This document describes research into extracting building information modeling (BIM) data from MicroStation and importing it into a geographic information system (GIS). Several challenges are outlined around reliably extracting geometry and metadata. Solutions involve using MicroStation scripts to extract element IDs and properties into a format readable by the FME data transformation software. The resulting workflow is able to merge BIM geometry, attributes, and appearance from multiple sources into a consolidated format while maintaining traceability back to the original model elements.

2. Gareth Boyes
Research Topic –
Requirements for defined
spaces in Infrastructure
Asset Management
3rd Year PhD Student
Supervisor: Dr. Claire Ellul
Industrial Supervisor: Daniel Irwin

3. .

6. Building Information
Modelling
Common Data
Environment (CDE)
The process of designing,
constructing or operating a
building or infrastructure asset
using electronic object-oriented
information
(PAS 1192-2:2013)
• Designing
• Constructing
• Operating

7. Common Data
Environment
Common Data
Environment (CDE)
Single source of information used
to collect, manage and
disseminate Common Data
Environment (CDE)
relevant and approved project
documents for multi-disciplinary
teams in a managed process
(PAS 1192-2:2013)
• Documentation
• Graphical Information
• Non-graphical
Information

8. Common Data
Environment
Common Data
Environment (CDE)
Single source of information used
to collect, manage and
disseminate Common Data
Environment (CDE)
relevant and approved project
documents for multi-disciplinary
teams in a managed process
(PAS 1192-2:2013)
• Electronic Information
Management System
• Asset Information
Management System
• CAD Management
System
• Geographical Information
System

9. Common Data
Environment
Common Data
Environment (CDE)
Single source of information used
to collect, manage and
disseminate Common Data
Environment (CDE)
relevant and approved project
documents for multi-disciplinary
teams in a managed process
(PAS 1192-2:2013)
• Bentley eB
• Bentley ProjectWise/
Bentley MicroStation
• Oracle Spatial
• ArcGIS

10. Bentley ProjectWise
File-based management system
• Controls access to folders
and files
• Manages file
authentication and
approval workflow in
accordance with BS 1192
• Enforces BS1192 naming
system and metadata

11. Bentley MicroStation
A proprietary CAD suite for
creating, editing and visualising
2D drawings and 3D models
Functionality for creating and
managing BIM objects is acquired
by installing extensions to the
core package
• DGN file format
• BIM extensions
— Bentley Architecture
— Bentley Structural Modeller
— Building Electrical Systems
— Building Mechanical Systems
• AECOsim Building
Designer

12. .

13. Requirement
Extract information
from file-based systems
Transform geometry
Load to object-based
systems
In order to advance
research in integration of
BIM / GIS, there is a
requirement to:
E - Extract
T - Transform
L - Load

14. Requirement
To manage, analyse and
visualise 3D geometric
features within a 3D GIS
In order to advance
research in integration of
BIM / GIS, there is a
requirement to:

15. .

16. Extraction
• Native DGN file format
• IFC Exporter
• 3rd Party format
• Text file via MVBA script
• Text file via MDL script
Information can be
extracted from Bentley
MicroStation v8
(with BIM extensions)
using the following
methods

17. Extracting via DGN
Advantage
• Native file format
• μS Element ID retained
• Appearance (e.g. colour)
retained
Disadvantage
• FME cannot read
surfaces
(BIM object geometry
most commonly exported
as surfaces)
• Cell objects de-
aggregated into
component elements
• Issues related to curved
surfaces

18. Extracting via IFC
Advantage
• Semantic information
exported
• μS Element ID retained
Disadvantage
• Conversion process
degrades information
• Level information lost
• Appearance lost
• Unreliable geometry
export
• FME struggles to read
corrupted IFC geometry

19. Ceiling geometry (as it should be)

20. Ceiling geometry (as exported via IFC)

21. Extracting via AutoCAD DWG
Advantage
• Very well supported by
FME
Disadvantage
• Conversion process
degrades information
• μS Element ID lost
• Cell objects de-
aggregated into
component elements
• Unreliable geometry
export

22. Extracting via SketchUp
Advantage
• Appearance (e.g. colour)
retained
• Level information retained
Disadvantage
• Conversion process
degrades information
• Objects converted to B-
rep
• Complex curved
geometry can overwhelm
FME

23. Extracting via MVBA Script
Advantage
• μS Element ID retained
• Level information retained
• Geometry bounding
volume can be extracted
Disadvantage
• Surface geometry data
not readable
• Appearance (e.g. colour)
info not reliable
• Limited documentation on
BIM objects

24. Extracting via MDL Script
Advantage
• Surfaces readable
• μS Element ID retained
• Appearance info retained
Disadvantage
• Extensive developer skill
and experience required
• Limited documentation
and support

25. .

27. Challenge #1
Workaround: MicroStation
level name is stored in
features as a geometry trait
Solution: Run MVBA script
changing level name to
Element ID
SketchUp features do not
retain MicroStation
Element IDs

28. GeometryPropertyExtractor

29. Challenge #2
Solution: Export model with
appearance before running
MVBA script then merge
using FME workspace
Changing MicroStation
level removes level-based
appearance

30. Challenge #3
Solution: Read IFC file (with
Bounding Box geometry)
and merge in FME
Workspace
Exporting via SketchUp
loses semantic information

31. GeometryPropertyExtractor

32. Challenge #4
Solution: Use MVBA script
to write CSV file containing
each Element ID to
establish benchmark of all
elements
Exporting not 100%
reliable

33. Challenge #5
Solution: Manually identify
SketchUp features to
replaced by IFC geometry
IFC geometry sometimes
more preferable to
SketchUp geometry

34. Challenge #6
Solution: Parse IFC file
using Python script writing
separate IFC file for each
element. Use FME
Workspace runner to read
each IFC element and write
to MultiPatch
Reading bad IFC geometry
crashes FME

35. Challenge #7
Solution: Use Group By to
find neighbours with
identical height information
NeighborFinder
transformer limited to 2D

36. Challenge #8
Solution: Use
AppearanceExtractor,
AppearanceStyler and
AppearanceSetter
transformers
Managing appearance
information

37. AppearanceExtractor

38. AppearanceSetter

39. Load
• ESRI Geodatabase
• Oracle ArcSDE
• Oracle SDO_Geometry
• BIM Server
Upload to appropriate
storage
with unique ID
Source file
Version
μS Element ID
also IFC GUID (128-bit)

41. Merging Information
Read
Elements
from MVBA
derived CSV
Merge IFC
attributes
Merge
SketchUp
geometry
Merge IFC
geometry
(if preferred)
Write to
required
format
Check all elements
have geometry &
attributes

43. 1a. – Read features directly from IFC -
1b. Parse IFC and read output from CSV

44. 2. Read in elements parsed by MicroStation VBA

45. 3. Read in SketchUp geometry (with level info)

46. 4. Read in SketchUp geometry (with appearance info)

47. 5. Feed in manual MicroStation IDs (for geometries missing ID)

48. 6. Merge geometry using MicroStationID
SketchUp Geometry
MicroStation VBA
Elements &
IFC Attributes
Successfully
Merged
Geometry
without uS ID
uS ID
without geometry

49. 7. Merge geometry using Centre Point

50. 8. Read IFC geometry

51. 9a. Merge IFC geometries (if required) and export
9b. Inspector outputs used to identify manual “tweeking”

52. Ticket Hall in ArcScene

53. In Summary
• More reliable geometry
cf. IFC exporter
• Original appearance from
MicroStation in ArcScene
• Element ID information
and ability to trace
geometries back to
source
• BIM property information
The developed workspace
achieves the following
objectives: