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About Archicad Software
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Some concepts of using Graphisoft Archicad software. How integrate them in design-development-documentation flow. Value for decision making for design documentation.
I have found in the literature about effecive time management of handling a project an important benchmark: - How many times a paper is touched. The less amount of time is the best and of course one is the least - so that's what to me is the gist of the 'one-touch' method. Mind you, the amount of time also includes the many times that paper was touched to just move it and make way to another piece behind. ...
How We Use The Archicad
Software System
The 'one-touch' method
The way the one-touch method can be understood with Archicad software is that the earlier and the more information can be added to the model, the more effective and efficient it becomes using it. You ask why? Well, because the process from design to documentation is built around an extensible modeling database which the software progressively calls upon. This means that using Archicad software effectively involves considering as many aspects of an element or component as possible at the time it is created. Note that in some instances consideration will mean recording the outcomes of the decision making process, not necessarily the actual decisions themselves. And that's ok too. In fact that is what many think an important part of the lean modelling process is. It is called the 'just-enough' component.
But if a decision was made early about a particular product to be used in the construction, it is best to build that in the model just as early - even if that information is not called for early documentation. At a later stage it can be called in easily. In fact, this process is many times more effective than modifying items one by one later based on the various and differing sets of criteria that will naturally evolve anyway. (The model itself organizes that mess and the earlier the better.)
And, even if a decision was not made early about the specifics of the product but the target feature or quality is locked in, this can be built in the model as well. One good way of doing this is a selection/view set such as "feature-finish", "fire doors", "acoustic partitions", "double-glazed windows" and the like. Even for mid sized development the number of such sets will grow and compound as the project progresses and so it is not hard to see the effort that could be saved later if all available information is incorporated 'just-in-time'.
Archicad Software Concept And Legacy History
Using Archicad
software is part and parcel of the virtual building technology.
Advanced softwares in the same ilk are AutoDesk's
Revit, Dessault Systeme's Catia and Bentley's Architecture. The key
concept behind them is interoperability, and a key driver that is most appealing
to us is sustainability.
Now, these are all expensive pieces of software with extensive and
extensible capabilities. What this means that a smart company will choose
one of them depending on their profile and legacy
platform. Retail store
designers tended to favor Microstation in the past so a natural
advancement for
them is likely to be Bentley Architecture.
Mid sized commercially focussed design offices tended to use AutoCad
due to easy interoperability with engineers. So they are likely to
advance to Revit as the new legacy platform. And finally rapid
prototyping product developers tend to use Catia as legacy. Catia also
helps if you design very complex structures as it was developed to
handle aeronautic shapes.
Initially we chose Graphisoft's Archicad and Australian developed - now
Nemetchek owned - VectorWorks, but over time began to favor more the
former. Initially it was extremely intuitive to learn and relatively
easy to master. It also had an attractive price point. As competition
increased between key players, Archicad started growing 'heavier'.
Today it is in open competition with high-end information rich
modelling softwares while Graphisoft and parent company Nemetchek
remained among the leading driving forces behind the
interoperability alliance.
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