Digital Alchemy BIM Tools for Microsoft Office

Digital Alchemy is preparing to launch a suite of applications for the building design and construction industry.  These products make the creation and use of Building Information Models (BIMs) much easier than it is in any currently available product.  Each product is built to run inside a Microsoft Office application because these product platforms are ubiquitous and virtually the entire building industry knows how to use them.  These products are scheduled for release in early of 2007.

· IFC Model Exchange for Microsoft Visio

· BIM Driven Quantity Takeoff for Microsoft Excel

· Space Layout Editor for Microsoft Visio

Each of these is briefly described below.

IFC Model Exchange for Microsoft Visio

This application installs as a vertical market extension to Microsoft Visio in much the same way as the Enterprixe client extends AutoCAD or ADT.  When installed, users can use Visio in exactly the same way as they always have, to create plan drawings.  The IFC Model Exchange module is able to correctly interpret the objects and relationships in the drawing to create IFC BIM models.  The module is also able to import IFC models and create plan drawings in Visio.  This module will enable end users to create IFC models more quickly and easily than with any product currently in the market.

Key features:

· IFC Model import and export

· IFC model properties support equal to the best of any CAD interface for IFC

· Easy to use, intuitive user interface

· Update Masters feature that IFC-enables any
Visio shape created by end users

BIM Driven Quantity Takeoff for Microsoft Excel

This tool installs as an extension to Microsoft Excel.  It enables users to quickly and accurately perform quantity takeoffs from IFC BIM models.  When combined with industry cost data from RS Means, users are able to generate cost estimates directly from BIM models and even to assess the cost impact of design changes or design alternatives.

Key Features:

· IFC BIM model driven takeoff

· Easy to use

· Integration with RS Means cost
data planned

Space Layout Editor for Microsoft Visio

This tool installs as an extension to Microsoft Visio.  It provides an easy-to-use user interface for the early stage creation and manipulation of space objects, based on the building owner/client requirements captured in Microsoft Excel.

Key Features:

· Ease of use

· Automatic space object generation, based on client space program in Excel (most common)

· Generates IFC BIM spaces model