BIM is not just a Model: It´s an organised database.
The concept of BIM is to model and manage information that can be used by every stakeholder involved in a construction project. Systematic "Naming and organising" Model data is a part of BIM workflow that should not be ignored as it enhances collaboration and coordination. Every information in a BIM model must be organised according to its use and purpose. In this post, I will demonstrate how project views can be organised in both ArchiCAD 16 and Revit 2013.
ArchiCAD Project View Organisation (ArchiCAD View Map)
To organise views in ArchiCAD, knowledge of the following tools within the software is essential
- Layer Settings- Layers and Layer Combination
- Navigator - View Map
- View Settings
- Model View options
Creating Layer Combination and Layers:; Assigning elements to layers
Create your model in the project map and pay attention to the layers you assigned to every object and geometry in the model.
Navigator Project Map |
Open the layer settings by going to Documents -Layers - Layers settings (Model Views) or just press
Ctrl +L
In the Layer Settings (Model Views), create new Layer Combinations (left column) and give them reasonable names; you can use your project deliverable as a guide. As shown below, I have created the layer combinations inside the big red square.
For example, "PLAN CONSTRUCTION" in the Layer Combinations column will display all the views that are plan drawings and will be used for construction.
I recommend creating your own Layers and Layer Combinations , Notice, I have used CAPITAL LETTERS to name my layers in order to distinguish my layers from existing ArchiCAD layers.
Part 2
Creating Views and View Folders in the Navigator
-Click the project chooser; (the small icon at the top left corner of the navigator pallet),
-Click "show organizer" , this will open the "Organizer-View Editor"
-From the "Organizer-View Editor", there is "Project Map" and the "View Map" Columns
-Drag the "Stories" from the Project Map and drop it in the View Map coulumn
-Name the Folder, in my example I named it "DESIGN".Close the "Organizer View Editor"
Naming folders really depends on the purpose of the views.e.g Main Folders can be named to display the disciplines( Architecture, Structure, MEP) or the phases ( Conceptual Design, Design Development, Construction )
In the Navigator Pallet, make sure you are in the View Map (see figure below), Duplicate the "DESIGN" Folder and name the duplicate " CONSTRUCTION" or whatever name that is appropriate.
Open the DESIGN folder and click on the "1.Storey" in my case (0.Ground Floor). then adjust the detail level and the visual style using the the layers and the layer combination set up in the beginning.
For example, I do not want to show so many technical information on the drawings in the " DESIGN" folder so I want to have my walls shaded in gray and the rooms sizes in squared meters.
This can be achieved by opening the layers setting (CRTL+L), select one of the layer combinations (left Column) that you have created and turn on the layers from the right column that you would like to include in the selected layer combination. Make sure you click update at the bottom before you close the layer settings dialog box.
In the example below, I selected DESIGN as my combination and added EXTERNAL WALLS, INTERNAL WALLS into this combination by turning on the eyeball besides the layers. If you notice, ENTOURAGE, FLOOR SLABS AND FOUNDATION layers are turned off when DESIGN is selected in the combination. This means that if I change the layer combination in the " view settings"(see picture below) to "DESIGN", the view will only display all layers that are turned on for "DESIGN"
"View settings" can be found by clicking "Settings button"at the bottom of the Navigator -View Map . You must be in a view before the "Setting button" can appear.
View Setting dialog box |
Part 3
Model view Option
Model view option gives the possibility of controlling the level of detail of the elements in your model. For example to achieve the shaded walls as shown in the plan drawing above, you must use the Model View Options which can be found in Documents- Set Model Views- Model View Options
The changes made in the Override Fill display can be saved in the Model View Option Combinations. A custom name appears whenever you make changes which can be named and stored. See the picture below
Naming and Storing Changes in the Model View Option |
Go back to the view settings and you will have the option of selecting from the drop down list the Model view Options that you have created.
Thats is it!
Though it was not that easy to explain the process in writing but I hope it will help someone. If you need more explanation on any part of the tutorial, you can write to me or just send your comments. Next tutorial will explain how the same process of creating folders and organising views can be accomplished in Revit Architecture.
Revit Architecture Project View Organisation (Project Browser)
This tutorial is going to demonstrate how to create custom folder in Revit Project Browser in order to organise your Views and Sheets accordingly. For example , you might want to create separate folders for architects drawings, Structural drawings and MEP so that it is easier to navigate when you share your project with others.
You can do this by customizing the browser organization and including a custom parameter. Lets get started:
- On the Manage tab, click the Project Parameters button.
- In the “Project Parameters” dialog, click the Add button.
- You can choose the type of parameter, "Project or Shared", For this example , I will use project parameter.
- Type in a name e.g: “Sheet Folder”
- Change the Type of Parameter to Text.
- On the right side, from the Categories list, check the Sheets box.
- Click OK twice.
Now lets create custom browser organisation
- On the View tab, click the User Interface drop-down and choose Browser Organization.
- Click the Sheets tab and then click the New button.
- Give it a name and then click OK.
- In the “Browser Organization Properties” dialog, on the Folders tab, choose the custom "Sheet Folder" from the drop down list for the first Group by item.
- You can also choose additional Group by criteria e.g Sheet Number depending on how you want the sheet to display
- Click OK.
- Make sure you check the box next to the "Custom Sheet" to make it active and click OK
- Create new sheets.
- Select one or more sheets and then on the Properties palette, locate the new Sheet Folder parameter and type in a value or name e.g. “Structure” and apply it.
- Repeat for all the sheets.
That´s it.
Conclusion
In my opinion, the time spent in customizing folders and setting up views in ArchiCAD can be justified when it is saved as a template which can be reused. Comparatively, it takes few steps in Revit to customize folders and set up views. However both software do a great job in project organization.
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