Move from 2D CAD drafting to 3D BIM with Archicad to boost productivity by mastering this powerful software
Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook
Key Features
• Explore the Archicad GUI, file format, and tools to get started with residential projects
• Use out-of-the-box documentation tools combined with a powerful publishing workflow
• Translate conceptual designs into compelling imagery using various visualization methods
Book Description
A BIM Professional's Guide to Learning Archicad is a comprehensive introduction to all that Archicad has to offer for creating 3D models, 2D document extracts, and related outputs. This book is not a click-by-click series of recipes, but rather focuses on helping you understand why and how Archicad works by providing realistic examples and expert tips.
The book gradually introduces you to Archicad tools using ample examples. It then helps you master its complexity through clear modules, allowing you to start your first project quickly, gain useful skills in subsequent projects, and keep using the book as a source for insights into the software. You'll start with the basic modeling of construction elements and then move on to adding roofs, stairs, and objects to the project. Next, you'll dive into basic drafting and 2D views for creating 2D output, and grasp how to use attributes and more advanced modeling tools for designing curtain walls and sites. The concluding chapters will show you how to extract and visualize your data and automate the publishing of your extracts and 2D documents into a variety of output formats.
By the end of this book, you'll have gained a solid understanding of Archicad, how to implement it efficiently in your architectural projects, and how BIM can improve your overall design workflow.
What you will learn
• Create an architectural model from scratch using Archicad as BIM software
• Leverage a wide variety of tools and views to fully develop a project
• Achieve efficient project organization and modeling for professional results with increased productivity
• Fully document a project, including various 2D and 3D documents and construction details
• Professionalize your BIM workflow with advanced insight and the use of expert tips and tricks
• Unlock the geometric and non-geometric information in your models by adding properties and creating schedules to prepare for a bill of quantities
Who this book is for
This book is for design engineers, architectural designers, residential designers, BIM professionals, and anyone working in construction, manufacturing, or similar fields. Whether you're an absolute beginner or a professional looking to upgrade your engineering design and urban planning skills, you'll find this book useful. Although no prior knowledge of Archicad is necessary, knowledge of construction (architectural design) and a basic understanding of 2D CAD drafting is recommended. The book is based on the international version of the software and uses metric units.
Author(s): Stefan Boeykens, Ruben Van de Walle
Edition: 1
Publisher: Packt Publishing
Year: 2023
Language: English
Commentary: Publisher's PDF
Pages: 612
City: Birmingham, UK
Tags: Design; Architecture; Building Information Modeling; Archicad
Cover
Title Page
Copyright and Credits
Dedications
Foreword
Contributors
Table of Contents
Preface
Part 1: Getting Started with Archicad – Project Setup and Essential Modeling Tools for Your First Residential Project
Chapter 1: What Is Archicad and How Can You Learn It?
Introducing BIM and Archicad
About Graphisoft and Archicad – a short history
Installing Archicad
Platform requirements
Older versions of the software
Licensing
License types
Migrating between license types
Localized versions
Requirements for this book
The approach in this book
What to expect as a reader
Version and units in this book
Summary
Further reading
Chapter 2: Getting Started with Archicad
Technical requirements
Understanding the Archicad installation
What is installed?
Other languages or versions
Understanding the Archicad UI
Getting to know the main UI components
Toolbars and palettes
Understanding work environments
Understanding Archicad onscreen feedback
Setting up your first Archicad project
Project Info
Building stories
Origin and display grid
Saving a project file
Summary
Chapter 3: Building a Basic Residential Model: Modeling the Construction Elements
Technical requirements
Navigating in 2D/3D and learning the basics of modeling
Opening your first model
Navigating in 2D
Configuring mouse behavior
Navigating in 3D
Modeling tools in general
Core construction – walls and slabs
Modeling the basic shape of the ground floor
Grouping
Looking at the many settings of a wall
Adding a slab
Trace & Reference
Using the Pet Palette during modeling
Materials and composite structures (basics)
Using drawing aids in Archicad
Using Snap Guides and Guide References
Using Guide Lines
Learning to use numeric input
Adding interior walls
Summary
Chapter 4: Building a Basic Residential Model: SPACEAdding Roofs, Zones, Beams, and Columns
Technical requirements
Flat and sloped roof elements
Modeling a simple flat roof using a Slab
Modeling single-plane roofs
Getting to know Multi-plane Roofs
Tidying up the model
Changing wall composites for better connections
Adjusting Wall heights to Slabs and trimming with Roofs
Defining rooms and spaces using the Zone tool
Adding zones using the Inner Edge method
Zone Labels
Adding boundaries
Zone updates
Beams and columns – adding some structure
Adding columns to support the overhang
Adding beams from walls to columns
Summary
Chapter 5: Building a Basic Residential Model: Modeling Openings, Stairs, and Objects
Adding Doors and Windows to the project
Knowing the key BIM entities and their relationships
Placing Doors into the interior and exterior Walls
Placing basic Windows in Walls
Introducing the Object Library
The library concept
Adding some objects
Basic Stairs between the building stories
Fitting the straight Stair into our design
Custom shapes with the Morph tool
Basic Morph shapes
Using the pet palette to edit the shape
Using Boolean operations to combine Morphs
Turning any object into a Morph
Summary
Chapter 6: Basic Drafting and 2D Views
Using basic Section, Elevation, and Independent Viewpoints
Creating a Section view
Creating Elevations
Using Independent Worksheets
Getting started with drafting tools
Drawing and annotating with 2D linework
Learning how to use line types as an introduction to Archicad attributes
Using Fills for 2D drafting and annotating
Using Pens and Pen Sets to change the weight and color of lines and fill patterns
Other tools and objects for drafting
Summary
Chapter 7: Adding Annotations and Creating 2D Output
Understanding annotation
Adding and adjusting text annotations
Understanding dimensions
Exploring labels
Linking reference drawings
Example of using Attach Xref
Basic export and printing (output)
Direct printing from a drawing window
Printing or exporting to PDF
Saving as DWG
Using a layout
Summary
Part 2: Becoming an Archicad Professional – Learn About Archicad Tools and Settings to Create and Publish Any Type of Project in Full Detail
Chapter 8: Using Advanced Modeling Tools for Developed Design
Advanced Composite Walls, Wlabs, and Roofs
Knowing the different parts of a Composite definition and the attributes involved
Creating a new Composite
Archicad priorities
Layer Intersection Priority
Building Materials and priority-based connections
Junction order for Walls and Beams
Element Priority
Complex roof geometry and skylights
Sloped flat roofs using the Mesh tool
Complex Multi-plane Roofs (gables, overhang...)
Creating complex Single-plane roofs
Inserting a skylight
A closer look at trimming walls to roofs
Merging elements with roofs, shells, or morphs
Using Solid Element Operations (SEOs)
Choosing between an SEO or Morph Boolean
Summary
Chapter 9: Using Advanced System Tools for Designing Stairs and Curtain Walls
Complete stair systems with railings
Editing the stair settings
Graphically editing the stair
A multi-story display of stairs
Adding railings
The basics of modeling curtain walls
Creating a standalone curtain wall
Creative uses of the Curtain Wall
Summary
Chapter 10: Using the Mesh tool and Wizards to Finalize a Design
Creating a site model using the Mesh tool
Basic mesh
Creating a full terrain model
Refining the display of the mesh
TrussMaker and RoofMaker
TrussMaker
RoofMaker
Summary
Chapter 11: Using Advanced Attributes and the Renovation Tool for a Wider Design Range
Creating Parametric Complex Profiles and using Geometry Modifiers
Selecting a predefined profile
Editing a profile
Using Modifiers
Applying profiles to improve models
Element Properties for renovation, function, and position
Renovation status
Structural Function (load-bearing)
Position (exterior/interior)
Summary
Chapter 12: 2D Construction Drawings and 3D Views with Linked Annotations
Annotating 2D documents and creating attributes
Adjusting attributes
Organizing attributes
Configuring sections and elevations in detail
Fully configuring a section
What about Elevations?
Combining elevations and sections with other views using Trace and Reference
The Interior Elevation tool
Other ways to display a 3D model
Showing specific parts of a project using the Marquee tool
A 3D Cutaway using Cutting Planes
Toggle element categories in the 3D window
Construction detailing in Archicad
Creating a detail viewpoint
Editing and adding 2D elements in a detail drawing
Evolving toward an efficient detailing workflow
Using 2D drafting for construction details
Summary
Chapter 13: Data Extraction and Visualization
Using Schedules for information extraction
Using Interactive Schedules in Archicad
Creating a Schedule
Setting up a schedule
Formatting a Schedule
Exporting a Schedule as a spreadsheet
Graphic Overrides
GO combinations
Exploring the rules
Summary
Chapetr 14: Automating the Publication of BIM Extracts
Understanding Quick Options/view filters
Layer Combination
Scale
Structure Display
Pen Set
Model View Options
Graphic Override (GO)
Renovation Filter
Dimensioning
The Navigator and the Project Map
Organizing the Project Map
Creating views and organizing them in the View Map
Organizing the View Map
Layouts and the Layout Book
Drawings, sheets, and masters
Working with Layouts and Master Layouts
Publisher
The publishing workflow
Developing a Publisher Set
From Navigator to Organizer
Creating a new Publisher Set
Publishing all your output in one go
Summary
Chapter 15: The Various Visualization Techniques in Archicad
Creating compelling images with Archicad
Getting creative with 2D and 3D Views – preparation
Adding texture to Floor Plans and Elevations using Graphic Overrides
Taking it a step further with 3D documents
Creating rendered images
Surfaces for rendering
Lighting
PhotoRendering Settings
Conceptual images with sketch rendering
Animation in Archicad
Using external imaging software
Model conversion
Preparing an Archicad View
Third-party software examples for rendering
Real-time visualization
BIMx, an interactive Graphisoft “app”
External game engine applications
Summary
Appendix: Some Final Tips and Tricks
What to do when you get stuck
Remember the on-screen feedback
Going through all the steps again
Getting help
What we didn’t cover
Summary
Index
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