Understanding the Tools

BIM Data Processing - Understanding the Tools

How much can we actually do with BIM? Much more than viewing models, checking clashes, or modifying a few Property values.

Thanks to BIM data processing, we can work with:

• model geometry and objects
• groups and properties
• quantities 
• locations
• relationships 
• coordinate systems
• external data
• object identities
• IFC and data exports

Summary

This post provides an overview of the available Tools, not randomly listed but categorized according to a complete BIM data processing logic.

Therefore, we identify Tools to:

1. Import, Merge, Explore models and model data 

2. Structure and Normalize model data

3. Clean and Optimize model and data

4. Enrich data

5. Validate data 

6. Export model and data

The number of available Tools might be impressive; but the real value is not their number - it is how they work together! One Tool finds the right objects. The next cleans or restructures them. Another adds Properties, quantities, locations, or relationships. Another can derive new objects that did not explicitly exist in the original model.

Tools can become logical steps in a Dataflow, so that our logic can be automated, repeated after model updates, reused across projects, shared with colleagues. Read more about Dataflows here - and look out for an upcoming, similar overview.

Premise: Targets, Rules, and Settings

These Community resources explain how to configure Tools, rules, and targets:

• Introduction to Tools and Dataflow Settings Dialog
• Object Selection Syntax
• Using Regular Expressions
• Using Wildcards, Like Operator
• Save Selected GUIDs to File
• Load Selected GUIDs from File
• Apply Template

1. Tools to Import, Merge, Explore

In Simplebim we can import IFC2X3, IFC4 and IFC4x3 models. In the spirit of true OpenBIM, models can come from any authoring tool supporting IFC - and from any design discipline (architectural, structural, HVAC, MEP, INFRA).

In any case, before processing a model, we need to understand what we received: Which objects are present? Where is the relevant information? How are the models structured? Are there geometry or placement anomalies? How can we reliably identify our targets?

Merging models

• Merge Model - "Deep-merge" models and their data structure. What does it mean?

"Deep merging" BIM models goes far beyond overlaying models for viewing or for clash detection! It merges and harmonizes their actual data structures, including Storeys, systems, Groups, classifications, Properties, appearances, units, and supporting IFC metadata. 

The result is one holistic, processable model that can be enriched like a single model and exported - back to IFC, to data table or Excel.

Coordinates and Placement

• Helmert Transformation
• Move and Rotate
• Move Objects Along Alignments

→ Practical result: An unfamiliar IFC becomes a known starting point for our work and logic. 

(In case we deep-merged models, our model is now ONE model: consistent, ready to be enriched for countless use cases, and/or to be exported as one model or several purpose-specific sub-models).

2. Tools to Structure and Normalize

The information we need may already exist, but not in the structure required for our purpose. Structuring can mean:

• placing information in consistent Properties
• organizing objects into meaningful Groups
• correcting containment
• simplifying assembly structures
• aligning coordinate systems
• preserving object identities across updates

Properties and Groups

• Add or Modify Group
• Add Property
• Copy Property Values
• Group Merge
• Group Trim Name

Containment, Classes, and Assemblies

• Auto-Assign Containment: Building Storeys
• Auto-Assign Containment: Spaces
• Convert Objects
• Assemblies: Simplify
• Assemblies: Remove

→ Practical result: We can achieve a different, consistent data structure across models and projects, no matter how the data of the incoming model was structured. Structuring enables ready-made views of the model and automation in the downstream work.

3. Tools to Clean and Optimize

Cleaning is purpose-oriented. A model prepared for quantity take-off needs different content from one prepared for surveying, Facility Management, logistics, or BI analysis.

Trim the Unnecessary

• Include/Exclude Objects
• Include/Exclude Properties

Find and Remove

• Find Duplicate Objects Based on Geometry
• Delete Empty Containers
• Delete Groups
• Delete Materials, Prototype
• Delete Objects
• Find Far Away Objects 

Object Identities

• Map GUIDs
• Edit GUIDs: Create New GUIDs
• Edit GUIDs: Repair Duplicate and Invalid GUIDs

Optimize and Protect

• Optimize Geometry
• Anonymize BIM Data
• Anonymizer
• Add Text Encoding Info, Prototype

→ Practical result: A lighter, clearer model with only relevant objects and Properties makes data more efficient and reliable for all downstream use cases.

4. Tools to Enrich

The models we receive may not be complete for every downstream purpose, and this is not a mistake! This is normal, because different kinds of expertise are involved in construction! 

With "Enrichment" we can add further expertise we might need, for example for cost estimation, procurement, scheduling, logistics, site management, inspections, maintenance, Facility Management, reporting, and analysis.

Add External Data with Bimsheet

• Bimsheet: Enrich

Examples can be product and supplier information, cost and productivity values, installation and maintenance information, analysis results, and external links or documentation.

Calculate and Aggregate Properties

• Calculate Properties for Objects
• Aggregate Properties for Groups
• Aggregate Properties for Containers
• Calculate or Aggregate Properties for Connected Objects

Examples include calculated costs and working hours, totals and counts, new identifiers, planned dates, status information, and logical Yes/No results.

Calculate Standardized Quantities

• Calculate Quantities: Dimensions
• Calculate Quantities: Volumes
• Calculate Quantities: Surface Areas
• Calculate Quantities: Shadow Quantities
• Calculate Quantities: Space Surfaces
• Calculate Quantities: Openings

The quantities are calculated from object geometry with consistent logic, independently of the original authoring software.

Add Coordinate, Elevation, and Appearance Information

• Add Coordinate Info
• Add Elevation Information
• Set Appearance
• Reset Colors
• Add Appearance Information, Prototype

Create Relationships and Locations

• Find Proximity Objects
• Generate Location Prisms Along Alignment
• Split Objects

These Tools can structure data according to rooms and apartments, construction sections, concrete pours, takt areas, work zones, and road or railway segments.

Derive and Generate Objects

• Overlapping Objects Tool
• Derive 3D Objects Based on Imported Footprints
• Copy Objects

Examples include penetration objects derived from intersections, Location Prisms generated from footprints, copies connected to their source objects, and surfaces or location objects representing previously implicit work.

→ Practical result: We add missing information, relationships, locations, and quantities, that make our BIM data more usable. Enrichment unlocks countless possibilities for more use cases! It amplifies the value we get from the data.

5. Tools to Validate Data

Validation helps us understand whether the data is complete, structured and reliable enough for processing and downstream use. We can perform Validation at any stage of the processing workflow, for example we may need to check whether:

• mandatory objects, Groups, or Properties exist
• required Properties contain values
• values belong to an allowed set
• text follows the required format
• numbers, measures, or dates remain within a valid range

We are talking about BIM data validation, not design checking or design coordination.

Tools

There is not necessarily one dedicated Tool for every validation question. We can:

• Combine Tools and rules intelligently. For example, we can create a rule-based Group that collects: Walls higher than 3 metres; or Spaces without a name; or Objects with an empty required Property; or Values outside an allowed range; and so on: 

→ if the Group contains objects, we have found issues. And because the Group is rule-based, its content updates dynamically when the data changes.

• Apply Template - When used for “Validation”, configure and apply validation rules.

→ Practical result: We know which data is reliable, which information is missing, and which issues require attention. This gives downstream users and automated workflows the transparency they need to work reliably with the processed data.

6. Tools to Export models and data

Processed data should not remain trapped, but be available and usable for downstream work and other BIM applications, CDEs and project platforms, Facility Management systems, Excel, Power BI, databases, and reporting or analysis tools.

• Export IFC - Export complete models or purpose-specific submodels.
• Export Data Table - Create stable CSV structures for reporting, history data, automated updates, and Power BI.
• Export to Excel - Export included objects and Properties for Excel-based workflows.
• Bimsheet: Export 

→ Practical result: Structured, cleaned, enriched, and validated information is ready for downstream use.

Tool modularity enables thousands of workflows!

Tools can be placed in sequence to create a continuous, automated Dataflow. We build and manage this logic in the Dataflow Palette. 

Tool modularity is powerful because there is no single perfect workflow for every professional, discipline, project, phase, or downstream use.

The same model may be the starting point for quantity surveyors, BIM coordinators, planners, site engineers, facility managers, logistics specialists, surveyors, and data analysts - but each professional has a different purpose and will ask different questions to the data.

After understanding when it is most meaningful to use which Tool, you can find all current Tools “alphabetically” listed here. A structured overview of the current ready-made Dataflows will follow soon: don't miss it. 

If you come up with a Tool you'd like to see in Simplebim, feel free to suggest it in the Community. 

Thanks, and keep making data work!