Spatial Structure Entity

When you have created one IfcSite or more below the IfcProject, then you need to expand your spatial breakdown structure by defining the rest of the spatial structure entities, like IfcRoad, IfcRoadPart, IfcFacility etc.  How to do this is explained in this section.

When selecting an IfcSite or another Spatial Structure Entity in the Explorer, then the Spatial Structure Entity menu choice will be active. When selecting this, the toolbar shown below opens: 

Working from left to right will allow you to do the following: 

1. In the Task section you can name your Spatial Structure Entity, as well as associate it to any of the IfcSites or other Spatial Structure Entities you have created.
   
   

2. In the Spatial Structure Elements section you can specify attribute values for the Spatial Structure Entity:

   • Entity Type: Here you can choose which of the spatial breakdown entity types you define, like IfcRoad, IfcRoadPart etc. This tool covers all these different spatial entity types.

   • Description: Freetext description of the Spatial Structure Entity.

   • Predefined Type: There are different PredefinedTypes defined in the IFC-schema for different Entity Types. If you choose USERDEFINED, then the Object Type control turns active.

   • Object Type: If you have selected USERDEFINED as the Object Type, then you can specify the Object Type value in this text control

   • Usage Type: Some Entity Types have predefined Usage Types in the IFC-schema that can be selected here.

   • Composition Type: 

     • Complex means that this Spatial Structure Entity is supposed to have more Spatial Structure Entity of the same type below in the hierarchy.

     • Element means that this Spatial Structure Entity doesn't have any other  Spatial Structure Entities of the same type below in the hierarchy.

     • Partial means that this Spatial Structure Entity is a sub-Spatial Structure Entity  of another Spatial Structure Entity of the same type.
       
       

3. The Relationships section allows you to select the relevant objects to be associated with the Spatial Structure Entity. 

   • Contained in Spatial Structure: See explanation for IfcSite above

   • Referenced in Spatial Structure: See explanation for IfcSite above
     
     

Finally the Finish section allows you to Finish or Cancel the Spatial Structure Entity creation. 

Learn more about Spatial Structure Entity and the IFC workflow here.