Level of Development

When people ask me about how much detail is too much detail in Revit and how CAD is so much better than Revit i raise a few useful counter arguments/ points.

1. Revit is a graphic representation of a database.  It has so much power to gather and mine information.  The information is extremely useful as a decision and design tool but also as a post construction database.
2. Forces everyone to understand the project in 3D as it will be built in real life.  
3. Forces everyone to understand construction assemblies.
4. Connects to the specifications.
5. Provide instant views from any angle.

I learned manual drafting back in the early 90's and we were taught that the level of information or detail was enhanced as the scales got bigger.  In a 1:100 floor plan you would only see two lines for a wall and in a 1:50 or 1:20 plan you would start to see all of the additional layers in it.  I find that I am applying the same principles when using Revit.  Keeping the drawing very clean and only putting the information required and not over doing it.  In the Autocad days because it allowed you to zoom in without end, people became obsesed with adding information, sometimes overbearing like screws and nails at 1:100.

You can add 2D information to enhance a drawing.  Not everything should be modeled but it should be identified 2D, 3D or scheduled.

We live in an age where data is extremely valuable and when you are making design and cost decisions you need the right information to make the smart choices.   The drawing set should flow from general to specific and from Coarse to Fine.