Real Models

[Anonymous]

I have just got a job recording a precinct of historic buildings. The drawings and computer models have to be very accurate showing all materials and construction.

I am considering building correct models to achieve accuracy. This would involve placing bricks, making windows and doors, making roof tiles with Solid Operations, etc.

I was wondering if anybody has tried this before and what the pitfalls and pluses might be?

Taking a brick by brick approach would eliminate non distinct or generalized wall fill sections and allow exact placement of openings, sills, etc. Making windows and doors would allow for beads, reveals, trims, correct recessing of glazing, sash ropes, etc. Services could be shown accurately and in correct locations.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

TomWaltz wrote:

Graeme wrote:
However as many have said now the hardware may not be capable of building more accurate models.

I'm wondering if some kind of arrayed 3D brick / block object would help with this, so you could have 2D control and 3D control separated and not have hundreds of elements making up every wall. Something like what the Wall Framer Accessory object does.

I've done a few of these over the years and they certainly beat the heck out of modeling the individual parts. The difficulty is fitting them around doors, windows, etc. I have also found (as mentioned earlier) that they can quickly bring the hardware to its knees.

[Anonymous]

Another issue not addressed here is time…lets say ten years from now this building is divvied out to another firm who doesn’t use Archicad….it’s not that I don’t think Archicad can handle it…so don’t forget to test exports to different cad packages…like Autocad and Microstation….in addition…when your done…who owns the model and who maintains it…some things to consider

[Anonymous]

r wrote:
Another issue not addressed here is time…lets say ten years from now this building is divvied out to another firm who doesn’t use Archicad….it’s not that I don’t think Archicad can handle it…so don’t forget to test exports to different cad packages…like Autocad and Microstation….in addition…when your done…who owns the model and who maintains it…some things to consider

This is a part of what I was talking about regarding archiving and computer files in an historical context. There are also the questions of what will be involved to migrate an AC10 file to AC15 or whatever program is used. Computers and software have to viewed (for now at least) as tooling for getting present work done. For archiving we have to stick to tried and true materials (acid free paper, etc.) that don't require any more technology than eyeballs (with or without optical assistance).

There is also the question of whether anyone will trust old files prepared by someone else.

For the computer model to become a true and ongoing record of the building will require that it be actively used and maintained, including construction and facilities management, over the life of the building.

[Dwight]

This just popped into my head:

1: If the original drawings described a true and plumb building.
and
2: through construction inaccuracies and boat-on-a-slow-moving-sea sagging foundations the building becomes distorted.
3: Then a model made today WON'T be dimensionally accurate in ten or fifteen years.

Dimensions will still require verification, so planning for the long term is still uncertain.....

[Anonymous]

Dwight wrote:
This just popped into my head:

1: If the original drawings described a true and plumb building.
and
2: through construction inaccuracies and boat-on-a-slow-moving-sea sagging foundations the building becomes distorted.
3: Then a model made today WON'T be dimensionally accurate in ten or fifteen years.

Dimensions will still require verification, so planning for the long term is still uncertain.....

The real world's a b___h ain't it.