Project Spark

[#1]

Project Spark is a technology preview of a simplified 3D building information modeling (BIM) solution. Using Project Spark, building professionals can create designs efficiently with real-world building objects, produce more reliable documentation faster, and share files with consultants using Revit or AutoCAD-based products.

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/spark/

You can email us at labs.revit.spark@autodesk.com or post to this forum.

[#2]

Hello,

I'd like to ask if is files created by Spark fully compatible with Revit? If yes, work this compatibility in both directions (Revit -> Spark; Spark -> Revit?

Thanks for reply

[#3]

Thanks for the question. I know it will come up a lot.

• Can I open Revit 2012 files in Project Spark?
  No. Files created in Revit are not supported. However, Revit 2012 files can be linked into Project Spark.

• Can I open Project Spark files in Revit 2012?
  No. Files created in Project Spark will not open in Revit 2012.

[#4]

To add to what Scott said:

* Spark can use project files created in Revit as links only. 

* Spark allows you to fully use family content created in Revit except that Spark does not support massing, adaptive components, or pattern-based curtain panels.

Going in the other direction, the .rvt and .rfa format used by Project Spark has some additions that cannot be read by Revit.  This is one of the areas where we would be most interested to hear your feedback.  How would you envision Spark and Revit working together?

[#5]

Thanks for replies.

[#6]

Scott,

I live in Kuwait and just noticed that Spark is available only in 19 countries and nowhere in the Middle East, Africa or India.  Vasari 1.0 was freely available so why this restriction on Spark.

Any chance of Autodesk rethinking this soon?

Really sad that such an exciting development from labs is handcuffed by legal issues. Geographical profiling is ugly.

[#7]

It would seem HUGE if Revit and Spark were interoperable---in both directions.  I assume this is simply a marketing strategy on the part of Autodesk to not allow such(?). 

Revit is an extremely powerful tool for commercial projects, but is somewhat overkill for small, residential projects.  Autodesk shouldn't force Revit users, who may work in both commercial and residential projects, to incur additional expense in order to collaborate with individuals whose mainstay is small residential. 

[#8]

IMHO it should be called what it is and what the programdata is actually labelled RLT Revit LT, AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT have always been compatible. New features for full AutoCAD nave been seen in AutoCAD LT before they have hit the full product why should Spark (call it what it is Revit LT) be any different. And if you want slightly less than AutoCAD LT there are versions out there not from Autodesk that are FREE and compatible with AutoCAD 2012.

This appears no more than an answer to Googles free Sketchup and you pay if you want Sketchup Pro.

As a customer who pays for Revit Licences, Spark as it stands without full compatibility is nothing more than a training verson for keen new users to play with at home for more than a 30 day trial version of full Revit.

How many Spark users will actually upgrade to Revit? all the time it's free I suspect very few.

It would be interesting to know just what Autodesks thinking is re this non- commercial product, time limited Lab experiment ?

Where and what do you currently ssee it leading too?   

[#9]

It is nice to see that autodesk is thinking about a simpler BIM product. I am just unclear about the differences between this and Revit. I have not used Revit in five years after going Mac and Archicad. Is this really easier? The GUI does not seem that much different from the full Revit. It would be nice if Autodesk could create cross platform apps that did not have to tie in so much to Microsofts proprietary api's or their whims of GUI such as the ribbon. Autodesk Labs should lead the way in developing an "insanely great' BIM interface and disregard the structiure of the windows gui prison. 

To me this should be the product for conceptual design to quite detailed design development at least. Revit is too complex and expensive and overkill for many firms. SparkBIM could fill the bill if it could replace Sketchup, inclued reall wall, window, door and roof tools etc. Allowing simple sun studies and presentation would be nice as well. Imagine it costing $1000 and bing cross platform with a great GUI and you have a winner. I wonder if you could actually make a BIM product that could work on an iPad. I saw a cool app recently that allows you to sketch floor plans with the finger by drawing rectangles etc. The ipad then regularizes them and adds dynamic dimension which are then editable much like Revit. At least a 2d app of this sort is needed on the iPad. Imagine if you could push pull those walls in the z axis in a model view etc. ....