Enhanced Electrical Design Workflows

NICOLE BOUCHER: Title of this course is enhanced electrical design workflows.

APRIL KANE: Advanced electrical design for Autodesk Revit is transforming the way we approach electrical engineering. In this presentation, we'll explore the benefits and challenges of its implementation throughout this case study.

NICOLE BOUCHER: Here's a safe harbor statement. I'm sure you've seen plenty of these already. Just take a moment, pause the slides, and read through. Just don't make any purchasing decisions based on any of the statements we make.

My name is Nicole Boucher. I serve as a technical product manager for advanced electrical design for Autodesk Revit within the BIM-Electric team at Schneider Electric. Before joining Schneider, I held the role of an electrical designer and provided additional support for the BIM management group and MEP firm.

In my current position, I collaborate closely with customers and development teams. My responsibilities include identifying customer needs, articulating these needs, and prioritizing tasks to ensure the effective delivery of features that provide value. This is my partner in crime, April. April, do you mind telling a little bit about yourself?

APRIL KANE: Absolutely. Thanks, Nicole. So I'm a electrical designer currently work in that role for spectrum engineers. I'm also considered a BIM consultant. So one of my main focuses is workflow and how to be efficient, and that's one of the things I'm excited about working with Nicole and her team on this AED software and present this case study to you.

NICOLE BOUCHER: Here's the outline for this course. We will first discuss the project details, talk about the problems, solutions, and advanced structural design tools. We will mention a few pre-design requirements that were discussed prior to April and I getting involved in this project.

Then we will jump into the stages of the design and talk about the challenges faced, the benefits of using advanced structural design, and the partnership with not only Autodesk but the relationships with our customers.

APRIL KANE: So let's go over our learning objectives real quick. Can kind go through them. You can see them on the screen. So we're going to identify the opportunities to improve your electrical design workflow. That's one of the things that I'm really passionate about, is workflows. So I'm excited to show you all this today.

Then also, we're going to show analytical elements, something new for our leader Revit. I'm kind of getting used to using them myself. Kind of a cool option that Revit added in there for electrical. Then we're also going to show you different calculation and an analysis tool for system design and equipment sizing. And then we're also going to show you how I've went about doing that with the company that I work for about modeling a new workflow and how that works in this case study.

NICOLE BOUCHER: So let's introduce the project.

APRIL KANE: So here's our project. So we have your typical mixed-use building. There's plenty of these going up around the country. I happen to be based in Nashville, and there's always tons of these mixed use going up. So in this case study, we're going to talk more about a workflow more than the project, but this could be used for any electrical project.

So this project consisted of hotel rooms, condos, restaurants, and office space, as you can see, the criteria and everything that's listed there on the slide in front of you. So pretty cool little space. With our project information all the way, let me turn it over to Nicole to tell you about the tool we use to make things more efficient.

NICOLE BOUCHER: A consistent annoyance I ran into as an electrical designer is updating multiple platforms. One error in the project or one change that is made could negatively impact productivity. An example of this could be something as simple as a change made in the model but not updated on a single-line diagram.

The solution that my team wants to bring to the table is streamlining the entire process by giving designers connectivity from start to finish. April and I will be sharing some of the many ways we utilize advanced electrical design throughout this project. Let's look at the pre-design requirements.

APRIL KANE: So here's project planning. As designers and engineers, we all can relate to this in some form. Everybody kind of does their projects a little different. You've always got your standard stuff. You've got to do your research, your assessment, and then figure out what your project goals are.

So for this, we researched and gathered to determine that we would need to use any, say, 2020 of the electrical code, and then we were able to set our AED project to reflect this. Our design goal was to remain flexible for future requirements as well.

NICOLE BOUCHER: In our project, we utilize the advanced electrical design for Autodesk Revit to construct a keyline diagram and electrical single-line diagram, perform system analysis, and produce reports. Our approach incorporated client specifications and cutting edge industry standards. Our proficient team of electrical engineers collaboratively developed and fine tuned the design, ensuring it aligned with all essential criteria and allowed for future modifications.

APRIL KANE: With using the AED software to make changes to keep data connected, it made the design to be more efficient. In the initial stages, we use the analytical elements in Revit to quickly make assumptions when we weren't ready to place the items in quite the Revit model just yet, but then we were able to adjust as needed prior to placing those. And then it worked seamlessly after that to get ready for analysis.

NICOLE BOUCHER: So throw into the design stages. This is where we get into workflows and what works for you in your teams. In our schematic design phase, we create an electrical analytical system prior to placing any electrical family elements in the Revit model. These are easy to change or update on the fly and give an overview of the system without defining the location.

Our process began with the creation of analytical elements within Revit. You can see here a brief example of us adding three automatic transfer switches. And once the ATSs are renamed, we then select the second supply from parameters needed. And in this case, it is the generator switchboard. So these are new to Revit as of 2023. And we've been working with them to allow us to use them to develop a keyline and single-line diagrams within advanced electrical design.

So subsequently, we imported these systems into advanced electrical design in the form of the keyline diagram, and then once the components were successfully imported, our next step involved a thorough review of the parameters to confirm the accurate transfer of values into the system.

And you can see here, selecting the AED components, the video is sped up. So you'll see it jump to the creation of the keyline diagram. And all of those selections were made based off of the family types that were available for each of your Revit electrical families.

APRIL KANE: So that's pretty cool. I don't know if y'all seen what she just did, but that's linking the information between AED and Revit. So that's one of the things that I think is pretty cool about this. But once you start getting further along and you no longer need to use the analytical elements, now you're getting ready to actually get into the DD phase where you're starting to actually place your Revit families in the model. And so then, we can get further along into that.

And so here will be the video that I'm sure that everybody's got their workflow for doing this, but it's what you're used to doing in Revit, which is placing your equipment in the model. So this video is, Nicole said a minute ago, you're not meant to follow along with it. This isn't a demo. We're just showing you a workflow that we use that we found to be really efficient.

This video sped up. Although I wish I was that fast, but think Nicole, is this fast because she's the one that did these videos with us. Video editing is not my thing. But as you can see in the video, here we're placing the electrical distribution equipment such as the generator, the switchboard, the ATSs, and everything within our Revit model for our multi-use building that we've got here for this case study. And then we get into what is the best part I think, which is about the linking the equipment, making between AED and Revit.

NICOLE BOUCHER: Following the placement of these Revit families, we will demonstrate how the keyline diagram can be linked back to the Revit families by selecting the advanced electrical design components and initiating the link elements command. Revit will take precedence and enable the selection of the families to establish the connection.

You can see us selecting the generator switchboard here, clicking Finish, and that connection will be made. And we can see that there's a little blue icon on the component in AED still for the ATS, and that's the one we're going to link last.

Now, any parameters that are currently mapped to the AED parameters on the back end will update the parameters within AED and vice versa into Revit.

APRIL KANE: So after all that cool stuff because then you're getting everything connected together, I think that's the part where this project became more efficient. After everything's connected, you can run your load calcs and model everything together. And you've got connected data. That's the part where as a designer or engineer that you're not having to keep up with the calculations, and then you're also not running a Revit model and a calculation model.

So as design changes, you can be more agile and quick there for the changes, although those mechanical guys that keep making those changes on us last minute. Nothing beats communication.

NICOLE BOUCHER: So add load components to the single-line diagram. Now we have a few options. We can import loads and they will connect to the upstream equipment as you saw in the last stages, or we have the option to simply drag and drop loads onto the diagram from the component palette and AED. Once these loads are added to the workspace, they can be linked to one or many Revit families to stay connected to the model.

By modifying load parameters, we can see the load calculations updated in real time. We are also able to select the conductors and review all the automated cable sizing and voltage drop calculations.

So here we're going to just change the length of the conductor parameter and then scroll down in the properties and review the voltage drop calculations that are associated in the results section of the properties.

APRIL KANE: Perfect.

NICOLE BOUCHER: Reviewing validations, this next section is where April and I reviewed the distribution systems, the voltages. AED shows an icon indicator for electrical design guidelines such as voltage discrepancies, voltage drop compliances, and overloading equipment.

So there's these little icons that represent warnings or notifications, allowing you to have a visual cue when something isn't quite right with the design. So in this case, the voltage for the elevator motor was set to 120. It was a voltage discrepancy between the upstream equipment. We reset that to 483 phase, and we then would see that notification go away.

APRIL KANE: I don't know what that designer was thinking.

NICOLE BOUCHER: Define and review power scenario. Power scenarios provide a vigil to isolate selections of a diagram. This can be used to define emergency power, critical power, load shedding conditions, or even future conditions. Applying a power scenario will update the load calculations to only consider the components that are associated to that active power scenario.

So to explore the emergency power scenario crafted in this project. You may observe that the format within this create power scenario dialog box resembles the system browser in Revit. Our objective is to maintain a familiar user interface with Revit, promoting a shorter learning curve. Within this dialog, we've selected the generator and all the downstream components. Upon saving, the user's interface updates with a highlighted view of the selections.

So once we click Save in the video, you can see it populate with the red highlight around the components. And while examining the electrical network Explorer on the right side of the screen, we notice that only the components within the power scenario that are applied are factored into the load analysis.

Everything else is represented as N and A. And as we transition to the single-line view and select both component within the power scenario and one outside of it, we can review the load analysis calculations and observe the same considerations reflected in the parameters.

So here, we can see that when we select a component within that scenario, those load calculations are visible in the properties. The one prior to that we selected, everything was represented as NA because it is not being considered in that load analysis.

APRIL KANE: So the fun part, what we all get paid to do as designers and engineers is you got to create your deliverables. So probably asking yourself, how does this help create your PDFs and that sort of thing? So when we go about this, you've got to go through and check all your calculations, but the cool thing being is everything's connected.

So now you're not checking your calculation model, analysis model, Revit model, Excel sheets, or whatever you have. So with part of that, then we're going to get into about how you get this one line into Revit so that you can place it for your deliverables.

So we're going to export the single line to a Revit drafting view so that we can continue any custom annotation. So you're going to create your sheets within AED and set what your sheet size is. You can set your sheet size so that way, if you're working on a larger one line, it's going to split it between two sheets and you'll have the ability to pick where it's splitting in at or you can choose to export it as an overall.

So what it's going through here showing you on the screen is-- and you can pause if you need to see what's going on here-- but let's go through it pretty quickly. Dragging and drop into sheets kind of the same thing with anything that you're doing in Revit with creating your sheets. And now we've got our two sheets of our one line.

NICOLE BOUCHER: And now we roll into some challenges faced.

APRIL KANE: So some of the typical challenges as an electrical designer that we face, just to list a few of those, complex disconnected workflows, difficulty collaborating and sharing data, increased errors across platforms, and time loss from rework or change orders and difficulty keeping up with NEC provisions and updating homegrown spreadsheets or calculations.

So once you get your calculations, such as voltage drop and short circuit analysis, your workflow, instead of being a straight line, probably looks more similar to something like what's on the screen there. And although that it doesn't fix all the project problems, it has fixed some of the inefficiencies in calculations between Revit and one lines.

It will continue to get better. And giving feedback is what has been great about this. That's one of the things that I've loved about working with this team, is that I don't always have the time to work on these things, and it's hard to balance that with the project load. And this team is working and working on feedback together.

NICOLE BOUCHER: As a technical product manager of advanced electrical design, I enjoy working closely with April along with other customers to gain insight and valuable feedback to define and develop new features that will continue to enhance the electrical design workflow.

APRIL KANE: Absolutely. So it's been a pleasure working with Nicole and the AED team. They've been great. I've been able to test run some new features and functionality. With the early adopters program, we've been working on this for almost two years now. They've taken all the feedback. They really understand where design and engineers are at. And they're also pretty flexible because realizing that not every company has the same workflows.

So while working with the team at AED, while at my position at Spectrum engineers, we found that we needed to have the ability to modify the appearance and placement within Revit while maintaining the connection to AED. So although this isn't available now, there's the value in the work that we've done with the AED team as far as providing suggestion so that way, the software can be what the industry needs.

NICOLE BOUCHER: So this next slide is going to play a quick prototype of something that April and I have been working on defining and getting it vetted through other companies and getting feedback from the industry so that we can make it the best it can possibly be and really fit one for all. So April, I'll let you explain what we've been working on here.

APRIL KANE: Nicole, you probably want to say your safe harbor statement again on this one, right? Since it's not available. But no, this team is working on great stuff. So in this video, it's creating a single-line view in Revit that will remain connected to AED and connected to the Revit family, allowing the parameter changes in both events electrical design and Revit.

So you can see in this prototype, it also illustrates the calculated values and loads being displayed. So one of the cool things with that is because then you don't want to have to keep re-exporting to a drafting view. So this team heard us on that, and they're working on making the software better. And it's only going to get better.

NICOLE BOUCHER: Benefits of using AED. Incorporating advanced electrical design significantly enhanced our collaborative efforts, bringing various teams and stakeholders together seamlessly. Centralizing our work in one platform facilitated smoother communication.

Also, the streamlined features and intuitive interface of advanced electrical design led to improved design efficiency. The extensions enhanced error checking capabilities, ensured greater accuracy, enabling us to deliver high-quality work.

APRIL KANE: Absolutely. So keep in mind in this case study about this particular workflow, AED is constantly updating the software. So it's something that you can rely on that team to build out, and they'll work with any standard or manufacturer families. It's not just Schneider Electric.

So not to sound like a salesperson here, but think about the cost savings of having software that keeps up to speed on code changes, calculations, and Revit upgrades. So to me, there was a huge benefit there.

So this gives an example of what everybody's probably familiar with. This was a poll that was taken during a CAC webinar. And it illustrates the need for a platform that can do it all. So from personal experience, when I've used design calculation software, it's been probably three or more. And as you can see, our industry peers are also stating the same thing.

NICOLE BOUCHER: So let's talk a little bit about our partnership with Autodesk. Schneider Electric is one of the few Autodesk alliance partners. The advantages of this form of partnership encompasses consistent collaboration and designated Autodesk team that works to remove any blocks along our development process.

We go to them with any development issues, API issues that we have to integrate the project with Revit, and they are very responsive and willing to help us maintain that relationship. And we really have a lot of their support in developing this software.

So we intend on keeping this alliance partnership going and really get the electrical designers what they need inside Revit to just further their design throughout and not have a million different platforms or homegrown spreadsheets that they're constantly having to keep up with.

APRIL KANE: Exciting information.

NICOLE BOUCHER: Yeah. It's great that Autodesk recognizes the need for the enhancements in electrical design.

APRIL KANE: Absolutely.

NICOLE BOUCHER: This provides a high-level overview of the main differences of using Revit alone versus using Revit with AED. If you're using Revit alone, it provides a strong BIM foundation, but it is not intended to be a comprehensive solution for electrical design or analysis. In this case, you are compelled to pursue a number of different disconnected software solutions and workarounds.

You do have other electrical Revit plugins, but many of these suffer less than seamless integration, and they simply will not have the level of partnership that we do with Autodesk and the deep integration with Revit that comes with that. Conversely, with the addition of AED, you transform Revit into a comprehensive electoral design platform. Your diagrams, your analysis, and your BIM content are all parametrically linked.

Analysis is automated every step of the way, and you can generate diagrams from your Revit content. All of this is driven by code or standard-based algorithms. And all of this works towards minimizing or avoiding the need for other platforms.

And finally, we are massively different from other plug-ins or add ins via our unique position with Autodesk. So we have the full backing of both Autodesk and Schneider Electric and all the expertise that follow that.