ARCHICAD to IFC Export Tests

Currently at CJMW, BIM handover is not a required deliverable on all of our Projects, but I want to begin the testing and learning process, so that implementation of workflows resulting in higher quality, data-packed BIM can be in place prior to its demand and expectation.  Eventually, it is conceivable that a data-rich BIM deliverable will be required on more of our Projects.

I've begun using a couple of free IFC viewer pieces of software to check our IFC files once exported: Tekla BIMsight and Solibri Model Viewer (the free little brother of Solibri Model Checker, a very robust BIM validation tool).  I don't have any formal training in either of them, but I've begun using Solibri Model Viewer more recently.  Like ARCHICAD, Solibri is made for both Mac and Windows.

(Image from Solibri website)

IFC First Steps, Tags & Categories Panel

In planning for the future, and in preparing for building higher quality models which are truly Building Information Models (BIM), one of the first areas on which we can focus is the Tags & Categories Panel of any Element's Settings Dialog in ArchiCAD.

In the Tags & Categories Panel we want to be sure to, as accurately as possible, appropriately assign just a few settings in order to more accurately describe the Element modeled.  These ArchiCAD Settings are mapped to and become IFC parameters outside ArchiCAD.