Currently, the leading BIM software providers and their products include Autodesk’s Revit series (originally developed by Revit Technology Corporation and acquired by Autodesk in 2002), Graphisoft’s Archicad series, and Bentley’s Microstation series. Among these, Autodesk has made the most extensive efforts to promote its software in the Chinese market.
Although these software platforms are developed based on the IFC standard, they differ significantly in technical aspects such as design philosophy, data structure, data processing, and software architecture. To illustrate, we will focus on Autodesk’s Revit series architectural design software and introduce its primary graphical element composition.
Revit uses a relational database to build a three-dimensional model of a building. This data model integrates various engineering data, including model elements, view elements, and annotation symbol elements.
1. Model Elements
Model elements are graphical components used to create the building’s geometric model, representing specific solid objects. They are the fundamental building blocks of Revit’s BIM models and are categorized into two types: main elements and component elements.
Main elements are those that contain other model elements within the model, typically representing essential building components such as beams, columns, floors, stairs, walls, ceilings, and roof panels.
Component elements, on the other hand, cannot exist independently and must be attached to main elements. For example, doors and windows are designed as component elements that must be connected to walls.
In BIM, elements are interconnected. For instance, stairs located between two adjacent floors will automatically adjust their height when the floor level changes. Model elements are more than just two-dimensional images; they are parameterized models with practical functionality, capable of responding to various types of information.
2. View Elements
View elements consist of floor plans, ceiling plans, 3D views, section views, schedules, and drawings. They represent model elements from different perspectives.
Plans, elevations, and sections provide various viewpoints, while schedules detail attributes like specifications, materials, costs, and suppliers. Drawings correspond to traditional construction documents.
View elements are linked to model elements, so when the model is updated, all corresponding views automatically refresh, eliminating the need for manual updates.
3. Annotation Symbol Elements
Annotation symbol elements fall into two categories: annotation elements and reference elements.
Annotation elements include dimensions, text notes, tags, and symbols. Reference elements encompass grids, elevations, and reference planes.
Revit allows users to customize annotation styles to suit various architectural and engineering requirements.
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