Collaboration with other software
About model and data exchange with 3rd party solutions: Revit, Solibri, dRofus, Bluebeam, structural analysis solutions, and IFC, BCF and DXF/DWG-based exchange, etc.

EnergyPlus interoperability

Anonymous
Not applicable
EnergyPlus is an energy analysis program that we use for green building design.

We have read on their website that "Graphisoft is developing a direct link to EnergyPlus", back in 2008. True or hype ? If true, does someone know wheter there is real progress in that direction.

We used to play with Ecotect to get the data into E+ (ArchiCAD -> gbXML + 3DS export -> import in Ecotect -> fill in missing data -> export to E+), but the latest Ecotect version is still 3 relases away from the current E+.

IFC was used in the past, through BSPro and a custom client module between it and E+ with success, but BSPro currently seems not to deliver anymore.

Did anyone investigate this issue ? Does someone from the Graphisoft team knows about add-ons or interoperability solutions ?

I guess this issue will becomme hotter everyday since a lot of engineers start to trust E+ and want to incorporate it into their BIM process.

Thanks for your reply and/or ideas
2 REPLIES 2
Anonymous
Not applicable
After a quick chat with the EnergyPlus developers, it appears that two tracks are open:
- a new IFC conversion program, using a new version of the BSPro middleware as in the past, and
- a promised direct link from Graphisoft, called GST (Geometry Simplification Tool) is supposed to be in development.

Can someone from marketing or development provide more information about this development: is it still in the pipeline ? Any (informal) release date ?

Thanks in advance ...
Ralph Wessel
Mentor
Serge wrote:
Did anyone investigate this issue ? Does someone from the Graphisoft team knows about add-ons or interoperability solutions ?

I guess this issue will becomme hotter everyday since a lot of engineers start to trust E+ and want to incorporate it into their BIM process.

Thanks for your reply and/or ideas
Take a look at DesignBuilder. This is able to import gbXML, run simulations with EnergyPlus, and export IDF input files.
Ralph Wessel BArch