How do I link model elements to building components?

Q: How do I link model elements to building components?

Linking is a guided process: once your IFC model has been processed, open the "Model elements" page for the variant. The assignment happens in three steps – grouping, linking and completion – where you assign a building component from your catalogue to each element group. With "Complete", the characteristic values from the catalogue are applied to the elements.

Short Answer

Linking model elements to building components is a guided process in vyzn: once your IFC model has been processed, open the "Model elements" page for the variant. The assignment follows the optioneering approach in three steps: grouping, linking and completion.

When to Use This

As soon as your IFC model has been processed and you want to continue with evaluations such as the energy or life-cycle assessment, you link the model elements to building components from your catalogue.

Prerequisites

Your IFC model has been processed.
You have a catalogue with building components to choose from.
The variant is not outdated: outdated variants can no longer be reconfigured.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Grouping: vyzn groups similar elements together (initially by element name). Via "Group automatically" you choose the method – "Element groups according to SIA" (based on SIA 2032, Annex D) is recommended. Alternatives are "Simple" (by name), "Deep Clustering" (geometric/semantic using the vyzn Referenzmodell™ technology) or "Custom" based on an IFC attribute. Ideally you end up with 15 to 30 groups. You can select individual elements and move them to other groups, or create new groups.
Linking: Assign a building component from your catalogue to each group. To do so, open the "Select product" picker in the group's row and choose a component from the catalogue – either via the search or by navigating the catalogue categories. All elements in the group inherit this component. Your changes are saved automatically (indicator "Saving..." / "Saved").
Completion: With "Complete", the characteristic values from the catalogue (e.g. U-values and other product properties) are applied to the elements.

Expected Result

All model elements carry the characteristic values of the assigned catalogue component, and you can continue with evaluations such as the energy or life-cycle assessment.

Common Mistakes

Trying to link individual elements directly: Linking always happens per group, not as a free assignment to single elements. If you want to treat a single element differently, move it to a suitable (possibly new) group first.
Trying to reconfigure an outdated variant: Outdated variants can no longer be reconfigured.

Update (version 1.8.5)

As of version 1.8.5, the filters in the assignment table (mapping view) were cleaned up – the view is now clearer, and a few previous filter options have been removed.