I asked them about inserting an entire sketchup model into the system and this is the response I got from Tony De Palma.
@unknownuser said:
that's definately a nice question. As you already know, SketchUp allows you to model surfaces and either extrude them or manipulate them according to your design needs but these surfaces aren't reconized as walls or slabs; they're just surfaces and volumes of different shapes or forms.
Many designers that use Sketchup for its powerful modelling capabilities may want to bring their model into Edificius where you can take advantage of professional BIM design tools and where the various design elements become walls, slabs, columns, beams or windows, doors railings and stairs etc. So what we need is some way to "convert" a SketchUp model, where we don't have architectural information, into a BIM model. Edificius can do this with the 3D magnetic grid. You can in fact import your SKP file as a Magnetic grid and then use the Architectural elements to draw over it in the 3D modelling Environment. Best thing to do would be to simplify the model as much as possible stripping it from 3D elements such as Cars, Trees people etc. You can add them after directly in Edificius.
Once you have recreated the Model in Edificius, you then have COPY of your original SKP building but now you have Architectural Info allowing you to even generate Tables, Schedules, BoQs, assign materials and even create animations and renders. If you need a Visual simulation of the building in its urban context, you can even create a Photo Matched simulation in not more than 3 minutes.
Have a look at these videos to get an idea of what I mean. I will also be adding your question to the Forum so you'll also be getting answers there too:
http://video.accasoftware.com/EN/edificius/id32/index.html?idPLV=1731%26amp;autoplay=1
http://video.accasoftware.com/EN/edificius/id32/index.html?idPLV=334%26amp;autoplay=1
http://video.accasoftware.com/EN/edificius/id2/index.html?idPLV=3578%26amp;autoplay=1
http://video.accasoftware.com/EN/edificius/id24/index.html?idPLV=1744%26amp;autoplay=1
http://video.accasoftware.com/EN/edificius/id64/index.html?idPLV=2987%26amp;autoplay=1
http://video.accasoftware.com/EN/edificius/id64/index.html?idPLV=2988%26amp;autoplay=1
It looks like you'll have to rebuild your sketchup model in their software. They have a 3D tracing system whereby you can insert your model in the program and then trace over it with the various bim objects and systems. But no inserting your model and declaring the various trades and materials of volumes.
I think that's going to hurt the over all attraction to the system. Be it with layers, components, volumes, labels or perhaps even a plugin. There at least needs to be a way to tell the software what type of object your importing. I have my models broken into concrete, framing, roof, stone etc. It would be easy to import each group, one at a time, dictating what each was as I did so. Otherwise it would seem that this system would negate the need for a lot of my process in sketchup. taking it back to just being for sketching. I was hoping more for a way to document my houses in a more architecture related system.
There are still tons of reasons to use a bim system, and this one being free is a big one. But, I think we, or more precisely, someone... could build more integration between the two systems that would allow full models to come in.
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