How would you model a shipping container room in Blender Bim / IFC

aaronaaron
in General

I'm looking to put together a high level workflow to help me learn Blender Bim and IFC.
I want to model a shipping container, so I imagine I'm going to have to build up my own IFC library of walls etc.
I'm wondering if anyone with a bit more experience could share some bullet points on how you might approach this project.
Chers

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Comments

  • NigelNigel

    Hi @aaron Are you planning on 'fitting out' an existing shipping container as a living space or do you want to model the shipping container as an Ifc then do a fit out?

  • aaronaaron

    Could you explain the difference?
    We will be buying a used shipping container, and making alterations and fitting it out.
    But for example, I'd like to treat the walls of the shipping container as you would any other walls in a BIM project.
    The shipping container will be used to house equipment, and so I want to be able to model the services, shelving, and equipment as part of the IFC / BIM project. So a subset of the list of things I'd like to include in the model / ifc database might look like:

    • wall treatment e.g. possibly spray foam insulation
    • wall finishes e.g. ply lining and pvc cladding
    • wall fixtures shelving
    • equipment on shelving

    Now I'm trying to understand how I should execute this, and that's where I'm hoping someone with more experience will point me in the right direction by describing how they might approach this.
    Should I start with an existing model of a shipping container?
    Should I start by defining custom wall types?
    What would y'all do? :)

  • JanFJanF

    Set up wall and slab types
    Set up levels (foundation, ground floor, roof)
    Model terrain, site
    Model the general structure
    Set up drawings and plans
    Set up elevations and sections
    Set up other types
    Refine and add model detail
    Add spaces
    Add annotations

    aaron
  • terry_cterry_c

    I would probably model the shipping container using vanilla blender, then assign it an appropriate class (maybe IfcBuildingElementPart) and spatial container. Then proceed to create all new building features in a standard BlenderBIM work flow.

    aaron
  • NigelNigel

    @terry_c said:
    I would probably model the shipping container using vanilla blender, then assign it an appropriate class (maybe IfcBuildingElementPart) and spatial container. Then proceed to create all new building features in a standard BlenderBIM work flow.

    @terry_c summed up what I was trying to articulate

    aaron
  • NigelNigel

    ...however, if you do want to model a shipping container. You would start by deciding 'level of detail' required. Then think what elements are in a container, beams, posts, slabs, walls and doors. I would start modelling using simple forms. That would give a dimensionally useful container to start 'fitting out'. Later I would become obsessed by opening a new file and trying to make a really accurate shipping container, this would either result in a very cool model that took many hours to create or I would stop and have that 'cost benefit' conversation with myself:)

  • NigelNigel

    https://www.structuremag.org/?p=22699 has this drawing and more to assist modelling... Dimensions can be found elsewhere.

    steverugiaaron
  • steverugisteverugi
    edited January 8

    @terry_c said:
    I would probably model the shipping container using vanilla blender, then assign it an appropriate class (maybe IfcBuildingElementPart) and spatial container. Then proceed to create all new building features in a standard BlenderBIM work flow.

    It might spoil the fun but it could be a start (imported from Sketchup Warehouse)

    cheers

    40' shipping container blender model

    NigelOwura_qu
  • aaronaaron

    @Nigel said:
    https://www.structuremag.org/?p=22699 has this drawing and more to assist modelling... Dimensions can be found elsewhere.

    This is a handy diagram thanks.
    I guess I'm happy with an existing model of shipping container or a simple form, so long as I can specify the alterations I want to make to it, and the stuff I want to put inside it :)

    @steverugi said:
    It might spoil the fun but it could be a start (imported from Sketchup Warehouse)

    @steverugi this is great. I'd like to do the same thing with the 20ft high cube models they have available there. Could you share the steps / addons you used to go from .skp to .blend?

  • terry_cterry_c

    @aaron you should be able to export/save as from sketchUp as a collada (.dae) file.
    Then import it into your BBIM project.
    Then select it in BBIM and assign the appropriate IFC Class and spatial container.>

  • steverugisteverugi

    @terry_c said:
    @aaron you should be able to export/save as from sketchUp as a collada (.dae) file.
    Then import it into your BBIM project.
    Then select it in BBIM and assign the appropriate IFC Class and spatial container.>

    @aaron
    Yes, exact steps I used to get the 40' shipping container model in Blender

  • JanFJanF

    There's also a direct skp importer
    https://github.com/RedHaloStudio/Sketchup_Importer/releases

  • steverugisteverugi
    edited January 10

    @aaron said:

    @steverugi said:
    It might spoil the fun but it could be a start (imported from Sketchup Warehouse)

    @steverugi this is great. I'd like to do the same thing with the 20ft high cube models they have available there. Could you share the steps / addons you used to go from .skp to .blend?

    link: 20ft HC shipping container
    enjoy! :-)

    PS this is the 3D Warehouse link from which you can download the .dae (collada) file
    https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/search/models?q=20+cube+shipping+container&curatedContent=true&order=relevance&direction=desc

  • aaronaaron

    Brilliant! Thank you all so much

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