BIM use cases, still conforms to this expectation.

I think we are getting into the payback zone now.

This is a slightly technical post. Apologies to my non-Revit friends, but maybe you will catch the drift.  The churches in my model are represented by "map pins". These are rather flat because it's a big study area and most of the views are 2d plans. I have three concentric circles, each visible at one scale only (coarse, medium & fine) This is just to keep the size of the dots appropriate to the study view as we zoom in to smaller areas.

Now Revit only has those three levels by default, which can be set for each view. To get even smaller circles (now looking more like a map pin because the diameter is reducing and the height increasing) I make use of subcategories. So the three big circles are in one subcategory (LOD coarse to fine) and the smaller cylinder is in another (LOD superfine) I'm adding the superfine capability today in anticipation of more close-up plans of towns (for example)

 

This is another feature of BIM.  The model and the strategy evolve together as you figure things out. Pretty much like architectural design really.

The other thing that I've been doing recently is to zoom in on Google maps and find bus stops. You can select these and get data on the routes. Snapshots saved to the relevant church folder will help me to quickly plan a day of exploring whenever I am in UK.  Not all churches are reachable by bus of course, even by train + bus, but I'm not going to reach all 400+ churches anyway. Maybe if I live into my 90s ... And I can lean on friends and relatives from time and time to drive to the more remote but interesting ones.

The map of Silchester is there because I'm considering make families to represent larger features like this. Historic town centres for example. This one is Roman, but medieval and even Victorian layouts could be useful for some towns. Stay tuned.

 

More of a personal post this time. I'm at American Hospital Dubai for my monthly oncology appointment. Just the bone strengthening injection and blood test this time around.

There computer systems have been struggling to recover from a cyber attack for about a month now. Hats off to the staff for continuing to deliver excellent service under very difficult circumstances. The main hospital is quite close to the where the GAJ offices were 21 years ago when I first came here from Zimbabwe. Such a pleasant environment with palm trees, water features and shady courtyards.

I stopped of at the Plaza Cafe franchise inside the hospital for mushroom bruschetta and a latte. Would never have thought I would be doing that in those early years. Firstly, at 53 years old I had never been treated inside a hospital. Secondly, as an economic refugee from Zimbabwe I was watching every Dirham of spending. Everything went towards a university education for my children.

 

 

But now I am winding down and preparing to retire in UK. Learning how best to manage my health issues. Should have looked after my body more carefully, but I think I'm on a good path now. Touch wood.

Still emptying my bookshelves with a view to eventually selling my Dubai flat. So many things still to do but just taking one step at a time and trying to "enjoy the moment" as far as possible.