Project Vasari Tech Preview 1.1 is now available

We are happy to announce that, just after three months since the initial release, we have an update to Project Vasari on Autodesk Labs. We have been working hard to deliver on some features that we were unable to get to back in November, fixing bugs, and more importantly: delivering some new experimental analysis features. So text annotations, metric templates, and STL export are now available. We have also further isolated Vasari from potential Worksharing badness by automatically detaching a work-shared RVT file upon open.

Now on to the fun stuff.  We have had the distinct pleasure of working with Dr. Andrew Marsh of Ecotect fame for this release. He has developed two prototype analysis features based on Ecotect technology. The Wind Rose tool allows you to visualize wind speed and direction data in your models for different seasons and times of day. The Planar Solar Radiation tool lets you perform solar radiation analysis in the external spaces within and around your site. Both of these tools continue the trend of visualizing analysis data directly inside a BIM. We also had the pleasure of working with an excellent team in our Shanghai office that has been porting over the Maya "Nucleus" physics engine to work with native Revit masses. In what I believe is an Autodesk Labs first, we have a coordinated launch of two Labs tech previews with one integrated in another. So now inside Project Vasari you can play around with applying real phsyical forces such as gravity and wind to mass surfaces!

Have you been using Project Vasari since the initial launch? Did you pass it along to some of your colleagues not yet initiated into Club Revit? One of our goals with Vasari is to introduce the concept of BIM and parametric modelling to a new audience that may be intimitated by Revit. I am curious to hear your about your experiences with this. Did this spur a larger conversation about BIM and analysis in your office?

_tom

Comments

[Adam Sheather]

My issue was with the lack of ability to use CEA and shadows get funny once you hit the 1024 limit of faces, which gets hard when you do city blocks and focus on the roof.

Otherwise great starter tool. looking forward to seeing 1.1 improvements.

[Adam Sheather]

Second issue.

Since we have MEP and Structures we cannot use the Nucleus tool, even though we have a tensioned membrane division which I think would be of immense use in helping very quickly understand design options and rough out forming for our customers who use membrane structures. Since the msi only recognised RAC it won't load and therefore I imagine Vasari cannot load the API. Can we expend the limitations since it tells me I have no Revit Product on machine when I run both structure and MEP.

Thanks

[Tom vollaro]

Adam, the standalone nucleus add-in for revit and Vasari implementations are completely separate. You should be able to run Vasari w/ nucleus regardless of your existing software. It is integrated in Vasari and does not require a separate install. If not, please do not hesitate to contact me. Looking forward to your feedback re. tensioned membrane analysis

[Craig Davis]

Third issue

You can only create rectangular shapes, but this is a known issue, so I guess you guys are already working on it.

Forth issue (very Important)

When the framework is created, you can only apply a mesh surface, which is faceted. Not realistic when you want to mimic a silk cloth which is smooth. It would be nice to have the option to either apply (update) a mesh or nurbs surface. For now, the only work around is to delete the mesh surface and then loft the models lines to create a smooth surface.

fith issue

It would be nice to be able to apply the Nucleus technology to existing surfaces.

It's not very useful now, but when these issues are addressed, it will be a fanstastic tool. No doubt about that.

My compliments for the first efforts

[Scott Parker]

This is a, hopefully, silly question. I have downloaded Vasari 1.1 and I do not have the "Nucleus" tab when I run the program. What am I doing wrong? I understand from Tom Vollaro's post above is that no seperate install is required.

In case it matters, I do not have Revit installed.

[Tom Vollaro]

@Scott, the Nucleus functionality only works inside a mass family file. Go to the "V" menu, click New Family and select the Mass.rft template. Have fun!

[Scott Parker]

Thanks. That does it.

[Goosie]

Hello, I have just downloaded Vasari 1.1. I am trying to use the metric templates but there are none. Where do I find them????

[Tom Vollaro]

To find the metric templates, go to the "V" menu, click Options and then click Browse next to the two template sections. Browse "up" one level to the VAS TP1.1 folder and then select Metric Templates. From now on, creating a new project and/or family file will default to the metric templates.