Trimble Business Center

I'm totally new to TBC and looking for information on interoperability between Tekla Structures and TBC.  I'd like to use IFCs (or other means) of our foundation created in Tekla Structures and import into TBC to get surfaces for site work.  I've seen information about Explode IFC Shell but not sure how that fits in with TBC.  Is this possible and any information on where to start would be appreciated.

Regards

Mike

Mike,

If you're using Trimble Access 2020.10 you could directly import the IFC into Access and stake the surface from that,

I've not done it yet in anger but have used the emulator to trial it,

Cheers

John

John,

Thanks for the info.  Currently we not using Trimble Access 2020.10.  We're wanting to use the surfaces in TBC to calculate how much earth needs to be moved.  Will Trimble Access help with that?

Regards Mike.

Hej Michael, you will need to Explode IFC (probably "Normal up"). Use the newly created layer where you exploded the lines and use Create surface and voila you will have a Surface from which you can calculate Earthworks.

In Access IFC is supported and and everything can be set out from that IFC (we use it for bridge setting out), either lines, points or the surface face.

Hi Filip, I'm not seeing where the Explode IFC command is in TBC.  I see CAD>Explode but that doesn't seem to do anything. 

It should be under Macros (you need to have as a minimum Survey Advanced license). If you have the license download from Rockpile Solutions program TML Status (some Macros are from Trimble and some are from Rockpile and other vendors that need to be bought extra). After you have downloaded the program and installed all the Macros under Data Prep or just under Macros (if you are using default bar from Trimble) you will find the command. Hope you manage.

Michael

IFC solids and DWG / DGN Solids get imported into TBC as IFC Shell objects. If you have the TML Status command installed, make sure that you download and install all updates to all of the extension command library that is available.

The Explode IFC Shell command  explodes the solids into 3D linework. If for example the IFC Shell represents a 3D Pavement surface - it will have a thickness, a Top, a Bottom and likely Vertical Sides. The faces of an IFC Shell object all have a defined "Normal" (a line perpendicular to the face that defines the "outside face" or an "Inside face" (like the inside of a pipe) etc. In the explode process you can elect to explode all faces or you can Select Normal Up or Normal Down etc. and this typically equates to the Top side and the bottom side of a surface layer like pavement etc. 

If the IFC is defined correctly (which some have the Up and Down wrong (even in a single file from some vendors) then you may have to do Normal Up first and then Normal Down second if the first approach doesn't work.

This creates a set of 3D linework of all of the faces in the solids that were exploded. You can explode different parts onto different layers in TBC to separate the Tops from the Bottoms etc. That linework can be turned into TBC Surface Models using the Create Surface command. That surface can be used for volumes as needed.

If you need to find the breaklines in the surface model (so you can apply subgrade adjustments etc. then you can use the Explode Surface command to find breaklines in the model that you just created - this will generate breaklines that meet your "Break Angle" criteria defined in the Explode Surface Command

If you are working on a linear project or linear data set where you have a lot of features running near parallel or sections running near perpendicular to a line / alignment then you can use the Filter Line Vertices command to select triangle sides from an exploded surface or IFC Shell object that follow linear features - this is a handy tool when working on Road, Rail or Pipeline type projects.

All of the above commands are documented and video documented - when running the command Press F1 to get to the help pages for the extension commands.

If you need help with any of this please email me at alan.sharp@rockpilesolutions.com and send me your phone number and I will happily connect with you to show what is possible.

Alan