S.M.A.R.T. Implementation of Autodesk Forma in an Architectural Office as a Game Changer

TOMASZ MAINUSZ: Good afternoon. A warm welcome to you all.

DOMINIK MALEC: Hello.

TOMASZ MAINUSZ: I'm happy to share our story with you and thank you for giving me your time.

Who are we and what we do. My name is Tomasz Mainusz and I come from Poland, from Silesia. I'm working in Katowice, Poland. I'm an architect and BIM manager, in my opinion, in the best architectural studio, Nova Projekt Architects.

We are a small office. There are 10 architects in total, but we form a very playful team. Thanks to its professionalism, precision and speed, it's very quickly gained recognition in the construction market. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my boss, CEO Tomasz Korek for everything. He is an amazing and very inspiring man. Without him, I would not be here today.

We offer high quality design services at every stage of the project. We perform pre-design analysis, site absorption concept, construction, and detailed design. During the entire investment process, in the space of complicated legal requirements and multitude of possible solutions, we actively cooperate with all its participants looking for optimal solutions.

Agenda-- Autodesk Forma, enthusiasm, test project, and challenges, autodesk support help, request for help, introduction of solutions, implementation of Autodesk Forma, summary and conclusions. This is what we would like to present to you.

OK, here we go. I remember this quote from my favorite movie because it's basically what I expect from Autodesk format after watching the webinar. Preparing analysis and design concepts will be fun, fast, but also accurate and facilitation and speeding up of analysis, especially checking the sun hours for residential development would be much needed.

Enthusiasm webinar. This is where our adventure with Autodesk Forma began. After watching this webinar, I had a wow effect, but with a hint of disbelief. It looks a little too beautiful and easy, especially the solar analysis, which can be done with a few clicks.

Up to now, we have done it manually in Revit using Dynamo scripts, but for a very complex building, this requires a lot of work, hours of tedious work. I have made a decision. I will try to do a test project.

Well, challenges come up, but about that, a little later. As I said, I'm trying to do a test project. We'll see. I choose the terrain, load the terrain model, the buildings. A few moments later, I have the site reading.

Using the tips from the webinar, I create a building block concept. I create several variants. I turn off the sun hours analysis. The results are in after a few seconds. In addition, the Explore tool inspires me to create variants using its suggestions. I can say that designing at this stage has become a bit of a game.

I will show briefly how we work in Autodesk format with a concrete example. I won't show everything, but I strongly encourage you to test this software. I am convinced that it is worth a try. We were given the task of analyzing the absorption capacity of an investor plot of land of residential development and at the same time analyzing the absorption capacity of neighboring plot of land that is available for purchase.

In the form of software, we prepared two bases, one showing the existing state and the other cleared of existing building on this site to be developed. I must point out an important point here. Firstly, the terrain model has to be prepared. How long did this take before?

You had to ask us surveyor for the measurements send the appropriate from and import into Revit. This is time, time that could be better spent elsewhere. In Autodesk Forma, you can import, export to Revit and work on the project design model. It just a few moments.

Secondly, let's consider the context of the building. How long did it take to building models of existing buildings, the wall context. Here is a few clicks and there is it. It is a pity that in Poland we can currently only retrieve data with, that would be, 100 accuracy, which is often in fewer percent and requires additional work to make the project more attractive.

In the video, we created two site limit for each location. We imported the necessary map primers, manually scaling and adjusting them to the study imported in Autodesk Forma. We designed the preconcept, assigning different functions type, accordingly green for residential development, red for commercial services and purple for car parking.

This allowed us to compare and analyze the concept in different ways, focusing of the parameters that matter most to us. The amazing thing for me is the sun hour analysis that we can set up to check the requirements of the local law. In this analysis, we can set everything we need. In Poland, for example, for inner city development, the required time is 1 and 1/2 hours of the spring and autumn equinoxes from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

For this, I can analyze the hours of sunshine for different days in real time. I have immediately feedback on whether I meet the legal requirements for residential development in terms of hours of sunshine Just like that.

In addition, we can check the installation of every point on the project building. And all this is a very attractive and transparent way. It should also be noted that architects, we often have to provide such an analysis in order to obtain building permission for a project. In other software, it takes hours to complete such an analysis. In Autodesk Forma, it takes just a few moments. This is amazing. I can also compare the analysis for each concept in real time. This makes it much easier to make informed design decisions.

The wind analysis for the proposed building is very interesting. It is amazing how detailed we can analyze the wind. We get information about which direction the wind blows most often. We can see the directions of the air masses and we can immediately correct the buildings to make them as labeled as possible.

For example, we can choose the best places for meetings, for design, loggia and where to design an open balcony. The best things about the whole process is that we create the concept model in Autodesk Forma and get almost immediately feedback in the form of analyzed results. It is a comprehensive way of working at this stage of design.

For me, this is a change for the better. What I haven't mention it, the way we work. We don't have to install the software on the computer and we access through a web browser and it works. I don't feel like I'm being held back by something that I have to wait for software. I just work.

For me, working comfort is very good. Exporting views is also very easy and the result is very nice and clear. We simply have to material ready to show to the developer-- set up the camera, save the view and export. It's simple, fun and very intuitive.

We usually import this view into Revit and create complete study there. For example, we can very easily show the developer a comparison for the exciting state with the design and state. In summary, for me, the best feature of the software is simplicity, the navigation, the rotation of view are really very intuitive, just the way it should be.

I did not have to learn the intricacies of doing array summaries, analysis. Everything is where it should be, in the right place and just works. Working here with Autodesk Forma is a real pleasure and fun, in my opinion.

But it can't be easy. I was faced with a challenge that unfortunately, I was not able to overcome. I didn't understand why it worked the way it did. OK. I will try to load the map into Autodesk Forma. I will use previous concept created in the Autodesk Forma.

First, I will try to load a map that has been downloaded from public portal. I will copy the concept and hide unnecessary things to make the drawing more visible. After preparing the map and importing it, I noticed that the north direction doesn't suit me. Why? What is the problem? I don't know. I don't understand how it works.

I have an inaccurate map. Is there something wrong with Forma? Such a discrepancy can cause inaccuracies. I need to look into it and understand how it works.

OK. Perhaps I have prepared the map incorrectly as an image. Let's us try importing the DXF file, something. Some twist. I first tried using the only local coordinate system available in Autodesk Forma for Poland. Similarly, importing without a coordinate system, something, some twist.

I could not understand what I was doing wrong. I understand that the coordinate system don't match, but what to do, how to prepare the input material. Which coordinate system to use? I could not find anywhere the possible of making settings.

I have tried and tried and nothing. I could not plot in the right place. I could try rotating and moving, but that not the point. There has to be a way.

In conclusion, the following question arise, how to correctly import the map into Autodesk Forma in order to ensure that the concept and analysis performed are accurate. Manual adjustment does not guarantee accuracy and when carrying of analysis need to make sure that the concept is based on the actual context.

So, yes, we are going to try another way. We will import the data into Revit, load the map and check the coordinates, just like we did before. I prepared a file to import data from Autodesk Froma. In Revit software, I prepared the template and set the units.

Then I loaded the map in DWG format. I checked the coordinates. Of course, they don't match. Next, I then import the coordinate system from the file. I checked the coordinates. Everything seems to be prepared correctly.

Next, I set the locations. And next time to import data from Autodesk Forma. Everything is shown in detail in the video. I import. And to my surprise, something does not match. Revit or Forma is changing the coordinate system.

What do you mean? When? I haven't received any message or error.

I've tried different settings. Setting the coordinates were incrementing the map. Doesn't work. The Autodesk Forma data is loaded in a different place of the x and y coordinates and the true north direction change.

I have tried to solve this problem in many ways, maps in different formats and adjust the map manually. But again, the coordinates don't match. I felt helpless. It doesn't work and it's over.

I couldn't find everything in the online forums. It didn't get any help from the Help section later. At this point. I was about to give up on Autodesk Forma. I thought maybe it was too new and undeveloped paid product. It was really frustrating. Again, nerves and time and no results.

Despite the many hours I spent trying to get the coordination and data flow right, I had to give up. I was unable to import the map into Autodesk Forma.

I have a map configured in Autodesk Revit and when I import data from Autodesk Forma, the coordinate system change. I don't understand. Coordination is impossible in this situation. In this diagram, I have synthesized the challenges I have encountered in the process of preparing and exchanging data between Autodesk Forma and Revit software.

The software works fine, but I need to be able to load a map with accurate property boundaries and building outlines to ensure the analysis in accurate. Houston, we have a problem. Then I thought I could write a query to Autodesk. After all, someone must know how it works and what to do.

After all, who else but the program developer. It was a shot across the bow. Who knows? If our company would be working Autodesk Forma today, if it wasn't for the support of Mr. Dominik Malec from Autodesk. Thank you for your help.

These few tips have allowed us to explore that and change it, world of coordinate system they made, and use them in the design process. Mr. Dominik Malec will tell you more.

DOMINIK MALEC: Hi, I'm Dominik Malec, one of many guys like me in the Autodesk support. This, what Tomasz said, is like a story from his side, from his point of view. And I would like to tell you a little bit more about this, how it looks from a technical support perspective and from our side. And I'm in the background because this is only one piece, which helped Tomasz to solve the problem.

If you remember two slides back, this whole presentation of the process, it starts from the AutoCAD, then goes to the Forma and later on go to the Revit. The important thing is to ask for help, as not everyone need to know everything. We have to be smart, like in this whole presentation. And the first thing for all of you is this, how to call for help. You know how to call 911 if you need help.

And each of you as a customer of Autodesk with active subscription are allowed to seek technical support by visiting the Autodesk support pages, signing into account, et cetera, et cetera. You can find the help on the Autodesk website by looking in the Forma website, by looking into the Autodesk knowledge base. And also you can click on this small icon, black icon on the right-hand side of each article where you can reach the chat, which would help you to reach the correct support and help in your specific situation.

So this is how to start. First, ask for the help. The second step is vital for further work and collaboration. And this was the first question, which was asked. And the information I got from Tomasz is about his former attempts to work with Forma, to work with DXF support, and EPSG system required by the government and/or the authorities in Poland.

I'm aware that it is-- you are from various countries, various states, and you have various authorities and various requirements. But this is the basic information that we are aware of this, that there are various requirements. And we want to help in this.

So my first step was looking for the information from the Forma team, and I found that someone in the past already asked about the support for the DXF files and EPSG system and the specific problems related to this, to using this specific coordinate system in Forma. And one of my colleagues from Forma team, from support team for Forma, answered the question that nowadays the DXF is not supporting various system.

So I said, OK, I know what Tomasz needed. I know that Forma does not support DXF in the specific coordinate system and I have to go further. So again, Tomasz helped me to work with this and provide you with information that he tried this, he tried this, which coordinate system he is forced to use because authorities require this, and what is used in Forma. And we got the information.

OK. EPSG, like the system for the petroleum organization and the code for all the map system in the world-- Forma uses coordinate system 2180, and authorities needed 2177. So both of them are almost equally precise. But where is the difference? Why do we have the differences in the projection, in the direction, in the small things, but vital for analysis?

The first words which I heard from Tomasz was we cannot perform the precise analysis because it is incorrect. We don't have the right directions. If you imagine, even the small difference in the angle to the true north in the project and you will see why this is so vital because it is-- one may say, OK, it is only a couple of degrees, but the shadow, the sun, the wind, everything matters in such situation.

So if you think about these two systems, you can use various pages and you will see the difference. Both of these systems are mathematically based on the projection of the reference ellipsoid to corresponding points on the Gauss-Krüger or Mercator projection with very similar and the difference is in the ellipsoid, in the 2177 ellipsoid is GRS80 in Poland, in 2180 EPSG code, the ellipsoid is WGS84.

What is this WGS84? You look for the Google, Bing, whatever, any geoportal. This is ellipsoid which is used for this. If you see the screenshot from comparing, there are very small in this red frame, very small differences in the projection. But the main difference is the meridian on which the projection is touching the geoid. So this is the main difference and this causes the further problems with the projection.

So I got the clue, I got the information. I was able to find the workaround. OK. What was the workaround? Workaround was to find something which allow to create the proper analysis in Forma and further to transfer the results of this analysis, the preliminary project to Revit, because these steps were already known for Tomasz.

So first of all, prepare the correct information for Forma. Because we have to feed Forma with the correct data, with the correct food. So first of all, we have to know that DXF cannot contain information about the EPSG code because these are only vector files, vector data. The only file which contains information about the coordinate system, EPSG system, is DWG, the own system of AutoCAD and in reality, AutoCAD map.

So we have to work with AutoCAD map, not AutoCAD, pure AutoCAD, to enter information about the coordinate system, EPSG. Second step, we know that former uses 2180 EPSG. So we have a data in DXF prepared in 2177. So we go to AutoCAD map, assign 2177. It is correctly assigned because all was drafted by the geodesy authorities in this system.

Later on, we're using the function to convert into another EPSG system, and later on we feed Forma with this information. Tomasz is performing the analysis in Forma. And later on, he wants to transfer the information from Forma into the Revit. And another vital point, Revit need to read the coordinate system from the linked DWG file, not from the DXF.

So now Tomasz was able to link the correctly prepared DWG with the proper coordinate system, this 2180, obtain the data, and later on, change to the required system, like 2177, by linking the next DWG and acquiring the coordinates from this file. But what is vital in all this process and why I'm telling about this at the end of our presentation? The information is quite simple.

In support team, we like solving puzzles. And please join us in this play. If you will notice in the future, maybe that's one of my colleagues in the formerly mentioned forum thread, at the end of conversation with unpleasant information that there is no solution for now. He said, OK, out of curiosity, in which country, city is your project located. The information may help us in the future to solve similar problems.

And this was almost a year ago and the problem was not solved because no one answered this question. Maybe someone was busy or something. But we like to solve such puzzles. And Tomasz provided me all necessary information, all information about the steps he done, and everything, what was necessary to help him.

And later on, it ended with the support article Forma, support for DXF in another system. This article describes all necessary step, which are required to perform such analysis in Forma, use the results in Revit, and further get the-- and provide the data and results of the analysis to the authorities in the required format. So this is how all the story ended.

And additionally, we were able to add this information to the previous thread of forum for Forma that maybe someone will use this public article for the future and will avoid the problems with the definition of the proper system in DXF. So this is everything, what was behind this process, behind this introduction of Forma in Tomasz's design office. And thank you very much for your attention, as this was later the introduction.

TOMASZ MAINUSZ: OK well, we are trying to implement the guidelines and instructions into our project. Let's see.

AutoCAD map 3D, what a tool for an architect. I didn't expect that. But as you can see from the proprietary video, an architects should be able to assign a coordinate system to a map. I won't go into details, but the proprietary video show it step by step.

Why doesn't a surveyor do it? I don't know. But I have never received a map for design proposals prepared in this way. This is probably one of the most important skills at this stage of the project, the ability to assign a coordinate system to a map and to change from one coordinate system to another. Best of all, I can do it myself quickly and easily, because I see collection has the tools to do it.

Once I mastered these skills, coordinating this coordinate system became much easier. I can now say that I have prepared the input material. I can immediately see the exact location of the map on an orthophoto or location map. I can download it as a graphic file. I can show the context of the developer. It just opens up new possibilities. It's much easier to talk to material that's prepared like this.

Autodesk map 3D has tools to check and compare the coordinates of different gears, layouts. Watch the video for step by step instructions on how to do this. And it's only takes a moment to prepare it.

Knowing how of coordinate system makes it very easy, if not impossible, to coordinate a project. Now, when downloading data from some public available surveys, I pay particular attention to the coordinate system. As I mentioned it earlier, Autodesk Forma export data in UTM format, in which coordinate system has the data been exported to Revit. How can I check this? Simply check in the location tab after importing the data. Then everything works as it should. The same applies to the Forma program.

I prepared the map in the layout supported by Autodesk Forma and import. The map loads perfectly. This means I have the exact boundaries of the plot, the exact location, and other elements needed for analysis. Having mastered the skills, I feel that this part of the design process has been taken to the next level.

In today's increasingly digital world, moving freely in a coordinate system is a must. For coordination to make sense, coordinate system needs to be consistent. But the coordinate system is the foundation. I think every architect is happy when the coordination is going smoothly and everything is falling into place. Simply put, it's supposed to work, and it does.

I have been trying to synthesize and diagram the input flow that we have developed after several test projects. This means, I assign a coordinate system to the receive map in AutoCAD 3D. Also in AutoCAD map 3D, I change the coordinate system to one supported by Autodesk Forma, probably in the UTM coordinate system.

I export the data to Autodesk Revit and develop a more detailed concept there. At the point where I need to coordinate design in our coordinate system, other than UTM, I disconnect from Autodesk Forma. I then reset the coordinates in Revit, load the map with the Polish coordinate system and downloaded the coordinates from there.

The final step is to move, adjust the project to the new map and disconnect the old map in the UTM system. At the moment, moving from the conceptual design to the mine design requires disconnecting from Autodesk Forma and manually changing the coordinate system to match the one assigned to the map for design purposes. I realize that is not ideal, especially when it comes to transitioning from conceptual to master project. It is a one way direction, but it does work.

Implementation of Autodesk Forma. I will not analyze the step by step implementation, but I will answer the fundamental questions. Was the Autodesk Forma implementation successful? The answer is yes. We have achieved our goals within the time frame we set. I believe that the software will be crucial to the development of the company and the building of our brand.

Conclusions and summary. What does Autodesk Forma give us? Saves time and work. A lot of time and a lot of work. How long did it take to create a terrain and urban context model before? I can see that it was too much. In Autodesk Forma, we don't like the terrain model based on the selected address and area, and it's only take a few moments.

I don't have to search for data on the internet or complicated import. Adding a digital map also takes a few moments, as we showed in our presentation. If you have an idea for a building in mind, transferring in Autodesk Forma is just fun. I like that.

Changes to the design area are easy and fun. I can analyze different options immediately and don't have to wait long. Amazing. And this analyzes in format and thoughtful design decisions. At a later stage when our project becomes more complex, it is harder to go back and change the design decision because it simply costs money.

Every change takes time and resources. That is why I look at how much time it takes to such an analysis, even in the invention phase. The work itself, an estimate of four hours. It used to take me about a week and the analysis were not that accurate anyway. So I can say with full responsibility that this phase is been shortened tenfold.

Now, to this format. Is Autodesk Forma the perfect software? In my opinion, this is not the case. It's a powerful tool, but it is not yet perfect. What needs to be improved in Autodesk Forma? Firstly, support for local coordinate system. It would be easier.

Secondly, the ability to control the visibility of layers in the DXF file would be very useful. Thirdly, export to Revit. It would be great if the local coordinate system could be selected during export. I have an idea that this can be set in the Revit plugin you install.

What do you do if you don't know something about using Autodesk software? Check the help, search the internet, online forums, and if there are no solutions, write to Autodesk support. It's really does work. Our history proves it.

I think this sentence sums up our presentation and our project office approved the problems we face in our work. I hope you enjoyed the presentation and found it inspiring. Thank you very much for your time.

DOMINIK MALEC: And from my side, I would like to thank you, Tomasz for joining me, because to be honest, I was positively surprised with how the effects we made with small hints from our side, because we just reported this presentation to the Autodesk University a week before-- and time for the registration of the presentation. And I'm happy that I encouraged him to share his story with all of you, because for me, this is the best example of smart implementation, because this is the title of presentation. And smart thing was to try the new things, do not resign and ask for help.

And I think the ask for help is for all of us, even for me and for all engineers, architects and the people I know, this is the hardest thing to do. Ask for help, and this may be crucial for the future work, future life and everything. Thank you. Thank you again for joining us.