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Wednesday, 26 September 2007 | Levent OZLER
Allplan BIM 2008 for Architects and Designers
Nemetschek presents Allplan BIM 2008, the leading object-oriented 3D design software for Building Information Modeling (BIM). Architects and designers are free to decide which working method they want to use, without having to switch between different applications. A simple virtual building model increases value for users, while improved interoperability shortens coordination and approval processes. Allplan BIM 2008 also supports interdisciplinary collaboration beyond the confines of the office. For all design partners, this means shorter project cycles and lower costs.
The new version of Allplan allows users the flexibility to adapt the user interface to suit his or her working method, the current type of project or the current project phase: Allplan BIM 2008 offers a complete range of functions from 2D drawing, 3D design, to object-oriented building modeling with quantity and cost determination, the user can work on all of these within a single system. Allplan integrates the advantages of 2D and 3D ideally while offering beginners a product that is easy to learn and use.
Increased Design Quality Through BIM
Nemetschek's developers have focused on the easy creation of virtual building models. These models are the basis for a highly-integrated overall process called Building Information Modeling (BIM). The parametric model provides design partners with comprehensive information about a building such as plans, views, sections, lists, quantities or costs from a central location. Similar to the topological structure of a building with story's and floors, construction projects can be structured on a practice-oriented basis in Allplan BIM 2008 using the new building structure. Sections, views and lists are easily created, avoiding time-consuming, manual creation. Together with the new storey manager, the user can design large projects even entire real estate projects in 3D design.
Stephan Prietzel, an architect in Munich, Germany, and beta testers says: "Because I design nearly all projects completely in 3D, I'm particularly happy about the intelligently designed building structure and the storey manager."
Cost Aware Design with Design2Cost
Efficient Building Information Modeling is not possible if you cannot determine quantities and costs precisely and in compliance with building regulations. Nemetschek has therefore further expanded its TÜV-certified Design2Cost cost planning method in the new version. It provides architects and designers with sound features including a quantity structure for cost calculation and invitations to tender. Geometric or qualitative changes are taken into account immediately and flow into the building model.
Design2Cost is based on an integrated solution consisting of Allplan BIM Architecture, Allplan BCM (Building Cost Management) and Allplan IBD (Intelligent Building Data). Allplan BCM is a further development of the Allright tenders, awards and invoicing software that has been integrated into the Allplan product family to further support the use of BIM.
A wide selection of predefined components were developed to enable users to start their 3D design immediately; such as concrete and masonry construction, industrial unit design and cost calculation of building services. Wizards, based on a clearly arranged palette design that can be selected quickly via tabs, have also been used to make working methods more ergonomic.
Data Transfer Across the Entire Process Chain
The new version also promotes teamwork within an office and beyond using the Workgroup Manger. Within a project, different users can work simultaneously on a project while Workgroup Manager manages the data and regulates the access rights of who is allowed to make changes to a project. Users can define whether a typical office style or hatching is to be used for a specific project or by the entire office. In addition to traditional data exchange formats, Allplan BIM 2008 also allows users to import and export CAD data in the standard PDF format. Together with Adobe, Nemetschek has extended the well-established PDF functionality and integrated the original Adobe PDF libraries with Allplan. 2D designs and 3D models can be created directly with layer structures or re-imported. This brings simple building coordination processes within reach of all participants without technical complications while using secure approval procedures.
Wolfgang Fent from the Architect Office Fent in Aichach, Germany says: "An important advantage of the new version is the ability to export movable 3D models to a PDF file. This means it's easy for me to send draft plans for approval to the building client via e-mail. The client can then view them at home at their leisure."
More efficient data transfer via IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is also possible with Allplan BIM 2008. Design partners can exchange model data via a certified 2x3 IFC interface in a standardized format - this includes architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, design professionals for business services, as well as facility and real estate managers. This does away with the need for multiple entries and improves data quality.
Greater Productivity Through More Intuitive Working Methods
Freehand surfaces and solids can now be created easily using three and four-point canopies. Allplan's performance and ease-of-use have also been considerably improved through the introduction of palettes. These allow changes to be entered in standardized dialog boxes. Function palettes, property palettes and wizard palettes also support intuitive work processes. To support users with more unusual modeling tasks, the Parametric Designer allows them to create and add 3D special building components such as railings or garden fences to the architecture model.
"I can now create railings in a few simple steps using component that I had predefined. This is a great feature that really helps me in my design work," says Simon Kulli from Bohraus Planung & Architecture AG in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Allplan BIM 2008 Sets Standards
Allplan BIM 2008 provides architects and designers with a CAD system for the challenges of tomorrow. Users can design in 3D, create realistic visualisations and also keep a firm grip on costs. It combines the best of 2D, 3D and integrated object-oriented design while offering users a competitive advantage.
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