topic Can't define IFC site object? in Collaboration with other software

Can't define IFC site object?

R Muller — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:50:08 GMT

It appears to be impossible to define any archicad object as an IFC site object. The object settings include the IFC Element Type classification setting, but the pull-down menu for classification does not include an option for "site".

I can set IFC export options to translate meshes to IFC site objects, as long as the meshes are set to "Automatic" in their object classification settings. However, even though I can set export options to create the IFC site "from meshes and IFC site objects", I can't seem to create any IFC site objects.

Is this right? Or is there some other way to do it? I am new to IFC...

I find that the meshes retain their SEO operations on translation to IFC, but walls and slabs that I intersected with the meshes do not retain their shapes. Since these walls and slabs are my roads and sidewalks, they should really be site objects as well, but I cannot find any way to define them as such.

Re: Can't define IFC site object?

Erika Epstein — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 05:11:36 GMT

A work around suggested is to save the site as a library part. will this work for you?

Re: Can't define IFC site object?

R Muller — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:18:36 GMT

I'm hopeful that it will work without needing to save the site as a library part. Since I posted yesterday I have done some move investigating.

I selected all the roads in ArchiCAD and changed their IFC classification from "automatic" to "wall". Now they show up correctly in the IFC model, SEO's and all.

I also have about 20 identical walls, with identical SEO's, that I am using as property lines so I can see the property boundary in 3D. About half of these translated OK, the other half didn't. I have called tech support and they are working on it. It seems to me that if some walls work OK, they all should be able to.

Still haven't heard anything about what is a "site object" an how to define one.

I will post again after I hear back from tech support.

Re: Can't define IFC site object?

R Muller — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:48:12 GMT

Here's an update. I was able to save the model with the site elements correctly trimmed to the mesh, using the following work-around:

The walls that weren't trimmed in translation were replaced with slabs having the same dimensions as the walls. Then we did new SEO's with the new slabs.
IFC classification for the new slabs was set as "wall", rather than "automatic", same as we did for the roads. The translation is now OK.

Now on to the next question, which I will post in a separate topic. What determines the color in the IFC translation?