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SOFTWARE focus The integration imperative Graphisoft's vision according to Huw Roberts is "A world of buildings that make people's lives better, created together by digitalised multidisciplinary teams". The company has now taken that process a step further with the integration of DDScad's MEP solution Graphisoft held a global online conference in July to celebrate its 40th anniversary. As CEO Huw Roberts explained, that represents 40 years serving the construction industry, and it comes with some other impressive landmarks. These include being the first company to develop BIM practices and model servers within its architectural design solution, Archicad, as well as being the first company to propose real-time integrated design. In that time, he added, Archicad will have been the principal tool to design and build millions of buildings, from the tallest skyscrapers to the humblest abode. Now one of the Nemetschek group of companies, Graphisoft is still showing strong growth and high customer satisfaction, and remains committed to its belief in OPEN BIM. This gives customers the ability to share data and models with other mainstream CAD applications, rather than tying them down to one mainstream application. The main theme of the celebration was integration, and along with launching Archicad, 26 enhancements to BIMcloud and BIMx, and the development of an integrated level of service featuring Graphisoft Forward, Learn and Graphisoft Community, the Graphisoft vision for the future also focused on embedding DDScad within its Archicad architectural software. DDScad is an Internationally renowned software company that has developed design solutions for MEP - Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing - developers, and timber-frame buildings. Brought within the Graphisoft portfolio in January this year, the software has recently been upgraded to DDScad 17. Archicad already comes with many features that enable architects to work with structural engineers, and the ability to include MEP components in designs, but the integration of a complete, standalone MEP solution highlights the direction Graphisoft is travelling towards the development of a total integrated solution. DDSCAD 17 DDScad is the OPEN BIM solution for the design of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems. Acquired by Nemetschek in 2013, DDScad includes integrated calculations, clash detection, and automated functions that can instantly increase productivity with a modular structure tailored to the needs of individual users. As a complete solution in its own right, it can be used to design complete MEP systems, perform MEP calculations, create designs, reports and parts lists and detect and prevent design errors - with built in clash detection and error detection as a matter of course. With most functions automated, it will save MEP designers time and effort. As a standalone and modular solution, DDScad allows user to pay just for the modules, functions and features that they need. Users draft and produce traditional DWG or PDF output, or seamlessly collaborate in an OPEN BIM workflow exchanging models using IFC - all from the same application. DDSCAD 17 ENHANCEMENTS Whether you have come across DDScad before or not, the enhancements to the software and new functions in version 17 highlight the main features of the software. It kicks off with a newly designed Start Page which displays a complete Project Overview, with an Intelligent Search function for finding individual components in each of the modules. Custom templates can be created easily to configure projects according to individual needs. Model views have been enhanced too, enabling users to select objects in 2D layouts and zoom directly into a preferred 3D render mode, displaying them side-byside or saving them along with section views and part models. Importing and exporting data has also been improved and the import IFC file manager dialog redesigned to specify more precisely which IFC model contents are to be imported. Exported PDF files are true-to-scale with layer structure and text. To meet BIM requirements, properties of components can extended and exported as property sets in IFC format. A host of other enhancements have been introduced, including the ability to create symbol text and label types to more properly identify their location and function within the model. With the help of tags, you combine different symbol text modules with each other, for example with building number, floor number, room number, and the name of the component, and within the 'name' field in the properties window users can change the designations of components, as well as 22 July/August 2022
SOFTWAREfocus the description of cables. Changes are also synchronised, enabling adjustments to be carried through into other disciplines. DDSCAD 17 ELECTRICAL In DDScad 17 the System Navigator is further developed, combining the functions of the former project manager and making electrical planning even clearer and easier. The cable calculation, for instance, now uses a new property window, in which all important settings are directly available. You have more options for displaying objects, performing calculations, making reports, and creating labels. You can place LED strips quickly and easily when planning room lighting in the new release. They can be arranged straight or curved like cable ducts, and the beam direction of the LEDs can be easily changed. You can also generate a parts list. In line with the 'labelling' and 'naming' functions, users can create component symbols for single-line and multi-line circuit diagrams, and the System Navigator facilitates the creation of a detailed cable list. A full cable calculation table, based on IEC 60364 standards can be downloaded in HTML or tabular format. The layout of cable systems benefits from the ability to adjust radius bends in flexible pipes and assign conduits to cable routes. Instead of clash detection issues, DDS17 applies plausibility checks to cable layouts, checking dimensions, invalid distances, and the continuity of cable connections. DDSCAD 17 MECHANICAL & PLUMBING The System Navigator has now been integrated within the Mechanical & Plumbing module, providing better uniformity with the properties field and supplementing the previous calculation dialogues. This allows users to calculate heat load quickly and more accurately, especially when calculating the heat load for unheated rooms. This is important for underfloor heating, where the temperature below a heating circuit can be adjusted flexibly in complex adjacent situations, influencing volume flow calculations. Visualisation filters are particularly useful, allowing rendered models for your sanitary, heating, air conditioning and ventilation planning. Additional states of the systems can also now be visualised. Groups of components can be created using the software's multi-edit function, allowing users to replace several objects at the same time - such as radiators, air diffusers and valves on a circuit - although parts of a system or line can be locked, preventing them being unintentionally changed during a multi-edit process. The Mechanical & Plumbing sector also takes advantage of the new labelling function, allowing users to decide which information is to be displayed on each component. WOODEN FRAMED BUILDINGS Because of its Scandinavian roots (the company was founded in Norway) DDScad Architect & Construction has been developed to provide a solution for the design of timber frame buildings incorporating real-time BIM project information to produce timber house production data automatically, based on integrated component information and taking international standards and regulations into account. The application is designed for architects, building contractors and producers/marketers of prefabricated houses. One module (Architect) assists with outlines, design criteria, general and detailed planning as well as automatic quantity billing. The Construction element of the software takes care of the technical aspects of timber frame buildings. Using the intelligent 3D building model the software produces all production drawings in 2D and 3D, including quantities and cutting lists and a complete bill of materials. This information can also be used for production lines, purchasing and logistics. DDSCAD VIEWER Now that DDScad is part of Graphisoft, it can take advantage of the company's OPEN BIM solutions to view, analyse, merge, and discuss BIM models with the free OPEN BIM tool DDScad Viewer. It also allows users to exchange data independently of file format even if they don't own BIM software. THE INTEGRATION MINDSET Whilst advancing the integration dialogue, it must be remembered that the expertise of structural engineers and MEP specialists is embedded within the applications that they have become adept in. Persuading them to move towards a more integrated construction approach which includes their capabilities within an overall design and construction process could be considered a hard sell. The benefits of an OPEN BIM solution such as Graphisoft's suite of products - which essentially means you don't have to continually shift data between a couple of different applications - could persuade such experts to graduate to a more open and collaborative design environment. www.graphisoft.com July/August 2022 23
Page 1 and 2: Construction Computing WWW.CONSTRUC
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS JULY/AUGUST 2022 CONTENTS
Page 5 and 6: DESIGN WITHOUT LIMITS The best-in-
Page 7 and 8: VISIBILITY CONTROL ACCURACY CONSTRU
Page 10 and 11: INDUSTRYfocus Expanding horizons Da
Page 12 and 13: AWARDS Sponsored by: The Constructi
Page 14 and 15: TE3CHNOLOGYfocus Visualising carbon
Page 16 and 17: CASEstudy Curbs without limits The
Page 18 and 19: TECHNOLOGYfocus PIM to AIM David Ch
Page 20 and 21: CASEstudy Studio Bark Studio Bark i
Page 24 and 25: TECHNOLOGYfocus Extending reality B
Page 26 and 27: INDUSTRYfocus UK Tekla Awards 2022
Page 28 and 29: TECHNOLOGYfocus ASICs in the city R
Page 30 and 31: TECHNOLOGYfocus Get Smart Matthew M
Page 32 and 33: YOUR GUIDE TO 5 7 1 2 3 21 22 23 24
Page 34 and 35: CASEstudy Drones over HS2 Balfour B
Page 36: MODEL CHECKING FOR QUALITY. Use Sol

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