4. Data Conversion from IFC Files to 3D3S Files
4.1 Data Structure
The primary data structures used in this process are Node, Unit, and Floor.
Node Data Structure:
Class Node
{
Int NodeID; // Node index number
Double CoordinateX, CoordinateY, CoordinateZ; // Three-dimensional coordinates of the node
Int ConstraintType; // Constraint type of the node
ArrayList NodeInElements; // List of units linked to this node
}
Unit Data Structure:
Class Element
{
Int ElementID; // Unit index number
ArrayList NodesInElement; // List of nodes within the unit
Int SectionType; // Unit section type
Int ProperType; // Unit material type
Int ContainedInFloor; // Floor where the unit is located
Int ElementType; // Unit type
}
Floor Data Structure:
Class Floor
{
Int FloorID; // Floor index number
Double Elevation; // Top elevation of the floor
Double FloorHeight; // Height of the floor
ArrayList ElementsInFloor; // List of unit indices within the floor
}
4.2 Examples
In this article, VC#.NET is used within the Visual Studio 2005 development environment to create a data conversion interface. Once the architect completes the building model, an IFC file is exported. The interface then automatically extracts geometric data, section information, and material properties of structural components from the IFC model file.
The structural components covered in this example include concrete columns, beams, walls (with door and window openings), slabs, as well as steel columns and beams. After converting the IFC file into a 3D3S data file, the 3D3S software’s data import interface can be used to automatically generate the building’s structural model.
It is important to note that this process does not replace the expertise and judgment of structural engineers. Instead, it aims to relieve engineers from repetitive and time-consuming modeling tasks, allowing them to focus on optimizing the structure’s design and improving its quality and performance.
5. Conclusion and Future Work
This article presents the development of an IFC building model data conversion interface based on TNO’s IFC engine DLL development toolkit. The interface enables automatic generation of a 3D3S structural model from building models created in Autodesk Revit software.
The IFC standard continues to evolve, with the latest version, IFC2x4, released in May 2010. Consequently, the conversion interface described here requires ongoing updates to remain compatible with these advancements.
While the current interface successfully extracts geometric, section, and material information from building models, a complete structural model also requires load and constraint data. Therefore, future research should focus on maximizing the extraction of load and constraint information from building models to further enhance the conversion process.
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up