eRDS Cloud is developed to work with the latest generation of multi-discipline BIM models and produce the most comprehensive asset database possible. But not all projects have federated models. Many will include some of the MEP disciplines, whilst others may only have an architectural model. And even federated BIMs may not have modelled 100% of the assets for each discipline.

In all these cases eRDS fills in the gaps by allowing the missing fittings and mechanical components to be defined as information only assets. These non-modelled assets exist in the same project database as the BIM assets, and all in compliance with COBie.

BIM models that do not include the MEP discipline are severely limited when it comes to producing COBie information. eRDS provides a solution by defining the missing items from the mechanical disciplines as information-only assets in a COBie compliant database. The result is having the same level of detailed asset information that you’d expect to find in a federated model.

Finishes, fittings and mechanical components are selected from the eRDS library and allocated to the room spaces defined by the architectural BIM. As installed information including any serial numbers and warranty details are then added. Depending on project requirements, the information-only assets are written back to the BIM as new Revit parameters on the spaces or FM placeholders through the eRDS Manager.

Most buildings in any city were built before the emergence of BIM technology, and many will not have up-to-date 2D floor plans. Existing buildings and heritage sites need to be maintained and refurbished. Detailed asset information is required if FM or CMMS systems are to be used for managing the facility.

eRDS Cloud & Field is designed to create building information for existing real estate and provides the tools to define and capture all finishes, fittings and mechanical components into a COBie compliant database. There is no reason why the level of asset detail for existing buildings cannot be equally as comprehensive as for projects done in BIM.

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The level of information available for newly constructed buildings designed using BIM compared to existing or heritage buildings is significantly different. This makes it challenging for real estate companies or government organisations with large property portfolios to run all their buildings in the same FM-software in a single software application their assets in a common data environment.

eRDS manages building assets in a COBie compliant SQL database and provides the tools to drill down into the infromation, search for almost any combination of data, and export a report.

Advanced data exporting tools allow entire projects to be transferred between architect, main contractors and building owners to ensure the information stays with the building through its lifecycle. eRDS runs on Amazon Cloud and is also available as a desktop version.

You can keep track of changes and re-instate earlier versions of your project data if you need to make comparisons or find out what was happening on a particular date.

Setting up an eRDS Cloud project is simple thanks to tight integration with Revit and IFC models. Our BIM plugins extract the necessary information from the models and set up a new project with the levels, zones and rooms in accordance with the COBie schema. The eRDS Manager identifies the maintainable assets in your MEP model and assigns them to the relevant rooms in the database.

eRDS displays the key properties and dimensions for each room or space plus four sets of key information; Finishes, Fittings, ME Spec and ME Components. Just click through the tabs to find the information you are looking for.

Assets are listed individually so as-built information can be added for COBie compliance, or they can be grouped by quantity for standard room data sheets. Each asset will include information about manufacturers, suppliers, and once captured, individual serial numbers, barcodes and warranty details. You can quickly review the design notes or open any drawings specific to the room including C sheets, floor plans, ceiling layouts etc.

The fittings tab is generally used for the assets not usually included in a BIM model. You can add, view, edit or print a complete list of furniture and fittings that will be installed in the room. COBie information such as manufacturer, supplier, and where appropriate serial numbers can be added.

You can filter by fitting class and use the quantities for cost calculations. Clicking on any of the assets will show more detailed information and links to any supporting documents. Design notes are added to clearly specify the intent and to assist the fit-out team.

There is a detailed page of information showing the environmental design conditions for each room. Lighting, data, security and specialist systems information is all at hand, plus the design intent for the method of heating and cooling and any provision for hot and cold water.

You can apply filters to see the discipline of interest and create mechanical specification reports for the whole building as excel or pdf. All the information defined here can be written back to the BIM model through the eRDS Manager.

The ME Comp section shows the type and number of power, data, lighting, plumbing, and specialist components in each room. If BIM is being used on the project the assets are extracted direct from the model into the asset database. Any missing components that haven’t been modelled are added to the library and manually allocated to the room.

Mechanical components include diffusers, dampers, grills etc. from the HVAC discipline, plus electrical sockets, fused spurs, lights & PIR, wall switches & controllers, data & TV sockets, sinks, radiators, cookers & hobs and white goods. In fact, everything that will be fitted into the room. All or part of the information can be exported to excel for cost analysis. And when its imported into Revit, you will enrich the model with a level of detail that’s rarely, if ever, found in BIM.

eRDS is a SQL database that can be interrogated to create customised reports through a hassle-free interface. You can export a full room data report to excel or pdf or specify individual, types or groups of rooms. There are specialist exports for Revit and Navisworks applications such as 3D Asset, and you can export the project library to excel.

Room layout drawings, 3D visualisation images and supplier documentation can be uploaded to eRDS Cloud, or you can import HTML links to external DMS systems via excel. Either way the documents you need are never far from hand.