So here we are again - gray January weather, a dewy new year and a few more days of rest before the new working year starts again. The perfect time to look back on the past year and review the highlights!
As far as BIM software is concerned, 2015 was clearly dominated by visual programming - while Dynamo was only for die-hard fans a year ago, it is now a widely used tool that is often used to automate and simplify daily tasks. Large offices are even increasingly hiring their own Dynamo experts, as they have recognized the potential of the enormous time savings and work optimization that visual programming offers them.
A year ago, it was thought that tools like Dynamo were only interesting for generative design and parametric design methods, but direct access to the Revit database and the Revit API opens up unimagined possibilities.
Why visual programming?
The days when we simply used the software out-of-the-box are long gone - we want the software to adapt to our needs and processes. Even our smartphones would be unthinkable without the many apps - and it would be quite difficult to find two smartphones with exactly the same configuration and the same apps - everyone has very specific ideas about how their device should work.
We need the same freedom with our planning software - but despite the many plugins and add-ons that are now available, it is often difficult to find exactly what you need. Of course, it is possible to program plugins yourself, but this requires programmers - these are usually commissioned externally and require a corresponding lead time and, of course, a certain investment.
Visual programming does not require any programming experience and allows you to create your own scripts after a short training phase, although an analytical mindset and some programming experience are of course an advantage. However, it is also true that anyone who is interested and can describe their problem logically can almost certainly solve it with Dynamo.
For this reason, I also prefer the term Visual Scriptingas Programming sounds a little misleading. The best Dynamo users are not programmers, but architects and engineers - that speaks for itself.
Dynamo for Revit (Image source: dynamobim.org)
All Dynamo fans from the very beginning will certainly know how rapidly Dynamo has developed in 2015 - and the standalone version, the Dynamo Studioas well as the beta versions of future developments such as Dynamo for Mac or Dynamo Customizer (enables the manipulation of scripts in the web browser).
In view of these developments, we can certainly look forward to seeing what 2016 has in store for us in this area!
Visual programming for BIM
Visual Scripting is of course not an Autodesk invention - even if Dynamo is probably best known among Autodesk users due to its direct connection to Revit.
Grasshopper was for a long time the Visual scripting tool used by many architects for generative design and parametric design methods. However, as Grasshopper is based on Rhino, a geometrically very powerful but not BIM-capable software, it is usually only used in the design phase - the geometry is then exported and the BIM model is subsequently recreated on the basis of this.
But it is not only Autodesk that has become aware of the importance of visual programming in the BIM sector:
In September 2015, Graphisoft released a beta version of the ArchiCAD-Grasshopper Links which is intended to provide ArchiCAD users with access to visual programming. In this article on the Architosh blog or in the Video from Graphisoft (Youtube) explains how it works in more detail.
ArchiCAD / Grasshopper / Rhino (Image source: Geometrygym)
This is certainly a very interesting integration, but the added value in the area of BIM is likely to be limited, as the Rhino geometry is primarily transferred here. A similar principle is also used for the Dynamo Packages Mantis Shrimp or Rhynamo which enables the use of Rhino / Grasshopper in conjunction with Revit / Dynamo. However, many BIM functionalities, such as model analysis, various evaluations or automation, are not possible.
Vectorworks on the other hand, presented its own development back in May 2015: Like Dynamo, Marionette is based on the Python scripting language and runs natively in Vectorworks. On Youtube you can watch the official product video and a fairly comprehensive Webinar on Vimeo.
Marionette in Vectorworks (Image source: Vectorworks)
From BIM's point of view, Marionette is certainly exciting and we can only hope that it develops just as quickly as Dynamo!
With this in mind - a successful, happy and exciting 2016!
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