2021.f Version

As of version 2021.f, Open BIM Quantities offers two different ways of viewing the BIM model’s cost breakdown structure in the "Quantities of the BIM model" tab. Up until now, elements have always been organised according to the IFC entity they belong to (IfcWall, IfcSlab, IfcSpace, etc.). In this update, the "View" group of options has been added to the application toolbar with two buttons: "Entities" and "Structure". The first one shows the BIM model’s cost breakdown structure in the same way as the previous versions, i.e. it groups the elements according to their IFC entity reference. The second one allows users to organise the breakdown structure based on the project’s spatial structure.

According to the IFC standard, spatial structures are used to provide a hierarchical distribution of models with the aim of organising construction projects. A project’s spatial structure can define as many decomposition levels as necessary for the project.

The elements of the spatial structure are as follows:

• Site ("IfcSite")
• Building ("IfcBuilding")
• Storey or floor ("IfcBuildingStorey")
• Space ("IfcSpace")

From version 2021.f onwards, "Open BIM Quantities" can incorporate the sets of properties and quantities defined at type level, based on the IFC standard specification. All model components belonging to the same type assume the properties and quantities specified at type level. However, it is possible that element-level definitions may invalidate these type-derived properties and quantities. The different combinations are shown in the list of parameters associated with the model component as follows:

• If the property or quantity is defined at a component level only, the property or quantity’s reference and value are displayed in plain text.
• If the property or quantity is defined at type level, the name of the property or quantity and its value are displayed in italics.
• If the property or quantity is defined at type level, but is different at component level, the name and value at component level are shown in plain text while the type name and value are shown in italics and strikethrough.

The "Tags" field has been added to the configuration of items generated through a rule of measurement contained within measurement criteria. Thus, it is now possible for users to associate the detail lines derived from the rule to a list of references that will allow them to be identified in the bill of quantities. In the "Bill of quantities" tab, it is possible to filter the detail lines according to their tags, along with the items and work sections that contain them. By using this filter, users can generate a partial bill of quantities for the project, e.g. according to the components' layout or construction phase.

When defining a text for a tag, variables from the properties and quantities of the BIM model’s IFC entities can be used in the same way as the composition of the detail line reference.

Thanks to the reading of the spatial structure elements of the BIM model in IFC format detailed in the new feature "View options of the BIM model", it is now possible to use their properties for improving the bill of quantity’s information. The possibility of introducing variables linked to the component's spatial structure element for defining the reference and tags of the detail lines has been implemented within the editing panel of the items generated by means of a rule of measurement.

The format for entering spatial structure element properties or quantities containing components of the selection defined in the rule of measurement is as follows:

${{.parent(Spatial structure element)}->${{Property/Quantity},{Set},{Parameter}}

For example, to obtain the name of the floor where the component is located:

${.parent(IfcBuildingStorey)}->${{Property},{BaseProperties},{Name}}

For easier input of these variables, spatial structure element selection has been added to the "Help" tool that is displayed upon clicking the blue arrow icon located next to the "Detail line" field or in the list of "Labels". Now, an "Entity" field appears with two options: "Component" and "Spatial structure element". If you select the latter, you must indicate which element you are referring to out of the possible options according to the IFC standard:

• Site ("IfcSite")
• Building ("IfcBuilding")
• Storey ("IfcBuildingStorey")
• Space ("IfcSpace")

Text styles have been added to the references of the BIM model cost breakdown structure elements, in the "Quantities of the BIM model" tab, to help identify them.

• Elements containing other elements are marked in bold. For example, spatial structure elements ("IfcSite", "IfcBuilding", "IfcBuildingStorey" and "IfcSpace") in the "Structure" view.
• Elements that correspond to the BIM model’s IFC entities are highlighted in blue. Black coloured elements are those created by the application for organising the components. E.g. groups for typologies and equal IFC entities.