Building Information Modeling

Families and Parameters

Slides are made based on Autodesk BIM Curriculum, Greenwold, S., and D. Driver. (2007), Building Information
Image courtesy of: Modeling with Revit Architecture: Lecture Notes, Autodesk, Inc., with additional content created by Wei Yan, Texas A&M
Ryder Architecture Limited
University.
Review: Domain knowledge in BIM

The walls are almost configured properly. However, the horizontal

insulation must be moved inside of the core in order to cut
through the air space that shares its same priority level.
Remember, insulation and air space share the same function
(http://www.marathondrafting.com/?p=43
http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Revit/enu/2012/Help/Revit_User's_Guide/2654-Tools_an2654/2908-
Compound2908/2911-Applying2911)
Assumption here: insulation should cut through air space. Making it into
Core, this cut-through will happen automatically in Revit. Another way to do
this is to lower air space priority to 4, but it breaks the rule of the same
function layers have the same priority.

Core means core boundaries.

Working with Compound and Vertically
Compound Walls
Functions of Compound Wall Layers
Layer functions follow an order of precedence. A priority 1 layer has
the highest priority and can pass through low priority layers before it is
joined.

Structure (priority 1) Supports the remainder of the wall, floor, or roof.

Substrate (priority 2) Consists of materials such as plywood or gypsum
board, which act as a foundation for another layer
made of the same material.
Thermal/Air Layer Provides insulation and prevents air penetration.
(priority 3)
Membrane Layer Prevents water vapor penetration. The membrane
layer should have zero thickness. It doesnt need a
priority.
Finish 1 (priority 4) Used as the exterior layer.
Finish 2 (priority 5) Used as the interior layer.
Working with Compound and Vertically
Compound Walls
Modifying Compound Walls
You modify compound walls to specify changes during the course
of the design process.
You can modify the type, appearance, and properties of compound
walls.
You can also change the orientation and modify the layer pattern
display of a compound wall.

Before and after flipping the orientation control

Before and after changing coarse scale fill pattern

Working with Compound and Vertically
Compound Walls
Vertically Compound Walls (Stacked Walls)
A wall with non-uniform structure throughout its height is known
as a vertically compound wall.
You can divide the layers of a vertically compound wall into
vertical parts. Each part can be composed of a different material.

1. Protruding ledge at the

top of the block

2. Three rows of brick

inset from the main face
of the wall

3. Row of brick standing

vertically

4. Cap
More on Compound Structure:

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Revit/enu/2012/Help/Revit_Use
r's_Guide/0325-Build_th325/0327-Architec327/0328-
Walls328/0332-Modifyin332/0343-Working_343
Question:

How to create a new family with multiple types?

Question:

How to create a new family with multiple types?

Create a new family with a type and duplicate

the type to multiple types.
Experiment: Creating New Types in
Family

Run Revit - Load Family of Casement 3x3 with Trim, find

it in Windows, edit family, add a type of 48"x48" to it, and
save it to Families using a new name and new location
Casement 3x3 with Trim - New.

Try to open a new project and load the saved Family

Casement 3x3 with Trim New. Examine it.
Question:
Can you add a window to a curtain wall?
Why or why not?
What assumptions does the software make?
Question:

Load the door openings from the installed family library. Why
do you have to add this as a component rather than a door?

Experiment it.
Choosing Type
Versus Instance
Why are some parameters
type parameters and some
instance parameters?

Type parameters are the

ones that define the identity
of a class of objects, and
instance parameters are the
ones that vary across specific
individuals. Instance
parameters tend to deal with
context (extrinsic
relationships, such as
placement in a host), where
type parameters tend to be
intrinsic (self dimensions, for
example).
The Role of the Family

If type values are stored in a type and

instance values are stored in an
object, what exactly is the role of the
family?

The family defines what parameters

exist, whether they are type or
instance parameters. The family
defines how the object renders itself
into various views depending on its
parameters.
 The Role of the Family

Family A Family B
Type Parameter 1 Type Parameter 1

Type Parameter 2 Type Parameter 2

Type Parameter 3

Instance Parameter 1 Instance Parameter 1

Instance Parameter 2 Instance Parameter 2

Instance Parameter 3
The Role of the Family
Its also about design thinking process:
When architects think of doors, do they
think of materials first or the geometry first?
Normally geometry, for example, they draw
double doors (family) on the floor plan first
and then decide about its wood material
(type) later.

On the other hand, when we sketch a

building, we draw instances directly,
without thinking of families and types.
This shows the difference between
sketching and BIM modeling.
Nested Families

A family may contain one or more other families as part

of its definition. These are called nested families, and
they are a powerful concept. Nested families allow
aggregates of components to be treated as a single
component. For example, a set of door hardware can
be created as its own family and then used in many
different door families. If a change is made to the door
hardware, the change can be easily propagated into all
the applicable door families by reloading the hardware
family.

The size of the book shelf can determine the

size of the drawer, or parameters can pass
from a family to its nested family.
 Questions?
Question:

Load the door openings from the installed family library. Why
do you have to add this as a component rather than a door?