This blog is about using BIM on a day to day basis. I cover ArchiCAD tips and tricks, BIM and management thoughts, and occasionally how this all relates to the Minnesota ArchiCAD Usergroup (which I started in 2009). The specifics are about ArchiCAD—that’s the software I use and sell—but the overall themes are relevant regardless of your software. Programs are just tools. BIM is a mentality.
Posted: January 24th, 2012 | Author: Jared Banks | Filed under: Long Posts | Tags: Add-Ons, Objects | No Comments »
Within 48 hrs of posting The Cobbler’s Workbench, I had a large list of additional sites to add to my ArchiCAD resources page. Thank you to everyone who shared their favorite sites with me. Below is a list of sites I’ve added to the original list. Included in this revision are three programs that extend the capabilities of ArchiCAD (from site documentation to collaboration to facilities management). I have to say, it’s impressive how much amazing ArchiCAD stuff is out there, if you know where to look! To know why I started this list, here’s an explanation. And if you think there’s a website I should include e-mail me.
OBJECTS
Dimensions Design Group, Inc.
Dimensions Design Group, Inc. makes Smart Parts. The various libraries include windows+doors, kitchen+bath, trim+stairs, various furniture and more. One of my coworkers still swears by his ArchiCAD 6.5 Smart Parts that he purchased over a decade ago.
Objects Online
Objects Online has one of the largest online collections of free and paid ArchiCAD-specific content. They are always looking to team with other object developers, big or small.
Rik Corporation
Rik Corporation has a really extensive landscaping and exteriors library. It looks like there are some pretty incredible features. The page I link to is in English, but the rest of the site is in Japanese. And unfortunately while my brother lives in Tokyo and is fluent in Japanese, I live in Minnesota and am essentially monolingual. However it looks like Rik Corporation might have some other ArchiCAD Add-ons and libraries.
ADD-ONs & Plug-ins
Micro Aided Design
Not only is M.A.D. the Graphisoft Reseller for Finland and the publisher of ArchiMag, they have also created some really cool Add-ONs like ArchiLogs, DoubleCheck, Zonematic, and Revisiomatic. Do yourself a favor and check out Zonematic.
INTEGRATED PROGRAMS
OrthoGraph
Orthograph makes a survey program that allows you to input measurements onsite via an iPad and then export native ArchiCAD objects directly to ArchiCAD. I’ve mentioned Orthograph a few times on the blog.
ShareYourDesign
From SyD’s website: “SyD™ cloud computing technology expands BIM collaboration environment to share and discuss designs between architects, engineers and clients. Share part of a floor plan, discuss a 3D view in a model or swap ideas on a specific object.”
vintoCON
A spin-off company from Graphisoft, vintoCON makes ArchiFM which extends ArchiCAD’s functionality into the realm of BIM based Facilities Management.
Posted: January 11th, 2012 | Author: Kristian Bursell | Filed under: Guest Bloggers, Long Posts | Tags: BIM philosophy, GDL, Modeling, Objects | No Comments »
I officially entered the building design realm through the Architecture and Environmental Design course at the University of Canberra. After constantly being told that my ideals were that of a dreamer I became unsure of myself and decided the safe option was to follow the notions of friends, family and university Lecturer’s on “what life is”. However I felt nothing when I reached the milestones they said would bring fulfilment; and in the space of two weeks all I was told to aim for crumbled, and I found myself in a deep dark hole. So I threw their notions to the wind, clawed my way out of the hole and began beating my own path. Lesson 1; follow your heart not your head, because others will fill it with rubbish that does not apply to you.
Within my first year in the industry I had taught myself ArchiCAD and was already much faster than the experienced ArchiCAD users around me. My deeper understanding of the program meant that I was relied upon for maintaining and developing ArchiCAD systems within every company I worked for.
While delving into the capabilities of ArchiCAD I began to explore the wonderful world of parametric objects. I then began teaching myself all the nuances of ArchiCAD’s GDL scripting language. GDL, at its peak, is a very well organized series of geometric equations with a maze of variables. I discovered that creating parametric GDL objects gave me a great deal of satisfaction.
There is something very fulfilling about seeing parametric 3D objects come to life through mathematical equations. Perhaps it’s that overwhelming urge to create and understand form that many of us from the non-child-bearing gender experience. Whatever it is, I knew I had found my calling.
When I moved to Brisbane the head and the heart battled again; I was running out of money and my head was telling me to take one of the many jobs I was offered, but my heart, for no apparent reason, was set on working for Cottee Parker Architects. A couple days before my funds ran dry the call from CPA finally came and I was hired before the job interview was over.
My heart new best; the 3 years I worked for CPA was the best opportunity I could have to develop my skills. I spent the first year in CPA’s Brisbane office assisting with the development of their impeccable ArchiCAD template. Working on large scale projects taught me more about exploiting ArchiCAD’s full potential. I was also relied on to develop a series of intelligent parametric GDL library parts.
Being a small town boy at heart, one year in the big smoke was all I could bear. Also, my ArchiCAD development work for CPA was still only, at best, 50% of my workload; my speed made me far too useful as a documenter. These two factors prompted me to move from Brisbane back to a small coastal town. However, when I discussed this with Robert Cottee he asked me to continue doing ArchiCAD development work for CPA from wherever I planned to move to. I jump at the opportunity and for the next two years I worked as a remote ArchiCAD manager, developer and trainer for CPA.
Two solid years of GDL scripting was a great opportunity to learn what is possible with ArchiCAD library parts. It helped me to isolate the best scripting methods to ensure the parts I create are of the highest standard. When my role with CPA was terminated in October 2008 due to the Global Financial Crisis, I began working on my advanced set of GDL Library Parts.
 Swift Joinery |
 Swift Gutter Plus |
In the last few years I have consulted to a large number of small, medium and large architectural firms, optimizing their ArchiCAD systems. I have discovered that the majority of people, and companies, do not use ArchiCAD very well.
My goal with ArchiCAD is the same as it was in the beginning; to automate as many processes as possible simply by modelling building elements. The only way to do this effectively is through GDL Library Parts. You are not working efficiently if you use a tool to model an element and then have to add in lines and text and other manual 2D information to complete the representation of that element in all views and schedules. Modelling will be tedious if you have to use a boring parameter list to configure each aspect of the modeled element. With moveable hotspots in 2D and 3D and polished user interfaces, my library parts bring joy and speed back into modelling.
The idea of BIM is information in a model, the idea of Swift library parts is enjoying modelling every building element and having ALL required information in the modeled element. I will continue to develop intelligent design tools through GDL and help everyone enjoy the BIM process as much as possible. Visit CADSwift to learn more.
 Swift Car Ramp |
 Swift Vehicle Paths |
Posted: January 8th, 2012 | Author: Jared Banks | Filed under: Long Posts, Product Reviews | Tags: Add-Ons, Objects, Templates, Tutorials | 1 Comment »
So I had an idea a few weeks ago. I’d create a second website. It’d have a comprehensive list of websites that had ArchiCAD content on them –objects, add-ons, templates, tutorials, etc. It’d be great. Maybe eventually I could become a reseller for some of the products, create a one-stop shop for paid and free content, and turn the second website into an ArchiCAD mall. I had a great name for the site: The Cobbler’s Workbench. In my weird world of bizarre names it fits perfectly. Shoegnome is about improving process. The Cobbler’s Workbench would be about getting access to better tools. I love the expansion of my mis-remembered Brother’s Grimm Mythos.
But then I started doing research and compiling lists. There is a LOT of ArchiCAD content out there. Some is new and current, some is stagnant or a few years old. Much of it is in English, but a lot isn’t. All together it is WAY too much for me to organize and manage. And I’m not the first person to try something like this.
So instead I’m going to do something smaller. I’ve created a curated list of 20 or so websites that have objects, tutorials, templates, add-ons, etc. that I think have high value to the community. Most of it is stuff you have to pay for, but within each site is some free content. And there are at least two sites which are completely free.
Some Disclaimer Language
I’m not including blogs or ArchiCAD websites without downloadable content as a main feature. Graphisoft has a list of ArchiCAD blogs here. If I included your site, but you’d rather I describe what you offer in a different manner, or if you think there’s a site I should include, e-mail me. This list is a work in progress and my intent is not to fuss about perfection. It’s a labor of love, like the rest of this site. Perhaps a future version of the page will have pictures, reviews, lots of fancy stuff.
I don’t have any official connection to any of these sites, except as follows: like many ArchiCAD resellers, agents, and content providers, I’m an affiliate of Bobrow Consulting. This means if you click on one of my Bobrow links and then buy one of his products I get credit. It’s a nice little perk for me and doesn’t effect your cost. As of 02/19/12 I’m also an affiliate for Vaneshrie Sullivan’s book as well.
You’ll notice that I now have an Amazon Affiliate widget on the site. I’m trying this out for two reasons. First, I’d like to share books that influence and compliment what I’m writing about. Perhaps it’s a book on leadership that’s informing some blog posts about how to manage elements in an ArchiCAD file or maybe it’s a book on videogame critic that got me thinking about why some people succeed at ArchiCAD and others don’t. Additionally there are a handful (not enough in my opinion) of ArchiCAD books and resources that you can buy on Amazon. And much like the resource page, I want to help share them. So that’s the altruistic reason. Point Two is this: towards the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to monetize the blog in non-annoying ways. Having Amazon Affiliate links is one experiment. If you click on one of the Amazon links and then buy that book, or anything else on that visit to Amazon, I get a referral commission. That’s great for me and, like my links to Eric Bobrow’s products and Vaneshrie Sullivan’s book, has no material effect on you. Hopefully it’ll generate some income and free up some more time for me to add even more content to the blog.
Posted: November 28th, 2011 | Author: Jared Banks | Filed under: Long Posts | Tags: Align 3D Textures, BIMx, Modeling, Objects | 3 Comments »
Paintings and the Art of Self-Referencing
A year ago I wrote about putting paintings and wall art in models. I recommended a trick using walls, niches, and aligning 3D textures. It’s a good technique, but I have to admit that I now rarely use it for hanging pictures. I finally got around to using the Picture 15 object. It’s great and fast. Put whatever image you want in your loaded library, choose custom picture and then type in the image’s name that you want to use. Very easy. If you want to avoid distortion of the image, you’ll need to know the proportions of the image so that you can size the object properly; the object won’t size itself automatically. It’ll just squish the image.
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While hanging a picture in a model is easy, choosing what to hang is a lot harder. In my first endeavor, I hung a Klimt. It’s been a running joke with the clients, who are both art lovers and collectors. I’m tempted to frame a poster of the painting and give it to them as a housewarming gift. But their taste in art is so impeccable, a joke poster would get dusty in a closet. And while it’s been fun to see this priceless piece of art in the model, it doesn’t reinforce the design or the feeling of being in the space. So what else could be hung? For critical collections, I’d recommend photographing all the art a client has and hanging it virtually. Doing a museum? Include the art. That’s a no-brainer. This is where visualization and pretty models start reinforcing the ‘I’ in BIM.
Fake Art
But what do you do if you have no art collection and you don’t want to crib masterpieces? What about hanging images of the project as paintings? I did this for a recent project. It’s an office building and I had a lobby space that needed something on the walls. I took some abstract sketch renderings of the exterior and hung them as art. Now the lobby has more character and charm. And more importantly the client, as he explores the model within BIMx, ArchiCAD, or via still images, is seeing what he hired me to create. It’s also a great opportunity to highlight specific vignettes and moments that I love in the project. My clients with the virtual Klimt are looking at a Klimt in their soon to be real home. Why not have them look at images of the house? That’s what they are paying for. And there’s just something beautiful and surreal about images of the 3D model within the 3D model.
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In this example I used the default blaureiter setting, but I think most of the Sketch Rendering options could produce great fake art. Photo realistic images would probably work just as well, but might be too distracting if done wrong. More on that in a moment.
TVs, Plotters, Computer Screens, and Self Promotion
Just like the Picture 15 object, the TVs, monitors, computers, and laptop objects can all have custom pictures on their screens. It’s the same process as the Picture 15 object. Why not set the computer screens to your company logo or perhaps your website? If it’s a professional client, put their logo up on all the screens. Many residential clients are also business owners–show those logos or iconic products. The model is a representation of the clients future building. Infuse it with images they love and care about. Though probably avoid framed photos of their kids and spouses, as that might go from cool to creepy, perhaps falling into the Uncanny valley.
The plotter in the image below uses the same premise as the screen-type objects, but instead of a custom picture, I created a new material with the Shoegnome logo and applied it to the paper. Why print white paper when you can actually PRINT something. Why not get super self-referential and have the plotter printing plans of the building? That wouldn’t be hard. And I bet your clients would flip out with excitement.
This is probably a good time to mention that in the actual model, the plotter was printing the client’s logo and all the TVs and most of the computer screens had the clients various products and logos on them.
Paintings to TVs… Art History Comes Full Circle
So remember the post about paintings and frames and how I no longer use that technique for paintings? Well I still use that trick. But now for TVs and other screens that don’t have objects that meet my needs. The TV in the image below (based on a 42″ VIZIO flat screen) is a complex profile wall that is the extrusion of the TV, with 2 complex profile beams for the built in speakers. I used beams because, with a higher priority number than the wall, they cut out the wall that is the body of TV without the need for Solid Element Operations. For the screen I used the niche object and followed my old painting steps.
I’ve got a lot more to say, but I’ll end with this…
When we photograph a completed building we take care to stage the images. We should do the same with our models. The techniques may be different, but the philosophies are the same: stage it to show off our design and make it attractive to our audience.
Posted: October 16th, 2011 | Author: Jared Banks | Filed under: Long Posts | Tags: 3D Studio Max, Add-Ons, BIMx, Objects, SketchUp, Zombies | 2 Comments »
In preparation for my BIMx entry, I spent some time reading up on BIMx Optimization on the ArchiCADwiki. One of the suggestions is to download the PolyCount Add-On. You can download it here. When you’re building a file for export to BIMx, paying attention to polygons is important.
 Here's the polygon count of the original model. |
 Here's the polygon count of the model once I deleted hidden geometry and created all the jagged burned out areas. |
Two interesting things to note here. Delete everything you can’t see. For this model I deleted footings, some bathroom fixtures and trusses that were hidden in attic spaces. The BIMx optimization page recommends that you also turn off things like door knobs. Maybe for a 13 story apartment complex, but it’s unnecessary for a 6,000 sq. ft. home.
Now when I created the burned out areas of the house, I was expecting the polygon count to soar. I was nervous that my whole plan would fall apart because I couldn’t make my building look like a ruin. Turns out that I should have been worried about Objects…
 The M1 Abrams Tank isn't so big. I could add dozens! |
 I must really love that Airship. And it turns out all zombies are not created equal... |
To create my BIMx zombie attack, I needed tanks, jet fighters, soldiers, and of course zombies. But at the moment there are not a lot of those available in native .gsm format. So I needed to explore Google SketchUp warehouse and sites with free 3D studio models. Expanding the search gave me lots of options. But there was a lot of garbage. Everyone seems to make SketchUp zombies. But only a few people make really good ones. And if you look at the polygon counts above, Zombie_3.gsm is 17,303 polygons while zombie_horde_6.gsm is only 7,908 polygons. Using the right zombies, I can double my infestation and keep my model size down! Who would have thought that a zombie could have twice as many polygons as a tank? The trick is to find a good looking model that is also low in polygons. Not so easy. And until you run the polygon counting add-on, you really can’t tell how big an object is going to be.
What’s with the blimp, Jared?
I really wanted to include a jet fighter in the model. Having one hovering in the air above the zombie attack reminded me of the end of 28 Days Later, one of my favorite zombie movies. Also suspending something in the air was a cool trick in a BIMx model, where otherwise gravity appears to work. Alas, all the jet fighter models I could find had two problems: HUGE polygon counts (smooth curved surfaces can be killers) and landing gear. Some of their polygon counts were well over 100,000. Way too big. But more problematic for me was the landing gear. People model jet fighters to sit on the ground, not appear in the sky overhead. Having an F/A-18 Hornet or A-10 Thunderbolt overhead with its landing gear down looked dumb. So no jet fighters flying overhead. But I found the airship. At 47,939 polygons it’s over 20% of the model and almost the size of the house (polygon speaking), but I think it just looks so awesome hovering over the zombie attack scene. So if you can’t view the BIMx file on an iPhone 3 or an iPod touch, blame the airship.
Posted: September 26th, 2011 | Author: Jared Banks | Filed under: Product Reviews | Tags: Endless Path of Improvement, GDL, Objects, Templates | 2 Comments »
An interesting offer…
I’ve been trying to figure out how to write this review for weeks. Okay months. Jeroen de Bruin of Master Script first contacted me about writing a review for Total Zone and Total Marker on July 26th. I was flattered and thrilled. I warned him it’d be a little while. I wanted to use Total Marker and Total Zone in a project. Flipping through features and dreaming is fun, but it’s when objects and tools and tricks are used in projects with deadlines and demanding clients and bosses that the truth comes out. Isn’t that half the point of this blog? Theory AND Practice.
In the Meantime…
Jeroen is infinitely patient with me. He’s a new parent again too, so he understands the girls didn’t sleep this weekend and we’re all sick excuses. We chat a lot via e-mail, discussing life and his work as a GDL scripter. I definitely get the sense that Jeroen and I are kindred spirits in our efforts to help the ArchiCAD community. I ask him to write a blog post about his experiences as a GDL master. He does. I start looking at Total Zone and Total Marker. I’m instantly impressed, which is not typical for me. I notice one or two things I wish Total Marker could do and mention it to Jeroen. His reply? Oh that’s easy. Here’s a new version of Total Marker with that functionality. I go from impressed to amazed. Let me repeat that. Not only did he fix a glitch I found, he ADDED AND IMPROVED to his objects because of a suggestion I made. Now that’s awesome.
Total Marker and Total Zone, let’s finally get to the review
What makes these two objects essential, once you experience using them, is how they both add to and build on the core functionality of ArchiCAD. Each object mines the data already within your project and allows you to leverage that information with new Model View Options.
Why’s that so awesome? Let’s look at a few examples from total marker.
With Model View Options you can set all interior door markers to read differently from exterior door markers. Same goes for windows. In this example I set interior doors to automatically show leaf sizes and exterior doors and windows to show their ID, which is referenced on my exterior door, window, and skylight schedule. Not only is it all automatic, I was able to EXACTLY match the aesthetic of how I used to do it, which was all manually done using object ID. Typing in 2′-8″ x 6′-8″ as the ID of a door to get it to read properly on plan sucked. It wasn’t linked to the actual size, there were often mistakes, I often hit the limit of ID length, and it wasn’t living up to the BIM ideals. Total Marker easily allows me to replicate everything I used to do, but smarter and prettier.
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So mimicking aesthetics and dabbling in BIM functionality is great, but let’s go farther. Now that I’m using Total Marker, I can set up doors to show rough opening sizes on a framing plan. This screen capture shows the same entry with different a different set of MVO criteria. Same marker, same door, same project, different MVO, different data displayed. Nothing overridden. A step down the path of BIM.
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The variability of MVO has got me thinking about what else I could use the markers for. What other information I can embed in my doors and windows and display on the plan? A good object (or program) should encourage creativity, should get you thinking about other possibilities. What about fire rating? That option has been a parameter for years and years. It’s easy to access, change, and include in a schedule. But what about on a life safety plan? Before this information had to be added as text. But that’s no good. And that’s not coordinated. I want to have the fire rating show up everywhere that it would be useful (schedule/plan) and have it linked. Done. And because it’s done with Model View Options, all these different options can be setup and added to my template. Once that’s done every project is ready to have all this data displayed automatically.
Total Zone works much the same way for zones. Model View Options galore, great aesthetic options, and wonderful at helping you mine all the data already in zones. But this post is already getting long and reaching my preferred max word count. You can learn more by following the links for Total Zone and Total Marker. Perhaps I’ll write more about Total Zone in a separate post. But then again, I’d end that theoretical post the same way I’ll end this one.
I love these two products. They make me wish for more Model View Option Enhanced Objects.
Graphisoft should give Masterscript a nice chunk of money and incorporate them into the standard library for ArchiCAD 16. There I said it. But that probably won’t happen, so go buy them. At 40 € each both objects are a bargain.
Wisdom from the Crowd