Jared’s Note: Kristian originally posted this on LinkedIn. I loved it so much that I had to share it. I actually e-mailed Kristian right before he e-mailed me about reposting it…

Recently I was asked by a client (designer builder) to create a library of generic ArchiCAD parts to optimize (streamline) their processes. In order to keep the costs down they wanted to look at utilizing free content produced by building product manufacturers. In searching for this content I became quite frustrated; there was nothing I could recommend to them, because the available content is mostly rubbish.

I just want a decent set of taps damn it! But everything I find, from the main providers globally, has not even been scripted in GDL but rather imported, most likely from Revit or 3DS. This content is completely unusable on any reasonable scale due to the resulting high polygon count that cannot be reduced.

Most generic ArchiCAD library parts have a 3D Detail parameter that allows you to select between “Detailed”, “Simple”, and “Off” for the 3D representation. In my own library parts I include a resolution control; though I should probably mimic the ArchiCAD standard, my method is far more flexible. Both these parameters allow you to adjust the resolution and hence the polygon count of the model.

A hand basin I downloaded from a respected provider has been created using the dodgy import method (as had every other part I downloaded from their website) and resulted in a polygon count of over 2,500. Comparing this to a hand basin I created for another manufacture which had a polygon count or 1,500 at a high resolution; obviously there is not a lot of difference but when I reduced the resolution parameter in my object to a suitable level the polygon count reduced to 340, and it could have been reduce further.

There are a few other issues that also frustrated me, such as individual objects for each product when all hand basins from a manufacturer should be contained in a single GDL Library Part so you don’t have to download so many different parts to access the manufacturer’s full range. But then again this would be more difficult to achieve for the charlatans who create ArchiCAD content via import rather than GDL.

If a manufacturer pays good money to have their content created in ArchiCAD but the content is not used then why would they continue to create it? We need manufacturers onboard with the BIM movement but if this dodgy content is the general solution we offer then why would they bother.

I would like to hear from others who use free ArchiCAD content from manufacturers.

• What are your experiences?
• Have you found any decent content that you use regularly?
• Or do you just avoid it because you know it is mostly rubbish?

Please speak up so we can start to set things right. Share your thoughts below or here on LinkedIn.

I’m always looking for guest bloggers. You up for it? I am. Send me (Jared) an e-mail. And in the meantime, follow Shoegnome on Facebook, Twitter, and RSS feed. Especially Twitter. And now you can join the LinkedIN group too!