Real-time data is currently only available in the Sefaira for SketchUp plugin. More information can be found at .ĭisclosure: In an earlier version of this article, Sefaira’s Revit plug-in was described as providing real-time energy analysis. Subscriptions cost $5,000 per year and cover an entire office, although there is a limit of three new projects per month. The web-based analysis and plugins are all part of an annual subscription service. Analysis information can then be stored on-line or exported to project reports. Through the web-based application, material attributes can be set and designers can conduct optimization analysis for a variety of parameters such as insulation and solar orientation, generating what the company calls, “response curves.” These optimization studies provide designers a better understanding of how a building performs within a discrete set of variables without having to submit multiple models for testing.

It also allows designers to compare multiple building configurations simultaneously. It can handle denser, more sophisticated models, providing a detailed breakdown of building performance, including seasonal peak energy loads and water usage. The web-based service provides a more comprehensive evaluation of both Revit and SketchUp models. You can check which is which by looking at the colour on the Graphics tab, but you will need to manually map Render Appearances from here. Quick feedback is favored over depth of analysis and results mainly focus on heat transfer through the building envelope. EDIT Keep in mind that if you import an SKP directly into Revit, it will create materials for each shading material as Render Material xx-yy-zz in the Material Library. Sefaira’s software relies on data describing the building’s location, program, and the digital model itself to derive performance predictions. Designers can quickly test massing, fenestration, shading, and orientation strategies early in the design stage by altering the model in SketchUp, and comparing results.

The Sefaira for SketchUp plugin utilizes the same computational power as the Sefaira web application, to provide real-time feedback as changes are made to a three-dimensional model. The SketchUp plugin is a fast, lightweight complement to Sefaira’s more robust web-based analysis service, which was introduced in 2012.

Revit to sketchup