How to Load a Map for IFC Model in Autodesk Forge Viewer and Position it at the Exact Location

If you’re working with 3D models and need to visualize them in their real-world context, you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of loading a map for an IFC model in Autodesk Forge Viewer and positioning it at the exact location. Buckle up, and let’s dive in!

What You’ll Need

To follow along, make sure you have the following:

• A 3D IFC model (you can use any 3D modeling software like Revit, AutoCAD, or SketchUp to create one)
• A map file in a compatible format (e.g., GeoJSON, KML, or Shapefile)
• An Autodesk Forge account and access to the Forge Viewer
• Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Step 1: Prepare Your Map File

Before we start, make sure your map file is in a format compatible with Forge Viewer. We recommend using GeoJSON, as it’s a widely supported and lightweight format. If your map file is in a different format, you can use online conversion tools like GeoJSON.io or FME to convert it.

Once you have your map file, create a new folder in your project directory and add the file to it. For this example, let’s assume your map file is named map.geojson and you’ve placed it in a folder called maps.

project directory
maps
map.geojson

Step 2: Create an Autodesk Forge Viewer Instance

Create a new HTML file in your project directory and add the following code to it:

<div id="forgeViewer"></div>
<script>
  var viewer;
  var options = {
    env: 'AutodeskProduction',
    api: 'derivativeV2'
  };
  
  Autodesk.Viewing.Initializer(options, function onInitialized() {
    viewer = new Autodesk.Viewing.Viewer3D(document.getElementById('forgeViewer'));
  });
</script>

This code creates a basic Forge Viewer instance and initializes it with the AutodeskProduction environment and derivativeV2 API.

Step 3: Load the IFC Model

Next, load your 3D IFC model into the Forge Viewer instance using the following code:

viewer.loadModel('https://your-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/models/your_model.ifc', {
  onLoadModel: function(model) {
    console.log('Model loaded!');
  }
});

Replace the https://your-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/models/your_model.ifc URL with the actual URL of your IFC model. This code loads the model into the viewer and logs a success message to the console.

Step 4: Load the Map File

To load the map file, we’ll use the Autodesk.Viewing.GeoMap extension. First, add the extension to your viewer instance:

viewer.extend(Autodesk.Viewing.GeoMap);

Then, load the map file using the following code:

viewer.loadGeoMap('maps/map.geojson', {
  onLoadGeoMap: function(geoMap) {
    console.log('Map loaded!');
  }
});

This code loads the map.geojson file from your maps folder and logs a success message to the console.

Step 5: Position the Model on the Map

To position the model on the map, we need to set the model’s transformation matrix to match the coordinates of the map. We can do this by using the Autodesk.Viewing.GeoMap extension’s getTransform() method.

viewer.geoMap.getTransform().then(function(transform) {
  viewer.model置transform(transform);
});

This code gets the transformation matrix from the map and applies it to the model, positioning it at the exact location.

Putting it All Together

Here’s the complete code for loading a map for an IFC model in Autodesk Forge Viewer and positioning it at the exact location:

<div id="forgeViewer"></div>
<script>
  var viewer;
  var options = {
    env: 'AutodeskProduction',
    api: 'derivativeV2'
  };
  
  Autodesk.Viewing.Initializer(options, function onInitialized() {
    viewer = new Autodesk.Viewing.Viewer3D(document.getElementById('forgeViewer'));
    viewer.extend(Autodesk.Viewing.GeoMap);
    
    viewer.loadModel('https://your-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/models/your_model.ifc', {
      onLoadModel: function(model) {
        console.log('Model loaded!');
        
        viewer.loadGeoMap('maps/map.geojson', {
          onLoadGeoMap: function(geoMap) {
            console.log('Map loaded!');
            viewer.geoMap.getTransform().then(function(transform) {
              viewer.model置transform(transform);
            });
          }
        });
      }
    });
  });
</script>

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter any issues while following this tutorial, here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Check that your map file is in a compatible format and correctly formatted.
• Verify that your IFC model is correctly uploaded to your bucket and the URL is correct.
• Make sure you have the correct Autodesk Forge account and access to the Forge Viewer.
• Check the browser console for any errors and debugging messages.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve shown you how to load a map for an IFC model in Autodesk Forge Viewer and position it at the exact location. By following these steps, you can create stunning 3D visualizations that accurately represent real-world contexts.

Remember to experiment with different map formats, model sizes, and positions to get the most out of this tutorial. Happy coding!

Map Format	Compatibility
GeoJSON	Highly compatible
KML	Compatible with some limitations
Shapefile	Compatible with some limitations

Note: The compatibility of map formats may vary depending on the specific requirements of your project. Be sure to test different formats to ensure the best results.

Frequently Asked Question

Get ready to navigate your IFC model like a pro! Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about loading a map for IFC model in Autodesk Forge Viewer and positioning it at the exact location.