The usage of the openBIM idea in architectural design on the example of Blender and BlenderBIM add-on

2021

2(66)

DOI: 10.37190/arc210210

Michał Malewczyk*

The usage of the openBIM idea in architectural design

on the example of Blender and BlenderBIM add-on

Introduction

Nowadays, the concept of BIM (building information

modeling) is considered as a standard, which combines

information about the geometry of a building and its parts

and also data describing the geometry, e.g., how an object

is used or its physical features. The advantages of using

the BIM concept in design have been described in many

scientic publications [1], [2]. The BIM concept is com-

plemented by the openBIM idea dened by the building-

SMART organization [3], which constitutes a universal

approach to the digital design process, openness of infor-

mation ow between entities constituting its parts, as well

as the building management.

The direct method of implementing the openBIM pos-

tulates is the standard of data recording and exchange

– In dustry Foundation Classes (IFC). This standard is

a clearly dened scheme for recording information about

the building, infrastructure elements, etc., in the assump-

tion that it is to enable the exchange of data, regardless of

what program the participant of the design process uses

[3]. IFC, as an open, ISO certied (ISO 16739-1:2018)

standard provides a set of denitions (so-called classes)

for buildings and building elements. It also provides the

structure of classes notation for unlimited reading by var-

ious computer applications. However, the IFC is only

a standard that does not have to be fully implemented.

The basic problem with the use of the IFC standard results

from the fact that it is not treated as a native way of

recording data created by specic BIM applications.

Thus, the data exchange forces the conversion of the BIM

model to the .ifc format. Therefore, cooperation very

often causes data loss, errors in the geometry of the model

itself and other problems [4]. The IFC standard itself is

also constantly developed and there is no nal version,

which means that it may not support some geometric ele-

ments or objects available in programs such as Archicad

or Revit.

According to the idea of openBIM, designing in this

standard should be open and enable cooperation at the

highest possible level [5]. Therefore, it should be noted

that from the designer’s point of view, not only data

exchange is important, but also the ability to work togeth-

er on the BIM model. Due to the way BIM applications

are organized, the above demand cannot be met. The IFC

standard applies only to data exchange and reading, not

editing. BIM design programs themselves do not provide

the tools to work together on one model in dierent pro-

grams either. The oered solutions are limited to a simpli-

ed conversion without the .ifc format. The Graphisoft

Archicad Connection [6] add-on can serve as an example.

Another important aspect related to cooperation on

a project created in a digital standard, including the BIM

standard, is access to software and materials. One of the

biggest problems with the adoption of BIM design software

is the cost of the software itself and other related addition-

al costs [7]. The above problem very often leads to a situ-

ation where some co-designers work in BIM software, and

some still use software for editing two-dimensional draw-

ings. A possibility of solving the above problem situation

is the use of open-source software [8]. Reducing the cost

of purchasing software to zero would certainly expand the

group of designers working in the BIM workow.

Objectives

Undoubtedly, designing in the BIM standard and im -

plementing the postulates of the openBIM idea cannot

take place without a specic tool – BIM software. The

* ORCID: 0000-0001-9585-1497. Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk

University of Technology, e-mail: michal.malewczyk@pg.edu.pl

100 Michał Malewczyk

architectural design in the BIM standard. However, it

should be noted that the BlenderBIM add-on is an open

project, constantly updated and is not a nished version.

Therefore, some functions may not work as intended, and

the software itself may be buggy.

Methods

In the conducted research, the author focused on the

capabilities of the Blender program and the BlenderBIM

add-on, compared to other BIM software, in the context

of the openBIM idea. The author’s analyses relate to the

following issues:

1) the way and scope of integration of the Blender

environment and the BlenderBIM plugin with the IFC

standard,

2) possibilities of cooperation on the project in the

BIM standard oered by the Blender program and the

BlenderBIM add-on in terms of editing projects saved in

the IFC standard,

3) adapting the software to the various needs of the

designer,

4) access to the software.

Blender version 2.92 for MacOS and BlenderBIM ver-

sion 0.0.201025 were analyzed. To the best of the author’s

knowledge, the Blender program with the BlenderBIM

add-on has not been the subject of any scientic publica-

tion, nor have these programs been analyzed in the con-

text of the openBIM idea.

Integration with the iFC standard

The key element for the analysis of Blender and the

BlenderBIM add-on in terms of the level of integration

with the IFC standard is the method of recording the

information layer of the model. As already mentioned,

Blender and BlenderBIM add-on, unlike other programs

(such as Archicad or Revit), do not use object-oriented

modeling tools. The role of the designer is to create geom-

etry using Blender tools and supplement it with an infor-

mation layer using the BlenderBIM add-on. This plugin

uses only the IFC standard to describe the geometry. The

classication of the modeled elements of the building

geometry is carried out in three stages [13]. First, the

object should be placed in the appropriate folder, thanks

to which it will be assigned to, e.g., a suitable building and

oor. The folder structure, compliant with the IFC stand-

ard, can be generated automatically by the BlenderBIM

add-on, however, it is possible to create and edit it manu-

ally. The next step is to give the object an appropriate IFC

class, thanks to which it will be correctly recognized, e.g.,

as a wall or a window (regardless of the shape of the

geometry itself). The IFC class should be assigned to an

object by selecting a denition from the context menu

presenting all available classes. The nal step is to dene

the object’s attributes, i.e., its specic features (such as

physical features or wall function). The set of attributes

depends on the assigned IFC class. Each of these three

stages is directly based on the denitions of the IFC

standard, thus treating the discussed standard as a way of

modern IT industry provides designers with many possi-

bilities to choose applications with very dierent charac-

teristics [9]. The aim of this article is to present the

Blender program and the BlenderBIM add-on in terms of

the openBIM postulates implementation, in particular the

postulates about the openness of the designing process

and extending the possibilities of cooperation between

co-designers.

Blender and BlenderBIM

Blender is a software developed by the Blender Foun-

dation and made available on an open-source basis (the

GNU GPL license) [10]. It is a very powerful tool that

enables direct and parametric 3D modeling, it also has

tools for digital sculpting. Thanks to the built-in Cycles

and Eevee rendering engines and the Grease Pencil func-

tion, it allows you to create static renderings as well as 2D

and 3D animations. An additional functionality of the

program is the editing of raster graphics and movies,

which extends the program’s usefulness to the post-pro-

duction stage [11]. There is also a very strong software

development community. Thanks to making the program

available on an open-source basis, many add-ons have

been created that enable, for example, lighting analyzes

(Ladybug) or libraries of fully parameterized architectural

elements (Archipack). Despite a very wide range of func-

tions, this program was rather associated with the CGI

(Computer Generated Images), VFX (Visual Eects) and

computer games industries. The literature review did not

reveal any publication devoted to the use of Blender in

architectural design.

In October 2019, the BlenderBIM add-on was released.

It is an open-source extension to Blender, created by vol-

unteers from the ifcOpenShell project [12]. This add-on

allows you to read and write design les in the open IFC

standard, which allows you to design using Blender in the

BIM standard and to cooperate with other designers oper-

ating in the BIM workow (regardless of the program

used). The BlenderBIM extension is completely inte grated

with Blender and adds extra functionality to its interface.

Designing in the BIM standard using Blender and the

BlenderBIM add-on looks dierent in comparison with

other BIM applications. Programs such as Archicad and

Revit represent an object-oriented approach to modeling.

The user has a specialized tool at his disposal, suitable for

modeling specic elements, such as walls, ceilings or

stairs. Blender does not have any such object-oriented

tools as it is rather a traditional 3D modeler. The designer,

using the Blender functions, has to create the geometry of

the given object, and only at the second stage, using the

BlenderBIM add-on, adds the information layer to the

geometry. Such a solution treats geometry and informa-

tion separately, and creating the connection between these

two elements is the role of the designer. This is a very

dierent approach than other programs, however it un -

doubtedly provides great control over the geometry itself

and the information assigned to it.

Therefore, in the author’s opinion, Blender and

Blender BIM can be considered as a full-edged tool for

The openBIM idea in architectural design 101

recording data not only at the stage of data exchange, but

also at the time of their creation [13]. Due to the above,

the IFC standard is treated by BlenderBIM as a native

way of recording information about the model. A very

similar approach is represented by FreeCAD which, like

Blender, is not a BIM software by default, but a standard

CAD modeler. However, a special overlay allows to de -

scribe objects in accordance with the IFC standard. The

im plementation of the IFC standard in the case of solu-

tions presented by Blender and FreeCAD is much simpler

than in the case of other BIM programs. Support for the

IFC standard, despite the short history of BlenderBIM, for

example compared to Autodesk Revit, is much wider

[14]. It does not require creating new tools in the program

or objects, but it comes down to introducing new IFC

classes. At the same time, it should be noted that the dis-

cussed software still requires the project to be converted to

the .ifc format, however, in this case it is only related to the

translation of data into and from the Blender language.

Therefore, the traditional problems related to the conver-

sion to the .ifc format [4] should not occur, although their

occurrence cannot be ruled out.

Possibilities of cooperation

Due to the dierences resulting from a dierent ap -

proach to 3D modeling (and from other peculiarities that

each software has), there is often a need to use several

applications. Unfortunately, the ow of a BIM model be -

tween programs in order to edit it is basically impossible.

BIM applications allow the import of .ifc les, however,

they consider them only as a reference. Blender and

BlenderBIM can solve this problem by treating a le saved

in the .ifc format not as a reference, but as data that can

be imported and edited. For verication, the author mod-

eled a simple, single-layer wall in Autodesk Revit, which

was then exported to an .ifc le and imported to Blender.

After importing the .ifc le, BlenderBIM added access to

the model information. The wall is classied as ifcWall,

which means that the object is a wall according to the IFC

standard. It also had the ifcGlobalId (individual object

identication number), ifcPredenedType (predened

wall type) and ifcMaterial (wall material) attributes.

However, the very geometry of a rectangular, imported

object symbolizing a wall has lost the possibility of para-

metric editing. Changes could only be made directly.

Accordingly, the problem can only be considered partially

resolved. However, it should be noted that this is due not

so much to the limitations of the Blender and the

BlenderBIM add-on, but to the limitations of the IFC

standard itself, as well as the solutions used by manufac-

turers of other BIM software. Objects modeled in BIM

applications become non-parametric already at the time

of conversion to the .ifc format, which is related to two

issues. Firstly, each program has its own source code,

which may additionally use a dierent programming lan-

guage. Thus, dierent applications dene the same objects

dierently, and the layer of classes and attributes of the

IFC standard is somehow overwritten with the object only

at the time of conversion. Secondly, most BIM applica-

tions save geometry as Nurbs, i.e., surfaces described by

mathematical functions. Such a record of spatial informa-

tion allows for a high level of parameterization of the

model and does not introduce any limitations in the event

of a possible re-edition [15]. However, the IFC standard

uses 3D mesh geometry, which is based on a set of points,

edges and planes. In the case of planar elements, the dif-

ference is purely conventional, but in the case of more

complex surfaces or solids not composed of planes, the

dierence is very clear. An example can be a sphere

which, written as Nurbs geometry, will be an ideal mathe-

matical sphere, and as a 3D mesh it will consist of trian-

gles or other planar polygons. A graphical comparison of

a sphere written as Nurbs and 3D mesh is shown in

Figure 1. The IFC standard uses 3D mesh geometry for

optimization reasons, and also because of the objectivity

of interpretation (independent of the computer program

used) of geometry recorded in the Cartesian coordinate

system. However, conversion of Nurbs geometry to 3D

mesh during the conversion of a BIM project to the IFC

standard causes many problems that make it dicult to

edit even using direct tools. If the edition is not a complex

interference, for example is limited to moving an opening

in the wall or changing its dimensions, the problem will

not be encountered. Clear complications appear when

edition means, for example, adding new holes in the wall

or removing previously modeled ones. In such a situation,

the surface should be detriangulated in the rst stage,

which consists in combining triangles with parallel direc-

tions of normal vectors into polygons (ngons). However,

there is a clear limitation in the case of 3D mesh geome-

try, which does not allow for full detriangulation of sur-

faces with cut openings, because 3D mesh geometry can

only consist of triangles (tris), quads and polygons

(ngons). Accordingly, a rectangular face with one rectan-

gular opening cut after conversion from Nurbs geometry

to 3D mesh and subjected to detriangulation will consist

of two polygons. Figure 2 shows the object before and

after detriangulation. The geometry transformed in this

way can be subjected to, for example, a Boolean opera-

tion, which will allow for cutting an additional hole in

a given place. However, the 3D mesh geometry consisting

Fig. 1. Graphical representation of a sphere

modeled as a B-Rep (left side) and a 3D mesh (right side)

(elaborated by M. Malewczyk)

Il. 1. Graficzna reprezentacja kuli zamodelowanej

jako B-Rep (lewa strona) oraz 3D mesh (prawa strona)

(oprac. M. Malewczyk)

102 Michał Malewczyk

only of quads is much easier to edit and also ts well with

the nature of most architectural objects. Composing 3D

mesh geometry from quadrilaterals also allows for rela-

tively safe data exchange between various 3D modeling

programs. Each quadrilateral can be divided into triangles

only in two dierent ways, in the case of polygons there

are many more possibilities. Such a method is therefore

denitely more geometrically unambiguous, and after

possible triangulation and detriangulation in another pro-

gram, the geometry is always saved in accordance with

the will of its creator. An example of a face composed of

quadrilaterals before and after triangulation is shown in

Figure 3. Apart from the editing diculties associated

with the conversion of Nurbs geometry to 3D mesh, there

are also frequent problems resulting from the conversion

itself, which fact has already been described in the litera-

ture [4]. Blender and BlenderBIM provide, therefore, the

possibility of cooperation on a BIM project created in

various programs, but for many reasons it is dicult. First

of all, it is not possible to use the parametric model edit-

ing capabilities oered by other programs, it also requires

modeling only using 3D mesh geometry. An additional

diculty limiting the possibilities of cooperation is the

need to work with .ifc les, which can be further edited

only in niche applications such as FreeCAD or usBIM.

viewer +.

Blender and BlenderBIM

in the context

of the diverse needs of designers

Undoubtedly, each architectural object is a complex

structure of individually designed elements, but also typi-

cal catalog objects. In addition, the design process itself

somehow forces the designers to approach each project

individually. Accordingly, the needs of designers for a BIM

design program are very diverse. These needs relate pri-

marily to the modeling methods. Blender oers several

possibilities in this regard.

The basic modeling method oered by Blender is

direct modeling. The user has a morphing method and

a curve method at his disposal. The morphing method

involves editing basic objects such as a cube, cylinder or

sphere, and this method is not available in programs such

as Archicad because it is characteristic of traditional 3D

modelers, not CAD programs. The functionality of Blender

can be compared in this respect to programs such as

3DSmax, Cinema4D or Maya. At the editing stage, the

user has access to several hundred tools that allow for

extruding, cutting geometry or sculpting with digital brush-

es. It is a great way to model small architectural forms

(e.g., benches, lamps) or details (e.g., drainage gullies, roof

hatches). The curves method is based on creating three-

-d

imensional geometry on the basis of curves moved

along other curves or combining a series of curves into

surfaces (the curves in this case are the sections of the

generated surface). This type of modeling allows you to

quickly create the geometry of balustrades or topographic

surfaces or coatings, and the functionality of the Blender

program is similar in this respect to both CAD and BIM

programs, as well as traditional 3D modelers.

Blender also has a lot of tools that allow you to param-

eterize elements created directly. In this scope, the user

has the option of imposing constraints on the model (for

example, connecting windows with the external wall, in

eect moving one triggers an action on the other) or cre-

ating parameters [16] (global or object-oriented, which

allows for editing, for example, the height of all stories of

the building or specic window width). It is also possible

to add parametric modiers (for example, dynamically

copying repetitive elements such as stairs and columns).

Since the user can also create their own scripts in this area

using the Python – open programming language, the pos-

sibilities of the program in this area are almost unlimited.

It should be noted, however, that creating all parameters

and assigning them to objects is done manually, which

requires a lot of experience with the software.

The application also provides solutions that enable

fully parametric design using graphical programming,

similar to, for example, the Grasshopper add-on imple-

mented in the Rhinoceros modeler or Dynamo built into

the Autodesk Revit program. One such solution is availa-

Fig. 2. Wall converted from a Nurbs to a 3D mesh (left side)

and after detriangulation (right side)

(elaborated by M. Malewczyk)

Il. 2. Ściana po konwersji Nurbs 3D mesh (lewa strona)

oraz po detriangulacji (prawa strona)

(oprac. M. Malewczyk)

Fig. 3. Wall modeled as a 3D mesh, composed of quads,

before (left side) and after triangulation

(elaborated by M. Malewczyk)

Il. 3. Ściana zamodelowana jako 3D mesh, składająca się z czworokątów,

przed triangulacją (lewa strona) oraz po triangulacji (prawa strona)

(oprac. M. Malewczyk)

The openBIM idea in architectural design 103

ciated with the tool. Naturally, the concept of making all

BIM design software open-source is utopian. Moreover, it

should be mentioned that the concepts of open and closed-

source complement and support each other, as Lerner and

Schankerman wrote about (after: [8]).

Conclusions

The idea of openBIM in its basic assumption is to allow

an unlimited ow of information between entities partici-

pating in the design process. The actual form of imple-

menting this idea is the IFC standard, which allows the

BIM model to be read by software from dierent manufac-

turers. However, there are many problems with the actual

use of this standard in practice. The necessity to convert

and the fragmented handling of IFC classes (dierent in

dierent programs) very often causes various types of

errors in the information about the model or in the geom-

etry itself. The current state of development of most BIM

modeling programs also does not allow for the joint edit-

ing of model geometry using dierent applications.

Despite the very advanced method of implementing

the openBIM idea (as evidenced by the award granted to

the team creating BlenderBIM in 2020 by the building-

SMART organization) and the editing capabilities of .ifc

les, Blender and BlenderBIM have many features that

make their use in everyday design dicult. These dicul-

ties are mainly due to the level of development of these

tools and the structure of the BIM modeling software

market. Undoubtedly, the implementation of some of the

solutions that Blender and BlenderBIM oer to the major-

ity of BIM programs would signicantly facilitate co -

operation on the project. The key element seems to be

a so lution treating the IFC standard as a native way of re -

cording information about the BIM model and covering

most

of this standard with support. The development of

support for 3D Mesh geometry also seems to be important

in the process of implementing the openBIM idea.

According to the example of the Blender program (in

which the geometry is initially saved as 3D mesh, not as

Nurbs), there is no need to convert the geometry, which

reduces the risk of errors when writing data and reading

them in other software, and also signicantly increases

the editing possibilities of the geometry in other 3D mod-

eling programs.

Despite the obvious benets of using computer tools in

design, there are also many limitations connected with

them. Modern programs in most cases constitute closed,

heterogeneous environments, which signicantly hinders

cooperation between participants in the design process.

Taking into account nancial factors and design needs

mostly results in a signicant reduction of the pool of

applications to choose from. Extending the idea of open-

BIM is an undoubted chance for designers to work better,

more eciently, but also for the architectural form itself,

potentially less limited by the program that was used to

design it.

Translated by

Michał Malewczyk

ble in Blender from version 2.92 (geometric nodes), and

there is also an add-on called Sverchok, which is open-

access. Despite the lack of publications comparing the

functionality of the solutions oered by Blender with

other available solutions, those oered by Blender are

much shorter developed. Therefore, it can be presumed

that their usefulness is lower.

Because thanks to the BlenderBIM add-on, Blender sup-

ports the .ifc format, the user also has the option of employ-

ing ready-made models available, for example, on the

manufacturers’ websites. The use of these types of objects

does not require additional work related to assigning classes

and attributes to the IFC standard, as these objects already

have such information. In addition, it is also possible to use

ready-made 3D models that are not, by denition, objects

to be used in designing in the BIM standard. However,

information about the IFC class and attributes should be

completed individually for such a model. An additional

advantage of the analyzed software in terms of the use of

ready-made libraries is the possibility of creating refer-

ences to external les, therefore there is no need to nest

models in the main le. This solution signicantly im -

proves the speed of work on the project and allows you to

reduce the size of les.

In addition to the design itself, an important element of

the designer’s work is the preparation of documentation.

The Blender program and the BlenderBIM add-on oer

very limited possibilities in this regard, which are only in

the initial stage of development. The user has only the

tools to export the cross-sections created with at view-

ports and very limited possibilities of drawing descrip-

tion. The analyzed programs do not have tools for creat-

ing lists or intelligent dimensioning tools present in other

leading BIM programs.

Therefore, Blender and BlenderBIM are software with

very dierent functionalities, giving access to many dier-

ent modeling methods not available in other BIM applica-

tions. Nevertheless, due to the initial phase of BlenderBIM

development and other types of Blender starting purpose,

they do not give access to other, highly specialized tools

implemented in other BIM applications. First of all, they

make it almost impossible to create full, professional pro-

ject documentation.

Open-source

A clear extension of the openBIM idea is the open-

source concept, according to which the Blender software

and the BlenderBIM add-on are made available, as well

as the IFC standard itself. In the same way, the previously

mentioned FreeCAD program is made available. Free

access to software in the context of the openBIM idea

allows you to use the discussed applications without any

restrictions in order to analyze ready-made projects writ-

ten in the openBIM standard, but also for the design itself.

In line with the third freedom, as dened by the denition

of free software [17], making a program available on an

open-source basis also enables more advanced participa-

tion of the developers themselves in the process of creat-

ing the tool. Thanks to this, the designer can be more asso-

104 Michał Malewczyk

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https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html [accessed: 7.02.2021].

Abstract

The usage of the openBIM idea in architectural design on the example of Blender and BlenderBIM add-on

The aim of the article is an analysis of the method and advancement of the openBIM idea implementation, clearly dened by the buildingSMART

organization. The conducted analyses are limited to the Blender program and the BlenderBIM add-on and were embedded in the context of the work

of an architect and other IT solutions. The article presents four aspects of the openBIM concept implementation. The rst approach relates to a pro-

cess of data exchanging between dierent computer applications using the open IFC standard. Another two focus on the method of creating and

coding the three-dimensional geometry itself, through the prism of cooperation between various entities and further editing possibilities. The last

aspect deals with the extension of the openBIM concept by combining it with the open-source idea. The author bases his considerations on the

existing, analyzed scientic material, as well as on his own experience in the everyday reality of a designer and a teacher.

Key words: openBIM, Blender, BlenderBIM, IFC, buildingSMART

Streszczenie

Zastosowanie idei openBIM w projektowaniu architektonicznym na przykładzie programu Blender oraz dodatku BlenderBIM

Tematem niniejszego artykułu jest analiza sposobu oraz zaawansowania realizacji idei openBIM, jasno zdeniowanej przez organizację building-

SMART. Przeprowadzone badania ograniczają się do przykładu programu Blender oraz dodatku BlenderBIM i zostały osadzone w kontekście

pracy projektanta, architekta oraz innych rozwiązań informatycznych. W artykule zostały przybliżone cztery aspekty realizacji koncepcji openBIM.

Pierwsze ujęcie odnosi się do sposobu wymiany danych pomiędzy różnymi aplikacjami komputerowymi za pomocą otwartego standardu IFC. Drugi

oraz trzeci wymiar skupia się na sposobie tworzenia oraz zapisu samej geometrii trójwymiarowej, przez pryzmat współpracy różnych podmiotów

i dalszych możliwości edycyjnych. Ostatni aspekt dotyczy rozszerzenia idei openBIM poprzez jej połączenie z koncepcją open-source. Autor swoje

rozważania opiera na istniejącym, przeanalizowanym materiale naukowym, a także na własnych doświadczeniach w codzienności projektowej oraz

dydaktycznej.

Słowa kluczowe: openBIM, Blender, BlenderBIM, IFC, buildingSMART

The usage of the openBIM idea in architectural design on the example of Blender and BlenderBIM add-on

Michał Malewczyk

doi:10.37190/arc210210

Abstract