Christiaan Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 For the first time I'm working with a structural engineer who is supplying an IFC file of their (RC concrete frame) design at technical design stage. I feel like a kid in a candy store. But how best to utilise their model? I could use their model to update our model of the slabs and columns. Or I could integrate their model into ours, including to generate columns in our floor plan drawings and to generate slabs in our section drawings. Which would negate the need to update our own structural model. Possible? Not possible? Good idea, bad idea? Any tips on best way to do this? Pitfalls? 1 Quote Link to comment
Redmodro Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 (edited) Personally we only use architectural slabs and columns as place holders until the Structural IFC model is available. We will then either delete ours or save them off in another model for comparison later or just ensure the Uni-class classes enable our slabs or theirs to be turned off/on. We then import their IFC file into our model. The important part is ensuring that you have set your IFC file and theirs to have the same origin and setting out point and the same elevation and rotation. This is important as you wont be able to manipulate their file after import. I find myself using the tools>origin>user origin>set origin to next mouse click command. Once this is done we rely on the structural model completely with regular Teams meetings to review adjustments required. One major issue we have is file size, once we import a structural, mechanical, electrical, civil and fittings and fixtures IFC files the file sizes are ridiculous and we struggle to use them in anything other than solibri. Edited November 10, 2020 by Redmodro 3 Quote Link to comment
Christiaan Posted November 10, 2020 Author Share Posted November 10, 2020 Thanks Redmodro. How do you go about creating floor plans that show their columns? Horizontal Section Viewports? 3 minutes ago, Redmodro said: The important part is ensuring that you have set your IFC file and theirs to have the same origin and setting out point and the same elevation and rotation. This is important as you wont be able to manipulate their file after import. One way around this is to import the model (either into your model file or a workgroup referenced separate file) and then create viewports of each storey and offset those as required. Quote Link to comment
Redmodro Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 We develop the plans using layers for each floor as do our structural engineers, we just use standard view ports to see the normal plan view. We then just need to turn on the relevant structural engineers layer/class. Quote Link to comment
Redmodro Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 On the attached Ive turned on our grey place holder columns and the structural engineers columns/beams. You can use class overrides to change how their information is displayed but you cant manipulate the position of the elements. 1 Quote Link to comment
Christiaan Posted November 10, 2020 Author Share Posted November 10, 2020 (edited) Ah I see, so you're still using your own placeholder for Fill on Top Plan view. That's the bit I would like to avoid. Class override for Fill not working for me for some reason, even if I use a Horizontal Section Viewport. Edited November 10, 2020 by Christiaan Quote Link to comment
The Anorak Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 I've been using their IFC model to generate all of my sections and then use their DWGs (set up level by level) to show column positions etc in plan. It's a bit more work but negates the need to have the structure in my own file, or to convert their model to an auto hybrid. Quote Link to comment
Redmodro Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 Our placeholder isn't actively used in the model any more i only keep it in case we want to use as basis to set out column boxing's in the future, as this is a column element it can be edited to suit at that point. We do find the reference option for the IFC files does keep the file size down and works fairly well. The whole idea of using the IFC files is that they can be used for 3d clash detection, the 2d dwgs are not going to help with clashes or meet the requirements of any level 2 BIM project. Quote Link to comment
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