Improvement of IFC-import in Bluebeam Revu 21

Dennis Gubbels

We (Stam + De Koning, part of Volkerwessels) are exploring if Bluebeam Revu 21 is suitable for implementing 5D-BIM within our workflow of calculating construction projects. The main requirement is to substract reliable BIM-data based on IFC (OpenBIM).

Based on my previous contact with the Technical Support Team (Adam Psota) , I know that the problem lies in the conversion of the IFC format to a U3D format.

In this conversion Bluebeam creates an extra subdivision in some elements that does not match the IFC object (and there properties) . Because of this, the represented data in Bluebeam is not reliable to calculate quantities.

Correct IFC breakdown structure of the selected window object within Solibri (see sreenshot below)

Screenshot Solibri_IFC Breakdown.png

The 3D modelstructure within Bluebeam adds an extra level (subdivision) in the breakdown structure that’s NOT in the IFC-model. (see screenshot below)

• There is no metadata (ifc properties) on the main level of this window object (compare to Solibri)
• Because the object is broken down into separate parts, it becomes a long and confusing list

Screenshot Bluebeam_IFC Breakdown.png

When the structure (U3D) in Bluebeam matches the standard IFC model structure, it has a high potential to be adopted as a 5D-BIM tool. Not only by us, but by many other construction companies as well.

I hope you see this as a valuable improvement for the development of Bluebeam.

If you are open to this, I am willing to explain this topic further in an online Teams meeting.