Written by michael.jonker the 12 Jan 10 at 01:19.

As a non- programmer this is a project I would love to get involved in from a UI and workflow design perspective. I don't fully understand how open source projects are born, but I believe that this one will give the linux OS a good foothold into the construction and design industry. The next few years will be a good entry point as the majority of the industry starts swinging from CAD to BIM.

As a non- programmer this is a project I would love to get involved in from a UI and workflow design perspective. I don't fully understand how open source projects are born, but I believe that this one will give the linux OS a good foothold into the construction and design industry. The next few years will be a good entry point as the majority of the industry starts swinging from CAD to BIM.

Written by alms66 the 12 Jan 10 at 15:38.

That is, it should be a single software package which can be used from the very first day of design to the last day of completion of the project, without the need to use any other software. This software should be what Autodesk's Revit is to Architects, StruCAD is to Engineers, Tekla's Structures is to Steel Detailers and Fabtrol is to Fabricators (those programs listed are widely considered the best in their field by many), but all rolled into one.

As far as I know, there really is no good software available today that handles an entire project from beginning to end, incorporating all disciplines (electrical, architectural, structural, etc.), and this would give Ubuntu/Linux a niche market into the business world.

Note that this is in addition to #1.

That is, it should be a single software package which can be used from the very first day of design to the last day of completion of the project, without the need to use any other software. This software should be what Autodesk's Revit is to Architects, StruCAD is to Engineers, Tekla's Structures is to Steel Detailers and Fabtrol is to Fabricators (those programs listed are widely considered the best in their field by many), but all rolled into one. As far as I know, there really is no good software available today that handles an entire project from beginning to end, incorporating all disciplines (electrical, architectural, structural, etc.), and this would give Ubuntu/Linux a niche market into the business world. Note that this is in addition to #1.

Written by jrodri14 the 11 Feb 10 at 04:32.

There's already an opensource BIM server currently being designed. (http://www.bimserver.org/). Why not simply take the best current open source 3d modelers (Blender, etc), and program interconectivity between it and BIM server. Write the libraries that would give a 3d modeler the ability to write IFC data into BIMserver, give blender some units, develop it's GUI, create jobs for programmers who can implement the technology for large firms, and create a viable alternative to expensive CAD and BIM for small time technically savvy Architects who are willing to put the time into learning linux systems. It would reduce a lot of designing and programming from scratch, and probably bring in a large part of an entire profession into the open source fold. At the end of the day, Autodesk has far more resources than whatever progammers would volunteer for a project of this complexity at the open source level. It seems that open source survives mainly because of the community of developer groups and projects, not because of one.

The problem then breaks up into two: creating interoperability between a 3d modeler and BIMserver, and creating an architectural GUI in blender, which non programing architects can use. "Simple as that".

There's already an opensource BIM server currently being designed. (http://www.bimserver.org/). Why not simply take the best current open source 3d modelers (Blender, etc), and program interconectivity between it and BIM server. Write the libraries that would give a 3d modeler the ability to write IFC data into BIMserver, give blender some units, develop it's GUI, create jobs for programmers who can implement the technology for large firms, and create a viable alternative to expensive CAD and BIM for small time technically savvy Architects who are willing to put the time into learning linux systems. It would reduce a lot of designing and programming from scratch, and probably bring in a large part of an entire profession into the open source fold. At the end of the day, Autodesk has far more resources than whatever progammers would volunteer for a project of this complexity at the open source level. It seems that open source survives mainly because of the community of developer groups and projects, not because of one. The problem then breaks up into two: creating interoperability between a 3d modeler and BIMserver, and creating an architectural GUI in blender, which non programing architects can use. "Simple as that".