Its quite exciting to hear that you are getting into data extraction.
Unfortunately I have not ventured into testing anything just yet (I'm just
getting started with revit software and the implementation in our office).
I have read a few articles about architectural firms (no specific firms)
actually leasing access to their model online to extract exactly the
information you are talking about - how much brick do I need to order/price?
How much gyp. do I need? etc. The other part that I'm interested in, but not
sure how/if data extraction would help, is digital fabrication where the
architects design model is sent directly to the fabricator and delivered on
site for assembly (huge liability, but good potential to gain additional fees
from the architects side if you're willing to accept the responsibility.)
Sharples Holden Pasquerelli (SHoP) in New York does this quite successfully.
Because I have not ventured into this just yet, I'd be interested in how
you've setup your ms access database (tables, relationships, etc.) and how
you translate/extract the data. Is the extraction done once (and re-done
after a change is made) or does it maintain a dynamic relationship with the
revit file?
My current ms access database generates general project/office information
(project type, location, phase, department, transmittals, RFI's, and shop
drawing tracking). Its a simplified version of the archioffice software.
-Steve