This course has been designed to teach you how to apply Building Information Modelling (BIM) concepts while using Vectorworks Landmark. It is becoming more common to use BIM concepts with landscaping. Vectorworks has several powerful tools that allow you to create more than just objects. For example, instead of just creating an area of paving, we could be creating a hardscape area that has border paving and a main area paving. This hardscape object could also be sloped, it could also modify our site, and you could report the main area of paving as well as the border paving. When you change this hardscape object in the design your report will stay up-to-date.
Learning Outcomes
In this course you will :
- Learn how to start a project and set up the file.
- Learn how to use the Vectorworks modeling tools for conceptual design.
- Learn how to create and control a site model.
- Learn how to create a building.
- Learn how to use Landscape Areas to create a budget.
- Learn how to create plants and control plant graphics.
- Learn how to create and link drawings together.
- Learn how to create reports and export BIM Information
Before you start this course I expect you to have completed the Vectorworks Foundation course.
Course Introduction
This movie is an introduction to the course and will show you the structure of the course and the learning outcomes.
When completing this course,watch the movie first, watch the movie as you carry out the exercises in the movie, then watch the complete movie again.
Module 1
Lesson 1.1 File Setting Up
In this lesson we will learn how to start a new project so that it has the working units that we require. We will also learn about basic snapping and how to set up our page areas for printing.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn how to create a new document.
- Learn how to set up the required units.
- Learn how to choose the required snap options.
- Learn how to set up page areas for printing.
When completing these exercises, watch the movie first, watch the movie as you carry out the exercises in the movie, then watch the complete movie again.
Lesson 1.2 – Text Styles and Dimension Standards
In this lesson we will start to create an office template by creating text styles and dimensions standards that suit your office practices. Creating text styles and dimensions standards will ensure that your drawings are consistent with the annotation and dimensioning.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn how to create text styles.
- Learn how to assign text styles.
- Learn how to edit text syles.
- Learn how to create custom dimension standards and connect text styles to them.
When completing these exercises, watch the movie first, watch the movie as you carry out the exercises in the movie, then watch the complete movie again.
Lesson 1.3 – Classes And Design Layers
In this lesson we will start to create an office template by creating text styles and dimensions standards that suit your office practices. Creating text styles and dimensions standards will ensure that your drawings are consistent with the annotation and dimensioning.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learned when to use Classes.
- Learned when to use Design Layers.
- Learned how to create Classes and Design Layers.
- Learned how to control class and layer options.
When completing these exercises, watch the movie first, watch the movie as you carry out the exercises in the movie, then watch the complete movie again.
Lesson 1.4 – Creating A Template
A well-made template will make your projects more efficient. In this lesson you will learn how to create a template, which resources should be included in the template, and which resources should be stored in your library.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn how to control tool defaults.
- Learn how to save a template file.
Module 2
Lesson 2.1 – Importing Information
You will receive information from a variety of sources, so it is important to understand how you can import the various types.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to import PDF files.
- Learn how to import DXF/DWG files.
- Learn how to calibrate imported information.
Lesson 2.2 – Creating A Site Model
A site model is a 3D representation of the site data. You can use the site model to create cut and fill calculations, solar studies, planting, area analysis, etc. It it a fundamental part of BIM.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to use imported information for site modelling.
- Learn how to use Stake Objects for site modelling.
- Learn how to create and control site models.
- Learn how to control site model graphics.
Lesson 2.3 – Creating a Property Line
The property line is the edge of your building site. It’s important to learn how to create a property line because the property line can be used to show the extent of the site on the site model and it can also be used to limit the extent of your site modifications.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to create a simple Property Line.
- Learn how to create a complex Property Line.
- Learn how to create a Property Line from a polygon.
- Learn how to control the Property Line graphics
- Learn how to use the Property Line on a site model.
Lesson 2.4 – Creating Massing Models
Massing models are a great way of creating the context for your project. Massing models are simple three-dimensional objects that can be used to display the adjoining buildings. We will also learn how to place a sun (Heliodon), place a camera, and use these to create a solar study.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to create a Massing Model.
- Learn how to use classes to control Massing Model graphics.
- Learn how to place a sun (Heliodon).
- Learn how to place a Camera.
- Learn how to create a solar study.
Module 3
Lesson 3.1 – Creating Walls
It may seem a bit architectural to learn about creating walls, but you will use walls and a landscape project. In this lesson you will learn how to create walls for a building, which could also be used in your landscape projects.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to create walls.
- Learn how to create doors and windows.
Lesson 3.2 – Creating Roofs
A Building without roofs and slabs is only half built. To finish our building, we need to create roofs and slabs.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to create simple roofs.
- Learn how to create complex roofs.
- Learn how to create floors and slabs.
- Learn how to fit walls to objects.
Lesson 3.3 – Linking The Building To The Site
We need to have the building shown on the site in the correct plan location and at the correct elevation. There is more than one way to do this, we will look at both methods in this lesson.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to link the building to the site model.
- Learn how to control the elevation of the building.
- Learn how to show the building and site model together.
- Learn how to recreate the solar study.
Lesson 3.4 – Site Modifiers
Site modifiers are the objects that can change the site model. This allows you to modify the site model to show changes to it, create cut and fill calculations, and bring your vision to life.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn about the concept of site modifiers.
- Learn how to control site modifies.
- Learn how to use hardscapes as site modifiers.
Module 4
Lesson 4.1 – Creating Landscape Areas
In this lesson we will look at the concept of landscape areas and learn why they are so efficient. We will create the areas we need to start our budget plan.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to create landscape areas.
- Learn how to assign costs to landscape areas.
- Learn how to assign plants to landscape areas.
Lesson 4.2 – Creating Hardscape Areas
We looked quickly at hardscapes in a previous lesson. In this lesson we will look at hardscapes in detail.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to create hardscape areas.
- Learn how to assign costs to hardscape areas.
- Learn how to slope hardscape areas.
- Learn how to use a hardscape area as a site modifier.
Lesson 4.3 – Creating Reports
Reporting is a fundamental part of Vectorworks. In this lesson you will learn how to create a report from the landscape and hardscape areas we’ve already created. This report will pick up the prices we have already assigned to objects and give us an overall budget price. You can use this concept of the reporting in many, many parts of your design.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to create reports on landscape areas.
- Learn how to format reports.
- Learn how to create a hardscape area report.
- Learn how to combine reports.