Abstract: A CAD model comprises multiple entities. Each entity comprises one or more subentities, wherein a subentity is a vertex, an edge or a face. From the CAD model a group of multiple entities comprising an identical geometry is obtained. This step comprises verifying whether the entities of a pair of entities comprise an identical geometry via sequentially verifying identity conditions of a sequence of multiple identity conditions, until either an identity condition of the sequence fails or all identity conditions of the sequence are verified. Each identity condition is based on the subentities of the pair of entities. A block definition comprising a block geometry based on said identical geometry is created. In the CAD model, the entities of the group are replaced with block references comprising a pointer to the block definition. The CAD model is thereby compressed.

Abstract: Computer-implemented detail propagation in a CAD model is disclosed. A detail and a reference base set comprising N?1 reference base solids are obtained via user selection. A detail volume to be replicated, encompassing the detail, is automatically computed. The detail volume comprises a surface and for each reference base solid a reference intersection curve of the surface and the reference base solid. A candidate base set comprising N candidate base solids comprising properties compatible with the reference base solids is automatically searched for. The detail volume is automatically mapped onto the candidate base set via a transformation. The mapping of the detail volume is automatically validated via the reference intersection curves. The detail volume is replicated, or replicating of the detail volume is suggested to a user via a visualization means, to replace the corresponding volume at the candidate base set according to the validated mapping.

Abstract: A CAD model represents a structure and comprises a plurality of physical elements. For each of multiple physical elements, an analytical element is generated. One or more connection nodes each associated with two or more analytical elements and comprising an initial spatial configuration are generated. At least one analytical element associated with a connection node is not tangent to the connection node. New spatial configurations for all analytical elements and all connection nodes are computed simultaneously to make analytical elements associated with a connection node tangent to said connection node. In an embodiment, the new spatial configurations may be computed simultaneously via optimization of a cost function based on the spatial configurations of the analytical elements and connection nodes. In an embodiment, a representation of the analytical model may be automatically displayed to a user via a GUI.

Abstract: A region of a CAD model is obtained via user drawing of a boundary for the region in a GUI. The boundary entirely encloses one or more entities and intersects one or more entities. For each intersecting entity, a reference point on the intersecting entity and a reference direction at the reference point are determined. Based on the reference points and reference directions, a candidate set of candidate entities which are spatially compatible with the intersecting entities is searched. A spatial transformation which maps each reference point and reference direction onto a candidate entity of the candidate set is computed. The one or more entirely enclosed entities are replicated according to the spatial transformation, or replication is suggested via a visualization means. In an embodiment, the CAD model is two-dimensional, the intersecting entities are curves, and the reference direction of an intersecting curve is tangent to the intersecting curve.

Abstract: A CAD model comprises a set of at least three subentities. A candidate set of pairwise numerical constraints is obtained for the set of subentities, such that a first graph, representing the subentities of the set of subentities as nodes and the pairwise numerical constraints of the candidate set as edges, is connected. A minimal spanning subset of pairwise numerical constraints is obtained from the candidate set, such that a second graph, representing the subentities of the set of subentities as nodes and the pairwise numerical constraints of the minimal spanning subset as edges, is a spanning tree. A parameter set to parameterize the pairwise numerical constraints of the minimal spanning subset is determined. The parameter set and parametric constraints, based on the parameter set and the numerical values of the numerical constraints of the minimal spanning subset, are added to the CAD model.

Abstract: A CAD model comprises multiple parts forming an assembly. Per part, one or more test directions are determined. Per part and per test direction of the part, a blocking subset of parts is determined. For a part and test direction, a candidate set of candidate parts may be filtered via a view box. Based on the test direction, a ray set of border points associated with the part may be determined. A blocking subset may be determined from the candidate set based on ray tracing in the test direction from the border points of the ray set. A disassembly direction and one or more disassembly parts are selected from said multiple parts and the corresponding test directions based on the determined blocking subsets. An exploded view comprising a relative displacement of the one or more disassembly parts in the disassembly direction is created and displayed via a visualization means.

Abstract: A CAD model comprises an entity comprising an input face comprising a normal direction. Via user input, a translation for the input face in the normal direction is obtained. From the CAD model, a list of faces parallel to the input face is automatically determined. From the list of faces, a snap face comprising a distance along the normal direction to the current position of the input face which is minimal over the list of faces is automatically selected, without acquiring the snap face via user input. Via a visualization means, a snap plane comprising the snap face, and either a coplanar alignment of the input face in the snap plane; or a distance indicator from the input face to the snap plane, are automatically displayed. Via user input, validation of the coplanar alignment or a numerical value for the distance indicator is obtained. The entity is automatically adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: Computer-implemented design of a sheet metal part is disclosed. A digital representation of a sheet metal shell comprising flanges and edges is obtained. A digital representation of a sheet metal part is automatically generated for the sheet metal shell via computation of a spanning tree for a face adjacency graph. The face adjacency graph comprises graph vertices corresponding to flanges and graph edges corresponding to shared edges of the shell. The generated sheet metal part is displayed in a graphical user interface for user editing and/or user acceptance.

Abstract: The current invention concerns a computer-implemented method, a computer system, and a computer program product for annotation positioning in a CAD drawing. A CAD drawing comprising N anchor points is obtained, with N?2. A candidate set comprising multiple candidate points is obtained. From the candidate set, N placement points are selected. With each anchor point, a placement point is associated based on combinatorial optimization of an objective function dependent on distances. Each distance is thereby in between an anchor and a placement point. In the CAD drawing, for each anchor point, a leader line in between the anchor point and the associated placement point and an annotation label at or near the associated placement point are inserted.

Abstract: The current invention concerns a computer-implemented method, a computer system, and a computer program product for the semantic classification of an entity in a building information model (BIM). The BIM comprises multiple target entities. Update data is obtained. For each target entity, geometric information about the target entity is obtained from the BIM. For each target entity, an initial probability distribution of semantic classification is determined based on the obtained geometric information about the target entity. Relative geometric information about the target entities is obtained from the BIM. For each target entity, an updated probability distribution of semantic classification is determined based on the obtained relative geometric information, the initial probability distributions of all target entities, and the update data. For each target entity, a semantic classification is selected based on the updated probability distribution of the target entity.

Abstract: A CAD model comprises an entity comprising an input face comprising a normal direction. Via user input, a translation for the input face in the normal direction is obtained. From the CAD model, a list of faces parallel to the input face is automatically determined. From the list of faces, a snap face comprising a distance along the normal direction to the current position of the input face which is minimal over the list of faces is automatically selected, without acquiring the snap face via user input. Via a visualization means, a snap plane comprising the snap face, and either a coplanar alignment of the input face in the snap plane; or a distance indicator from the input face to the snap plane, are automatically displayed. Via user input, validation of the coplanar alignment or a numerical value for the distance indicator is obtained. The entity is automatically adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a server for positioning a structural element in a 2D section of a CAD structure. The invention is characterized in that at least two distances, each distance in between an alignment line of the structural element and a parallel reference line of the 2D section, are displayed on a user visualization means and dynamically updated as the location of the structural element within the 2D section is changed. In a preferred embodiment, the reference lines are dynamically chosen based on the location of the structural element within the 2D section.

Abstract: A multitude of equal elements is identified in a CAD model. An element is an entity, a feature, a grid, an entity reference, a feature reference or a grid reference. Equal elements comprise an identical element geometry. A regular grid of multiple repetition positions is determined based on insertion positions of equal elements of the multitude. A group of multiple equal elements of the multitude, which comprise an insertion position associated with a repetition position of the regular grid, is replaced in the CAD model with grid data. The grid data comprises a grid insertion position, element data, and element repetition data. The element data may be a pointer to an element definition comprising said identical element geometry. The element repetition data may comprise linearly independent vectors and a number of repetitions according to each vector. Compression and ergonomic subsequent user editing of the CAD model are achieved.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the current invention provides a method for manipulating a computer aided design (CAD) model, comprising the following computer-implemented steps of: —obtaining a composite object comprising a 3D geometry; —defining a 2D cross section of the composite object; —selecting a pattern of an event; —displaying the pattern; —applying modifications to the pattern, whereby the modifications are saved as a 2D patch, directly linked to the 3D geometry. The method according to an embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for linking the maps providing 2D details, used on a construction site, to 3D composite objects and is particularly useful to avoid incompatibilities between the 2D and 3D information. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a computer program product for manipulating a CAD model. In a third aspect, the present invention provides a server for manipulating a CAD model.

Abstract: A CAD model comprises multiple entities. Each entity comprises one or more subentities, wherein a subentity is a vertex, an edge or a face. From the CAD model a group of multiple entities comprising an identical geometry is obtained. This step comprises verifying whether the entities of a pair of entities comprise an identical geometry via sequentially verifying identity conditions of a sequence of multiple identity conditions, until either an identity condition of the sequence fails or all identity conditions of the sequence are verified. Each identity condition is based on the subentities of the pair of entities. A block definition comprising a block geometry based on said identical geometry is created. In the CAD model, the entities of the group are replaced with block references comprising a pointer to the block definition. The CAD model is thereby compressed.

Abstract: The current invention concerns a method, a system, and a computer program product for suggesting a detail in a building information model. Based on an initial identification of a detail in relation to two construction elements in a building information model, the invention provides for suggesting to include the detail in relation to another pairs of elements with partially or fully corresponding properties. Based at least in part on acceptance or refusal, a module based on artificial intelligence is trained in order to decide for further pairs of elements whether to suggest inclusion of the detail.

Abstract: A CAD model comprises multiple parts forming an assembly. Per part, one or more test directions are determined. Per part and per test direction of the part, a blocking subset of parts is determined. For a part and test direction, a candidate set of candidate parts may be filtered via a view box. Based on the test direction, a ray set of border points associated with the part may be determined. A blocking subset may be determined from the candidate set based on ray tracing in the test direction from the border points of the ray set. A disassembly direction and one or more disassembly parts are selected from said multiple parts and the corresponding test directions based on the determined blocking subsets. An exploded view comprising a relative displacement of the one or more disassembly parts in the disassembly direction is created and displayed via a visualization means.

Abstract: A CAD model comprises a set of at least three subentities. A candidate set of pairwise numerical constraints is obtained for the set of subentities, such that a first graph, representing the subentities of the set of subentities as nodes and the pairwise numerical constraints of the candidate set as edges, is connected. A minimal spanning subset of pairwise numerical constraints is obtained from the candidate set, such that a second graph, representing the subentities of the set of subentities as nodes and the pairwise numerical constraints of the minimal spanning subset as edges, is a spanning tree. A parameter set to parameterize the pairwise numerical constraints of the minimal spanning subset is determined. The parameter set and parametric constraints, based on the parameter set and the numerical values of the numerical constraints of the minimal spanning subset, are added to the CAD model.

Abstract: Computer-implemented detail propagation in a CAD model is disclosed. A detail and a reference base set comprising N?1 reference base solids are obtained via user selection. A detail volume to be replicated, encompassing the detail, is automatically computed. The detail volume comprises a surface and for each reference base solid a reference intersection curve of the surface and the reference base solid. A candidate base set comprising N candidate base solids comprising properties compatible with the reference base solids is automatically searched for. The detail volume is automatically mapped onto the candidate base set via a transformation. The mapping of the detail volume is automatically validated via the reference intersection curves. The detail volume is replicated, or replicating of the detail volume is suggested to a user via a visualization means, to replace the corresponding volume at the candidate base set according to the validated mapping.

Abstract: The current invention concerns a computer-implemented method, a computer system and a computer program product for determining a position in a computer-aided design model. The model comprises a multitude of components. A list of at least two spatially extended and user-selected components is obtained. A cursor is displayed on a visualization means to indicate a position within the model. For each spatially extended component of the list, a distance indicator, indicating the smallest distance of said position to the component, is displayed via the visualization means. Upon providing position movement directions via the at least one user input device said position, said cursor location and said distance indicators are dynamically updated accordingly.