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Every successful project starts with a framework. A vision statement. A blueprint. The editors of Engineered Systems are proud to present The Blueprint — a monthly Q&A interview with HVACR engineering’s leading voices. These one-on-one discussions will examine the trade’s history, current industry trends, the factors shaping the sector’s future, and more.
In our latest interview, Ralph Schoch, software, technology, and internal support manager in the virtual design and construction (VDC) department at Victaulic, discusses the advantages of model-based estimating, examines a few of the company’s AutoCAD tools, and more with
Engineered Systems: In 2015, Victaulic launched Victaulic Tools for Revit® (VTFR). Tell us about the evolution of this product.
Schoch: Faced with an internal need to get a reliable bill of material from Revit, the Victaulic team created the “Procurement Tool.” Once VTFR was launched, we then had a host of productivity tools for routing and managing content. Now, VTFR is used throughout the world to create engineering to fabrication-ready models that can be easily procured, spooled, and modularized for construction.
Engineered Systems: List a few of the advantages that model-based estimating and BIM capabilities affords consulting and specifying engineers.
Schoch: Properly leveraging the building information modeling (BIM) process to gain better control of material as well as having the ability to control risk during the construction phases of a project are key advantages. Using accurate material quantities provides a better understanding of labor and schedule per each area and each floor of a project.

Read the entire article on Engineered Systems’ website.

Percussive Maintenance is defined as the use of physical concussion, such as a knock or a tap, in an attempt to make a malfunctioning device or person work. In Engineered Systems’ podcast, we’re poised to do much more than rattle the engineering industry’s exterior, we’re digging deeper into the subjects and topics that matter most with some of the industry’s most important names.
In the latest episode, Engineered Systems’ editor-in-chief, Herb Woerpel continues his Coronavirus Conversations with Dr. Stephanie Taylor. In Part 3 of this ongoing series, Taylor discusses the effectiveness of the Phizer and Moderna vaccines, introduces us to Building4Health, and more.

Click here to hear the latest episode of the Percussive Maintenance podcast.

The engineering industry is very busy shaping the present and future of the built environment. In Engineered Systems’ Facility Files video series, we examine a few of those projects and their impact.
In our most recent episode, we examine Johnson Controls designed, built, and is now operating and maintaining a new central utility plant on the campus of the University of North Dakota. Learn more in this video.

See the video on Engineered Systems’ website.