Dynamo: Programming Solutions for Repetitive Tasks
When working on an architectural project, there are some tasks that we do every day that are intensively repetitive. Nobody likes doing these kinds of jobs for an extended period; however, sometimes, they are unavoidable. Although Autodesk Revit’s built-in tools have eliminated some repetitive tasks, it is still difficult to avoid repeating some actions a thousand times!
So how can we avoid having to do these repetitive tasks? One answer is to use Dynamo, a powerful stand-alone tool and Revit plug-in.
Dynamo is a visual programming platform that allows designers who do not have a computer-related background or do not know how to write code to have access to basic but powerful scripting. It provides flexibility to access inaccessible places inside the general functionalities of Revit and to manipulate large amounts of data and complex geometry with precision. Additionally, this graphical algorithm editor has the capability of creating data diagrams associated with three-dimensional software in real-time, generating a parametric model. It can be integrated with different software such as Revit, Excel, and AutoCAD, generating various file types as output. This tool is not only for beginners; people with some coding expertise can go even further due to Dynamo’s compatibility with Python - a high-level programming language. Dynamo’s potential is only limited to the imagination of the modeller.
For the last couple of years, CIMS has used Dynamo to increase efficiency in building information modelling (BIM) projects. We have used it to manipulate data, simulate complex geometry, quantify materials, and manage the importing of elements and data from CAD and Excel to Revit. Dynamo scripts were created to compare model variations, automate space labelling and workset placement, and define workflows for exporting from Revit into other applications. Dynamo is a very versatile tool with tremendous potential for research and design. By using Dynamo, it is feasible to generate many different scripts to program solutions to everyday problems, saving the design and the production teams thousands of hours of repetitive tasks, in addition to obtaining more accurate results. Any problem that requires a repetitive and programmable action or that involves overwhelming amounts of data can be potentialy solved with a Dynamo script.
Although Dynamo has been critical in improving the workflow for projects such as the BIM of the Canadian Parliament Buildings, the learning curve to become efficient with the software is significant. It takes some time to become accustomed to the workflow, but it is absolutely worth it! Once one becomes familiar with the intricacies of the software and with the possible strategies to overcome a problem, the solution becomes easier, cleaner, and more intuitive. Investing a day in creating a well-written script could save many days or even weeks of frustration and time that could otherwise be spent more productively.