The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced the release of a new feature—developed in collaboration with Autodesk—that will automate the AIA 2030 Commitment data reporting from energy analysis software directly to the Design Data Exchange (DDx). This collaboration has resulted in an open Automated Program Interface (API) to the DDx, available to any energy modeling software vendor, reducing the duplication of effort using the existing process.
The new automated connection will allow the more than 350 AIA 2030 committed firms to report their project and portfolio performance to the DDx directly from Autodesk Insight 360, a technology addition included in Autodesk Revit and Autodesk FormIt 360 Pro subscriptions. This automated process between Insight 360 and DDx will eliminate the need for manual data entry and eliminates duplication of effort encouraging performance analysis and more frequent reporting throughout the design process instead of annually. The DDx interface is open source with the ability to connect with other energy modeling software providers. Additional vendors are welcome to link up with the DDx system.
Eliminating the overhead of manual reporting not only saves time but it also enables more regular updates so firms can get up-to-the-minute progress on their projects and portfolio. In terms of actually meeting the targets themselves one of the key findings of the 2014 progress report was the critical role that energy modeling plays, and how projects that applied energy modeling were generally higher performing.
For example, of the projects submitted in the 2014 reporting period, nearly 50 percent of the projects where an energy model was created met or came close to achieving the AIA 2030 Commitment goals, whereas 80 percent of non-model projects fell below the 40 percent target. This offering helps to lower the barriers to energy modeling, making it possible to conduct energy modeling on virtually every project, especially from the early stages, but in doing so automatic reporting to DDx is essentially free.
Related Stories
| Jul 21, 2011
Bringing BIM to the field
A new tablet device for construction professionals puts 3D data at the fingertips of project managers and construction supervisors.
| May 18, 2011
New Tool Takes PDFs Beyond 2D
Our IT expert puts a new PDF creation package through its paces and sees value for AEC firms that want to move more aggressively into 3D documents.
| May 16, 2011
Dassault Systèmes to distribute Gehry Technologies’ digital project
Dassault Systèmes and Gehry Technologies announced that Gehry Technologies’ Digital Project products will be integrated into the Dassault Systèmes’ portfolio and distributed through Dassault Systèmes. Digital Project is a suite of 3D BIM applications created by Gehry Technologies using Dassault Systèmes’ CATIA as a core modeling engine.
| May 3, 2011
Scott Simpson of KlingStubbins on how to get more value from BIM
Too few AEC professionals have developed a strategic idea of how BIM can and should re-shape professional practices and drive dramatic improvements in both creativity and production, according to Scott Simpson, FAIA, senior director of KlingStubbins. While BIM enables the exploration of design ideas quickly and in new and different ways, it can lead people to think they’re making more progress than they actually are. A simple adjustment in perspective is all it takes to put things right.
