CEE 120A/220A Building Modeling for Design & Construction | Fall 2023

Hi CEE 120A/220A students!

The scores for the Module 2 assignment will be released soon. So, I wanted to share some notes with you about assignment grading and how to think about your assignment scores in this design workshop.

The most important point to keep in mind is that in a design workshop, there’s always room to improve your work. No one’s work is perfect — and this applies to my own work too — there are always things that I could do to make it even better.

Our approach in scoring the assignments is to always try to give pointers about the areas where you can continue to improve your submissions. So, for each assignment, your submissions are scored in four areas:

In addition to the numeric scores, we also try to share comments and suggestions via your posting on Notion.

On the Module 2, of the 15 points possible, the range of scores varied from 8 points to 13 points. So, what does this mean?

The most important message that I really want to drive home is that you SHOULD NOT try to equate a letter grade for this assignment with these numeric scores. That’s not the way it works. Rather, we sum up all the numeric scores across all the assignments in the quarter and use the distribution to determine your course grade.

So, for example:

Neither of these scores will absolutely determine your grade for the course. There are a lot of assignments to complete, and your scores will vary from assignment to assignment. So, don’t get discouraged because your assignment did not receive the maximum points - that’s normal and expected! In fact, achieving the maximum points on any assignment would be a truly remarkable feat.

So, how can you improve your scores? The best strategy that I’d highly recommend is to meet with the course assistant at office hours for some specific tips and guidance about how to improve your next submission. He can help you understand the nuances of what he’s looking for as he evaluates your submission and give very focused tips based on your actual submissions.

As many of you know from your other activities, a little personalized coaching and mentoring can be extremely helpful for refining and improving your performance.

Choose one:

🏗️ Understanding Level of Detail (LOD) in Revit and its Relevance to Our Class 🏗️

As we continue to delve into the world of Building Information Modeling (BIM), it's essential to grasp the concept of Level of Detail (LOD). LOD is a crucial aspect in the construction industry, and it's especially relevant to our class. Let's explore the different LOD levels and clarify where our focus lies. A good graphic is included in the above slides that accompany the text below.

🔍 LOD 100 - Conceptual Design 📐

At LOD 100, you're at the most basic level of detail. This is where your designs are conceptual and focus on overall shapes, sizes, and relationships. Think of it as your 'big picture' stage. You're creating representations that provide a clear sense of the project's form and function, without diving into intricate specifics. For our class, this is the starting point where you brainstorm ideas and establish a project's foundational concept.

🏗️ LOD 200 - Basic Modeling 🏗️

As you progress to LOD 200, you begin to add more detail. This level involves creating basic, generic representations of building components. You might start to incorporate simple placeholders for windows, doors, walls, and other essential elements. This is where you refine your initial concepts into a more structured framework. Our class primarily operates within LOD 100 and 200, emphasizing the conceptual and basic modeling aspects of BIM.

🏢 LOD 300 - Detailed Design - Specific Assemblies 🏢

LOD 300 is where things get more detailed. At this stage, you'll be modeling specific products and systems, such as manufacturer-specific doors, windows, or structural components. This level requires a deeper understanding of the project's specifications and an increased level of precision. While LOD 300 is crucial in construction projects, it's not the primary focus of our class.

🏭 LOD 400 - Detailed Assemblies - Fabrication & Assembly 🏭

Finally, LOD 400 is all about fabrication and assembly. This level is highly detailed and typically utilized by manufacturers and contractors. At LOD 400, you're dealing with the nitty-gritty aspects of construction, such as precise measurements, connections, and manufacturing details. This level is well beyond the scope of our class, which primarily centers around LOD 100 and 200.

So, as you progress in this class, remember that this class primarily lies within the realms of LOD 100 and 200 (and a bit of 300 if you were to use specific manufacturer’s BIM objects), the conceptual and basic modeling aspects of BIM. These levels are where you'll establish your project's fundamental ideas and start to bring them to life without overwhelming yourself with unnecessary detail/work. As always, as you are doing assignments, please reach out with any questions or clarifications on how much detail to put.