Zones (spatial organization)
After creating a 5D BIM model with integrated cost data, a time dimension must be added to create a 4D construction schedule.
Construction schedules can be generated using different workflows described in the section Schedule. This section will briefly cover the advanced automated intelligent process that allows generating a schedule automatically using Zones and Methodologies.
Schedule creation starts with defining zones, the spatial organization of the project and their relations combining zones and methodology using creation templates and generating a construction schedule automatically.
Zones can be defined by buildings, phases and building levels or other zone distribution as per the specific project needs.
Activate the Schedule tab in the upper left corner of the screen → Click on the Zone Editor command → In the Zone Editor window click on the New Zone command and define the name → On the upper right side of the Zone Editor, click the arrow next to the New Item and select the option Linked → In the Reference Objects window choose Building Storeys and check building levels to include in this zone and the Create Relations box if you want to create relations between the items → Finish the process by clicking OK. After creating Building levels, relations between them can be created.
There are two workflows to divide the project into construction phases depending on the quality of the BIM model. If elements of the BIM model have property defining construction sequence (Phase) it can be divided into phases similarly to building levels. If the BIM model doesn’t have a property defining construction sequence (Phase) it can be defined in BEXEL Manager by making selection sets of building parts that will form individual construction Phases.
For creating the construction sequence using the property with a defined construction sequence (Phase) follow the next steps:
Activate the Schedule tab, upper left corner of the screen → Click the Zone Editor command → In the Zone Editor window click on the New Zone command →In the New Zone window define the name of the zone → On the upper right side of the Zone Editor, click the arrow next to the New Item and select the option Linked → In the Reference Objects window choose the option Element Query → In the upper left corner click Insert Query choose Property Value and in the field, Property Name find the property that defines the construction sequence (the exact name of the property depends on the type of authoring tool and modeler preferences) → Define Property Type and Operator and the type name of the construction phase as it is defined in model properties (for example Phase 01) → Check the Create Relations box to create relations between the items → Finish the process by clicking OK. After creating Zones relations between them can be created.
