Jarom,
I am assuming that you are reporting any reproducible crashes that you encounter to our Subscription Support team, as that is the best way to report and get resolution to specific technical issues you encounter in Revit MEP.
I agree that Revit MEP has its limitations, and I try to personally be as up front as possible about them in all discussions, either in person or on forums such as these. I don't see the value in providing incorrect information that will lead customers into bad places down the road. The Support Technician in me knows that is not a formula for customer success and satisfaction.
I would however, disagree a bit with the assertion that the application is fundamentally flawed. Revit Architecture has been around for 10+ releases, and AutoCAD 20+. Rome was not built in a day, nor a release, but I feel that Revit MEP is quite capable given its place in the typical software lifespan.
Now, to address your question regarding the upcoming release...Before I even get started, I have to bristle a bit at your assertion that we would choose to pursue our own agenda for the release. I try not to get too wound up with these forums, but you've hit a nerve. I have gone out of my way on these forums to solicit feedback on development items,asking open questions about needs within the application. Beyond that we actively engage customers for feedback and suggestions on product enhancements. This is done through direct relationships, Product Support Feedback, the MEP Customer Council, our reseller channel, and the Wishes Forums that exist in multiple online communities. It simply would make no business sense to pursue a personal agenda. We are a market-driven organization, and will continue to function that way into the future. As a public figure of that organization, I try to dedicate as much time as possible to interface with you in the user community.
As for new features and workflows in the upcoming release, I am already discussing them on my blog (which I do on my own time) in video form, so I'm not going to go into significant detail here. Nonetheless, let's hit the highlights.
* Large Model Optimization - We did a lot of effort on the performance of the application in large model scenarios. We made large advances in the area of data propagation, System Editor, and System Browser. We continue to investigate further optimization. All other capabilities of the application don't mean much if the application performs in a way that impedes user's abilities to be productive. We continue to investigate further optimizations of the application, and will implement them when feasible. There is always room for more improvement in this realm.
* Worksharing Usability - We received feedback from a number of sources highlighting difficulty in a Worksharing environment in Revit MEP this past year. As such, this was another area of significant effort. We did a large investigation into the Element Ownership of Revit MEP over the past development cycle. This investigation provided opportunities for improvement that significantly reduced the propagation of element ownership upon changes in the model. Our testing indicates valuable improvements to that end.
* Volumes - We carried out a lot of effort to improve the definition of volumes inside of the building. This is most clearly illustrated with the creation of the Space Element for Revit MEP users. Since volumes are so intricately tied to accurate Building Performance Analysis, we wanted to make sure that the tools at the disposal of Revit MEP users allowed for the definition of Volumes in most all building geometries. I've blogged about this in a lot of detail already.
* HVAC Zones - We created the Zone Element, which allows for the logical association of Spaces into a Zone. This allows users to define environmental variables at the zone level, as well as calculate Heating and Cooling Loads.
* Building Performance Analysis Enhancements - We allowed for further detailed control over the environmental variables for our Heating and Cooling Loads. This covers things like Outside Air quantities, detailed set points, and leaving air temperatures. Additionally, we added new parameters for check figures that allow for clearer understanding of our calculated loads, like CFM/Ton and Sq Ft/Ton. Finally, we now deliver peak load values for Spaces, Zones, Levels, and the entire building.
* Content - Between our mid-year Content Extension, and our upcoming release, we've added a number of valuable pieces of content to meet the needs of commercial projects. Including:
Commercial Condensing Units up to 130 Tons
Horizontal and Vertical Belt-Drive DX and CW Fan Coils, Stacked Fan Coils, Ceiling Mounted Fan Coils
Packaged Air Handlers to 25 Tons
Gas-Fired and Electric Commercial Packaged Rooftop Units to 130 tons
Downflow, Vertical, and Horizontal High Efficiency Water Source Heat Pumps up to 20 tons.
Occupancy and Dalylighting Sensors
Consolidation of Revit Architecture Light Catalogs with Revit MEP catalogs
Volumetric and Direct-Indirect Lights
Many different valves types
Packaged Air-Cooled Chillers
Centrifugal Water Cooled Chillers
Absorption Chillers
Multiple Styles of Cooling Towers
Multiple Styles of Boilers
Many different Fire Protection connections and valves.
We've also directly integrated Autodesk Content Search into the Revit UI for direct access to that online content resource, facilitating easy searches for additional content.
* Modeling in Sections and Elevations - This is a great modeling enhancement that is exactly what it sounds like. This will help significantly when modeling complex piping and ductwork.
* Light Fixture Transfer to the IES
- For those users who use the full version of the IES , we now transfer the locations, light source orientation, and IES data file information of all Light Fixtures in the Revit MEP model to the IES . Within the you can carry out point-by-point lighting analysis.
* Size List Integration - We moved the size lists for Ducts and Pipes from XML files into the Revit Project. This makes these lists much more accessible. The ability to transfer them from project to project through "Transfer Project Settings" means you should have to customize the lists more than once.
* Panel Schedule Appearance and Sizing - You now can control the size of Panel Schedules on Sheets, as well as the font. Additionally, you can quickly adjust the column sizing through a master "width grip". Moving the Panel Schedules no longer resets the column sizing you've made.
* You can now snap to linked architectural ceiling grids in Mechanical or Electrical discipline RCP views.
* Layout Path - We've added the Base Element, which allows for routing even when there is no equipment placed for the logical System.
* Sloped Piping - Modification of the slope of piping runs now is more consistent, even when there are in-line Tees in the selected pipes.
* Wire Tick Marks - These are now standard Revit families and can be modified as desired.
* Tagging - You can now create a Label that references multiple Parameters. You can Tag all Not Tagged for Spaces and Rooms.
* 3D Navigation Enhancements - We added the View Cube and Steering Wheels, which simplify the manipulation of 3D Models. I've blogged about those already.
* Mental Ray Rendering - This rendering technology, the same found in AutoCAD and 3D Studio Max, allows for photorealistic rendering capability.
I know there's more, but it's late and those are the highlights I can think about off of the top of my head. I'll be interested to hear your feedback. I'll be blogging in detail about most of these over the coming weeks and months.
Cheers,
Kyle B
Revit MEP Product Manager
http://inside-the-system.typepad.com/
Kyle Bernhardt
Director
Building Design Strategy
Autodesk, Inc.