Tag Archives: Graphisoft

GIS file accessibility

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Screen Shot 2013-06-19 at 3.54.06 PMGIS files can be accessed in ArchiCAD by conversion of GIS Shape files into DWG files using the following tool: guthrie Arcv2CAD 6.0

Screen Shot 2013-06-19 at 3.54.22 PMFrom the Guthrie website: “…Arcv2CAD 6.0 converts ESRI shapefiles (ArcView, ArcGIS, ArcMap etc.) to AutoCAD DXF and DWG formats. This allows shapefiles to be read by virtually all CAD software, for example AutoCAD, MicroStation, CivilCAD, DesignCAD, SolidWorks, as well as numerous other Mapping and Graphics software, eg CorelDraw, Surfer, World Construction Set...”

Note that the software runs a limited number of sessions in FREE mode, thereafter, it requires a “purchase”. Notwithstanding, we believe that access to GIS Shape files is a necessity for many ArchiCAD users, who may find this a useful solution.

Access the guthrie Arcv2CAD 6.0 here.

ArchiCAD 17 – new feature: Energy Evaluation

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AC17_BOX_CAM1By introducing multiple thermal blocks to the Building Energy Model, Energy Evaluation for ArchiCAD 17 produces an increasingly sophisticated and accurate report of the project’s energy demand, using  a standard-compliant engine. An expanded interface and new evaluation features take advantage of the more detailed data provided by multiple thermal blocks (instead of the single-block method used in ArchiCAD 16).

Easy Creation and Visualization of Thermal Blocks

A project’s Thermal Blocks are defined by the user; their geometry consists of one or more ArchiCAD zones. Each Thermal Block (e.g. Stairwell, Office, Basement, Technical Area) typically has its own energy characteristics and needs.

  • Define thermal blocks by drag-and-dropping ArchiCAD zones from the model window into the Thermal Block list
  • New Thermal Blocks page of the Model Review Palette lists thermal blocks with all their relevant properties
  • Highlight the list entries to visualize Thermal Block geometry directly in the ArchiCAD model

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Streamlined Management of Structure/Opening Data

  • Use the Model Review Palette’s new Tree View to browse, edit and visualize the Openings/Structure data, organized by Thermal Block
  • Properties panel provides editable list view
  • Openings page provides individual analysis (listing, editing and visualization) of each opening
  • More detailed parameter set allows for a more accurate energy simulation

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Model-based Solar Irradiation Study

  • Model-Based Solar Irradiation Study determines precise solar gain through each individual opening in the building envelope
  • Graphical Solar Analysis feedback for each opening

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  • Solar analysis also considers shading effects of building environment (e.g. adjacent objects, other buildings)
  • ArchiCAD plant objects act as intelligent shading devices: their shading capacity is scheduled for the reference year, making it possible to factor in whether the plants used for shading are coniferous or deciduous

 

Custom Operation Profiles

  • Define custom Operation Profiles (in addition to default profiles) to fine-tune occupancy according to local regulations or to match actual building usage
  • Hourly scheduling for the entire reference year guarantees accurate input of occupancy patterns

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Assign Multiple Building Systems

In ArchiCAD 17, assignment of MEP systems is available for each thermal block separately – not just for the project as a whole. The resulting Energy Simulation thus presents a more realistic picture of the project’s energy demand.

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More Detailed Energy Reports

  • More detailed energy reports in PDF and XLS formats
  • New formatting options, including colors, font, add image as header

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Benefits

  • Multiple thermal blocks support the evaluation of mixed use complex buildings
  • Building Energy Modeling (BEM) now a standard part of the ArchiCAD offering
  • More detailed evaluation reports enable better and more sustainable design decisions even in the early design phase
  • Integrated energy evaluation in ArchiCAD 17 lays the foundation for standard compliant energy analysis with EcoDesigner Star

For more about Sustainable design in ArchiCAD 17, visit the YouTube Channel of ArchiCAD Sustainable design here.

The BIMobject® App now released for ArchiCAD

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Screen Shot 2013-06-19 at 12.42.35 PMBIMobject® announced today that the cloud integration App for GRAPHISOFT’s ArchiCAD, the leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) architectural software developer, has been launched. The App is completely free of charge for all users of ArchiCAD worldwide, giving the ArchiCAD user a toolset to find, source, update and check BIM objects supplied through the
http://bimobject.com/
 cloud completely integrated in their software.

Screen Shot 2013-06-19 at 12.42.50 PMThe integration is completely unique and is the best-in-class web service integration inside ArchiCAD. The App has functions to quickly browse the BIMobject® cloud database online and find real products from real manufacturers. A simple click to download and the BIM objects are loaded in the ArchiCAD user’s project, ready for placement and further configuration.

Another great feature is the ability to check for updates. The App will check to ensure the actual version of the placed object in your project is the same version as on the cloud. If there is a newer version of the actual product in the cloud, the product information can automatically be transferred to the already downloaded files. This is a feature not seen in any other solution and gives a completely new way for manufacturers to update product data and add new properties to already downloaded objects. This solves the issue of keeping and maintaining data up to date, great for both the user and manufacturer.

The App also consists of a BIMail integration. ArchiCAD users now have the ability to send and receive BIMails directly from inside their BIM software, making ArchiCAD ‘social.’ Manufacturers have the ability to use BIMail to inform users about product news and updates through BIMail inside the ArchiCAD system.

Another thrilling functionality is the featured manufacturer section where building and interior product manufacturers can obtain their own branded button. It opens the private cloud of that particular manufacturer inside ArchiCAD so the user can browse that manufacturer’s products directly. The manufacturers featured will update on a monthly basis through web services, and is directly connected to the cloud solution at
http://bimobject.com/

The App for Windows is available for immediate download at BIMobject.com, GRAPHISOFT.com or from inside the ArchiCAD 17 application. The App is also compatible with ArchiCAD version 15 and 16. The App will be available for Mac in the second half of July.
http://info.bimobject.com/archicad-app

”We are very excited about the new BIMobject® App for ArchiCAD. We are also proud that we now have the most extensive set of features of any BIMobject® App. This is a revolutionary step, showing the BIM world what cloud can do for us now and in the future,” said Akos Pfemeter, Director of Global Marketing, GRAPHISOFT.

”The new App launched for GRAPHISOFT is the most advanced version of our App technology we have developed so far. It shows a clear path where we are heading with BIM content cloud integration. Manufacturers enter the BIM world for real and can both communicate directly with users and supply them with updated and high quality BIM objects straight into the BIM software ArchiCAD,” said Stefan Larsson, CEO of BIMobject AB.

About GRAPHISOFT

GRAPHISOFT® ignited the BIM revolution with ArchiCAD®, the industry first BIM software for architects. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the industry with innovative solutions such as the revolutionary GRAPHISOFT BIM Server™, the world’s first real-time BIM collaboration environment, and EcoDesigner STAR™, enabling architects to use ArchiCAD’s building information model (BIM) directly as a building energy model (BEM).

GRAPHISOFT’s innovative solutions have fundamentally changed the way architects around the world design and collaborate. GRAPHISOFT has been a part of the Nemetschek Group since its acquisition in 2007.

About BIMobject AB

BIMobject® is a game changer for the construction industry worldwide with its cloud based Portal offering development, maintenance and syndication of digital replicas – BIM objects – of manufactured building and interior products.

The marketing and pre-sales services associated with the Portal are channelled and integrated, through specialised software, into CAD/BIM applications to create a business-to-business communication across the globe.

Manufacturers use BIMobject® to promote and deliver their products directly into BIM processes enabling their products to be selected and generate a real improvement in sales. To find out more visit the BIMobject® website:
http://bimobject.com

BIMobject® – Winner of the Red Herring Top 100 Europe Award 2013!

BIMobject® is a game changer for the construction industry worldwide with its cloud based Portal offering development, maintenance and syndication of digital replicas – BIM objects – of manufactured building and interior products.

The marketing and pre-sales services associated with the Portal are channelled and integrated, through specialised software, into CAD/BIM applications to create a business-to-business communication across the globe.

Manufacturers use BIMobject® to promote and deliver their products directly into BIM processes enabling their products to be selected and generate a real improvement in sales.

BIMobject® – Winner of the Red Herring Top 100 Europe Award 2013!

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The BIMobject® App now released for ArchiCAD
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Images

  Screen Shot 2013-06-19 at 12.45.38 PMThe BIMobject® App now released for ArchiCAD

BIMobject® announced today that the cloud integration App for GRAPHISOFT’s ArchiCAD, the leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) architectural software developer, has been launched.
Size  399 KB     File Format  .png
Image Size  850 x 741 pixels
Photographer / Source  BIMobject®

 

  Screen Shot 2013-06-19 at 12.45.43 PMThe BIMobject® App now released for ArchiCAD

BIMobject® announced today that the cloud integration App for GRAPHISOFT’s ArchiCAD, the leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) architectural software developer, has been launched.
Size  262 KB     File Format  .png
Image Size  850 x 703 pixels
Photographer / Source  BIMobject®

 

  Screen Shot 2013-06-19 at 12.45.47 PMThe BIMobject® App now released for ArchiCAD

BIMobject® announced today that the cloud integration App for GRAPHISOFT’s ArchiCAD, the leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) architectural software developer, has been launched.
Size  143 KB     File Format  .png
Image Size  850 x 433 pixels
Photographer / Source  BIMobject®

 
 
About BIMobject®

BIMobject corporation is built around a network of companies and partners all over the world. Our ambition is to be the link between the complex technology around CAD & BIM and assist our customers, the Building product and interior manufacturers …

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ArchiCAD 17 & SSA clients in SADC

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The following 2 categories of information are very important for SSA clients in SADC:

  1. the exchange of WIBU keys/dongles to Codemeter, which is a FREE process for a limited time period, see details here
  2. the schedule of regional ArchiCAD 17 launch, dongle upgrade and new features training events, find your regional event here, if you cannot find your event, use the “search” field top right of the blog screen and search for your city name

Please do not miss these opportunities.

ArchiCAD 17 – new features: Open BIM

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AC17_BOX_CAM1IFC Improvements:

Support for Multiple IFC Standards

  • Coordination View 2.0

Complete the certification process of IFC 2×3 Coordination View version 2.0 (IFC2x3 CV 2.0) standard based on its export and import requirements. All other major applications, such as Revit Architecture/Structure/MEP, AutoCAD Architecture/MEP, Bentley Architecture, Tekla Structures, Vectorworks, Allplan, Scia Engineer, DDS-CAD MEP, Solibri Model Checker, are also working on this certification process. The result: improved model-based data exchange with these applications.

  • Other Model View Definitions
    • Expanded capabilities for defining new IFC data  requested by other Model View Definitions such as Concept Design BIM 2010 (required by GSA (US), Statsbygg (Norway), Senate Properties (Finland)) and FM Handover (required by COBie, for example) and others:
    • IfcSystem assignment (especially for MEP elements): group project elements in system hierarchy manually, by using MEP Modeler defined systems, or by importing systems from MEP applications
    • Define sub-system hierarchy (parent and child system):
      • Group elevators in a vertical circulation system which can be a child system of a mechanical system
      • Assign plumbing elements to cold water sub-system of a plumbing system.
    • Multilevel (“Sub”) hierarchy available for IfcZone and IfcGroup assignments.
      • Group some ArchiCAD Zones (IfcSpaces) in an IfcZone (Security Zones), which is a part of a higher level IfcZone group (Governmental Zones)
    • IfcTimeSeriesSchedule assignment: occupancy, lighting and equipment schedule assignment to project elements such as ArchiCAD Zones.
    • Calculation and export of special base-quantities of site/building/story defined in Concept Design BIM 2010 MVD (required by e.g. GSA).
    • Support for all IFC Type Products, such as IfcSlabeType, IfcCurtainWallType etc.
    • Editing of IFC data (renaming, new properties, classification etc.) on element types/styles (e.g. IfcDoorStyle)
    • Lining and panel properties (including operation type) of doors and windows will be added automatically to their IfcDoorStyle/IfcWindowStyle.
    • Assign elements directly to the IfcSite or IfcBuilding.
      • Neighboring buildings and site context elements (trees, fences, roads, etc.) can be assigned to the site instead of the project building with its story system.
    • Set and export currency and time units
    • Support for “calendar date”-type IFC properties (for example WarrantyStartDate, etc.)
    • New global and localized classification systems (e.g. Uniclass in UK)

 

  • IFC Publishing
    • Use the ArchiCAD Publisher interface to publish the model in IFC format with one click. You can publish the entire model or just floor plans by story, on a WYSIWYG basis. All IFC Translator options are available through the Publisher as well.

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  • Other IFC-related Improvements
    • At IFC model import, a customizable folder-system of the library parts is generated (embedded library, linked library and .lcf)
      • Reduces project file size and allows user to control location of the newly created objects
    • The name of a custom IFC Property Set can be easily edited by just clicking on its name field and entering a new value
    • Find & Select and Interactive Element Schedule work for IFC Assignments and IFC Type Products
    • Sophisticated automated junctions in the ArchiCAD model (new in 17) are supported in the context of IFC export: construction element connections are exported to IFC in “WYSIWYG” fashion
    • 2D symbols of doors and windows can be exported within the IFC model

Benefits

  • ArchiCAD IFC output complies with several local BIM data standards such as Concept Design BIM 2010 (required by GSA (US), Statsbygg (Norway), Senate Properties (Finland)) and FM Handover (required by COBie)
  • ArchiCAD users can manage the IFC model output from the familiar and easy to use Publishing interface. Multiple IFC model can be created with just one click.

 

Saving Elements to Common DWG Blocks

Until now, multiple instances of a single GDL Object – if they used varying parameters – were saved as separate DWG Blocks. As of ArchiCAD 17, such GDL objects will be saved as a single DWG Block. This way, you only have to edit a single block in AutoCAD, rather than multiple instances.