AI, Pickleball, and Design Catalogs: your burning questions about Skema
Skema is a new kind of design software. Because it leverages past designs for new designs, it doesn’t fit neatly into traditional design phases. And that opens all kinds of questions. So, we’ve compiled this FAQ of some of the most common questions we get in our customer meetings. Check out these Q&As and see how versatile Skema is. It's changing the game for architects and designers.
What building types does Skema solve?
Pickleball courts. Yes, really! Skema is surprisingly versatile! Whether it’s schools, healthcare facilities, hospitality venues, multifamily residences, data centers, or even pickleball courts, Skema offers a powerful solution for your project needs.
How can I create a Design Catalog using Skema?
Creating a Design Catalog in Skema is straightforward. Suppose you have a previous project, like a school, that you want to replicate elements from in a new project. Simply isolate the desired modules, such as classrooms and bathrooms, in your BIM software, and extract them as unitized design elements in Skema. These elements form your Skema Design Catalog, providing a foundation for your new project. With Skema’s AI tools, you can freely adjust and modify these elements while retaining the original BIM data for enhanced information and flexibility.
What components are included in my Skema Design Catalog?
Your Design Catalog in Skema incorporates all your design standards from your BIM models, including sheets, line types, and font types. These standards seamlessly transfer to the unitized design elements in Skema, ensuring consistency and efficiency in your design process. When transitioning your schematic layout back into BIM, your design standards remain intact, eliminating the need for redrawn elements.
How long does it take to learn Skema?
We like to say that Skema passes the “mere mortals” test — you don’t need super-technical chops to be able to use it. The learning curve for Skema varies, of course, depending on individual dedication and familiarity with similar software. Some users achieve proficiency within a week, dedicating time to explore and utilize Skema’s Knowledge Center tools. Compared to other AEC software — Revit can take take months to master, for example — Skema offers a quicker learning curve, allowing users to become proficient faster and streamline their design workflows.
What features of Skema utilize AI technology?
Skema harnesses the power of artificial intelligence in two key areas. First, Skema Design Catalogs leverage Knowledge Graphs, and secondly, morphing represents Skema’s proprietary AI-driven technology. Let’s delve into each aspect.
With Knowledge Graphs, Skema facilitates the creation of superior designs, allowing architects to generate “greatest hits” and customized Design Catalogs based on their past successful projects. The utilization of a Knowledge Graph is a distinctive feature of Skema. Skema converts BIM data into Knowledge Graphs, which are then analyzed by AI. This methodology ensures that the architect’s intellectual property remains separate from the AI, with the architect guiding the process. If you’ve wondered what human-in-the-loop optimization is, this is a great example. Let’s call it designer-in-the-loop!
Delving into our second AI application, Morphing is a cutting-edge feature in Skema that empowers users to manipulate and adapt unitized designs to suit the unique requirements of each project. Say goodbye to cookie-cutter designs! This technology enables users to stretch, squeeze, and modify units while preserving underlying logic, rules, and patterns. With morphing, Skema users have complete control over adjusting designs to fit specific building conditions. Your new layouts are completely new. And they have a massive advantage downstream in the workflow because those layouts already contain all of the BIM data you need.