If you use Revit Server or Collaboration for Revit (C4R)?

Technological advances in the world of architecture and design before construction led to significant advances in software and collaboration; achievements that one could only dream of in the past. Today, projects involve teams from very different geographical areas - different cities, different states and different countries, while simultaneously coordinating the same project. These types of projects require a clear labor sharing method that is efficient, transparent and extremely accurate. The fact that Revit Architecture, used with Revit Server or Collaboration for Revit (C4R) to coordinate 3D BIM, plays an important role. Depending on the complexity and size of the project and the location of the teams, you can use the sharing method.

Due to the fact that these two methods of architectural services Revit are becoming increasingly popular, we have considered both options, which are preferable. In essence, these two methods:

1. Server Workshop - Revit Server (RS)

2. Cloud Based Seminar - Collaboration for Revit (C4R)

The Revit (RS) server is a server-wide sharing method used in a wide area network (WAN). Central models are based on one or more Revit servers. They can be accessed with Revit Server Local Accelerators, which provide better results for broadband.

Sharing Revit (C4R) is a cloud-based sharing method hosted in the cloud. The BIM 360 team (formally the A360 Team) is mandatory for the C4R. Team members can use the web browser to access the BIM 360 team if they do not use Revit. Then they can view models, upload and download other project documents, etc. With the C4R, central models are stored in a file on the network, with access for all team members.

First of all, the workflows for both methods of the Revit architectural services are almost the same, with the main difference being in different storage locations of the central model.

Features of Revit Servers

1. Creating local files - The Revit open dialog box is used to create a local file from the central Revit Server model.

2. Sharing Monitor - An instant messaging application helps to communicate with other team members.

3. Revit Server Administrator to manage folders - This administrator, through an open dialog in Revit, creates new folders, moves or copies, cuts or inserts projects for Revit Server.

4. Overwriting the central model - The central model must be saved with a new name or it must be deleted or renamed.

5. List of recent files - In the "Recently used files" list, only local files are displayed. Central models are not displayed. 6. Recover local files. You can cancel local files on a previously saved version, but this cannot be done using central models.

Revit Server is working on the concept of centralized hosting projects. The central model is divided into folders and data streams with permissions on items. The server interacts with local servers around the world that have the latest copies of project models. Local servers and the central server can be in the same place, and with network protocols the synchronization speed is increased. Thus, those who have access to the local server should not wait for the data, even if they are outside the local network, since updated versions are regularly transmitted by the central server. Administrator Revit Server Administrator allows you to monitor and view, allowing you to create projects and folders from a remote location.

Cloud Application in Revit and the Internet Conceptual Energy Analysis (CEA) provides information on project sustainability in its early stages. After creating the design, a thermal analytical model is then developed. The materials, location shading, glazing, and opening hours can be revised, and the model is transferred to the cloud for Green Building Studio calculations and thus creates the best environmental design.

Revit Server Roles

Host: Revit Server is similar to a central server. The host will allow Revit Server instances to be geographically or organically central.

Accelerator: in this role, the Revit server assimilates data from various sources. Members of the same local area network (LAN) as Revit Server Accelerator have better performance when connected to central models.

Administrator. The administrator management tool Revit Server is used to create, delete, rename, and move folders and central models on Revit Server hosts and set permissions at the user or group level.

To better understand how these roles function, let's look at an example. If the company has its headquarters in London and the others involved in the project are located in Bristol, Revit Server allows employees of both offices to work simultaneously on the project of the Revit project. This central file is stored on a local data server on a local area network (LAN). Individuals can access the central file on the data server. However, Revit automatically creates a copy of the central file on a separate client workstation, which is called a local file, and does not open the central file. With subsequent changes, local files are different from the central file. Here, each local file is synchronized with the central file. This is better known as sharing.

In a local network, the speed of loading and synchronization is quite fast, since the data are close to the end users. When the same sharing occurs between two or more WAN offices, the download and synchronization speeds are slower. A Revit server allows two or more servers to communicate through a WAN by caching (or replicating) data on one server to another. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the data close to the end users. To do this, each office must install one instance of the Revit server on its data servers, creating a network of the Revit server.

The Revit server in London could play the role of host and administrator, while the Revit Server in Bristol takes on the role of Accelerator. Thus, all central files will be in London and cached in Bristol. Using the Revit Server Administrator site via a web browser, you can manage Revit servers on the network.

What is C4R and what are the benefits?

When teams operate on a local area network (LAN), C4R, a cloud-based file-sharing method, provides accurate performance. It does not require the installation of Revit Server.

Like Revit Server, the C4R method uses cloud computing, but this time also for storing and storing the model. Using the BIM 360 team, C4R provides access to Revit's central cloud computing models and collaborate on projects across disciplines, locations and companies. This means that individuals or teams from any of the places can add, delete, or change project elements at any time so that changes can be viewed by everyone else and reviewed in a timely manner. In other words, C4R allows national or international teams to work simultaneously in different time zones and collaborate in real time.

Uses the BIM 360 command

C4R places the Revit model in a centralized location called BIM 360 Team Hub. This place is the central repository for the exchange of information. The BIM 360 command center must be created before the model is available through C4R. Thus, the cloud can be used for sharing, storage and communication.

For users, Revit C4R is not a standalone installation software. He lives in Revit and provides new options on the Collaboration tab. However, Revit users must be associated with a BIM 360 Team project in order to use the C4R features.

Easy connection

C4R Communicator is a chat feature in Revit with additional features. A communicator connects users in the same model, in a different model, but in the same project, or in a completely different C4R project. Chats in real time and communication, including sending messages, files, screenshots from Revit from one user to another, and even chat logs to exchange with others. Another feature, chronology, keeps track of comments that are synchronized in real time, which are completed and when they were completed.

Publishing Revit Models for the BIM 360 Team

Since only Revit users can see the changes after each synchronization, for those who use the BIM 360 command, the Revit user must publish the Revit model for the BIM 360 command so that they can see all the views and sheets and all the BIM metadata in the Revit model,

C4R Features Integrated Project Delivery - C4R facilitates the sharing of server requirements and centralized systems by joint project projects from different locations. This allows architects and engineers to freely exchange data and share data and make qualified decisions.

Cloud technologies - Since most tools in C4R are cloudy, work methods and customer support have almost complete flexibility, and then significantly reduce downtime and rework.

• Management - Models and users can be controlled with the permissions and restrictions set in the BIM 360 Team project in Revit.

• BIM 360 integration - In addition, all non-Revit project teams can view, comment, and tag models through a web browser.

• Tool Communicator - Team members can chat with live real-time chat in C4R, as part of the BIM project models.

• Publishing tool - Models in the cloud are published with the default 3D view and all 2D sheets, which allows you to communicate between students after updating the changes.

Financially, ROI from C4R projects saves an average of 30 minutes per team member every week. Throughout the year, this may mean that C4R can actually pay for itself.

Technical issues and how Autodesk supports C4R:

Bottlenecks in the code, scaling capacity at different loads, intermittent communication. Product teams in the cloud ensure that services have the right approach and architecture for the continuous and reliable operation of their operations. Degradation or failure - services are designed so that the dependencies are “soft”. and do not reduce the main products.

Deviation of operational behavior. Services constantly record work results for "health checks." Notifications of deviations occur within a few minutes and can be quickly corrected. In addition, data trends are explored to use models to increase throughput.

In general, both Revit Server and C4R sharing methods have advantages and disadvantages, but depending on the organization and its specific needs, it can be more beneficial than others. However, with the increase in licensing software based on the C4R subscription, it can be seen as a logical way for many firms that have not invested in expensive Revit server hardware and require easy-to-use and easy-to-use cloud collaboration solutions for their projects.