3D High Rise Building in AutoCAD 2013

[Rob215]

I am drawing a 3D model of a 20 story apartment building to show the plumbing risers using AutoCAD 2013. I need advice on which way would be best. Right now I have 1 working file for the building and 1 for the plumbing. Then I will reference those 2 drawings into another drawing to show the plan view of each floor. Now here is where I can’t decide which is a better way.

 

1 option I thought I would do is to create a layer for each floor in the working file, then in the drawing the working files are being referenced to, I will have tabs for each floor (P100, P101,…). Then in the viewports I will turn off the layers that aren’t needed. I know this will work but creating layers for all of the floors has been a pain and time consuming.

 

Another way I thought of came from using Revit MEP when I was able to show sections of the building (I think it was called ranges), can this be done in AutoCAD? If so, how could I do this and can it be done in viewports? I think it might be easier to just have a layer for each system (1 for hot water, 1 for cold water, ect.), then in the viewports show certain parts of the building.

 

Like I said before, I’m not sure which would be a better way. This is my first and hopefully only time drawing a 3D model of a building in AutoCAD as there are other programs I know how to use that can get the job done a lot quicker. Thanks for all of your help.

[tzframpton]

Another way I thought of came from using Revit MEP when I was able to show sections of the building (I think it was called ranges), can this be done in AutoCAD? If so, how could I do this and can it be done in viewports?

Let me answer this first. No, plain AutoCAD does not have this capability that's as easy as Revit. There are Section and Live Section tools that can get the job done but it's much more difficult.

 

I, too, hope this will be the only time you'll have to do this. You have a lot of headache in front of you with plain AutoCAD but it's certainly doable. Programs such as AutoCAD MEP and Revit MEP are perfect for projects like this.

 

Here's how I would approach this in AutoCAD.

• One DWG file for each floor, named sequentially for Ascending Organization in both Windows Explorer and XREF/Layer Manager (Floor 01, Floor 02, Floor 03, etc.... Floor 20)
  
• Create a single DWG file that will be the host for all the Floor DWG's, which you will XREF into. Each floor DWG you XREF, move it up in the +Z direction so it "stacks" the floors sequentially. Example: If each level is 10'-0" Floor to Floor Height, then you'll move Floor 05 in the +Z direction 50'-0", and so forth.
  
• Each of the Floor DWG's will simulate the floor as the 0'-0" AFF. The host DWG that all the Floor XREF's are hosted in will "stack" each floor, which builds the elevations.
  
• Create a single DWG file and create the entire building model elements inside. XREF it into the Host DWG file along with all the Floor DWG's. You can also XREF this into each Floor DWG, but in the individual Floor DWG you'll want to move the XREF in the -Z direction accordingly. Then you can use the Live Section tool to "cut" the entire building XREF and show only the floor you want. OR, create each floor individually like I commented above with the plumbing.
  
• As far as sheets go, you can use the SSM to build each Paperspace Layout sheet in each Floor DWG.
  

 

This is the approach I would try at first, if all I had access to was plain AutoCAD. This certainly will be difficult though, especially when compared to the other available software applications out there. Good luck in your venture.

 

[Rob215]

Thanks, I think I will keep doing what I'm doing and create layers for each floor and move each floor up in the Z direction. It will be easier in the end. I was planning on using the SSM also. I tried to tell my boss it can be done a lot faster using autocad MEP or revit but he didn't want to spend the money to get the license, I guess he would rather have me spend more time and frustration using plain autocad.

[tzframpton]

Call your local reseller. Instead of buying an entirely new license, maybe Autodesk can pro-rate your current license with an upgrade. Not sure tho. But sounds like you're a contractor and you've been asked to do a BIM job. If so, then the purchase needs to be made - maybe not this moment but eventually so it'll need to get put on a forecast budget sheet for the company.

 

And yes, each XREF needs to be on it's own Layer. I didn't mention it, but you are correct in using the method. Definitely be easier in the long run..... as easy as it could get anyways.