topic Re: Zone calculation in Collaboration with other software

Zone calculation

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:14:39 GMT

I have a request from my contractor to calculate wall areas for wallpaper and painting.

I would like to calculate a rooms wall surfaces and have them listed in a schedule. Ok this I know how to do with a zone but if a wall is divided in parts it's listed by the parts.
I wish to have this wall that consists of three different wall types calculated as one.

Suggestions anyone?

Re: Zone calculation

Laszlo Nagy — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:49:13 GMT

I have not tried this but maybe you could assign the same ID to all 3 Walls, then enable the SUM option for the ID field in the scheme setup dialog.

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:04:23 GMT

Yes Laszlo I've taught of that but I don't want to change wall ID's as they are important in other schedules.

I would like the zone to regard it's side against these 3 walls as one surface and then list each side in the zone as one surface
But I cant find the parameter for it.

I've made a schedule that calculates a zone but the wall surface parameter calculates the surface total not the individual sides.

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:43:47 GMT

I've also fumbled with List but it's a bit complicated.

Maybe some pictures will help.

P.S. In this picture the walls have the same ID I know but I hope you understand anyway.

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:44:37 GMT

Scheme settings.

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:45:12 GMT

List result.

Re: Zone calculation

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:23:15 GMT

I don't exactly understand this because you show screenshots of the Scheme Settings Dialog, which is related to Interactive Schedules, then you give the last screenshot which is the traditional listing type list.

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:01:32 GMT

Yes I know it's a bit confusing and I'm confused too

I've tried the Interactive Schedule with the setting shown and didn't think the resulting image would be interesting as it only shows the total surface. I can't find a parameter that shows surfaces divided by zone side.

Then I tried List were I get all the walls surfaces but can't find a way to summarize walls adjacent to a zone side. Picture shows result.

This is a mockup conversation between the DATABASE and the SCHEDULE request.
Hi
Hi Dave
Are you a zone?
Yes
Please return STORY
2. Story
Please return ID
LGH 022
Please return ZONE_NAME
LIVINGROOM
Please return ZONE_HIGHT
2500
How many vectors (sides) do you have?
6
Please return vector position
Vector 1, A.B,
Vector 2, B.C,
Vector 3, C.D,
Vector 4, D.E,
Vector 5, E.F,
Vector 6, F.A
Is Vector n adjacent to Wall?
Yes, No, Partially
IF YES Please calculate Vector n * ZONE_HIGHT and return result
NEXT n
IF NO GOTO NEXT n
IF Partially Please calculate (Vector n - walls not adjacent to zone) * ZONE_HIGHT and return result
NEXT n
Or something like this.

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:20:26 GMT

Great way of explaining a programming language Borg. Even I could learn GDL that way

I can fully understand your problem with zones, and relate to it 100%, as my last 2 years where spend modeling building for construction caliber quantity takeoff purposes.

I do not see any way of extracting the info you need directly from the model, without going through some extra modeling work (for instance, dividing the zone into 3 with zone limit lines) and then working with the resulting data on a spreadsheet software (Excel for instance).

If money is not an issue (!), I would recommend using VICO Takeoff Manager. This software allows you to import ArchiCAD models and assign takeoff items to surfaces of elements (painting). Thus, it would be possible to paint partial surfaces of zones (or walls) and assign wallpaper to them. The interface is very easy to learn and intuitive, and you have instant feedback between the 3D window and the BOQ.

http://www.vicosoftware.com/products/3d-bim-software-quantity-takeoff/tabid/229123/Default.aspx?source=pr

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:09:55 GMT

Krippahl wrote:
Great way of explaining a programming language Borg. Even I could learn GDL that way

Thank you Krippahl!

Well I'm a BORG "Resistance is futile"

Yes I've heard VICO is capable of this but unfortunately money is one of the issues and an other is I don't want to use additional software.
I've been reading other similar post like:

archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=755

and

archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=35886&postdays=0&postorder=desc&&start=0

but I'm reluctant to dive into this kind of programing as I don't know if it will solve my problem and if I will be able to connect it to a zone.

If all walls surface A was facing the room it would be easier but this is not the case. What if the reference line was Center? Hmm.

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:01:28 GMT

Hi Krippahl
We use Vico Office, but im not sure how VO interacts with the zone tool?
Do you have any experience working with archicad zones published to takeoff manager?

Best regards

Nicolaj Hvid

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:21:37 GMT

Hello Hvid,

Yes we have, a lot. We use them to extract finishes. For most ceilings and floors it is direct.

The main problem with that methodology is that these zones do not take into VICO the area of windows and doors associated. Therefore, you have to do that operation in ArchiCAD, find out what the relationship is between net area and gross area, and use that as a percentage through formulas.

One of the best things about using zones for finishes is that you can do Control by compartment (provided your Zone name and ID are the same).

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:55:39 GMT

Thanks for your reply.
It sounds interesting. When I publish a zone from Archicad it pops up in vico as an individual 3D objct i.e. the size of the bounding box of the zone. How do you relate the 3D objects to the zones?

Nicolaj

Re: Zone calculation

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:32:44 GMT

Through the ID. The Zone's ID is the same as it's name in AC, so when you activate the model in VICO you include layers AND IDs as filters.