Experience with BIM in operations has shown that, in addition to the architectural model, technical discipline models (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc.) are increasingly being transferred from the construction phase to operations. However, design firms often struggle to create a technically sound overall model to ensure a smooth transition into the CAFM system.
For this reason, eTASK has created a way to import specialized models directly into the CAFM system and assign them to an architectural model. This allows facility objects and technical systems to be transferred from the specialized models as early as the commissioning phase and further processed for maintenance and operational responsibility.
The following section explains step by step how to upload discipline models during commissioning and assign them to an architectural model:
Uploading the specialized model: Upload the individual specialized models via the BIM Explorer and create a new building for each specialized model. You can find instructions here: 📄 Neues Modell in das FM-Portal importieren (ein Gebäude) IC2291
Note: It is necessary to disable the EMA check 📄 eTASK Modellanforderungen (EMA) IC2649 beforehand, as discipline models often do not contain rooms. To do this, go to Control Panel - Portal Options - Portal Management - System Configuration and search for DISABLEDEMACHECKS. Here you can disable the EMA checks. Please coordinate this with your account manager.Assigning a Discipline Model to an Architecture Model: Once a BIM model has been uploaded, you can find it in Model Management: Control Panel - Portfolio (BIM) - BIM Model Management - Models. In the respective form for the model record, you can assign the architecture model to the discipline model in the “Parent Architecture Model” field under the Identification section. Save your changes afterward.
Display of architectural models and discipline models: The overlay is displayed in the BIM Explorer. If one or more discipline models have been assigned to an architectural model, you can select which models should be displayed simultaneously when loading in the BIM Explorer. You can choose whether the architectural model should be loaded together with a heating model, ventilation model, and/or plumbing model, etc., or not.
The following options are also available for loading: Disable
Contour Line Segments - This turns off contour lines on the objects. Contour lines form the surface of the object instead of a single smooth surface. Disabling them speeds up the loading of the models—especially for large models with extensive discipline models.
Load All IFC Types - This directly loads and displays all IFC entities (components) from the architectural model and the discipline models. This eliminates the need to load the IFC entities separately later. However, you should expect a corresponding loading time if all components are to be displayed immediately.
Note: Working with many discipline models simultaneously in the browser requires high performance. It is best to configure your browser to utilize the GPU for this purpose. You can make this change in Windows under Graphics Settings.
Note: We can handle and display discipline models that were drawn in millimeters and need to be automatically scaled to meters to overlay them with the architectural model. It is understandable that the discipline planner works in millimeters and the architect, depending on the situation, in meters. In this case, you do not need to scale the models beforehand.
BIM Viewer Functions and Notes When Working with Specialist Models
📄 Die Bedienelemente im BIM-Explorer IC2470 remain almost the same. However, when working with multiple models in the BIM Viewer, the following points should be noted.
Loading specialized models later: After selecting and loading the architectural model and, for example, a specialized model, you cannot load another specialized model later. To display another specialized model, you must return to the BIM Explorer and select the additional specialized models you wish to display.
