Create Special Purpose E3D Administrative Elements to Map to IFC Spatial Entities

If the E3D elements in the project do not map naturally onto the Ifc spatial structure, it is possible to create a separate E3D Site containing dummy ZONES and EQUI for the mapping to recognise.

Note
That these E3D elements must be included in the list of elements to be exported for the mappings to be processed, and that for an administrative element (eg a site or zone) to be exported it must have at least one member (an empty EQUI).

The properties of the Ifc spatial elements can be either be from data in the E3D database, or can be added in the mapping by a rule that only triggers for a single element.

Example

Add an E3D SITE with four named ZONEs, each with a name, and each containing an empty unnamed EQUI:

The mapping can then have a different element mapping with a rule matching the name to create the IFC spatial elements and their ContainedIn hierarchy.

Ordinary elements, for example a WALL can then be allocated to a Building storey by name, either fixed in the mapping, or by an expression.