November 11th 2020

Dave's Top Tip: Develop your MEP design by exporting your IESVE Loads to MagiCAD

Dave's Top Tip: Develop your MEP design by exporting your IESVE Loads to MagiCAD

Dave's "Top Tip" 10

Did you know you can export your Loads from IESVE direct to MagiCAD to develop your MEP Design?

With literarally thousands of software options to choose from and the need to have multiple platforms to deliver your projects – choosing the right combination can be challenging.  Yes, IESVE is your choice for analysis, but IESVE also has the benefit for interoperability with a wide range of platforms.  One of the coolest connections is with MagiCAD. Known for its leadership in MEP design around the world using the latest digital capabilities, MagiCAD MEP is increasing its popularity in the UK. Together with the analysis of IESVE and the MEP Design capabilities – you can be rest assured you have all you need for your projects.

In this top tip I'll cover an overview of the interoperability between Revit, IESVE and MagiCAD. 

A key point to note, when using tools, they must have ability to work within a common modelling environment. This is typically set by the Architects, and in the UK this is Autodesk’s Revit. IESVE and MagiCAD have interoperability with Revit, offering a robust ecosystem for engineers to work within.

We recently co presented with MagiCAD a webinar where you can see the workflow between IESVE and MagiCAD using the architect's Revit model. Currently this provides a robust process for undertaking your Loads within IESVE and then through the new interoperability connection from VE19 FP3 you are able to export to MagiCAD to develop your Heating, Cooling and Ventilation design.

IESVE existing interoperability with Revit, is well known. There are a couple of handy functions within IESVE to import your Revit model. Firstly you can use the ‘Import BIM File’ from the landing page, or you can use the ‘Import/Export BIM’ Navigator workflow within the platform. Either route offers the same key functionality, including: Importing iFC and gbXML file formats, Control over what data you want to import just the geometry, or include assigned data for example, the ability to update model data once imported. This was covered briefly within our webinar, but for those who wish to know more, please refer to the Technical Guide for Revit Interoperability. It’s also worth mentioning our Consultancy team also provide Project Mentoring services for supporting you define your process.

If you are reading this then I’ll assume you have a fair understanding of IESVE, it’s the leading simulation platform for analysis of the built environment, from the earliest stages of Design through Construction, into Operation, and for Single building and multiple buildings alike, up to entire cities.

However, we mustn’t lose sight that at its very core is a robust engineering tool. It was interesting to hear at our webinar that around half of the engineers attending are still using hand calculations and excel – at best they are simply sizing to CIBSE Guide A based on floor area, at worst there is great opportunity for errors. 



Using a platform such as IESVE, increases the level of accuracy within your CIBSE Loads calculations, benefiting from the Architectural model, the ability to layer additional levels of analysis, such as solar shading. Not to mention the benefits for productivity, the list goes on.

The key function for the interoperability from IESVE to MagiCAD is based on IESVE new Loads report. This can be accessed within VistaPro once you run either CIBSE or ASHRAE loads. This report I generated using excel. This is deliberate - firstly it allows exporting for data to MagiCAD, but also as the excel report is editable it becomes a powerful tool in itself allowing you to quickly adjust Load Safety Factors for example.



Within MagiCAD is the spreadsheet export tool, which allows you to then easily import your IESVE loads results. A simple case of ensuring the original room name data is aligned, the data is then uploaded to within the MagiCAD model, ready for you to then develop your MEP design. The neat advantage isn’t just its productivity tools to make developing your MEP design as quick and easy within the 3D environment, but also that it sits within Revit itself, reducing interoperability steps to a minimum.

As mentioned earlier, with so many still using hand calculations this is a step up, but with MagiCAD and IESVE it really couldn’t be easier to benefit from 3D modelling. Have no doubt, regardless of your experience with digital tools, IES and MagiCAD training teams can ensure that you have all the support needed.
 
You might also be thinking that hand calculations have got you this far, why change. Maybe 10 years ago when we saw some early adoption that was an argument, but not today. With clear advantages of productivity, accuracy, resilience, ease of use, and package cost starting from £520 ex VAT for a single licence software really is the way forward.

This is an exciting first step with our friends at MagiCAD. Keep an eye out for more exciting news soon!

For further information on how MagiCAD or IESVE can help you provide any of these services contact sales@iesve.com and uksales@magicad.co.uk for more details.

If you have any ideas or requests for Top Tips to help engineers get the most of VE please let Dave know: david.pierce@iesve.com.