Structural Engineering Detail Library
Structural Engineering Detail Library
(OP)
Wanted to get some input on the different ways of managing a detail library. The firm I am at has built up a library full of typical details you can pick out and customize for each project. They are all printed out on paper and appear as a book, if you will, of details separated into different topics such as wood, cmu, steel, etc. I am interested in how other firms manage their library of details. I am trying to create a search engine for the firm so we can type in key words and details will pop up so to make for faster and more efficient detailing. Thanks in advance!.






RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
If you've worked here awhile you know jobs when you can go "rob" details. If not you start from scratch.
My previous firm had exactly what you describe and it worked well. IMO, it's best to keep detail libraries somewhat small. Include only the details you use most often. If it gets to big and too tough to navigate people won't use it.
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
Dik
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
We keep a multitude of previous and typical details in our CAD library for reuse. We group the details CAD files in subfolders by division/type (steel, concrete, masonry, foundations, etc.). We also keep up-to-date spreadsheets of the details in each category, with them listed by practical, descriptive name, and also by unique detail number identifier. This system has served us well over the years. I hope you find the system that works right for you,
Dave
Thaidavid
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
I find large libraries can get unwieldy and harder to use. The best details get used often and then with greater confidence.
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
That way I never miss a detail that should have been on there.
Regarding cutting and blasting "sort-of-similar" details onto other jobs, I stopped doing that (when I can help it) with the introduction of BIM software. I have found that if the detail doesn't match what they are looking at, it throws the builder off and they just ignore it.
I started drafting with a BIM software, so now every detail is the actual view of the actual model. It is just a better quality of drawing then the CAD stuff where things were "almost" like the way it is in the real world.
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
Interesting. I find most BIM cut details to be awful (at least on the Arch. drawings.) I much preferred the "hand drawn" CAD details.
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
I agree with XR250. BIM sections look like garbage until the draftspeople go and clean them up overtop with standard CAD linework.
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
The other problem with live sections in BIM is once you tweak a live section in the model, your sections need to be cleaned up, whereas in CAD as long as you didn't dimension anything, your section will be fine.
At my office, we have been experimenting with the engineer creating the model and created live cuts where unique sections exist. A draftsperson goes in afterward and, depending on their experience and knowledge, starts to apply the typical callouts to the plans and sections, adds the typical details, and dimensions everything. The engineer has already created the plan views, labeled the beams with live beam tags, created column schedules.
I'm relatively new, less than 10 years experience, but learned through BIM. I can tell you by looking at architectural drawings from 10 years ago made with CAD and the drawings today, that the quality of sections, plans, and generally everything from an architect has gone way downhill. They don't care about what their drawings look like anymore. This is a general statement. I know architects who still produce works of art in terms of drawing appearances, but it's the exception now. It was a struggle at our office in the beginning, but now anyone fluent in BIM can produce a complete set of concrete or steel drawings faster than CAD. The problem, as always, is that the architect's are MUCH more inclined to make last minute changes.
Has anyone else experienced this with architects?
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
Some of my details are very specific to a job (ie. Window Walls) so those do not go into this CAD file but I can always draw on the various ones I have done to give me ideas for a new project.
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
It also has the advantage of automatically saving change history, and changes can be commented if anyone care to. Native files can be attached to pages along with person readable files, such as PDF.
The challenge is it requires a database and web server to back it, but those are commonplace. Lots of companies in the hosting business and the prices are likely to be low.
If I had to lose an app I'd give up spreadsheets before the wiki. I can write software to add and subtract in anything that moves, be a nice wiki makes every other minute of working a joy.
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
Thanks to everyone else who replied. This is turning into an interesting thread to see how many other offices operate.
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
Currently I have set up somewhat of an engineering library using Onenote. Since I have yet to use an actual wiki I don't know how it compares, but I'm wondering if I could use it to also set up a CAD library. Onenote seems to function a lot like a wiki and it is free to use. Although I'm not sure what sort of space limits there are for the free version.
EIT
www.HowToEngineer.com
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
For example, there is a "wood details" file with a category for "exterior walls" and "balconies". Every year, I grab the best from a dozen or so projects and update the library.
Individual files are a pain to store and log. It's best to store them in one big bin.
The older guys prefer a book with all the details printed. However, this never gets updated.
When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.
-R. Buckminster Fuller
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
http://design.medeek.com/cad/autocad/MEDEEK_STRUCT...
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
Robert Hale, PE
RE: Structural Engineering Detail Library
I am still working on extracting details from previous jobs and cutting and pasting them into the master detail file.
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com