IFC Import Dialog Box

IFC Converter

Select floors and objects to be imported from an IFC model in a dialog box. The contents of the dialog box depends on whether you open the IFC model as a reference geometry or import the IFC model as an object model to the building.

Objects tab

Select floors to be imported
Select the check boxes of the IFC floors you want to import from the IFC model from the list on the left. The height position of the floors is displayed in the Elevation column.
When you import an IFC model as an object model into a building with 3D levels defined, you can optionally set the height position of the 3D level according to the IFC floor:
  • When Adjust 3D levels automatically is selected, you can select the height positions for 3D levels according to the floor heights of the IFC model. Select the name of the 3D level from the list in 3D level to adjust column. The value in the Elevation column is set as the height of the 3D level.
  • When Adjust 3D levels automatically is not selected, the floor heights of the IFC model have no effect to the 3D levels of the building.
Import an IFC Model As an Object Model
Select objects to be imported
Select the object types to be imported from the IFC model from the right side list. Please note that importing doors and windows requires that walls are also imported. If you select windows or doors to be imported, walls will also be selected. If you deselect walls, windows and doors will also be deselected.
Select all object types or clear all of the selections by clicking All/None.
When you import the IFC model as an object model into the building, you can choose a 2D representation for the objects in the floor plan by clicking the 2D column next to the object type. Select the 2D presentation for all object types or clear all the selections by clicking All/None 2D. By default, 2D presentation is not selected for objects.
Note: 2D presentation may slow down importing the model. You can also select the 2D presentation for the IFC objects afterwards as follows:
  1. Select an object.
  2. Right-click to open the context-sensitive menu.
  3. Select Presentation > 2D and 3D.
Import an IFC Model As an Object Model
Geometric contexts to import
The geometry of each IFC object is connected to a geometric representation context. You can choose which geometric contexts to import from the IFC model. The contexts shown in the list are retrieved from the IFC model. For example:
  • Body - Wireframe, surface or solid model.
Usually, 3D geometry is connected to a Body or Model context. However, in the IFC model being imported, the 3D geometry may be connected to some other context. By default, all contexts are selected in the list, except for the Box context (Bounding box).
Adjust 3D levels automatically
The property is available when you import an IFC model as an object model to a building.
Import an IFC Model As an Object Model
When Adjust 3D levels automatically is selected, you can select the height positions for 3D levels according to the floor heights of the IFC model. Select the name of the height level from the list in 3D level to adjust field. This requires that 3D levels have been defined for the building.
When Adjust 3D levels automatically is not selected, the floor heights of the IFC model have no effect to the 3D levels of the building.
Import as
Select either of the following:
  • Facet model (A) - Opening or importing a model into a building is faster. The model consists of square and triangular surfaces, which come out especially on curved surfaces. The model can be used as a reference model.
  • Solid model (B) - Opening or importing a model into a building is slower. The model's surfaces are geometrically correct, and the model is more accurate than the facet model. Curved surfaces are also shown in greater detail. Select this option when you want to use the geometry to model components, for example.
Remove site, building and storey from model structure
The property is available when you open an IFC model as reference geometry.
Open an IFC Model
You can omit the site, building, and floor information written to the IFC file so that the corresponding assembly levels are not created.

Placement tab

Coordinates to import
If necessary, select the geographical coordinates to be imported from the IFC model into the building:
  • Import latitude and longitude
  • Import altitude
  • Import north direction angle
You can utilize the geographical coordinates when you export a Vertex model to an IFC file or when you export a building to Google Earth.
The altitude also affects the drawings of the building if height symbols that display the absolute height data (from sea level) are used in them.
If coordinates are not imported from the IFC model, they are read from the coordinates of the building. Read more about Building Coordinates and Heights.
Locate imported models so that
Choose how the IFC model is placed in the building model. The coordinates at the bottom of the dialog box show how the origins of the IFC site and IFC model and the minimum point of the IFC geometry are located in the Vertex coordinate system with different options.
  • IFC site origin is positioned on Vertex origin
  • IFC site origin is positioned on Vertex site origin: The selection has an effect only if the location of the site's origin in Vertex coordinates is specified in the building's coordinates. Read more about Building Coordinates and Heights.
  • IFC model origin is positioned on Vertex origin
  • IFC model origin is positioned on selected point: You can use this option in cases where the geometry of the IFC model is very far from the origin of the model. Do one of the following:
    • Enter the coordinates of the point into the fields.
    • Select a point from the floor plan or model by clicking 2D or 3D under Select a point from.
    • The IFC geometry minimum at the bottom of the dialog box means the minimum point of a rectangle (the x, y, and z coordinates are the smallest) that contains the origins of all IFC objects in the model. To place this point at the Vertex origin, click To origin. The coordinates are updated in the IFC model origin is positioned on selected point coordinate fields. You can edit the coordinates of the point in the fields. In IFC export, you can move the geometry back to its original location.
You can rotate the geometry of the IFC model by selecting Rotate to north direction. The rotation angle is shown in the Deg field. The rotation angle is either the angle of the model defined in the building coordinates or the north direction defined in the IFC model.
  • Import north direction angle is selected under Coordinates to import: The rotation angle is the north direction specified in the IFC model.
  • Import north direction angle is not selected: The rotation angle is the Model angle specified in the coordinates of the building model. Read more about Building Coordinates and Heights.
You can also enter another angle in the Degfield. The angle is calculated in the clockwise direction starting from the positive y-axis.