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I would like for Project Vasari to be taken seriously… eventually. I have done a lot with energy analysis and energy modeling during my time at IMAGINiT: Ecotect, Integrated Environmental Solutions <Virtual Environment>, Green Building Studio to name a few. The sad fact is the GbXML file from a model built for documentation is not viable for most energy modeling and analysis. Don't get me wrong, I can make it work; but when I take a look at the simplicity that I need in an energy modeling application and the intricacies of a building model in Revit the best of us balk. Vasari allows me to be generic and still tangibly communicate something powerful.
By Vasari I really
mean Revit. The tool is easy to use for
existing Revit users, uses RVT files and has the same general interface and
features, with some advancements over the Analysis tab that was included with
the 2012 release of Revit. Vasari can be used to integrate early design
modeling and leverage-able analysis and data into a meaningful and cost saving
BIM process. Here are my thoughts on some key features.
Enabling an Energy Model -
The 2.5 version of Vasari greatly improved the automatic zoning. The 2.1
release saw the Divide Perimeter Zones option abide by the ASHRAE 90.1
Appendix G Thermal blocking requirement and the 2.5 version has improved
the Core Offset functionality to
correctly zone courtyard spaces. Basically a higher fidelity model that
would therefore give you higher fidelity results. Or export the Mass model
GbXML file and use it wherever. This, if it continues to improve and maybe
include some per zone modeling flexibility, could really be a game changer
in the building performance analysis software market.
Ecotect Wind Tunnel - This
was released with 2.1 this past Fall but it is too interesting not to
mention. External CFD: airflow around buildings, through courtyards, very
cool visuals. Unique and simple in its execution. The only question I am
left with is "what could I use you for?".
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2D slice shown, can be 3D flow lines, and runs as an animation. |
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3D Modeling - I personally don't get too revved up
about improvements to the massing tools, I guess my needs are simple.
Massing in Revit always seems to turn into a practice on impractical
architecture, but it sure is fun.
The message should be: it doesn't matter where your design starts,
you can quickly mass its shape and get some great data. Regardless of that
design options, schedules, parameter driven mass forms, all very cool and
all absolutely possible.
Vasari has proven
itself to be provocative, continually improving, and just plain cool. As
modeling expertise expands in this industry I hope to see more architects
dabble in these sorts of massing forms and the data/analysis/visualization that
is easily gleaned.
Thanks for your thorough review of Project Vasari. We hold technology preveiws to get feedback. Your type of review is what we were hoping for.
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