Mixed Concept – Teamwork and Linked Files Combined
The previously described project sharing methods can be combined to provide the best possible collaboration solution for very large and complex projects.
Let’s illustrate the complex project sharing capabilities of ARCHICAD with two examples.
The first project is a hospital building that is composed of four well-separated units. Since each unit is different in size, shape and function, the logical setup is to divide the BIM model into four parts. Each unit is saved as a standalone Teamwork project, so four independent project teams can work in parallel without disturbing each other’s work.
In addition to the hospital unit modules, a fifth Teamwork project is created to accommodate the site plan model. The five files are hotlinked into the main project model file which stores the entire building model, and which is also a Teamwork project. Furthermore, the individual units can be temporarily hotlinked to each other to ensure the correct connection between them. The main project model is managed by the project architect and the BIM model manager.
Since the project has a very extensive documentation set that would significantly increase the size of the model file, the Layout book is stored in a separate Teamwork project. This solution also allows the documentation team to work independently from the modeling team. The drawings are published as individual PMK files into the Layout Book file and updated only when necessary: this reduces the time needed to update the entire documentation.
Project Sharing Example 1
Our second project is a high-rise office building consisting of two towers. The floor plans of most of the stories are completely identical; moreover, typical office units are planned throughout the whole building.
As with Example 1 above (the hospital project), this office project involves individual Teamwork projects used to host the site plan, the main project model and the Layout Book. However, in this project, the typical stories are contained in a module file that is hotlinked to the main model file. Furthermore, the typical office units are also saved as modules and hotlinked to the typical floor module, resulting in a multiple-level hotlink hierarchy. Finally, the external shell and the core of the building constitute another standalone Teamwork project, so that the modeling and visualization team can work on a significantly smaller 3D model.
Project Sharing Example 2