Feature Proposal: View-Specific Underlay / Trace Reference Functionality

Kamran
Kamran
in BricsCAD BIM

Context:
In BIM workflows, particularly in architectural and structural coordination, it is essential to reference geometry from other levels or models while working on a specific floor or section. Software platforms like Revit (via Underlay) and ArchiCAD (via Trace Reference) offer powerful tools that allow users to view elements from other levels as non-editable, visual references in a dimmed or transparent state.

Proposal:
Introduce a view-dependent Underlay or Trace Reference system within BricsCAD BIM that enables users to overlay geometry from another level, section, or external reference while working in a specific drawing view or floor plan.

Suggested Functional Specifications:

  1. View-Level Control:
    • Users should be able to assign an underlay or trace reference per drawing view, not globally.
    • For example: when working on the Ground Floor Plan, the Foundation Plan can be displayed as a background reference.
  2. Source Options:
    • Underlays should support:
      • Other levels in the same model (based on BIM elevation structure or spatial location).
      • External DWG files or BIM models (via Xrefs or BIMAttach).
  3. Visual Appearance:
    • Underlay elements should appear dimmed, greyed-out, or semi-transparent, customizable per user preference.
    • A default “underlay visual style” could be introduced (e.g., faded lines or X-ray style).
  4. Snapping and Interaction:
    • Users should be able to enable or disable snapping to underlay geometry per view.
    • Underlay elements should remain non-editable, to prevent accidental modifications.
  5. Automatic Updating:
    • If the source level or external reference is updated, the underlay should reflect the changes automatically or upon reload.
  6. Layer and Visibility Control:
    • Users should be able to control which layers or element types from the underlay are visible (e.g., only walls or grids).
  7. Use Cases Enabled:
    • Accurate alignment of structural and architectural elements across levels.
    • Coordination of shafts, stairs, columns, and walls between floors.
    • Improved drawing clarity and BIM data context during modeling.

Benefits:

  • Greatly enhances multi-story modeling productivity.
  • Brings BricsCAD BIM functionality closer to industry standards.
  • Reduces coordination errors and improves model consistency.
  • Makes BricsCAD more competitive in architectural and structural BIM design.

Comments

  • zoomer
    zoomer

    I 100% agree.

    And half of the mentioned functionality would even help much editing a single drawing, without any references or underlays.

  • Tom Foster
    Tom Foster

    I make each floor as a Block, so one can easily be laid behind another, can be Show/Hide'd as a whole, can be made dim by applying a Transparency, and/or given a single distinct colour to distinguish from the 'top level'/working set, is un-editable because the only 'top level' is opened in a Refedit session.

  • pppqqqoooiii@protonmail.com
    pppqqqoooiii@protonmail.com

    Lack of phased functions. For example, in the civil construction phase, there are original structural drawings, demolition drawings, and new wall construction drawings.