004 - Simple Way to Clean and Enrich Model for Cost Estimating

This is a quick and easy dataflow to enrich any IFC model much more suitable for quantity take-off. It requires only three dataflow steps and almost no configuration.

No more duplicate quantities: Exclude Duplicate Objects finds all geometrical duplicates and moves them to the Excluded window.

From random quantities to standardized quantities: Add Basic Quantities calculates geometry-based quantities for all objects — always in a consistent way. Add your own notes and useful information to objects — Add or Modify Text Property creates user-defined properties for you, as many as you need.

Why This Matters

If you’ve worked with raw BIM models for cost estimating, especially in the early phase of a project, you’ve probably noticed that the models are often not suitable for quick quantity take-off. Objects may lack dimensions or quantities altogether. In other cases, there may be a wide range of object-class-specific quantity properties, making it difficult to identify which ones to use. And using a standard quantity list across all projects is nearly impossible.

On top of that, models may contain duplicate objects stacked on top of each other, which directly affects calculated quantities. Duplicates are difficult to detect visually — but they can significantly distort cost estimates if not properly excluded.

Without Simplebim - The Traditional Way

Traditionally, quantities have been calculated manually from 2D drawings. This method gives estimators full control over the end result. However, besides being slow, manual calculations are rarely transparent — no one else knows how the quantities were derived. This makes it difficult to reuse the results downstream, often leading to the same quantities being calculated multiple times during the project.

On the other hand, relying on original BIM quantities raises questions about reliability. It’s often unclear how the figures have been calculated or which property values should be used for each object. The “correct” value may exist in different properties depending on the modeling tool, version, modeler, or object class.

There is also a real limitation in terms of scalability: without a standardized calculation process and consistent data structure across all objects in models from all disciplines, the calculation process simply cannot be scaled.

In short, this way of working is too labor-intensive and error-prone to produce reliable data in a scalable way.

Working with original quantities can be frustrating (properties on the left). Selecting multiple object classes quickly reveals the problem: quantities with the same property name may appear multiple times in an IFC model. You need to know which one to use for each object — and the correct one may vary from project to project. Resolving this takes time and requires solid BIM skills. The enriched standard property set structure (properties on the right) is consistent across all objects. The same quantity properties are always in the same place, with the same names. This makes it possible to use standard take-off reports.

With Simplebim Dataflows - The Smart Way

In Simplebim, you can build your custom dataflow from a sequence of data processing steps. Or you can use ready-made dataflows wrapped in an easy-to-use configuration UI for your convenience.

Here is how you can get the job done with Simplebim: quickly, reliably, and automatically. If you have Simplebim open, let’s walk through the dataflow and results together.

1. Select the Dataflows & Configure the Parameters
2. Run the Dataflow

3. Check & Use the Results

    

1. Select the Dataflows & Configure the Parameters

The dataflow for this use case is extremely simple to configure and use. In the Dataflow Palette, click Add Step, select the required dataflows, and add them. For this use case, three steps are needed: Exclude Duplicate Objects, Add Basic Quantities, and Add or Modify Text Property. (Documentation for each dataflow is available via the link.)

The first step, Exclude Duplicate Objects, automatically scans the selected target objects, identifies geometrically duplicate objects, and moves them to the Excluded window. The only required configuration is selecting the target objects. If the target is not changed, the entire model will be checked.

The second step, Add Basic Quantities, automatically calculates geometry-based dimensions and quantities for all objects in the model (excluding those in the Excluded window). Property names and structure remain consistent across all object classes and disciplines, while the selection of quantity properties is based on object class. All quantity properties are added to the Simplebim property set.

The third step, Add or Modify Text Property, adds a new property to the selected target objects. You can define both the property set name and the property name. You can also assign a default value to the target objects. In this case, I create a property set called My Properties_Cost Estimating and a property called My Own Property with the default value Not calculated. This property can be used, for example, to mark objects that have already been included in the calculations or to store other relevant information in the IFC objects.

2. Run the Dataflow

When your setup is ready, just click Run Dataflow.

3. Check & Use the Results

Now you are ready to check and use the results. Your model now contains:

• Geometry-based dimensions and quantities for all objects in a standard data structure

• Duplicate objects grouped and moved to the Excluded window

• Your custom property added to all target objects with a default value

Scale your work: With a standardized quantity and property structure, you can create one combined take-off list for all objects — and reuse it in every project.

How You Can Use the Results

Select objects and use your custom property for notes such as “Calculated”, “Done”, etc.

Group, report, and calculate quantities:

• By your custom property

• By building storey

• By object class

Use your custom property in 3D visualizations to show:

• Work progress

• Your method of organizing quantities

Export the results to IFC and use the enriched data in any IFC-supporting application downstream.

Export the results to Excel or data tables and use the data in any visualization solution, such as Power BI.

The Power of Simplebim®: Automated BIM Data Processing

This is one high-impact use case of how you can turn raw BIM models and data into usable and scalable information.

Is it valuable for your work? We look forward to your comments, thank you!