CONSULT-BIM (by BCCV)
6 - 4D & 5D
Welcome to the exciting world of Costing and Scheduling, also known as 4D and 5D in the realm of BIM.
Now, BIM dimensions are a bit like the wild west - there are no standardized ISO definitions, so everyone has come up with their own ideas. It's like dimensions have gone rogue!
Speaking of time, when we talk about 4D, it's not just about time information or fancy animations. It's so much more than that! So let's just dive in and give some guidance on what you should be expecting.
In this section, we're going to explore how different disciplines can come together and interact seamlessly in BlenderBIM using the native IFC capabilities.
To get started, let's head over to the IFC Costing & Scheduling Panel in the Scene Properties.
Once there, expand the IFC Work Schedules and click on the "Enable Editing Tasks" operator for your desired work schedule.
This will allow you to manage and organize the tasks that need to be completed within a specific timeline to achieve the final project deliverable, like constructing and commissioning a building.
Now, a task can have subtasks, forming what we call the Work Breakdown Structure.
You can toggle the task hierarchy by simply clicking on the triangles. It's like unwrapping a gift, but instead of presents, you get to see the structure of your tasks!
By default, the task tree shows the Task Identification and Task Name, but a task can contain a wealth of information.
To better visualize the time-related data for each task, let's display some additional information next to each task name:
This will show you the Schedule Start, Finish, and Duration of each task. Of course, you can choose to display more task information, but for now, let's keep it simple.
Now let's talk about the relationship between design and construction data. A task is a process that takes in object inputs and resources to produce an output, in the case of construction, or consume outputs, in the case of demolition.
To find out which objects are linked to a specific task, look no further than the sub-panel named "IFC Task ICOM" below the Task Tree.
Simply click on a task, and it will display any inputs, resources, or outputs assigned to that task. It's like peeking into a treasure chest filled with BIM data and connections!
You can select all objects in the Viewport through the "Select" operator. Each individual object can also be selected.
But what if you're exploring your model and you want to know if a certain object is linked to a task? Easy peasy!
Take a look at the image below. You'll notice that an object can be linked to multiple tasks. With our Work Schedule active, we can filter the tasks related to this object by clicking on "Filter by Active Schedule."
Now, if you want to dive deeper into a specific task, just press "Highlight the task" and it will guide you to that task in the Work Schedule panel. It's like having a personal task detective!
That's all for now in this section. We'll be delving deeper into the fascinating world of 4D in a later part of this course. Stay tuned!"
Let's continue our journey into the world of cost management by exploring the Cost Schedule functionality in BlenderBIM.
Head on over to the IFC Cost Schedule SubPanel and choose a cost schedule. Then, click on "Enable edit cost items".
Similar to tasks, a cost item can also have sub costs, forming what we call the Cost Breakdown Structure. It's a bit like the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), but with a focus on cost.
The first column shows the quantity assigned to a cost item, the second column displays the unit price, and the third column shows the total cost. Isn't it awsome to have a breakdown of expenses linked by construction and design elements?
At the lower levels of the cost breakdown, you'll typically find items with both a quantity and a rate. The quantity can be manually inputted or taken from the quantity of an object.
Now, let's say you want to select individual objects assigned to a specific cost item. No problem! Just use the "Select" operator with an arrow icon to select them individually or select them all at once. It's a dream come true.
But what if you're in the viewport and you want to know the cost of a particular item? Well, we've got you covered!
Just like before, this will provide you with the cost assignments for that object. It's like uncovering the financial secrets of your model!
And if you want to explore a specific cost item that the object is associated with, simply press "Highlight cost item." It will guide you directly to that cost item in the Cost Schedule panel, as long as it's active.
Remember, the value of a cost item can be either copied from a schedule of rates or manually entered in the cost schedule. But don't worry, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of creating our own estimations in a later section. Brace yourselves for that adventure!
That's all for this section. We hope you're as excited as we are to explore the world of cost management in BlenderBIM!
The simplest form of measurement is the one that’s already taken for you. The Viewing attributes and properties section describes how to view pre-calculated Quantities.
Sometimes, you may wish to take manual measurements yourself. To view the overall dimensions of an object, first select an object, then expand out the viewport Sidebar.
In the Item tab, you can find the X, Y, and Z overall Dimensions of the currently selected object.
Another way to manually measure from two points is to use the Measure tool. First, press the Snap Icon to enable snapping. Then choose snap targets in the Snap Menu in the top middle section of the Viewport panel.
Tip
It is recommended to choose multiple snap targets, like Vertex, Edge, and Face, and Edge Center. You can use the
Shiftkey to select multiple snap targets. For example, the Face snap target means that your measurements will automatically snap to the nearest object’s surface.
Now that you have configured snapping, press the Measure Tool Icon on the left of the Viewport panel. Click and Drag in the 3D viewport to take a measurement. A circle will appear guiding the first point of your measurement. While Dragging, press the X key to lock the measurement line along the X axis. Alternatively, press the Y or Z key to lock the measurement line along the Y or Z axis. Let go of the mouse to finish your measurement.
To delete a measurement, just click on one point of the measurement, and press the Delete key. You can also click and drag the ends of your measurement lines to measure to another location.
Congratulations, and welcome to the digital built environment!
We’ve barely scratched the surface of the data and relationships available in an IFC model. We’ve yet to cover documents and drawings, clearance zones, structural loads and forces, analytical models, distribution system connectivity, energy analysis, rendering textures, and so much more. Our built environment and its relationships are vast and complex and it is exciting that you can join us on its digital journey!
An Object may be either an Input to a Task, or the Output of a task.
The nice thing about IFC, is that we can also have Construction Schedules linked to our Objects.
This serves many purposes, such as resource allocation and planning, An physical Object may act as an Input to a Construction Process
