Multiple IfcBuildings in one project

[sjors.rumping]

Hi all,

I received a Revit model from a client. It is a trainstation with part of the tracks in it as well. They want to have this exported to IFC, but both the building itself and the traintracks in different IfcBuildings in the IFC file. I couldn't find how to do this..

I read something about creating seperate files, then linking them again, but that didn't really work yet. Would be easiest of course to keep all in one file, but if that's not possible, other ways are fine too. Happy to hear your thoughts. 

Thanks in advance,

Sjors

[RDAOU]

@sjors.rumping 

When exporting to IFC, you can export only elements which are visible in the view...ie: Create 2x 3D views

1. First view with only the tracks (Isolate them)
2. Second view hide the tracks and leave everything else
3. When you export each view to IFC make sure in IFC export options you check the box shown below

1.  

[sjors.rumping]

Hi and thanks for the quick reply. I knew about this method, but it would still create two seperate IFC files right? Shouldn't it be possible to export multiple IfcBuildings on one IfcSite? That would make sense right, as there are often multiple buildings on just one site.. 

Would love to hear more ideas 🙂

[RDAOU]

@sjors.rumping 

ONLY IF THEY ARE LINKED MODELS...ie: they need to be each building in a separate model and all linked into a host model...

From what you described....instead of spending the time splitting your model into separate revit model >>> linking those back into a host model them export!!! simply isolate what you need to export and export what is visible in view!! 

[sjors.rumping]

Ok, so, it is possible if I would have seperate models and then link them together? I'm not sure if I would want to do this, but I surely want to try if it works in principle. 

I tried it myself already without success. If I link the models, they are not exported to IFC. So I tried to bind them, then they were exported but again I didn't have two IfcBuildings..

How would I go about here?

[RDAOU]

@sjors.rumping 

If they are linked and you modify the IFC setup to export links...it should work. Make sure to check the following option ...

However, from your nomenclature, ifcSITE and ifcBuilding I am kinda wondering, do they want separate IFC models or are they referring to the IFC model Hierarchy? because that latter would not mean separate IFC models.  

[sjors.rumping]

Yes.. But then still they are two seperate models right? I want to find a way to have ONE ifc file, with ONE IfcSite, and in there TWO IfcBuildings. I just tried your method but it creates three IFC files with all just one IfcBuilding. Would that be possible you think?

[RDAOU]

@sjors.rumping 

I am kinda lost on what you want to do:

1. Multiple IFC Models - What the topic of your post implies...
   • 1st IFC model for the site and site related elements
   • 2nd IFC model For the Building(s) elements only
2. Single IFC model with a redefined IFC Structure Hierarchy / IFC Class names - ie: reclassifying certain elements to ifcBuilding and ifcSite 

Note: the above structure applies to any IFC model (Single or Multiple) depending on how you define the IFC Class names of the model elements' category/subcategory 

[sjors.rumping]

 Hi again,

sorry if it got confusing. It's a bit difficult to get across.

What I want is just 1 IFC file but with 2 IfcBuildings in it. That's it actually. But I can't seem to do it from Revit directly. I hope attached image makes sense in that case. How to get that structure directly from Revit - if even possible. 

Thanks again

[joose_kankareCAJP5]

Have you found answer to this yet?

[EC_GPE]

I'm looking for that too. Anybody have an answer ?

[kiddo_95]

I was thinking about this possibility as well. Any progress in this regard? Or this is not possible at all?

[GaryOrrMBI]

This isn't possible with Revit at this time that I'm aware of.

Revit doesn't do anything more than import and export IFC files, and it does that poorly sometimes.

If you want to create a composite Site from multiple IFC buildings (or other IFC parts) then you will need an IFC editor.

There are a couple out there but I can't speak to quality and/or suitability for any of them.

-G