Creating and editing BIM spaces

Commands

BIMSPACE, BIMUPDATESPACE, BIMIFY

About

You can create BIM Spaces from enclosed spaces. When the wall elements enclose a space in your model, you can use the BimSpace tool to define a BIM Space. These spaces are solids so they can be easily manipulated. The 3D space geometries added to the current model are associated with space tags. The space tag is a block that contains a polyline and attributes. The default attributes of the space tag include a space Name and a space Number. The values of each attribute can be changed using the Properties panel.




For more information about this command, visit the Command Reference article BIMSPACE command.

Defining a BIM space

  1. Select the Space tool under Home > Classify > Space or type BIMSPACE in the Command line.

    You are prompted:Pick a point inside the space or [Edit];

  2. To define a BIM Space, pick a point inside the space area in your BIM model.
  3. Move the cursor inside the space area to pick a point, the Dynamic UCS enables you to define the bottom plane of the space. A green checkmark will appear next to the cursor to indicate a possible location. A red cross will appear if the plane isn’t available.
  4. In this plane, an area enclosed by wall elements or any space bounding entities is found and a space tag is placed in the center of the space.
    Note: Space bounding entities are 3D solids or linear 2D entities, which are classified as a BIM entity and having Space bounding property set to On. If the Centerline property of a space bounding solid is set to On, the center of the solid is used as the space boundary.

    Space bounding entities can be walls, curtain walls, slabs, columns, but also hatches and polylines can be counted as space bounding entities.



  5. Edit the properties of the BIM Space in the Properties panel.

    Change the Representation property from Solid to Footprint for a less notable visualization.

    Note: Editing the Building and Storyproperties of the BIM Space overrides the corresponding properties of the elements that are contained in that space (that is have that BIM Space set as their Space property).

Procedure: creating BIM spaces from virtual boundaries

There are cases in which a virtual boundary is needed. For example, separate parking spaces, large auditorium spaces for energy analytics, etc.

  1. Divide the Space with linear entities. This can be hatches or lines.


  2. Select the dividing entities (the red line).
  3. Classify them as a space bounding entity: Home > Classify > Wall.

    Or in the Quad under BIM.

  4. Type BIMSPACE in the Command line and pick a point inside the space.


    Note: If the line doesn't divide the space, go to the Properties panel and then to BIM. Check if Space bounding property is turned On.

Creating BIM spaces automatically

BIMIFY and BIMQUICKBUILDING create BIM Spaces and automatically assign information to them (e.g., the story and building of the space (see BIMSPATIALLOCATIONS). The commands will search for space bounding entities and create spaces wherever possible.

These spaces act like manually made spaces and can be edited according to your own needs.