Ideate BIMLink and Revit MEP Space Type Modification

In Revit MEP in order to properly mine the Building Model for Energy information you need to verify the building, space, and zone information, and view graphical representations of the spaces to verify space boundaries and volumes. One of the most time consuming tasks of verifying, assigning and correcting space type information can be quickly done in Ideate BIMLink.

As an example, in Revit MEP the most direct way to verify, assign and/or correct Space information is by manually selecting the space and then making the appropriate changes in the Space Properties Dialog, as shown:

Within the above Properties dialog box, once the Space Type area has been selected, it will open a completely new dialog box titled the Space Type Settings from which you will be able to select the appropriate Space Type:

A more visual way to accomplish the above on more than one space, is to create a Space Type schedule and then make the changes directly in the schedule itself, which will then reflect directly in the building model, but again in selecting the Space Type in the schedule, it will then open up the Space Type Settings dialog box to apply the appropriate Space Type:

In either of the above cases the average time to select and change two (2) spaces from the default <Building> definition to a completely different definition is roughly 20 seconds. So, if we extrapolate that number , the average time for changing 200 spaces is 2000 seconds which works out to be roughly 30 minutes. This value must be changed if correct Energy Analysis information is to be expected from the Spaces and Zones.

The same process in Ideate BIMLink would be roughly 5 minutes and it does not have to be an individual who is accustom to Revit it can be someone who is comfortable with Excel and editing.

I will now demonstrate how easy it is with Ideate BIMLink to export out the Spaces with the appropriate information, edit the values in Excel, then simply re-import the information back into Revit MEP.

The one and only Caveat to using Ideate BIMLink to do this work is that you should take note before hand of what the name of the Space Type is in the Space Type Settings dialog box. The reason for this is that when the value gets exported through Ideate BIMLink, the name of the space type gets translated into numbers. For example the default value in the Space Type selection of <Building> is translated by Ideate BIMLink to be the value of -1, whereas the value of Active Storage is 1. The value of Active Storage - Hospital/Healthcare is 2, and then so on. I found it quite easy to have a spreadsheet with the names and appropriate incremental numbers next to it.

In this video I have already created a Space Type schedule and will then use Ideate BIMLink to export out the values. Then I will open up the exported excel spreadsheet, make my changes then re-import the results back into Revit MEP.

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Bill Johnson
Ideate Senior MEP Application Specialist

Bill has over 20 years experience in applying AEC design solutions for large commercial companies. A graduate of Pasadena Institute of Technology, he has worked for TEECOM Design Group, GTE/GTEL, Greg LeDoux and Associates, and Scottish Power in England. Bill has also had the opportunity to act as Lead AutoCAD Designer for multimillion dollar communication sites which have included structural, electrical, HVAC, conduit, cable plans and equipment layouts. He has a Sustainable Design Certification from the University of California at Berkeley.

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