Generating BIM and CAD usually is a huge part of the building design process and can take many hours of work. At Architechtures you can get your project in BIM or CAD in around half an hour most of the times. Also, all our files are created using the exact same criteria, this enforces consistency and can be extremely important. Read on to find out how Architechtures can help you jumpstart the documentation process for your project.
How to get your project into BIM and CAD without using Revit or AutoCad?
Once we are satisfied with the project and we have finished our work within the platform we can generate downloadable documents. This way we can download BIM and CAD models with all the geometric and analytical information to continue working in our local environment.
The generation of these downloadable documents entails a cost that is not included in the platform subscription. The cost of these documents varies linearly depending on the footage of the project above grade. Also the cost per square meter varies according to the type of document that we generate.
This cost must be paid with an internal currency called Token that can be purchased within the platform. This is explained in the Introduction Section – Automated Floorplanner.
There are 3 types of downloadable documents that we can generate in the platform:
BIM
Whose cost is calculated at 20 Tokens per m2 of gross external footage above grade.
CAD
Whose cost is calculated at 10 Tokens per m2 of gross external footage above grade.
XLS
Whose cost is calculated at 1 token per m2 of gross external footage above grade.
XLS documents are generated in seconds, but BIM and CAD take longer depending on the footage. Typical times are between 10 minutes and half an hour. Once the document is generated the user will be notified by mail that the file is ready for download.
BIM
The BIM model is an .IFC file importable into any BIM editor or viewer.
It is important to note that the thicknesses of the construction elements will be exactly those that have been set by the user within the platform in the corresponding sections.
Therefore, if we want to use the downloaded BIM model as a starting point to progress to higher levels of development, replacing the default families with other families including more information such as layers or maybe more analytical information, it is important to generate the BIM model with the exact construction thicknesses of the families with which we are going to replace them.
It is also important to highlight that the rooms are generated in the model, which are usually used as a starting point to generate take offs and estimates.
CAD
When downloading CAD documents, a .DWG file is generated for each floor of each building, for each basement floor in the project, and for each of the four elevations of each building.
Finally, a file with the 3D model generated in solid volumes is also generated. (ACIS solid)
XLS
The .XLSX spreadsheet file contains a report in DIN.A4 format ready to print. In it we find all the project metrics that are normally shown in the Data panel to the right.
The report includes:
All Area Schedulesfor the project as a whole and for each of the buildings within it.
The Housing Mix for the project as a whole and for each of the buildings within it.
A summary of the Below Grade Areas and Ratios including the basement area schedule, and a count of parking spaces and storage rooms.
Area Schedules for each of the dwellings, with their total metrics, common areas allocations, efficiency ratios, etc…
Complete Estimate with direct costs of construction, indirect costs of construction and ratios including the average cost per dwelling or the average cost of the indoor m2, among others.
Demo Project
In all accounts, including FREE accounts, the Demo project is included along with the downloadable files. We offer these downloadable documents free of charge so that users can evaluate implementing them in their workflows.
