IFC or Industrial Foundation Classes is a 3D file format, used in the Architecture Engineering Construction (AEC) segment. It’s supported in the major software packages like Revit and AutoCAD by Autodesk, Tekla Structures by Tekla or SmartPlant3D by Intergraph.
The main value of the IFC is accordance to the Building Information Modeling requirements. BIM is a concept of design, construction and exploitation of the buildings prescribing creation of the large volume of the digital data around architectural objects.
This data may include not only 3D geometry, but tons of information pieces like authors, milestones and deadlines, supplier information and so on. Prior to beginning of the construction, the data base is created. It will include all the information, related to the building. Once the process kicks off the project team members will populate the data base with all the aspects of the future building.
Navisworks is a native file of Navisworks® project review software by Autodesk.
Navisworks files come in three formats: NWD, NWF, and NWC. An NWD is a single file that contains all model geometry, environment, viewpoints, and review markups. An NWF file is a list of links to the original files. It doesn't keep model geometry and, to be opened, requires access to the original CAD files. An NWC is a cache file created from any native CAD or laser scan files, when opened in Navisworks.
A CAD file is an output of a CAD software, containing key information about the designed object: its geometry and topology representation, 3D model hierarchy, metadata, and visual attributes depending on the format of the file.
Read moreIn the eighth part of the series, we touch upon the neutral data exchange standard in Building Information Modeling
Read moreIn the 3rd and 4th parts of the series, we will talk about surface display modes in 3D CAD programs, starting with the shading mode.
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