Hello

I'm getting all sorts of information on BIM software ( I thought BIM was more than just software anyways ) I'm getting things on Revit, digital project, Archicad ... all it seems BIM compliant.

What is the situation with Rhinoceros ? It does not seems like much is going on. Can Rhinoceros be a BIM product or will I have to switch?

Thierry

Hi

Rhinoceros is not a BIM package, however there are companies working to change this, one is AsuniCad the McNeel partner in Barcelona with the VisualArq product, VisualArq allows for example the export of IFC format data already.

Another is the RhinoBIM project created by Rick Smith, there is a structure WIP which can be downloaded from the RhinoBIM web site.

As for the other products claiming to be BIM products you can find a list on the BuildingSmart web site.

My two cents worth is that Rhino will be part ( a big part ;o) of the BIM IFC world shortly, at least that is where I'm betting my money.

Phil

Hi

Its a good idea having forums about specific fields instead of just another forum on Rhinoceros there are plenty of those.

How can Rhino objects become "intelligent" or simpler yet how can information be appended to a Rhino object?
Are there existing external databases that work with Rhino? and if so how can they be addressed. I suppose this takes good programing skills?

well maybe that's enough questions for one day

Thanks to all

I would first try to use the Object attributes in Rhino to handle data linked to the objects before looking at using an external database

Keep things simple and stupid ;o)

I've also been doing a lot of work in model exchange and BIM modelling. Particularly in exchanging models to and from Rhino.

The tools are constantly under development (and I doubt this will ever change), and I'm addressing all sorts of BIM formats (IFC, CIS/2, SDNF) as well as native structural analysis model data for programs such as SAP2000, GSA, Robot, Sofistik, and Strand7.

The engineering programs are the most progressed, but I've recently been concentrating on IFC and CIS/2 and can import into Rhino already models generated by a lot of other programs (these file formats are vast and comprehensive). The plug-ins have been under development for more than 30 months now, and are being used by commercial design firms on high profile and outstanding projects.

All my work has been driven by demands and requests by users, so if anyone wishes to start testing BIM variations they are very welcome. You can learn all about the project (and download the plug-ins) at www.geometrygym.com/summary and geometrygym.blogspot.com

For those interested, I do keep my own database of "intelligent" objects in the plug-in, but the object attribute is simply tagged so that I identify when to make changes or when the file is opened.

Please get in contact if you wish to learn more.

Hi Jon

Very happy to have your input, I have also developped some scripts that allow the editing of attributes, we are currently using them on a "quasi" BIM project.

(But we are constantly looking for new and better tools.)

Our main problem at this time is how to export this in IFC format in order to have it viewed and documented properly in the CSTB viewer "eveBim", the VisualArq team is having a look at this.

Have you made any headway in exporting attribute data in IFC format?

Thanks and best regards
Phil

I've been concentrating on the reading/importing of IFC (which to my mind is the more difficult aspect, every program seems to have their own flavour within all the options available in IFC).

But the generation and writing of IFC files can also be quickly added to my code libary (the basis is there). How quickly it can be functional depends on the nature and requirements of your project (ie if the number of IFC entities involved, and the complexity of the forms defining them if they are NURBS curves and surfaces). The total IFC exporting is a mid-term project, but that's not to say that a solution that covers your needs can't be developed quickly.

Feel free to get in touch by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) with details, even small sample of a rhino model and a description of the requirements, and I'm more than happy to try and quickly implement this functionality with you (I'd need some testing done at your end, I don't have access to eveBIM).


Look forward to hearing from you,

Jon

Hello again Jon
The Rhino objects are Rhino Solids, mostly extrusions, base data is appended upon extrusion, solids are obtained by extruding surfaces, these surfaces are actually from a block library and the corresponding data is stored in the block description.
The data can then be edited through a scripted interface. I'll send you an email perhaps if you send my a phone number we can talk this over.

The Rhino,Grasshopper,Plugin Scene is incredibly exciting ;o)
Phil