How to extract data about BIM object using object ID in params of api endpoint?

[Anonymous]

If this question makes no sense, I apologize. I could really use some help, I am a software developer that recently found himself working for a company trying to build software to be used in a precast concrete manufacturing plant (Ideally).

Anyway, part of what the software needs to do is find data about the artifact being cast, likely through interaction with a BIM (something I know very little about). I want to do the following:

*Load a BIM file to a currently existing web application that uses RESTful API endpoints to allow for JSON data to be extracted by a request from our system.

*Use an objectId as a parameter in the API request to pull out specific data that refers to the artifact that is being constructed(dimensions, materials specifications, etc.,)

This is the bare minimum of what this request needs to accomplish. I am scrambling to understand everything I can about BIM right now and thought this community might be able to help. Please help!

Thanks,

Jake

[matthew_taylor]

Hi Jake,

For Revit stuff and interoperability, these are the go-to resources:

http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/ - http://thebuildingcoder.typepad.com/blog/about-the-author.html#5

http://the3dwebcoder.typepad.com/

And of course you should look here: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=16777469

The Forge platform looks like your entry point.

Good luck.

-Matt

[Anonymous]

Hi Jacob,

Can you tell us a bit more about what you're trying to accomplish? 

1. is the BIM file a Revit file that you're trying to read from?

2. Is the piece to be cast a Revit assembly? or how is it identified in the model?

3. How is the model getting to the cloud? are you exporting it from Revit, or is it coming to you as a .RVT file from a consultant?

4. What kind of information are you trying to get from the model? 

5. what will the information be used for?  Are you trying to drive ERP systems, deliver graphical information, or something else?

Cheers,

-Ken

[Anonymous]

Hey Ken,

Thanks for the reply. I do not have much experience at all with BIM or Revit. There is no file currently, but will be for our product. I'm trying to get a sense of the best way accomplish this piece of what we're trying to do.

* We will be introducing many of our clients to BIM for the first time, so is Revit the industry standard for BIM cloud storage?

What we are trying to accomplish is accessing at least the dimensional design of the object as well as material components to render on our mobile application and update with custom attributes, whether on a currently existing BIM cloud instance or one of our own making. So for testing I need to:

*Find an example BIM that has precast/prefab concrete artifact components

*Store it in the cloud

*Make a request to an API that has access to the BIM data and pull back the above mentioned attributes using a unique Id of that artifact.

*Parse this data to render a virtual representation in our application

*Assign our own unique identifiers for our database that will be used for future requests for the object

If this doesn't make sense, then could you point me in the right direction of resources that will help me flesh out my understanding and our product design?

Best,

Jake

[Anonymous]

Hi Jake!

Sounds like you've got an exciting adventure ahead of you! What you have described is almost exactly the Autodesk Forge platform. https://forge.autodesk.com/ It provides an API for "pushing" a model to the "cloud" where Autodesk will translate that model into a light (though fully accurate) webGL compatible data format which you can access via a "urn". You'll want to get over to the Forge website and start digging in as there is quite a bit there to wrap one's head around. You'll find that there are lots of resources there for helping you get started.

As for whether Revit is the defacto standard for BIM models, I'll bet that's a hotly contested topic though being the Autodesk forum, I'll bet most people here would argue that Revit is the BIM standard.

If you'd like to talk in more detail, please feel free to send me a private message.

Cheers,
-Ken