4.3 Split Building

Available with the Following Subscriptions: All Subscriptions
Available for the Following Roles: All Roles

The Split Building tool allows users to split imported BIM Models' Elements into multiple separate BIM Elements, and assign each to different Milestones. For example for sequencing concrete pour, a single slab can be split into multiple sections or a single concrete core can be split by level.

💡 If you prefer to follow along a video, there is a video at the bottom of the page on this topic

In this article we cover:

• Using Split Building
• Creating a New Split
• Editing a Split
• Deleting a Split

Using Split Building

The Split Building feature requires a selection of BIM Elements to split and a splitting object. The selection of BIM Elements to split must all belong to the same BIM Model, after the splitting operation the resulting new BIM Elements will appear in 3D and under the BIM Model in the tree. 

A BIM Model can have multiple Splits, which -along with sequencing to Milestones- are maintained when Duplicating a Scenario. However if a Split is edited after its associated BIM Elements have been sequenced to Milestones, the sequencing may need to be updated.

There are 3 ways to initiate the Split Buildings tool

1. Launch a BIM Model's side sheet by right clicking it from the tree and selecting Edit BIM Model or right click a BIM Element in 3D (1) and select Edit BIM Model. On the side sheet that appears for the BIM Model click the Split button (2). 
   
   
   
   
2. From the Buildings section (1) of the tool bar, select Split Building (2). Select which BIM Model you want to split (3), then click the Split button (4).
   
   
3. From the Buildings section (1) of the tool bar, select Split Building (2). Click the 3 dots menu (5) for the BIM Model you want to split, then select New Split (6).

Creating a New Split

After launching the Building Split tool, users will need to select the geometry to split and define the splitting object.

1. From the Buildings section (1) of the tool bar, select Split Building (2). Select which BIM Model you want to split (3), then click Split (4).
   
   
   
   
2. By default, the Objects to split card (1) will be active when the Split Building tool is launched. Select BIM Elements from 3D (2) or from the BIM Model in the tree. They will be added to a list on the "Objects to split" card (1). Only enclosed objects should be selected, do not select open geometry. To remove a BIM Element from the list of "Objects to split", simply click the red X next to the item in the "Objects to Split card" (1).
   
   
   
   
3. Splitting elements are created using a sketch. Click Create Line (3) to choose an object to host the sketch, then sketch lines/arcs/polygons. The sketched geometry will appear as blue dashed line(s) (4) on the plane of the sketch. In the example above the sketch was placed on the top slab (4), "Project" "Snap" and "Offset" were used while sketching to align line endpoints with 3D geometry, multiple splitting elements within a single sketch are allowed.
   
   
4. (Optional) before clicking confirm you can preview the split in 3D by clicking the Generate Preview button (5, above). Preview mode color codes the geometry in 3D so users may visualize the Split before confirming. To Remove the color coding, click Remove Preview (1, below)
   
   
   
   
5. Click confirm (2). The Splitting Element(s) (sketch geometry) will be projected through all selected BIM Elements, splitting all BIM Elements' geometry and tree objects in to multiple discrete pieces. In the tree an icon for the split element will  appear next to the element’s name.
   
   

Review the results of the Split in 3D and the tree (2). The BIM Model's card (1) will report the number of BIM Elements supplied as inputted "Objects to split" as well as the number of elements resulting after the split. Click Done (3) to exit.



💡 Note: It is possible for a BIM Model to be Split more than once. The process to create additional Splits of a BIM model is the same as creating the first Split. All of a building's Splits are listed (1) under their host BIM Model, in the Split Buildings tab (2). Clicking on a Split card (1) will highlight the associated BIM Elements in 3D and the tree.

Editing a Model Split

It is possible to edit an existing Split operation, both the selection of BIM Elements and the Splitting Geometry can be updated. To edit an existing Split launch the Buildings Split command as if to create a new Split, then select one of the existing Splits to edit.

💡 Note: Editing a Split may remove Milestone sequencing and properties of split elements.

1. From the Buildings section (1) of the tool bar, select Split Building (2). Alternatively, right click a BIM Model from the tree or 3D and select Edit BIM Model. On the side sheet that appears for the BIM Model click the Split button. When the Split Buildings side panel appears, find the Split you want to edit, click the 3 dots menu and select "Edit split set".
   
   
2. Modifying the selection of BIM Elements whose geometry will be split can be done by clicking "Objects to split" card (1) to show the list of objects. BIM Elements can be added to this list by selecting them from the tree or 3D. To remove a BIM Element from the list of "Objects to split" click the red X (2) next to the item in the "Objects to split" card.
   
   
   
   
3. Splitting geometry can be edited by clicking the "Splitting object" card (1). To edit existing "Splitting objects" click the pencil icon (2) next to the object, this will launch the sketch editor where changes can be made. Existing "Splitting objects" can also be deleted by clicking the Red X next to the pencil (2). It is also possible to add new additional "Splitting objects" by clicking Create Line (3) to launch the sketch editor for a new sketch. Once in sketch edit-mode the sketch itself can be repositioned by clicking the "Sketch on" drop down and selecting "Object", click the surface upon which you wish to sketch, this is also relevant when editing the sketch of existing "Splitting objects".
   
   
   

Deleting a Split Operation

It is possible to delete an existing Split operation. To delete an existing Split, launch the Buildings Split command as if to create a new Split, then select one of the existing Splits to delete. The BIM Elements used in the Split operation will no longer be associated to any Milestones, and will need to be sequenced again after deleting the Split. Properties of the BIM Elements will also be reset.

1. From the Buildings section (1) of the tool bar, select Split Building (2). Alternatively, right click a BIM Model from the tree or 3D and select "Edit BIM Model". On the side sheet that appears for the BIM Model click the Split button. When the Split Buildings side panel appears, find the Split you want to delete, click the 3 dots menu and select "Delete split set".
   
   
   
   Alternatively when the "Split Buildings" side panel appears, find the Split you want to delete, click the 3 dots menu and select "Edit split set". From the bottom right corner of the "Split buildings" panel, click the Trash can button (1) to delete the Split.
   
   
   
   
2. After clicking Delete, a confirmation prompt will appear where you can confirm the delete action. Click the Yes, Delete button to confirm. The tree and 3D geometry for any BIM Elements provided as "Objects to split", will revert back to their original state, unless they are also a part of other Split operations.

Tips & FAQ:

Model Split General Tips:

• Only enclosed objects can be split. Open objects must be split outside cmBuilder.
• Updating the model will permanently remove all associated split operations.
• Editing a split may remove sequencing and properties of split elements.
• Deleting a split operation cannot be undone
  

User Workshop video covering Split Building:

Follow along this video to learn how to use the Split Building (Geometry) tool