A new tool has been implemented in the user interface that is common in Open BIM applications with a 3D working environment. Now, the management of the elements from the digital model of the building, which comes from the associated BIMserver.center project, is carried out from the "Elements read" menu located in the left sidebar of the application.
The elements read are structured in the form of a tree based on two classification types: "Models" and "Categories". The organisation by "Models" allows users to inspect each contribution linked to the job and each associated 3D model within it. On the other hand, the "Categories" group the "Elements read" into families according to their features. Next to each tree component, three buttons are displayed to control the visibility, the display mode (solid, transparent or wire) and the object snap. It should be noted that the organisational settings applied to the organisation by "Models" prevail over those indicated by "Categories".
Applications can have default visibility and object snap settings when creating a new view. Furthermore, when entering new components with the tools in the program, the application itself can force the activation or deactivation of the visibility and object snaps of certain categories. When this happens, a yellow padlock will be displayed next to the set options. When users finish using the tool, the tree will return to its original state.
In previous versions, the management of the visibility of BIM project models was carried out in the configuration panel of a view. As a consequence of this improvement, editing is now managed from the "Elements read" menu in the left sidebar and has therefore been removed from the previous location. However, in the editing panel of a view users can indicate whether the view should have its own configuration for viewing these elements or whether it should use the general configuration of the job. For this purpose, the "Use a specific view configuration for the view" option has been added. When this option is active, the "View" text will appear in the "Elements read" menu.
In addition to the component tree of the external models, the "Elements read" menu includes a toolbar with a group of buttons that allow the following actions to be carried out:
In version 2023.a, the management of visibility and object snaps of external elements is available in the following CYPE Open BIM applications:
Version 2023.a of all CYPE programs that have the "Print/Save the current view" tool (usually all programs that display graphic information in a window) allows any generated 3D model to be exported in FBX format. This is one of the most common and accepted formats among rendering software (Twinmotion, Enscape, Sketchup+Vray, among others).
Exportation in FBX format is found in the dialogue box that opens when selecting the "Print/Save the Current View" button in any of the programs that include this tool. This feature allows users to export any element that is visible in the current window at that moment in FBX format (as well as elements that have been imported from other programs).
"Normas Técnicas Complementarias para Diseño y Construcción de Estructuras de Acero (2020)" – Mexico, CDMX.
Chapter 10 "Connections" from NTC-DCEA 2020 for designing connections in steel structures has been implemented for the following programs:
A new set of tools has been added to the top bar of the "Architecture" tab in the program. This is the "Groups" feature that allows architectural and furniture elements to be grouped together. Any modification made to a group will also have an effect on the equal groups, thus facilitating the modelling of the building and its subsequent corrections.
Groups are particularly useful in buildings with repetitive elements, such as types of dwellings or building premises.
The "Groups" feature has several tools:
The program generates space table reports that can be displayed on screen by selecting the "Reports" tool in the program’s top toolbar. The reports can be included in the technical specifications and are exported to the project.
The export of columns and basement walls has been improved:
The curtain wall element has a new property: Indoor/Outdoor. This property is useful in the thermal analysis of buildings that include these elements.
More information on this new feature can be found in the CYPETHERM EPlus version 2023.a new feature "Curtain walls".
The stair landing allows the adjustment to be changed above, in the centre or below the entered point or surface area.
Walls can be snapped at either end and not only at their directrix plane. The program detects when two walls come into contact with each other and, in that case, it also makes their directrix planes come into contact with each other. This improves the automatic detection of spaces by ensuring that the spaces are closed.
A new example job for a multifamily residential has been included in the program. It is a block of 18 apartments and commercial units and has been created to exemplify the use of the tools of the "Groups" set that has been implemented in this version.
As of version 2023.a, the following features from the "Edit" menu in the toolbar can be used on the maps in the model:
In order to use object snaps in the maps, the "Snap" option has been added to the list of components of the site model in order to activate it for this type of element.
When using the editing tools on topographic surfaces associated with a map, the modification will also be applied to the texture generated by the map.
As of version 2023.a, "Open BIM Construction Systems" can share the complete technical data of the construction solutions entered in the job in the BIMserver.center project. This information can be displayed in the 3D view of the applications as well as in the web viewer of the BIMserver.center platform.
The applications can use the technical data to complete the parameters of the models. The CYPE Open BIM applications currently capable of reading and incorporating the construction systems from "Open BIM Construction Systems" in their analysis model are as follows:
Acoustic simulation tools can read the fields available within the "Sound insulation" tab of the technical data editing panel, while thermal simulation applications can read the fields available within the "Thermal insulation" tab. In order for the applications to be able to read the technical data, they must be running version 2023.a or higher.
The new example job "Restaurante de campo" has been added.
As of version 2023.a, the CYPE plugins for Revit "Open BIM – Revit plugin" and "Bills of quantities of Revit models" (the latter included in the Arquimedes "Bills of quantities of BIM models" module), are compatible with Revit version 2023.
As of version 2023.a, "IFC Uploader" can incorporate the sets of properties ("IfcPropertySet") and quantities ("IfcQuantitySet") defined in an IFC into the glTF viewer file. This information associated with each component of the model can be consulted from the 3D view of Open BIM applications and in the web viewer of the BIMserver.center platform.
As of version 2023.a, "Open BIM Analytical Model" displays a panel with a summary of the elements added to the project after completing the automatic generation process of the analytical model. The added components can be consulted from the "BIM Model" option in the program’s toolbar.
Due to the new management of visibility and object snaps of external elements system, the "Snap options" panel in Open BIM Analytical Model has been modified in order to remove the components of the physical model and thus avoid duplication. The "Template" tab now has only two elements: "Spaces" and "Openings".
Additionally, the "Show/Hide template" option in the toolbar has been removed as this action can now be performed from the "Elements read" panel in the left sidebar of the application.
A new project review process has been implemented to detect possible inconsistencies in the analytical model and, thus, make it easier for the user to solve them. To do so, the following options have been added to the "Errors" group in the application toolbar:
When entering an analytical surface in previous versions of Open BIM Analytical Model, all of its points needed to be coplanar. Now, the first three points inserted into the work area determine the surface plane, while the rest are projected onto said plane. This makes it much easier to enter new surfaces by means of the template snap from the physical model.
The "Generate analytical surfaces based on a space of the physical model" option has been added to the "Elements" group in the Open BIM Analytical Model toolbar. This feature allows users to obtain the surfaces outlining a space from the physical model and creates the equivalent analytical surfaces. The space will also be added to the analytical model and all generated surfaces will be assigned to that space.
The "Assign the properties of a surface of the physical model to an analytical surface" option has been added to the "Elements" group in the Open BIM Analytical Model toolbar. When selecting an analytical surface with this feature, a list of all available construction elements is displayed. Users can choose one of them and its properties will be assigned to the surface. If the application detects that a component of the physical model may correspond to the analytical surface, it will be marked by default.
This tool is also available from the editing panel of a surface. In this case, a blue arrow icon has been added next to the surface reference. Clicking on it will display the list of available construction elements.
The "Generate an opening in an analytical surface based on an opening of the physical model" option has been added to the "Elements" group of the Open BIM Analytical Model toolbar. When using this feature, an opening from the physical model and a surface from the analytical model can be selected. Based on the geometry of the opening, the program will create an opening in the selected surface and a new surface with the "element in opening" attribute at the position of the opening.
Version 2023.a of Open BIM Analytical Model includes other minor improvements and corrections of the program for certain cases:
As of version 2023.a, structural walls defined in a BIM project can be imported. This option is available both for projects modelled using our CYPE Architecture tool and for projects created with other BIM modellers.
The rebars of shear walls and stairs can now be exported to the BIM model.
In the current version of the program, CYPECAD exports the reinforcement of the following types of elements:
This reinforcement can be viewed in the StruBIM Rebar program along with the reinforcement exported from StruBIM Shear Walls.
They can also be viewed in CYPECAD in the "Results" tab (Groups menu > 3D view with details).
The "Beam intersections references" option has been added to the "Groups" menu of the "Beam definition" and "Results" tabs. These references can now be generated automatically according to the order of the frames.
For jobs created from version 2023.a onwards, this will be the default option. For jobs that have already been created, the order in which they were generated is maintained, but the "Beam intersections references" option can be used to change the order.
Two options ("Slope angle of the compression struts" and "Tolerances in spacing checks") and several improvements have been implemented in order to optimise the check and design of beams and columns. These options and improvements are available for the following codes:
These new options can be accessed via the "General data" panel:
The new options and improvements are detailed below:
CYPECAD version 2023.a includes other minor improvements and corrections of the program for certain cases:
As of version 2023.a, CYPE 3D allows users to assign the values of critical buckling axial forces and critical lateral buckling moments for rolled and cold-formed steel elements as an alternative to the buckling and lateral buckling lengths.
This new feature provides a tool to consider values for the axial and critical moments of the element other than those calculated automatically by the program. The options (Bar menu > Buckling / Lateral buckling) are available for the following codes:
Version 2023.a of the "CYPE Connect" and "StruBIM Steel" programs includes the analysis of the rotational stiffness of the connections. With this analysis option, users can obtain as results the resistant moment, initial stiffness, secant stiffness and classification of the connection (rigid, semi-rigid or pinned) of the steel section.
To obtain the "Moment – Rotation" graph, the program carries out an iterative process by analysing the rotation in different load steps. The resistant moment is obtained when any element in the connection (plates, sections, welds or bolts) no longer complies, i.e. its demand capacity ratio is greater than 100%.
The "Analysis" tab includes the "Rotational stiffness" tool in the top toolbar. If the tool is selected, the rotational stiffness analysis is run.
Furthermore, the "Analysis" tool has been renamed. In previous versions, the "Analysis" button was used to run the stress and strain analysis. This button will now be called "Stress / Strain".
The results can be viewed on the right-hand side of the "Analysis" tab. The top drop-down menu allows users to choose the type of results to be displayed, "Stress/Strain" or "Rotational stiffness". By selecting "Rotational stiffness" the program displays two tables and the "Moment – Rotation" graph.
The first table shows all the analysed bars with their secant stiffness and the connection classification in each plane. The second table shows the load cases analysed for the selected bar. Each load case will indicate the acting moment, the resistant moment, the secant stiffness and the initial stiffness.
The graph shows the curves for "Moment – Rotation", "Requesting moment of the selected load case", "Resisting moment", "Ultimate stiffness for rigid connections (Sj,1) and "Ultimate stiffness for pinned connections (Sj,2)".
As a result of implementing the rotational stiffness analysis, the following changes have been made to existing tools in the program:
As of version 2023.a, IFC Builder exports job spaces to the 3D visualisation file in glTF format. Thanks to this improvement, spaces are now displayed in the 3D view of applications that read contributions generated with IFC Builder, as well as in the web viewer of the BIMserver.center platform.
The geometry of the spaces is contained in a separate glTF file from the one containing the construction elements.
Version 2023.a of CYPELEC PV Systems allows the "d" distance between panels with the "Horizontal plane" type of installation to be projected on the model. The visibility of this projection can be activated and deactivated in the view by means of a button in "Snap options".
The "Hotel" example job has been updated.
In version 2023.a of CYPEPLUMBING Water System, the "Localised pressure drops in pipe joints" tool has been implemented. This tool allows users to automatically generate the pressure drops that occur throughout the pipe run caused by the following types of joints:
This tool can be activated in two ways:
The analysis of these pressure drops is fully configurable and several analysis methodologies can be applied, taking into account the "diameter and equivalent length", "diameter and pressure drop", or "diameter and kinetic coefficient" ratios.
For this purpose, the "Accessories" option is added ("General options" > "Materials and equipment selection") where users can enter these factors, which may be code-based or directly consulted in the manufacturers’ technical catalogues (normally in the latter case it is the kinetic coefficient of the type of joint).
Then, the analysis criteria to be used for each type must be set.
Users can set the symbols to be used.
In its most basic mode, the "Localised pressure drops in pipe joints" tool can also be used to count only the number of joints according to the indicated types ("45° elbows", "90° elbows", "tees" and "reducers"). To do this, simply deactivate the calculation of the localised pressure drop.
Finally, the options that the program will assign to each type of joint must be activated.
The following images show the number of joints generated in an installation of a 4-storey building with 8 apartments, and the details of an area in this system.
The checkpoint is a set that includes the alarm valve, shut-off valve and all valves and accessories needed to carry out the control in a sprinkler system.
The maximum size of the system controlled by a checkpoint depends on the risk of the building. According to EN 12845 it ranges from 9,000 to 12,000 m². If the maximum permissible limit is exceeded, necessary measures must be taken.
Users can include and edit this option in the code configuration.
The pressure regulating valve is used to limit the pressure in the sprinkler system, downstream of its installation point.
This valve can be selected in the main toolbar. To enter it, the diameter and the pressure to be limited must be indicated.
Curtain wall systems have been added as an option. To use it, a distinction is made in the external wall library between opaque walls, which are those currently in use, and the new glass walls, which are curtain walls.
Under the "Glass wall" option, users must enter the thermal properties of the glazed and opaque surface proportions (glazed ratio) of the curtain wall to be simulated, in a similar way to the definition carried out for windows.
Under the "Quantities of the BIM model" tab in "Open BIM Quantities", a button has been added to the tree of entities making up the BIM project in order to control the visibility of each component in the model view. When using this tool, the visibility of the element or group of elements to which the selected row refers will be activated or deactivated. Thanks to this improvement, it is now much easier to identify or isolate the components of the model in the 3D space.
To determine whether an element should be shown in the scene, the general configuration of the 3D view is also considered. These settings prevail over the application settings, so if a model is hidden, the visibility of its components cannot be controlled from the tree of entities.
A button has been added next to the visibility option ("Manage visibility of BIM model components") in the tree of entities that make up the BIM project, in the "Quantities of the BIM model" tab of "Open BIM Quantities". This option only appears in the rows referring to a BIM model element (it is not shown in the groups) and allows the object to be framed in the 3D view. This makes it easier to locate the components in the space.
As of version 2023.a, "Open BIM Quantities" includes the "Cut", "Copy" and "Paste" tools in the sets of measurement rules management panel. These options are available for the list of rules of measurement and, within rules, for the components of the "selection" and "items".
The application allows users to make multiple selections in the lists so that several rows can be copied or cut at the same time. The cut or copied items can be pasted into a different set of measurement rules.
As of version 2023.a, "Open BIM Quantities" can save the rules that make up a set of measurement rules in a file (".bib680"). Two new buttons have been added to the list of measurement rules in order to allow both importing and exporting. This way, the stored rules can be used to compose new sets of measurement rules.
The Spanish example job "Proyecto de edificio de viviendas" together with its cost database ("España – Edificio de viviendas") has been updated.
As of version 2023.a, the "-" character (ASCII-45) can be used in a concept’s "Code" field. This modification has been carried out in accordance with the latest update of the standard Spanish FIEBDC-3/2020 format which includes the specifications approved by the Spanish commission CTP that are subsequently ratified by the Spanish FIEBDC association assembly.
As of version 2023.a, "Open BIM Quantities" and applications with the "Bill of quantities" tab can import cost databases in CSV format. To do so, the "Import CSV" option has been added to the "Import/Export" group in the toolbar for managing cost databases and the project database.
The CSV file must contain the columns with the information for the "Code", " Type ", "Item", "Summary", "Quantity" and "Rate" fields. Users can specify the index of each column from the file import configuration panel. The character set, the index of the first line of text to be imported and the field separator can also be specified.
As with the FIEBDC-3 format files, "Open BIM Quantities" allows users to choose whether to delete the previous data from the cost databases before carrying out the import or updating them.
As of version 2023.a, "Open BIM Quantities" and applications with the "Bill of quantities" tab allow cost databases to be generated where an item appears in more than one work section. Items can only be defined in one position, however, they can now be added as a concept in the breakdown of one or more work sections.
This way, different classifications can be established within the same database. If a database in FIEBDC-3 or CSV format has this feature, it can also be imported into the application.
The cost database used by the application to determine the total construction cost has been revised. Any projects carried out with previous versions of the program will be automatically updated when they are opened with version 2023.a.
As of version 2023.a of CYPE software, three of the CYPE applications will no longer be updated. Users who wish to continue using them will have to do so by installing a version prior to 2023.a. However, we recommend using updated versions of other CYPE programs that exceed the features of these three discontinued applications.
The discontinued applications are the following:
The features of these three applications are far exceeded by CYPE Architecture.