topic Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC in Collaboration with other software

Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Francois Swanepoel — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 23:50:42 GMT

I am working in ArchiCad 15 & 16 and was asked to export an ArchiCad model to IFC for collaboration with Revit 2013 office.

The ArchiCad model is a massing concept model with a mesh site, Slabs, Roof elements some columns and Zones (no walls were used yet).

When I exported the model I set it up to show all element types & layers.
The export was done to 2x3 IFC format as well as 2x3 XML IFC.
When I opened the model in my version of Revit 2013 that I run for testing before deliveries no solids or wire frame showed for the ArchiCad Zones.

The only part of the zones that got transferred in the export was the Zone Stamps on 2D-Plan view in Revit.

I read up on this in the help files here: http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/publishing/ac15_help_INT/Files/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#href=07_Interoperability.10.77.htm and in the IFC Manager section it confirmed that Zones only sends the Stamps over with the export.

But then this article on ArchiCad Wiki states:
"What information does an IFC model carry?
Building hierarchy (Project, Site, Building, Story, Element)
Element type (wall, slab, column, beam, roof, stair, zone etc.)"
. . . http://www.archicadwiki.com/IFC/FAQ#Where_can_I_read_more_about_IFC_and_the_suggested_data_exchange_workflow_with_other_disciplines.3F

Am I Missing Something here? or is the only way to also add walls to the boundaries of the meshes or even use slabs to simulate the solid in the place of the Zone?

Any ideas? Would love to hear . . .

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:22:35 GMT

Just a thought:
When I was experimenting with AC-Revit IFC transfer, there were times when the View Properties of the 3D Window in Revit were such that the imported IFC geometry was not displayed. So it got through but had to be made visible in the View.

You may also be aware that new exchange Add-Ins are available now for donwload for Revit Structure/MEP 2013:

http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/downloads/interoperability/

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Francois Swanepoel — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:11:28 GMT

Thanks Laszlo
I will try the export plug-ins. Downloaded them just after this set of files had to be sent. I will also go back to Revit and see if the elements is hidden out of view as you suggest. I am very bad at using Revit so it is a challenge working and learning a tool that I have resistance to since trying it out with version 2008.
But hey we gotta do what we gotta do - right.
Thanks

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:17:28 GMT

Just curious ... wonder if you need to make the zones visible in 3D in AC first (normally, the checkmark for displaying 3D zones is off) before exporting?

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Francois Swanepoel — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:30:33 GMT

No problem with that one Karl as I ensured that I could see every bit in the 3D window before exporting and the Zones of this massing model (bulk of the current model) was all present.

From both your responses so far I gather that you imply that the volume / shape of the Zones should export fine and not just the Stamps in my case.
Is this observation correct?

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:02:55 GMT

Honestly, I don't know and I cannot try it because I have no Revit on my machine.
But it may also be possible that the Zone 3D body does not go through with IFC. Unfortunately I don't know their IFC import that well.

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:02:33 GMT

No problem exporting the 3D zone here ... it might be a Revit issue, as the (free) Solibri viewer shows the zone just fine.

Attached is a simple zone and one wall as seen in the AC 16 3D window...

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:06:14 GMT

...and here it is in the Solibri viewer.

The zone is exported as an IFC Space. When I first opened the ifc file in Solibri Viewer, I did not see the zone. I clicked on the Space item in the tree and it appeared (highlighted in green), then clicked away, and it remained visible, translucent as in AC.

Alternatively, there is a Show/Hide Space button in the toolbar that shows/hides the IFC Spaces (i.e., AC zones).

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Francois Swanepoel — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:09:26 GMT

This is great news thank you Karl for your time and valuable feedback.
I must get myself a copy of Solibri, that's clear.

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 22:33:43 GMT

For benefit of others finding this thread, here's the part of the Wiki IFC article listing free viewers:

http://www.archicadwiki.com/IFC/FAQ#How_can_I_check_the_result_of_my_IFC_model_export.3F

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

stefan — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:14:35 GMT

FWIW, I make Zones visible in the 3D Window before exporting to IFC.

I have the ArchiCAD Zones correctly as Rooms & Room Tags inside Revit, but have following problems:

The height of the room inside Revit becomes the default from the template. The actual Zone Height is available inside the IFC Parameters (when you enable this in the Translator) which you can manually copy... It did this from within a Revit Schedules, so the ArchiCAD Height is listed alongside the Revit Room Height (actually parameter "limit offset").
This is imported correct inside Solibri.

The Zone Name & Number is maintained inside Revit but not the classification. Even if you set ArchiCAD to add the Zone Categories as Classification information in the Translator.

I then added the Category inside the PSet_SpaceCommon IFC Property set from within ArchiCAD. This is also correct in Solibri, but not visible inside Revit.

Solution? Manually type the category instead of the name in ArchiCAD or add a custom PSet in ArchiCAD in which to (manually) type the classification.

Any other solutions?

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 15:17:46 GMT

If anyone wants to send me a sample ifc file with a zone, it should be possible to generate a room with the correct height for my IFC importer for Revit.

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

stefan — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 15:44:26 GMT

stefan wrote:
I then added the Category inside the PSet_SpaceCommon IFC Property set from within ArchiCAD. This is also correct in Solibri, but not visible inside Revit.

I stand corrected. When using the PSet_SpaceCommon inside ArchiCAD, I can add the category manually (not automatically derived from the actual Zone Category inside ArchiCAD). This could be (maybe) possible by an Add-on.

It is visible in the Revit Room IFCProperties as the very last property in the (otherwise alphabetically sorted) list of properties.

Re: Export ArchiCad Zones to IFC

stefan — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 10:38:31 GMT

@Jon > Here are two IFC models exported from ArchiCAD 16. Both have 4 walls, a slab and a flat roof. The interior space is included with all boundaries defined.

The first has not separate PSet_SpaceCommon set to set the category, while the other has this defined. So you can compare what Revit makes out of it.

The height of the Room is 2.96 meters

In my Revit, using our regional template when importing, it shows up as a room height of about 2.49 meters, which I assume is predefined in the template and NOT read from the IFC file.