Note: Bonsai was previously known as the BlenderBIM Add-on.
Prefer watching videos? See a 20 minute demonstration of Bonsai here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooh05WF__80
Building Information Modeling, or BIM, is a way of digitally describing our built environment to computers. Aspects of our built environment that can be described are:
These objects may have lots of data and relationships. Examples of data might be classification systems, physical materials, associated documents, simulation results, and construction types. The data may be relevant to multiple disciplines, such as architecture, engineering, and construction.
BIM data is very different from a regular 3D model. In fact, geometry is optional, and most data is non-geometric. This means that it is not simply a 3D format that you can import or export from and expect meaningful results.
Industry Foundation Classes, or IFC, is an international standard for BIM. IFC is the most well-established open digital language for our built environment. Most software will be able to describe their BIM data using IFC. Most commonly, IFC models will be shared as a .ifc file.
For example, IFC will define a wall as an object that can have a name, construction type, and quantities. IFC will also describe that a wall that be associated with a location, like a building storey, or have an associated cost item in a schedule.
When you use Bonsai, you will be able to view and create BIM objects and relationships using the IFC standard.
Bonsai is designed to be a comprehensive and truly native BIM authoring platform. Its capabilities include a wide range of tasks and workflows typically found across various BIM and CAD software, costing programs, scheduling tools, and simulation applications. While not an exhaustive list, some of the key things you can do with Bonsai include:
See https://community.osarch.org/discussion/26/bonsai-new-release/p13 for release notes.
This extension requests the following permissions:
Load and save IFCs, IDS, BCF, etc from disk
Augin / Cove.Tool integration for VR and environmental analysis
Copy and paste error logs
The Reference for IFC and best to understand what everything can be done based on IFC Standard already.
Truly great for ifc files. Learning curve is a little bit steep, but once you start getting it, you model fast in 3d. It's still WIP so not the regular perfect, but rigid and slow, commercial software you are used to.