The Workflow and the Reference Model Concept

17.06.2009 Tekla Structures

Short History of the Idea of Round-tripping

History within IAI (BuildingSMART)
1. Design sequence solves the problem
Architect -> Structural designer -> Building services designer Does not work, because the design periods of different disciplines overlap (simultaneous use)

2. Model Server will solve the problem

Not ready yet. (Some prototypes available) A process where anybody can change everything is a big mess! -> Needs permissions and other controls to make it work Who owns the object that several parties has modified/added data? Who has the rights to delete that object?

17.06.2009 Tekla Structures

Teklas Interoperability Strategy

17.06.2009 Tekla Structures

Reference Model Concept

Design coordination is needed during the design phase. The possibility to see the models of other disciplines in the same virtual model space makes it possible to avoid clashes and design mistakes while designing, and thus save costs on the site. After the design phase clash detection finds all clashes and makes it possible to solve these early enough before they start to generate costs. The architectural model and the structural/manufacturing model are separate models with separate objects, in the same way as the MEP model is separate from architectural and structural models. From the structural model point of view the architectural model represents the requirement model to structural engineering, in the same manner as the structural model is a requirement model to the downstream processes.
Tekla Structures

17.06.2009

Reference Model Concept.

Each piece of authoring software owns its objects. All modifications need to be made by the designer of the authoring system, which keeps the BIM workflow simple and the responsibilities clear. In the design process the designers are only responsible for keeping their own model up-to-date. Reference model objects are data-rich read-only representations of other disciplines model data. Because the reference model link is not a copy, it keeps the reference model developing created by the design team of the authoring discipline in every update. The design changes between the versions can also be monitored. Tekla Structures can reference proprietary formats such as DWG, DGN, 3DD etc. as well as open formats such as IFC and IfcXML.

17.06.2009 Tekla Structures

Reference Model Concept..

To reduce the re-work when the architectural model is present and accurate enough, the architectural model can be taken as a basis for the structural model and for further detailing by using the IFC object converter. Each entity needs to be converted only once at the beginning of the project. The clones of the architectural elements start to exist independently as structural elements which will be detailed further to include all the data needed to specify the end product for enabling the possible automated (pre)fabrication.

The purpose of the Object Converter

To help the creation of the structural model and avoiding rework To be used only once at the beginning of the design project The idea is NOT to:
copy the architectural model as such but rather the relevant information only enable round-tripping

17.06.2009 Tekla Structures

Reference Model Concept

The IFC object converter is a tool to reduce the re-work at the early modeling phase. It is not intended for and will not enable round-tripping, because it creates new clones of the entities for structural modeling/detailing purposes.

In Tekla Structures reference objects as such can be used in a way similar to the native objects for clash detection, reporting, scheduling etc. There is no need to have everything as native, because the reference model elements are also capable of many operations. Reference model objects can be shown in drawings and they can be listed in reports beside the data of native objects and so forth.
Tekla Structures

17.06.2009

The User can with Reference Models:

To view designs of other design disciplines Use layers to view only selected objects To avoid clashes with other disciplines To make clash checks To measure distances To view native attributes To use reference geometry in drawings To add own attributes To clone selected objects to own objects for further detailing Etc.

17.06.2009 Tekla Structures