Editing Home of OSArch

Welcome to the OSArch WIKI - the resource and workflow database of free and open software for the Architecture - Engineering - Construction fields, maintained and developed by specialists actively using these tools for professional work.

The [[Open-Source Architecture Community]] brings together like-minded users and developers who share a common goal: that the built environment can be designed, constructed, operated, and recycled with '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software free/libre software]''' and '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source open-source software]''' with increased '''transparency''', and a more '''ethical''' approach. 

We're creating a place where everyone involved in the built environment's conception and life can meet, inspire and collaborate to develop empowering digital tools.
{| class="wikitable gallery"
| [[File:BlenderBIMAddonv0.0.200829.png|Steel structure (BlenderBIM Add-on)]]
| [[File:OpenSourceHouse_Studiolada.png|The Open Source House (FreeCAD)]]
| [[File:Wikilab_drawing.jpg|Documentation from the wikilab model (FreeCAD)]]
| [[File:Code_aster_verification_mechanisms-loads.jpg|Load simulations (Code-Aster)]]
| [[File:Quinta_Monroy.png|Quinta Monroy apartments (FreeCAD)]]
|}

{| class="wikitable
|-
| [[File:Heckert_gnu.transp.small.png|GNU Free Software|64px]]
| "Open-source software (OSS) is a type of computer software in which source code is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose." [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software -Wikipedia]
| [[File:Osi_keyhole_300X300_90ppi_0.png|Open Source Initiative|64px]]
|}

We encourage the community to share what they're working on, use more free software in what is currently a proprietary-dominated market, and learn more about what's out there.

For community discussion, visit the [https://community.osarch.org/ OSArch Community Forum] and read about our [[Monthly Meetup]].

''This wiki is brand-new. Please expect changes. Please feel free to contribute! See [[Main_Page#How to contribute the OSArch community |How to contribute the OSArch community]].''

A good way to find what's on this site is to browse the [[:Category:Directories|directories]] and the list of [[:Category:Categories|categories]].

__TOC__

= Overview of open source AEC software =
The core of this project is the [[AEC Free Software directory|The AECO Free Software Directory]]. Enjoy browsing our directory for interesting solutions and let us know if we've overlooked anything.

See also our featured projects (developed directly by members of the OSArch community):
* See all pages in the [[:Category:BlenderBIM Add-on|BlenderBIM Add-on Category]]
* See all pages in the [[:Category:FreeCAD|FreeCAD Category]]
* See all pages in the [[:Category:IfcOpenShell|IfcOpenShell Category]]

= Workflows using open source AEC software =
The easiest way to learn about the exciting Open AEC universe and start using these tools is to see some real projects and try the workflows other people are using. The complete list of our workflows is in the [[AECO Workflow Examples|Workflows using AES FOSS directory]].

In case you are completely new to the world of FOSS you will find the [[Open source software beginners]] page useful.

You can also check out the [[Featured images]], which show you the most impressive visual examples of what [[free software]] can do for [[AECO]].

We are actively looking for examples of real-world projects we can share. Know a project? Get in touch with us on the [https://community.osarch.org/ OSArch forum]!

Some of our featured projects:
*[[AECO_Workflow_Examples#Open_Source_House_by_Studiolada | FreeCAD and the Open Source House by Studiolada]]
*[[AECO_Workflow_Examples#The_Mad_Scientists_Lair | BlenderBIM and The Mad Scientist Lair]]

= Technical standards and solutions =
A lot of the software used in OSArch workflows is based on industry standards which are also defined to be open. You can see the complete list in the [[AEC Open Data Standards Directory|Open Data Standards Directory]]. 

The most important ones right now are:
*[[Industry Foundation Class (IFC)]] is the main data schema for [[OpenBIM]] data. See all pages in the [[:Category:IFC|IFC category]]
*[[Model View Definitions (MVD)]]s and [[Using MicroMVDs for exchange requirements|MicroMVDs]] are subsets of the [[Industry Foundation Class (IFC)|IFC]] data schema for specific purposes See all pages in the [[:Category:Model_View_Definitions_(MVD)|Model View Definitions (MVD) category]]

To do tests and experiments with new software a large amount of data is often necessary. [[AEC Open Data directory|Open Data]] is a great resource, so we're also collecting links to these.

[[Standards organizations]] play an important role in creating the [[AEC Open Data Standards Directory|Open Data Standards]] [[OpenBIM]] relies on

[[AEC academic paper directory|Academic Papers]] and [[AEC articles|articles]] out there can help you gain an understanding of the industry and where [[free software]] can play a role in [[AECO]]

= How to contribute to the OSArch community =
Of course any financial support is always welcome. You will find the direct donation links of the single software projects in the [[Donation_Directory|Donation directory]]. There is currently no central OSArch fund.

By joining the [https://community.osarch.org/categories/general OSArch community forum] you can engage in the various discussions, ask questions and get to know other members of the community. We can also help us gather [[learning material]]

Detailed ways to help are listed on the [[How to contribute to OSArch]] page.

You are also welcome to participate on expanding this wiki:
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:Configuration_settings Configuration settings list]
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:FAQ MediaWiki FAQ]
* [https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mediawiki-announce MediaWiki release mailing list]
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Localisation#Translation_resources Localise MediaWiki for your language]
* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:Combating_spam Learn how to combat spam on your wiki]

And most importantly, all the projects need development support:
[[Contributing to OSArch development 101]] will show you the first steps in case you are just beginning with programming, [[OpenBIM programming video basics]] will teach you the stuff particular to OpenBIM. If you already know what to do, feel free to join any of the developer teams at their respective gits.
For example:
* [https://github.com/IfcOpenShell/IfcOpenShell IfcOpenShell], the core of BlenderBIM add-on
* [https://github.com/FreeCAD FreeCAD]
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-__NOTOC__
+Welcome to the OSArch WIKI - the resource and workflow database of free and open software for the Architecture - Engineering - Construction fields, maintained and developed by specialists actively using these tools for professional work.
-<div class="blurb" style="padding: 30px; border-radius: 10px; border: 1px solid #d2d2d2; border-bottom: 3px solid #d2d2d2;">
+The [[Open-Source Architecture Community]] brings together like-minded users and developers who share a common goal: that the built environment can be designed, constructed, operated, and recycled with '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software free/libre software]''' and '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source open-source software]''' with increased '''transparency''', and a more '''ethical''' approach.
-<p style="float: right; margin: 0px;">[[File:Logo OSArch 128p.png]]</p>
+We're creating a place where everyone involved in the built environment's conception and life can meet, inspire and collaborate to develop empowering digital tools.
+{| class="wikitable gallery"
+| [[File:BlenderBIMAddonv0.0.200829.png|Steel structure (BlenderBIM Add-on)]]
+| [[File:OpenSourceHouse_Studiolada.png|The Open Source House (FreeCAD)]]
+| [[File:Wikilab_drawing.jpg|Documentation from the wikilab model (FreeCAD)]]
+| [[File:Code_aster_verification_mechanisms-loads.jpg|Load simulations (Code-Aster)]]
+| [[File:Quinta_Monroy.png|Quinta Monroy apartments (FreeCAD)]]
+|}
-<p style="font-size: 2rem; width: 80%; margin: 0px;">
+{| class="wikitable
-We help create the built environment with '''free software''', increased '''transparency''', and a more '''ethical''' approach.
+|-
-</p>
+| [[File:Heckert_gnu.transp.small.png|GNU Free Software|64px]]
+| "Open-source software (OSS) is a type of computer software in which source code is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose." [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software -Wikipedia]
-<p style="margin-bottom: 0px;">On this wiki, we collect and share everything we know about the free technology in our industry. Every page on this website was written by people just like you.</p>
+| [[File:Osi_keyhole_300X300_90ppi_0.png|Open Source Initiative|64px]]
+|}
-</div>
-<div class="row>
-<div class="four columns">
-== Get Involved ==
-[[File:Get-involved.svg|class=homepage-icon|frameless|center]]
+We encourage the community to share what they're working on, use more free software in what is currently a proprietary-dominated market, and learn more about what's out there.
-Interested in OSArch initiatives, and why OSArch is so important to the design, construction, operation, and recycling of the built environment? See [[Open-Source Architecture Community|an introduction to what OSArch is all about]]. We are a strong and growing community.
+For community discussion, visit the [https://community.osarch.org/ OSArch Community Forum] and read about our [[Monthly Meetup]].
-* Post questions in our [https://community.osarch.org/ Community Forum]
+''This wiki is brand-new. Please expect changes. Please feel free to contribute! See [[Main_Page#How to contribute the OSArch community |How to contribute the OSArch community]].''
-* Meet us at our online [[Monthly Meetup]]
-* [[Donation_Directory|Donate]] to sustain some of the project we support
-* See and add yourself to our list of [[OSArch Supporters|OSArch supporter]]
-* See [[AECO Workflow Examples|past projects]] using free software and see [[Featured images]]
-* See more ways to [[How to contribute to OSArch|contribute to OSArch]]
-Right now, we're looking in particular for volunteers to help with these things. If you're up for it, post on the forums and let us know!
+A good way to find what's on this site is to browse the [[:Category:Directories|directories]] and the list of [[:Category:Categories|categories]].
-* We need people to [[Outreach|help get the word out]] and manage the OSArch accounts on [https://twitter.com/OSArchOrg Twitter], [https://www.linkedin.com/in/osarch-org-121505200/ LinkedIn], [https://fosstodon.org/web/accounts/331798 Mastodon account] & [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoP6n8DdDajAM8YYDdFpQMQ Youtube].
+__TOC__
-* We need people to help [[OSArch Curriculum|design a curriculum]] to teach about AEC tools and OpenBIM concepts.
-* We need help with important unfinished wiki pages. Anybody can edit!
-* And help with developement! Drop by the [https://community.osarch.org/ community forum] or [https://osarch.org/chat/ chat] to learn what projects are being talked about right now.
-</div>
-<div class="four columns">
-== Explore Free Software ==
+= Overview of open source AEC software =
+The core of this project is the [[AEC Free Software directory|The AECO Free Software Directory]]. Enjoy browsing our directory for interesting solutions and let us know if we've overlooked anything.
-[[File:Official gnu.svg|class=homepage-icon|frameless|center]]
+See also our featured projects (developed directly by members of the OSArch community):
+* See all pages in the [[:Category:BlenderBIM Add-on|BlenderBIM Add-on Category]]
+* See all pages in the [[:Category:FreeCAD|FreeCAD Category]]
+* See all pages in the [[:Category:IfcOpenShell|IfcOpenShell Category]]
-Did you know there's a growing list of over 100 free tools to help you do your job? Unlike proprietary software, [[free software]] will never make your digital work incompatible, obsolete, or force you into subscriptions. [[AEC Free Software directory|See the AECO Free Software Directory]].
+= Workflows using open source AEC software =
+The easiest way to learn about the exciting Open AEC universe and start using these tools is to see some real projects and try the workflows other people are using. The complete list of our workflows is in the [[AECO Workflow Examples|Workflows using AES FOSS directory]].
-Begin your journey:
+In case you are completely new to the world of FOSS you will find the [[Open source software beginners]] page useful.
-* [[Getting started with 2D CAD drafting|Switch to QCAD and LibreCAD for 2D CAD drafting instead of depending on AutoCAD]]
+You can also check out the [[Featured images]], which show you the most impressive visual examples of what [[free software]] can do for [[AECO]].
-* [[:Category:BlenderBIM Add-on|Learn OpenBIM authoring with the BlenderBIM Add-on]]
-* [[:Category:FreeCAD|Learn solid 3D modeling and BIM model creation with FreeCAD]]
-* [[Code_Aster|Learn structural analysis with_Code Aster]]
-* [[Learn about environmental analysis]]
-Join us [https://community.osarch.org/discussions on the forum] so we can start these pages together:
+We are actively looking for examples of real-world projects we can share. Know a project? Get in touch with us on the [https://community.osarch.org/ OSArch forum]!
-* [[Getting started with 2D visualisation|Learn 2D architectural visualisation with Krita and The GIMP instead of Photoshop]]
-* [[Getting started with 3D modeling|Learn freeform 3D modeling and visualisation with Blender]]
-* [[Learn lighting simulation with Radiance]]
-* [[Learn geospatial analysis with QGIS]]
-* [[Manage a project with OpenProject]]
-* [[Get started with OpenStreetMaps|Get started with OpenStreetMaps for open GIS data]]
-Do you want to dig deep in to AEC tech?
+Some of our featured projects:
+*[[AECO_Workflow_Examples#Open_Source_House_by_Studiolada | FreeCAD and the Open Source House by Studiolada]]
+*[[AECO_Workflow_Examples#The_Mad_Scientists_Lair | BlenderBIM and The Mad Scientist Lair]]
-* [[Sverchok|Learn visual node-based parametric design with Sverchok]]
+= Technical standards and solutions =
-* [[:Category:IfcOpenShell|Learn OpenBIM & IFC programming using IfcOpenShell]]
+A lot of the software used in OSArch workflows is based on industry standards which are also defined to be open. You can see the complete list in the [[AEC Open Data Standards Directory|Open Data Standards Directory]].
-</div>
-<div class="four columns">
+The most important ones right now are:
+*[[Industry Foundation Class (IFC)]] is the main data schema for [[OpenBIM]] data. See all pages in the [[:Category:IFC|IFC category]]
+*[[Model View Definitions (MVD)]]s and [[Using MicroMVDs for exchange requirements|MicroMVDs]] are subsets of the [[Industry Foundation Class (IFC)|IFC]] data schema for specific purposes See all pages in the [[:Category:Model_View_Definitions_(MVD)|Model View Definitions (MVD) category]]
-== Use Open Standards ==
+To do tests and experiments with new software a large amount of data is often necessary. [[AEC Open Data directory|Open Data]] is a great resource, so we're also collecting links to these.
-[[File:Open-standards.svg|class=homepage-icon|frameless|center]]
+[[Standards organizations]] play an important role in creating the [[AEC Open Data Standards Directory|Open Data Standards]] [[OpenBIM]] relies on
-Open technology and standards helps our digital tools interoperate and protect you against data expiry. See what's available at the [[AEC Open Data Standards Directory|Open Data Standards Directory]].
+[[AEC academic paper directory|Academic Papers]] and [[AEC articles|articles]] out there can help you gain an understanding of the industry and where [[free software]] can play a role in [[AECO]]
-* Learn about [[OpenBIM]]
+= How to contribute to the OSArch community =
-* Get sample files of [[AEC Open Data directory|Open Data]]
+Of course any financial support is always welcome. You will find the direct donation links of the single software projects in the [[Donation_Directory|Donation directory]]. There is currently no central OSArch fund.
-* Learn about relevant [[Standards organizations]]
-* Read [[AEC academic paper directory|Academic Papers]] and [[AEC articles|external articles]]
-Learn about [[IFC - Industry Foundation Classes]] data concepts.
+By joining the [https://community.osarch.org/categories/general OSArch community forum] you can engage in the various discussions, ask questions and get to know other members of the community. We can also help us gather [[learning material]]
-Delivering OpenBIM for facility management?
+Detailed ways to help are listed on the [[How to contribute to OSArch]] page.
-* [[Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie)|Learn about how COBie works]]
+You are also welcome to participate on expanding this wiki:
-* [[COBie definition of a maintainable asset|Read the COBie definition of a maintainable asset]]
+* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:Configuration_settings Configuration settings list]
-* [[Brick Schema|An introduction to Brickschema]]
+* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:FAQ MediaWiki FAQ]
+* [https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mediawiki-announce MediaWiki release mailing list]
+* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Localisation#Translation_resources Localise MediaWiki for your language]
+* [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Manual:Combating_spam Learn how to combat spam on your wiki]
-Learn how to specify data requirements with [[Model View Definitions (MVD)|MVDs]] and [[Using MicroMVDs for exchange requirements|MicroMVDs]] ([[:Category:Model_View_Definitions_(MVD)|all articles]]).
+And most importantly, all the projects need development support:
+[[Contributing to OSArch development 101]] will show you the first steps in case you are just beginning with programming, [[OpenBIM programming video basics]] will teach you the stuff particular to OpenBIM. If you already know what to do, feel free to join any of the developer teams at their respective gits.
-Stuck with proprietary software? Learn best practices and workarounds to produce industry standards compliant data. Read about how to [[Revit_setup_for_OpenBIM|setup Revit for better OpenBIM]]
+For example:
-</div>
+* [https://github.com/IfcOpenShell/IfcOpenShell IfcOpenShell], the core of BlenderBIM add-on
+* [https://github.com/FreeCAD FreeCAD]
-</div>
-To see a complete list of articles, check out the [[:Category:Directories|directories]] and [[:Category:Categories|categories]].
-{| class="wikitable gallery"
-| [[File:BlenderBIMAddonv0.0.200829.png|Steel structure (BlenderBIM Add-on)]]
-| [[File:OpenSourceHouse_Studiolada.png|The Open Source House (FreeCAD)]]
-| [[File:Wikilab_drawing.jpg|Documentation from the wikilab model (FreeCAD)]]
-| [[File:Code_aster_verification_mechanisms-loads.jpg|Verification Results (Code_Aster)]]
-| [[File:Quinta_Monroy.png|Quinta Monroy apartments (FreeCAD)]]
-|}
-{| class="wikitable
-|-
-| [[File:Heckert_gnu.transp.small.png|GNU Free Software|64px]]
-| "Open-source software (OSS) is a type of computer software in which source code is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose." [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software -Wikipedia]
-| [[File:Osi_keyhole_300X300_90ppi_0.png|Open Source Initiative|64px]]
-|}