Import file

InfraBIM and Interoperability: Maintenance plan implementation and BIM communication

Page | 69 By hovering the mouse over a task, it is possible to see if the task is reserved, and

by which user, and which user lastly made changes to the task.

The task can be shared and received (this will be better explained in the section 5.7). Also, it is possible to reserve or release the entire or parts of the workset.

The status icons in the Explorer pane are reporting the status between the workset and the centrally shared Quadri model:

- Grey line: Read only in the workset. The task is not reserved by another user.

- Grey line with a lock: Read only in the workset. The task is reserved by another user.

- Green line: Task reserved by you, and can be edited in this workset

- Blue line with an exclamation mark: Task reserved by you which is changed in your workset, but not shared to the server.

- Green plus: A new task created by you, but not shared to the server

Reserve

With this function it was possible to reserve a task with the aim of update it (edit, delete or do other operations). The selected task and the resulting features are locked for other users, until they are released.

Right click on the task > Click Reserve

Release

After shared the changes of the tasks and when the user “done” working on them, it was possible to release the tasks, in this way others user could reserve them if needed.

Right click on the reserved task > Click Release

These tools allowed working in order and reduced the risk of the collaboration mistakes. If someone wants to reserve a task that it is already reserve by other user, the software sends a message ask him if desire allows this operation.

These actions make the software’s potential, because allow not only to visualize the part of the project added by other users, but also modify it or add elements, by using just one software.

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Figure 5.6- Flow of information for project coordination

5.3.1 Civil 3D Connector

The Civil 3D Connector is an extension on top of Novapoint Base that allows the import of native Civil 3D objects into a Quadri DCM model. Using this toolkit, the Civil3D design data can dynamically get imported into Novapoint Base and reused there for further design or analysis.¹²

Workflorw

When the user opens Novapoint, automatically Autodesk Civil3D opens. The first step was to create a CivilConnector Task in Novapoint Base. At this point was possible named the connection and assigned the appropriated subtask. In this case, the author decided to name the connection “Civil3D Connector 2” and the subtask /10 IMPORT /102 FROM DWG .

Figure 5.7- Civil Connector ribbon

The second step was opened the context-road model in Civil3D and click in the “Novapoint” tab > Import. The program required to indicate the task which

the user decided connect to. The option “Launch conversion rule editor” was marked, in order to could decide the conversion rules for the feature in Novapoint.

12http://resourcecenter.novapoint.com/

InfraBIM and Interoperability: Maintenance plan implementation and BIM communication

Page | 71 The native objects that the author imported were: Alignment, Profile, Corridor

Information (feature lines) and Grading. The next step was going back to Novapoint and edited the conversion rules, were matched the Civil 3D geometry to Quadri DCM FeatureTypes.

Figure 5.8- Conversion Rule Editor

Finally, for a 3D representation of the information imported was necessary in the Novapoint explorer:

Click in the task /10 IMPORT /102 FROM DWG > Right click in Civil3D Connector 2> View in 3D

Figure 5.9- Result of the Civil3D Connector

The fact corridor has been imported as features lines and not as element, is a negative aspect, because there is many information that was lost such as thickness and material, and the final visualization was not very clear. To obtain a better representation of the corridor, it was created a Road between the station 0+0350 and 1+350 using the

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alignment imported. It was possible to define the surface layers thickness and its materials.

5.3.2 Land XML

Another way to import the terrain surface and the alignment was through a LandXML file. Previously, this information was exported from Civil3D into a LandXML format.

To import the file into Novapoint, was necessary to follow the following path:

Insert > Import file

The program required to define the name of the import and the parent task. Then, Input > Select file

When the file was selected, the coordinate information was defined. In this case, it was chosen the option “File CRS is the same as in active Quadri Model”. Then, the follow window was opened, and the information was verified so it was possible to continue.

Figure 5.10- Definition of the Coordinate Reference System

The next step was to select the conversion rule and finish the process.

As a result, the terrain and the alignment were represented. If the user selects some element, for example the alignment all its proprieties can be seen.

Figure 5.11- Alignment properties window

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Page | 73 5.3.3 IFC

The author decided to use IFC 2X3 file to import the bridge model from Tekla Structures. The process followed was the same for the LandXML file, but in this case the conversion rule editor demanded more time because there were many elements to represent. Once the conversion rule for the import was created, it was possible to see the preview of the converted feature.

Figure 5.12- 3D view of the bridge model IFC file