Blind Automation

Okay. Let's dive into what everybody that tried to sell me on Revit, and how it's all bullshit.

1) Panelboard schedules.

The concept of a panelboard schedule that automatically fills itself out - and updates automatically is pretty cool.  The reality is considerably more underwhelming.

My initial experiences found a half-ass panel schedule that a brain damaged moron with 5 minutes of training on Excel could've cranked out.  Limited functionality, no consideration for load calculations based on load type (i.e. receptacles, HVAC, lighting, etc.) And the fucking things were so huge only two could fit per page.

This has been improved somewhat, however third-party solutions are typically necessary if you want to get started sometime this decade.  Developing them from scratch, or modifying them is *possible*, but again - what the fuck are we paying for here?

The reality is that I can fill out, calculate, and modify panel schedules in my sleep.  I've never had a project delayed, or had even a single problem ever come back to me on any of the hundreds and hundreds of projects that I have done due to a mistake on a panel schedule or circuit.

2) Things will automatically move when walls/ceilings are moved.

Again - awesome in theory, not so much in reality.  If a wall moves - I don't want shit to move with it - I want to see shit hanging out in midair so that I know that the Architectural team has been fucking with the floor plan and not informing me.

Usually if they've been moving walls, it means that there is other shit they aren't telling me, and I want to know - and that's before you take into account that instead of moving a wall, they might delete the wall and reinsert it, or the design might be modified to the point where what was shown before might no longer be correct.

Invariably, if something in a plan changes, it's not as simple as 'just bump these items over' - it's going to require actual mental effort to make sure that the design has not been compromised.

3) Mechanical (and other) equipment will be able to automatically fill out schedules.

Wow! Really?

No! Not really!

Unless the person responsible for specifying the equipment and populating the Revit model has their shit in immaculate order - this is next to fucking impossible.

Back over here in reality, mechanical designers are usually scrambling until the very end of a project to get their drawings completed.  If I wait until they have everything done, and expect this shit to magically provide me with the necessary information - I'll be fucked every single time (and come close to being fucked anyway - with my only salvation being a close relationship with the designers so that I get the information I need).

4) Manufacturer developed content.

This has been a point of contention from day one.  While most (if not all) manufacturers have attempted to provide some kind of 'Revit content', most (if not all) is also completely fucking useless for anything other than fleshing out the model - providing no benefit to the engineering end of things.

5) Improved coordination, speed, and accuracy.

Ha, ha, and ha.

The reason my drawings get coordinated, and are done quickly and accurately is because I take the time to communicate with other disciplines (whether they want to or not).  Every single Revit proponent that I have dealt with directly has had the same mental defect - they expect Revit to magically do it for them while they scramble to figure out the next 'workaround'.

I don't particularly give a fuck if they want to punish themselves and work extra hours that aren't in the budget (meaning that other disciplines are left carrying them if the firm is to make a profit - or they simply do this work unpaid), but the second they start impeding my ability to complete my work, then they risk a fist to the throat.

Even if I do not use Revit at all, I am still fucked, because I am still left waiting for them to extract their heads from their asses.

6) Revisions are 'easy'

If I'm not mistaken the 'Rev' in 'Revit' has something to do with it's supposed ability to facilitate changes to the design.

As I have stated previously, it is easy for an uncontrolled client to start making an indefinite amount of modifications, changes, or additions (scope creep) to a project.

In some cases, firms are hesitant to point out to their clients that 'you asked us to design a building - not to allow you to re-design and modify it constantly as we go'.

Obviously you don't want to nickel and dime a client, and 'the customer is always right' rule might apply (or you might not mind taking a hit in a project if there is a potential for future profitable projects - but keeping a boot on the neck of a problem client is sometimes a necessity (and if they are being a pain in the ass now, chances are any 'future profits' are likely to go down the same fucking hole).

Combine this with the excessive time and effort necessary to finally get everything in the Revit model tweaked and perfected - only to have some douchebag run rough-shod over it, making excessive (or unnecessary) changes - and you are in for a world of hurt.