@andras2 said:

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.

@pout said:

Based on your comments, there are two possible pathways:
BIM as in: be able to attach BIM properties and parameters to an entity. That's it, these parameters do not influence the entity when changed.
BIM as in: when changing IFC parameters/properties teh entity is changed accordingly, even more, when adjectent entities are influenced they also change if needed (bit like Revit)

@brewsky said:

I agree, the more information you've got, the more usable it becomes...
This goes for every bim-plugin, but also for a basic common framework...But even if you just have 4 labels; "width=100", "length=6000", "height=3000", ifctype="IfcWallStandardcase" AND the default sketchup information of a group/component; "placement point" and "placement vector", can tell you a whole lot about the wall! The more "standard definitions" we as plugin builders can agree on, the better it gets. You could even agree on a basic Sketchup::Ifc module that contains a few classes for maybe ifc-export/import, generating globally unique id's(guid) and managing ifc-units...

@bigstick said:

The added value of the first approach, is that SU can be integrated into an existing (or new) BIM workflow. So users can use SU in conjunction with Revit, Microstation, Archicad, Vectorworks etc.

1. The solution is to associate "parametric modeling" with the "generic 3D modeling" offered in SketchUp. And then, maintaining a "behind-the-scene" analytical model with SketchUp's graphical model. In this case, the "parameters" associated with the SketchUp entities can be stored internally with the entity. When you change the entity, these parameters are adjusted automatically using entity observers etc. and visa-versa, the graphical output is adjusted if these parameters are changed.

2. Then, when you import/export IFC data into the SketchUp model, you can simply modify these internal parameters, hidden inside the SketchUp entities; which will consequently and automatically change the graphical model in SketchUp.

3. To me, changing adjacent entities is the next natural step in the development cycle. It is an enhancement to the above work-flow; but first, (1) and (2) need to be bolted in solid!

Dex
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=41840

1500+ Downloads! In less than 3 weeks!!

Thank You all for your support!

SketchUpBIM on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SketchUpBIM

SketchUpBIM on RubyLibraryDepot: http://modelisation.nancy.archi.fr/rld/plugin_details.php?id=934

@driven said:

The reason I am pointing it out is that I definitely don't have the files or folders "mixed up", it looks more like you have an 'susolid' method in your scrambled file that's at odds with an 'susolid' method in 'SuSolid.rbz' which is also scrambled.

@tig said:

If 'you' [or others] use FILE in compiled scripts you can get weird results - e.g. if another tool has done the same and loads 'adjacent' to yours. Your base-level loader in the Plugins folder doesn't need to be compiled [what's confidential about a 'loader' ??] - so it can be a .rb file and successfully use FILE - but avoid any FILE references inside .rbs files !

verified the following:

1. "suSolid" is not used in SketchUpBIM as a method name or otherwise.
2. FILE is not used in the 'loader' script or any other script files. The code uses a lot of "require" statements to reference other files. Is this in any way a cause of concern?

In any case, we plan to test this on a clean Mac with a new installation of SketchUp. In the meantime, if any other Mac users have come across this warning/error, please let me know.

Dex

@driven said:

Error Loading File /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchUpBIM no such file to load -- /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchUpBIM
hi,
something's not quite right, I get this 'on load message' on mac and
if I have SuSolid.rbs active, I get
Error Loading File /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchUpBIM no such file to load -- /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/SketchUpBIM/susolid

John, SuSolid.rbs is not a SketchUpBIM file. So, this should not reside in the SketchUpBIM folder. Is it possible that you have a few files/plugins mixed up on your computer? We have tested the plugin on Mac, and it works fine without any errors.
The SketchUpBIM.zip file contains the SketchUpBIM sub-folder and the SketchUpBIM.rbs file. You need to copy this sub-folder and the file under the /SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins folder. Hope this helps.

@driven said:

it functions but the Toolbar always opens on start even when I turn it off before closing so it won't.
john

Yes. Thanks John. This is a noted limitation on the Mac. In the next version, we will add some explicit code to fix this.

@bep said:

Maybe interesting , http://www.ifcwiki.org/index.php/Free_Software
Bep

excellent resource; would come in very handy when we start working on the IFC Import/Export functionality.

Thanks Bep!

Hi Tak,

I am excited to see that I am not alone in developing a BIM plugin Great work!

My plugin (SketchUpBIM) is focused on Building Modeling, and follows a similar methodology as the commercial BIM softwares. I would be very happy if you check it out and provide your feedback and comments: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=41840

other BIM gurus on this forum, please feel free to provide feedback as well!
dex

@brewsky said:

@elibjr said:

If the slabs were generated as components and not just groups that would be even better ... maybe.

I've been thinking about the same thing, but I think using groups is the best thing here, otherwise the component-selector gets cluttered with sooo many walls and slabs...Maybe the best approach is to after creating the building-parts to combine the slab-group and railing-components as one big component if you need this repetition? d_e_x, what are your thoughts on this?
Cheers,
Jan

jan,

In SketchUpBIM, all elements that CAN be defined and stored with the help of parametric properties ONLY, are categorized as Groups. Generally speaking, these elements are structural engineering primitives like walls, columns, and beams. Other elements that require additional architectural details like fences, door/window casings etc may qualify as components. It becomes very interesting with elements like slabs - in such elements, the architectural world starts to overlap the structural engineering world. I have seen these challenges in my past life

We are looking at a very exciting feature that will become a critical addition to the software in a future version. And for this feature, we might have to switch some of our primitives to components. So, I think the choice between Groups and Components are in part determined by their intention of use. In our case, and in this first version, groups were sufficient.

@elibjr said:

d_e_x,
Wow, I just want to say thank you and your crew for starting such an awesome plugin. I have used Revit and this reminds me of those basic principles. I think you should try to figure out a way to do specific opening sizes for windows and doors, curtain walls, and foundations next. Putting together a quick tower was simple.

specific sizes for windows and door is already possible in this initial version and foundations is on the development list. Curtain walls (wow!), once I get a development team of 10, I'll pounce on the non-structural primitives as well Actually, now that I think about it, I know of a simple way to implement curtain walls.

@elibjr said:

If the slabs were generated as components and not just groups that would be even better ... maybe. That way you could put a railing on a balcony slab and have it replicate to each successive level.

my thoughts in the follow-up post.

@elibjr said:

This is the first time I could tell my "Autodesk evangelists" friends that Sketchup is so much more capable that any closed source product.... if not for ideas like this. This is why Blender is so great too, It's people like you and Fredo6, TIG, Didier Bur, Thomthom, Chris Fullmer, Jim, Al & Rich Hart, Whaat and so may more that make this the most dangerous site for any high end software company. It's stuff like this that will make (and have made) companies like Next Limit, Chaos Group, Autodesk and others to take note. Keep up the good work... also thank the admin for creating this website. This is why Sketchup will become the most powerful design package in the world... can wait for version 9!

thanks a ton for the encouragement!

@fionmacool said:

This is a brilliant start Dex. It will scare the bejaysis out of many BIM... let's call them "enthusiasts" out there. I have wanted to see SU being used this way for ages, and due to not being well versed in programming, I have been only an armchair supporter. Here is a post I created in June 2010 on the SketchUpIreland blog regarding SU and BIM:
http://sketchupireland.blogspot.com/2010/06/sketchup-natural-bim-platform.html#links

Keep up the good work! Will be delighted to see a metric version of the plugin and a function for creating objects. I know everyone wants everything perfect and they want it yesterday- but seriously- thanks for doing this!

Thanks I have started following your blog - very interesting and thought-provoking.

Metric units are on top of the development stack. "function for creating objects" - could you explain what you mean't here? No specifics required, I just would like to understand your suggestion; the way you are thinking about it.

@utiler said:

WOW, d_e_x; I'm excited!!!!! This is a very impressive project!
I'm going to make some notes and post some questions as soon as I can..
Congratulations on such a fine start!!

Thanks Andrew, I'll look forward to it!
dex

wow! thanks Jim for including SketchUpBIM on this list.

I would anxiously look forward for SketchUpBIM to find mention on your SketchUpTips blog as well

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=41840

Here is the "Basic Tutorial" for SketchUpBIM. It is about 12 minutes. Request to all users to spend these 12 minutes to get a quick start!

[flash=853,480:2f7tt5ah]http://www.youtube.com/v/QYdVhomvwYk[/flash:2f7tt5ah]

@chrisjk said:

This sounds very interesting but I use a Mac.. - looking forward to the OS X version!

@bantymom said:

I, too, think this sounds interesting, but I, too, use a Mac and am looking forward to the OS X version, or did I miss it? If I have, please just point me in the right direction.

@edson said:

is this supposed to be a windows-only plugin? .exe files do not run on macs.

@chrisjk said:

This sounds very interesting but I use a Mac.. - looking forward to the OS X version!

BIM addicts,

my friends and I just rolled out the SketchUpBIM plugin. It's similar to the discussion on this forum - it provides simple tools to create grids, floors, and all common structural engineering and architectural primitives like walls, columns, beams, slabs and openings! We have utilized a lot of our knowledge of popular BIM products (like REVIT) and tried to follow the same methodology and process-flows.

and yes, it's in English and Mac compatible check it out here: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=41840 and please leave feedback and comments!

Dex

b/w bomastudio - very interesting work I would love to download an english version as well!

@unclex said:

how change the feet to meter？

@jolran said:

Unit conversion should be trivial for D_e_x to fix?

unclex, joel,

metric units is definitely moving to the top of the development list. However, I do want to spend a few more days before getting back to the code. I would like to collect as much feedback as possible from the community. I want to know if there are any stop-ship bugs, or any other critical features that are important to the people who would like to do "BIM in SketchUp"

right now.. let me get you excited about the video tutorial. It should be online in another hour!!

@brewsky said:

reading your license... I hope you can be persuaded to change that, would be great if defining BIM could really be a community thing

Cheers, and keep up the good work!

Thanks Jan! I am sure my friends and I will come back to you when we start writing the specs for the IFC import/export utility

b/w SketchUpBIM uses the BSD license which in my knowledge, is the most lenient license in the industry today! As this article (http://opendevice.blogspot.com/2007/06/best-gnu-gpl-vs-bsd-comparison-ever.html) states: "If you want to give your software away for free, use BSD. If you want to share your software, use the GPL."

@bigstick said:

This is such a huge task that I do wonder whether it is too much for one person. The point I made some time ago for creation of a 'framework' which could be used by lots of Ruby coders might still be a relevant one. We have lots of plugins, for windows, doors, stairs, roofs, joists, slabs, foundations, columns, beams etc. Wouldn't it be cool if they were all compliant with this BIM principle!
I accept that ensuring consistency with the standard might be tricky, but it might be worth looking into.

Thanks bigstick, I have downloaded this package. At the first glance, it came to me as more relevant to generic 3d modeling, as opposed to the concept of a "framework" and specifically, building modeling. But defi very interesting - I'll take a detailed look at this.

@bob james said:

I'm definitely interested.
I never heard of Building Information Modeling "BIM" before this thread (and Googling it to find out what BIM meant ).
Certainly for it to be of use it would have to have the capabilities described by pbacot, but as far as I can tell, this is a great start
Directly cutting windows and doors into thick walls

Bob,

BIM is a "concept" - the more the community thinks about it, the more clear it's definition is going to be. I have been associated with it since 2005, and trust me, every time I have been to a BIM conference, I have heard a new and innovative definition!

One of the most important aspects of BIM however, is 'intelligent modeling'. Meaning, that if you draw a column, then it knows that I am a column; or a wall knows that I have a thickness associated with myself, etc. In this first version of this tool, I have tried to focus on this aspect and get the basic "framework" right.

If the framework is set up correctly, then it will become relatively easy for me to add BIM specific properties to these architectural primitives. Say tomorrow, I want to add material properties to the walls, or offset to concrete beams etc. Also, this will provide a "unified" interface to import/export such BIM elements to/from SketchUp. So, a long roadmap is ahead - at this time, it is turning out to be very helpful to get your opinions, and hopefully this forum will help me in making this tool popular

@pbacot said:

However I have to ask: Does this video really represent the way Revit would do things? That you "eyeball" cutting holes into your envelope to create windows? I would think that with BIM I could insert windows by giving the size (or selecting a window from list) and it would be placed at the correct (default/designated) height and might even have some horizontal placement parameters that I can define and use. I would expect the door and window types, complete with casing etc., would become automatically a part of the file (from default designation)--not just holes. Is this actually "next steps" in your development or is BIM different than I imagine?

@jolran said:

Something like pbacot wrote, one would expect parametric blocks as a result.
But that's a different subject. Dynamic Comps are little sketchy to code. Possible to do, but buggy with units if I recall.

Hi Peter, Joel

The opening tool in SketchUpBIM supports both "free-hand drawing" and "accurate positioning" of openings. For accurate positioning, the user can use his keyboard to enter the start and end points of the opening on the wall. This means that the user can place his opening for the window/door at the exact height and horizontal distance as is required. Take a look at the appended screen-shot: I entered (3',3') to start this opening at 3 feet height, and 3 feet horizontal distance. Now, I want to end it at 8' height and 8' horizontal distance. So, I enter (8',8'). As soon as I press Enter, the opening will be placed accurately at this location.

Revit follows a very similar process-flow. Openings can be drawn on walls and/or slabs, similar to SketchUpBIM. However, as noted by both of you, these openings are parametric elements that are stored intelligently; once again this is the same in SketchUpBIM.

Detailed doors and windows (with casing etc) are components that can/should be inserted into these opening holes after they have been created. For example, in SketchUp you would probably import a door/window model from the 3D warehouse (or create your own) and place it at the location of your opening. Similarly, Revit provides this ability of importing components using something that they call "families".

This is a very old forum.. however if anyone is still interested in SketchUp and BIM, here is a solution: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=41840

The plugin provides an easy way to create parametric primitives like walls, beams, columns etc inside SketckUp. It follows a standard process-flow similar to popular BIM software like Revit.

best!
Dex

Hi All,

My friends and I have created a building modeling plug-in for SketchUp. We have utilized our knowledge of popular BIM products (like REVIT) and tried to follow similar methodology and process-flows. This plug-in provides simple tools to create grids, floors, and all common structural engineering and architectural primitives like walls, columns, beams, slabs and openings.

and yes, it works on both Mac and Windows check it out here: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=41840

best!
Dex