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From CAD User AEC Magazine  Vol 20 No 05 - MAY/JUNE 2007

David Chadwick looks at some of the interesting new design and presentation concepts that Graphisoft has introduced in ArchiCAD Version 11

I always enjoy diving back into ArchiCAD, because the software invariably comes up with something interesting and unexpected with each new iteration. The thing that grabbed my attention the most in the latest Version, 11, was the introduction of Home Story - a new way of classifying components within a model. But more of that later.

Graphisoft, the Hungarian company that developed ArchiCAD, is a refreshing change from other companies in that they plough their own furrow. Whilst the architectural modelling software has all of the features that other BIM packages have, some of the terminology for common functions are somewhat different. For Building Information Modelling, therefore, read Virtual Building.
The company is pretty good at presenting their software. Use the URL at the end of this article to go online and you will find a whole series of movie clips that introduce newcomers to BIM or Virtual Building, how ArchiCAD works, and the enhancements found in the latest version of the software. 2D designers will find short clips that define the ArchiCAD design concept, what BIM is all about, and how architects use the parametric capabilities of the software to develop their design concepts in 3D.

Working with 3D in BIM explains how elements (walls, doors windows, slabs, etc.) are used to develop a 3D model of a building, and how modification of the position or dimensions of any of these ripples through the rest of the model. It also explains how these changes can be effected from any model view - plans, sections, or even schedules. This means that a door schedule, compiled automatically as the model is developed, can be used to change the dimensions of doors throughout the building and on the 3D model, by updating the information in the schedule.

Working in 3D does not constrain the architect from using 2D CAD at the same time, and architects can use conventional 2D design tools to add poly-lines, splines, curves, hatches and other annotation objects at any stage in the process - with the benefit of access to the same parametric capabilities of 3D modelling. By the same token, the 3D model can also be used to extract plans, elevations and section details from the central model, all of which can be used to continue the design process.
Graphisoft has even included a section on visualisation, showing how the various rendering engines that ArchiCAD provides enable users to produce artistic or realistic interpretation of their designs. There is a Sketch rendering engine that can produce a freehand sketch of a design, or an integrated 'Lightworks' engine that can produce photorealistic renderings and animated walkthroughs, and can even include transparent and translucent surfaces, reflections and soft shadows.

The introduction then produces a short movie on how to create production drawings from the 3D model. It’s worth looking at the demos even if you are not (or don't even intend to be) an ArchiCAD user -and something that other software developers should seriously consider for their own solutions.

ArchiCAD 11 Coordination

Graphisoft uses the phrase “Coordination, Control and Virtual Building functionality” to define the enhancements in Version 11 of ArchiCAD, providing improved capabilities in design, collaboration and drawing generation. Leading us into the Coordination section is another industry first - Virtual Trace technology, which enables users to coordinate views in a virtual building environment. Specifically developed to help mainly 2D CAD users to adapt to a 3D working environment, it works just like tracing paper. 2D drawings can be matched with a virtual building model, and the architect can work on either 'live' view, retaining full design control of the virtual model in either format.

Another useful tool is 'Visual Compare', which can be used to identify differences between documents. Although 2D drawings are usually linked to the virtual building model, in some cases there may be a need to develop 'unlinked' drawings. These can be compared to the model drawings using Virtual Trace technology, with any drawing acting as the reference model, and can be checked and amended - retaining the validity of the virtual model. Both of these tools provide total 2D flexibility, simplifying and easing the transition from 2D CAD to 3D modelling.

It also allows external drawings to be added to the model (DWGs and Xrefs from consultant engineers for example) which can be imported, and placed in a new feature - 'Worksheets' - and checked for comparison with the model using the same Virtual Trace technology.

ArchiCAD 11 Control

Control covers the improvements to the quality and level of detail in documentation sets, improving final layouts and adding some new colour fill tools. The most important of these is the presentation of final layouts. ArchiCAD 11 enables architects to align drawing elements beyond one layout - to multiple layouts. As annotations are intelligently linked to the model, these can be edited and lined up on each sheet.

Furthermore, the drawings on all sheets can be automatically lined up with each other - the end result being a professionally prepared set of drawings.

ArchiCAD has always allowed users to intelligently cross-reference project views. The latest version makes this much more flexible, using worksheet markers and a dialogue box to link objects to any view, at any hierarchical level. Version 11 also gives architects the ability to use streamlined 2D editing tools on unlinked model views to the fine details of the drawings using 2D editing tools. Exploding the model view into 2D elements may show lines and fill to be segmented or overlapping - reflecting how the original model elements were placed. These can be cleaned up using consolidation tools - to be repaired, after selection by the architect, with a click of the mouse.

ArchiCAD 11 Virtual Building

ArchiCAD (as we have seen in previous articles in CAD User) can be used to create quite complex element geometry - curved walls, beams, columns, and so on. Version 11 gives architects even greater modelling freedom, enabling them to slant walls (or beams) to any desired angle, assign a curved profile to the wall from a library of pre-prepared curve sections, and align the wall along any curved section - maintaining, of course, its parametric association with the model.

Interior Elevation, another new feature, creates unfolded interior model views of even the most complex shaped room. With its auto-placement rules, Interior Elevations of a room can be placed on a layout in an organised fashion with a single drag & drop action - a dramatic productivity improvement for users.

ArchiCAD 11 has also improved the use of Pen and Colour configurations, saving them with custom names and project views, providing easier modification of specific pens used in the design.

If you are working on large, multi-storey projects, or repetitive design modules such as hospitals and apartment buildings, ArchiCAD 11 has some useful features here too, such as the ability to hot-link external ArchiCAD files into the master project. And the software has streamlined PDF support with a native PDF engine that can even handle construction fills with curved segments.

Home Story

Some elements, such as walls, roofs, etc., extend beyond the story where they are normally referenced - the elevation is displayed by the elevation of the storey. (While ArchiCAD simplifies so many tasks a little added complication - or at least irritation! - comes in Graphisoft’s use of “Story” for what the rest of us refer to as “Storey”).
'Home Story' (see what I mean?) allows architects to tie the construction element to a specific storey, regardless of the element's physical location.

A "Show On Story" option can be used to determine where to display the construction element. 'Home Story' is used as a reference level to measure the element in both 2D elevations and the 3D model. The 'Home Story' and' Show on Story' are two separate options. Roofs, beams, slabs and meshes can also be displayed as relevant storeys.

Conclusion

Apart from the way they spell 'storey', the latest version of ArchiCAD 11 provides some fascinating new features. ArchiCAD is a powerful and multi-faceted alternative to the more 'popular' BIM tools. You can get a feel of the capabilities of the software by vising the website below.

www.graphisoft.com/products/ archicad/ac11/

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