Editing BlenderBIM Add-on/BlenderBIM Costing



{{BlenderBIM_Add-on_Documentation}}

==Project structure==
Each Project using BIM needs to be set up with the proper structure. BlenderBIM uses the open data structure of [[Introduction_to_IFC|IFC]]. As with almost everything with BlenderBIM, you can do that either manually from Blender itself, or use the specialized commands provided by the add-on.

==Cost Scheduling tools in BlenderBIM==
The fastest way to create the project structure is to use the BlenderBIM add-on "Quick project setup" feature. To do that, you first need to select the proper template to be applied when the project structure is set up. This template lies in the so-called project schema directory, which is by default set to <code>BLENDER_ADDONS_DIR&frasl;blenderbim&frasl;schema&frasl;</code>. You can choose the project schema directory in Blender under Scene > Building Information Modeling > Schema Directory.

The default folder is prepackaged with the IFC4 schema and you can download different schema from the buildingSMART website. However, unless you are an IFC guru, you shouldn’t have to touch this.

==Project setup==
- Option 1: Native authoring of IFC in BlenderBIM 
You can find the command in Blender under Scene > Building Information Modeling > System Setup.
This will create a basic spatial tree. It will create a tree of collections with the structure IfcProject > IfcSite > IfcBuilding > IfcStorey This is merely for convenience instead of having to create it all by yourself, since all IFC exports require a valid spatial tree. You can see the tree of collections in the outliner when this is done.
[[File:BlenderBIM QuickProjectSetup 01.JPG|frame|center|Quick Project Setup, Schema and Data directories]]
- Option 2: Importing an .ifc file

==Standard project structure==
The standard project structure, as proposed by Building Smart (the developer of IFC) and currently default in the BlenderBIM add-on, is following:
*site as IfcSite
*building as IfcBuilding
*storey as IfcBuildingStorey
*space as IfcSpace
A project can include any number of sites, a site any number of buildings and so on.
The abstract spaces, converted to their respective IFC counterparts on export, are represented by a hierarchy of collections. Any objects outside a IfcSite collection will be ignored on export.

Empty axes objects, with names identical to those of their container collections,  are automatically placed in the project structure created by the Quick project setup command and they serve several purposes:

They hold the IFC properties for the spatial elements. IFC spatial elements (e.g. sites, buildings, elements) can store properties (attributes / psets / qtos / etc). In Blender, if you click on an object, you can see the object panel and manipulate it via the UI. However, for a collection, there is no UI panel associated with the collection. So for convenience, an object is provided that people can click on.

They define the IFC placement of the spatial element. IFC spatial elements almost always have a placement. E.g. a building storey has an elevation value (e.g. a Z coordinate). Blender collections do not have physical locations. Therefore, at the very least, an empty is required, so you can set the placement.

They serve as a placeholder for IFC representations of the spatial element. IFC spatial elements may have representations. E.g. a building or site can actually have geometry associated with it. Therefore, we need an object. In this case, we need more than an empty - we need an actual mesh object.

Note that the name of the Representation object (empty axes or anything else you use) has to be kept identical to the name of the collection it belongs to. So if you rename a storey for example, the empty must be renamed as well.
[[Category:Blender]] [[Category:BlenderBIM Add-on]]
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{BlenderBIM_Add-on_Documentation}}
-=W.I.P. Demonstrations=
-==Live Session 1 15/05/2021==
-===Main Topics===
-# How to convert IFC2x3 to IFC4
-# Discovering the Scheduling Tools
-# Discovering the Costing Tools
-# Discovering the Quantity Take Off Tools
-===Video Demo===
-<div><youtube width="600" height="340">https://www.youtube.com/embed/lTUsC6OE01k</youtube></div>
-===Sample Files===
+{{BlenderBIM_Add-on_Documentation}}
-=Project Setup and Costing Tools=
-==Project setup==
-* Option 1: Native authoring of IFC in BlenderBIM
-[[File:Create project.png|200px|frame|center|Quick Project Setup, Schema and Data directories]]
+==Project structure==
-# You can find the command in Blender under Scene > IfcProject > Create Project
+Each Project using BIM needs to be set up with the proper structure. BlenderBIM uses the open data structure of [[Introduction_to_IFC|IFC]]. As with almost everything with BlenderBIM, you can do that either manually from Blender itself, or use the specialized commands provided by the add-on.
-# Make sure to use IFC4, otherwise convert your IFC2x3 file to IFC4
-* Option 2: Importing an .ifc file
+==Cost Scheduling tools in BlenderBIM==
+The fastest way to create the project structure is to use the BlenderBIM add-on "Quick project setup" feature. To do that, you first need to select the proper template to be applied when the project structure is set up. This template lies in the so-called project schema directory, which is by default set to <code>BLENDER_ADDONS_DIR&frasl;blenderbim&frasl;schema&frasl;</code>. You can choose the project schema directory in Blender under Scene > Building Information Modeling > Schema Directory.
-[[File:Import file.png|200px|frame|center|Import Industry Foundation Classes .ifc]]
+The default folder is prepackaged with the IFC4 schema and you can download different schema from the buildingSMART website. However, unless you are an IFC guru, you shouldn’t have to touch this.
-# Go to File --> Import --> Industry Foundation Classes
-# Navigate to your .ifc file and Click Import
-==Creating a Cost Schedule==
+==Project setup==
-''Entity Definition'' of [https://standards.buildingsmart.org/IFC/RELEASE/IFC4/ADD1/HTML/schema/ifcsharedmgmtelements/lexical/ifccostschedule.htm IfcCostSchedule] <br>
+- Option 1: Native authoring of IFC in BlenderBIM
-''An IfcCostSchedule brings together instances of IfcCostItem either for the purpose of identifying purely cost information as in an estimate for constructions costs or for including cost information within another presentation form such as a work order.''
+You can find the command in Blender under Scene > Building Information Modeling > System Setup.
+This will create a basic spatial tree. It will create a tree of collections with the structure IfcProject > IfcSite > IfcBuilding > IfcStorey This is merely for convenience instead of having to create it all by yourself, since all IFC exports require a valid spatial tree. You can see the tree of collections in the outliner when this is done.
-Cost Schedules can be added under the Blender Scene Properties > IFC Cost Schedules Panel.
+[[File:BlenderBIM QuickProjectSetup 01.JPG|frame|center|Quick Project Setup, Schema and Data directories]]
+- Option 2: Importing an .ifc file
-Clicking "+ Add Cost Schedule" will add as many schedules as required.
-===Editing attributes===
-Before populating our Cost Schedules with cost items, it is best to give further information about the Cost Schedules.
-This is done by editing the Cost Schedules attributes, by clicking on the "Grease Pencil"
-A Cost Schedule has the following attributes you can edit:
-*Name,
-*Description,
-*Identification,
-*Status (PLANNED, APPROVED,AGREED,ISSUED,STARTED),
-*Submitted On,
-*Update Date,
-Note: The Cost Schedule's Predefined Type can either be chosen from the dropdown list, or set as "USERDEFINED". If the latter is set as "USERDEFINED", then the attribute Object Type should denote the particular type that further defines the object.<br>
-===Creating Cost Items===
-''Entity Definition'' of  [https://standards.buildingsmart.org/IFC/RELEASE/IFC4/ADD1/HTML/link/ifccostitem.htm IfcCostItem]<br>
-''An IfcCostItem describes a cost or financial value together with descriptive information that describes its context in a form that enables it to be used within a cost schedule. An IfcCostItem can be used to represent the cost of goods and services, the execution of works by a process, lifecycle cost and more.''
-Refering to the figure below, and the attached template, a basic cost item structure would look like this:
-[Insert Figure]
-[Insert Template]
-The parent items should contain calculations of overall quantities and/or overall costs, whilst the related nested items would contain the specific quantites and costs of assigned Building Elements, Processes, or Resources.
-===Adding Cost Item Values===
-Insert Content Here
-===Creating Cost Item Quantities===
-Insert Content Here
-===Assigning Building Elements to Cost Items===
-Insert Content Here
-===Deriving Quantities from linked Building Element Quantities===
-Insert Content Here
-===Caclulating Cost Item Totals===
-# Component Values and how to use them
-# Calculating overall cost based on nested cost items
-==Useful Tools==
-===Copying Unit Costs between cost items===
-Insert Content Here
-===Quantity Take off Tools===
-# Derive Heights, Areas, Volumes
-# Derive formwork areas
-=Creating Project Libraries=
+==Standard project structure==
+The standard project structure, as proposed by Building Smart (the developer of IFC) and currently default in the BlenderBIM add-on, is following:
+*site as IfcSite
+*building as IfcBuilding
+*storey as IfcBuildingStorey
+*space as IfcSpace
+A project can include any number of sites, a site any number of buildings and so on.
+The abstract spaces, converted to their respective IFC counterparts on export, are represented by a hierarchy of collections. Any objects outside a IfcSite collection will be ignored on export.
-=Deriving Cost items from Processes=
+Empty axes objects, with names identical to those of their container collections,  are automatically placed in the project structure created by the Quick project setup command and they serve several purposes:
-=Deriving Costs items from Resources=
+They hold the IFC properties for the spatial elements. IFC spatial elements (e.g. sites, buildings, elements) can store properties (attributes / psets / qtos / etc). In Blender, if you click on an object, you can see the object panel and manipulate it via the UI. However, for a collection, there is no UI panel associated with the collection. So for convenience, an object is provided that people can click on.
-=Creating Schedule of Rates based on Processes, Resources and Products=
+They define the IFC placement of the spatial element. IFC spatial elements almost always have a placement. E.g. a building storey has an elevation value (e.g. a Z coordinate). Blender collections do not have physical locations. Therefore, at the very least, an empty is required, so you can set the placement.
-=Sample Files=
+They serve as a placeholder for IFC representations of the spatial element. IFC spatial elements may have representations. E.g. a building or site can actually have geometry associated with it. Therefore, we need an object. In this case, we need more than an empty - we need an actual mesh object.
-- .ifc template for costing
-[[Category:Blender]] [[Category:BlenderBIM Add-on]] [[Category:BlenderBIM Costing]]
+Note that the name of the Representation object (empty axes or anything else you use) has to be kept identical to the name of the collection it belongs to. So if you rename a storey for example, the empty must be renamed as well.
+[[Category:Blender]] [[Category:BlenderBIM Add-on]]