[Plugin] SketchUpBIM: Building Modeling made easy!

d_e_x

Hi. This tool is very welcome. However, unfortunately BIM is not only 3D modeling. What about switching btw. 2D/3D view?

Hi Andras, the current version allows the users to seamlessly switch b/w 2D and 3D views. The tool uses Layers in SketchUp to switch b/w plan and 3D views. Addition of elevation views is also on the product roadmap.

@andras2 said:

Wall components, profiles, hatching, schedules all that takes something Building Information Modeller. Architects who use BIM also create the 3D and 2D documentation at the same time like in case of Archicad or Revit or a very cheap and very good Ashampoo 3D Architect or visualbuilding.co.uk something Arcon style. I hope you are taking in consideration these things as well otherwise it is just Building Modelling without Information.

Documentation is a very important component of BIM. There are several ideas floating in our team - one of them is to use Layout and enhance its functionality to a higher level for engineering documentation. Layout API is not available today; however it might be possible that Google may expose it at some point. Otherwise, we'll have to look for some other free/cheap option.

@andras2 said:

This initiate is very good I hope you develop an affordable and useful BIM product in the near future. Good luck.

TIG

On the issue of documentation I have recently been working with someone on a similar project for O&Ms, and it was finally decided to use an MHT format file.
You can write one in Word and it's like a zip file containing all of the usual html stuff.
You can add text, tables, images, sets of Layout pages [as images] etc...
You can index/bookmark-link it within itself, or to external files kept within its own subfolder, even open files/apps on the host PC, OR go out onto the www - so linking to manufacturer's sites for specs etc is very easy...
You can link images as bookmarks... and with a little effort you can split images into separately linked areas, so that clicking on a particular part of an image goes to a specific link etc [click the door and the door-guy's site opens, click the window etc]...
You can even add javascript bits [but that needs a manual edit of the HTML code!]

An MHT file opens in your current Browser like IE [needs a plugin for FF etc].

d_e_x

@tig said:

On the issue of documentation I have recently been working with someone on a similar project for O&Ms, and it was finally decided to use an MHT format file.
You can write one in Word and it's like a zip file containing all of the usual html stuff.
You can add text, tables, images, sets of Layout pages [as images] etc...
You can index/bookmark-link it within itself, or to external files kept within its own subfolder, even open files/apps on the host PC, OR go out onto the www - so linking to manufacturer's sites for specs etc is very easy...
You can link images as bookmarks... and with a little effort you can split images into separately linked areas, so that clicking on a particular part of an image goes to a specific link etc [click the door and the door-guy's site opens, click the window etc]...
You can even add javascript bits [but that needs a manual edit of the HTML code!]

An MHT file opens in your current Browser like IE [needs a plugin for FF etc].

Thanks TIG.

There are 2 types of documentation in BIM - (a) drawing - 2D, 3D views, isometric views, elevations, section views, etc.: which ideally should be automatically created at the click of a button if you already have a 3D model. These documents have standard formats (view of the model, related annotations, bill of materials, info box etc.). For such documents, Layout or a third party 3D tool will be useful as they are primarily related to the 3D drawing itself. (b) the more text based documentation with diagrams etc (something like most CAD softwares produce). These documents give information on joints, materials, beams, columns, floors etc. For this purpose, mht, as you suggested will be a good choice. Will keep in mind!

Dex

irwanwr

hi dex,

i'd really like to see this plugin well developed soon

brewsky

Hi D_e_x,

I accidentally placed my post about my bim-tools plugin in the wrong thread. I wanted to place it in the thread about general BIM discussion.
I moved it:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=37979&p=378696#p378696

Sorry!

Jan

d_e_x

Folks, our team has started working on the next version of the software. As a lot of you have requested for Metric Units - "Units" is currently the focus of our development.

In order to keep things simple, Units in SketchUpBIM shall work exactly like all other elements in SketchUp (like Line Tool and Rectangle Tool). If no units are entered, SketchUpBIM tools shall assume default SketchUp model units. However, if input values are entered with units, the entered units shall over-ride default units.

SketchUpBIM units shall be a natural fit into SketchUp, and obviously shall allow both Imperial and Metric conventions.

Dex
http://www.sketchupbim.com

utiler

Thats fantastic, dex!!!! Can't wait to have a try!!!!

The work of you and your team has been quite remarkable and is truly appreciated!

fionmacool

Looking forward to the metric version!

bigstick

_1 to that, it's the only thing that stops me from using it.

Keep up the good work guys, I would be prepared to pay for this if it worked well.

miguelgba

Hi! My english isn't cool, but. I have to tell how I Liked this plugin, but if this plugin have the option to "draw the walls" for the right or left of the grid lines, it would be great!

d_e_x

All,

The development of the next version of the SketchUpBIM software is complete. We are currently in the final phase of our beta tests. Version 1.5 (with Metric Units!!) is expected to be rolled out within the next few days!

Click here for a sneak-peak of the new features: http://www.sketchupbim.com/sneakpeak.html

Pixero

Looks very interesting.
The current version has a feature/bug that sets the SU view to isometric.
Please let us work in perspective mode if we wish.

bigstick

Good call +1 for this!

d_e_x

@pixero said:

Looks very interesting.
The current version has a feature/bug that sets the SU view to isometric.
Please let us work in perspective mode if we wish.

@bigstick said:

Good call +1 for this!

Pixero, Bigstick, Thanks for pointing this out. The isometric projection was actually set purposely to mimic other structural and architectural engineering applications. However, I do see the importance of leaving this choice to the user.

The only sad part is that we are a touch too late! We froze our source code a week back, and unfortunately, this one line bug-fix cannot be added in this upcoming release. I've added to this to our product roadmap, and will be fixed in the next release. At this time, the suggested approach is to perform the additional step of switching to "perspective" view under the "Camera" menu, after you switch SketchUpBIM layers.

bigstick

Damn - never mind, worth a try! Looking forward to testing the metric version.

d_e_x

SketchUpBIM 1.5 is Now Available!

The new version of SketchUpBIM provides support for both Imperial and Metric Units. It includes the ability to render materials for SketchUpBIM elements. Several other enhancements include multiple beam creation using the drag and drop functionality and the addition of menu items for SketchUpBIM operations.

SketchUpBIM 1.5 can be downloaded at http://www.sketchupbim.com/Product.html

now with the support for units, the entire world should be able to use it

Dex

utiler

Cool!!! I can't wait to get to work in the morning to give it a run!!!!

Congratulations to you and all your team, dex!!!

Burkhard

There is a conflict with this Plugin and those who use Maxwell with the Materials from Jason Maranto.
These Materials are RAL Libraries with attributes linked to Maxwell mxm. If you apply a Material Sketchup crashes imidiately.
This happens also with SuPodium and Driving Dimension from Ledas. Took a while to find out whats going wrong here.
If you need a reference Material I posted one here:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=43138

Tested it with the new 1.5 also

utiler

dex, it might be an idea to upload the latest releaes to the first post here otherwise you'll have people contiually asking where to D/L the latest version seeing your announcement about the release will be lost in the thread soon enough.... happens all the time!!
If you want people to D/L straight from your website then maybe just remove the ZIP file from the first post and provide a link to your site....

bigstick

No problem with Podium and SketchUp BIM - at least as far as I can see.

Metric version works okay so far.

There are some glitches, but I have some suggestions for next version:-

Fix font in dialogs. Ideally this ought to match the standard SU dialogs. Courier is ugly and big
Add configuration options for beam sizes & profiles. Right click for properties?
Add customisation options for materials. Ability to choose from existing materials would be cool - allows these models to be rendered without (re)applying all materials.
Add ability to draw in perspective view. One of the nicer things about SU is the ability to do everything in 3d!
Creation of slabs doesn't seem to be working properly, and doesn't snap to intersections of geometry. It only snaps to intersections of SU_BIM elements, and not always consistently. Sometimes it will snap to the intersections at the centreline of joints, other times to the outer edges.
Clean joints at wall corner intersections. At the moment these overlap at each end of the intersection. This will probably cause problems with overlapping textures when rendered.
Place elevation grid(s) on own layer

Great start though, this is coming along nicely - thanks for all your hard work!