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AEC Free Software directory: (https://wiki.osarch.org/index.php?title=AEC_Free_Software_directory)

  1. M by Moult on 3 Feb 2020, edited 1 Mar 2025 # +9 votes

    think it would be great to have a directory of 100% free software (e.g. Honeybee is free, but currently coupled with Rhino, which is proprietary - although I heard the devs are making it agnostic!) that could be used at various stages of the design and construction pipeline. Here's a list of what I know so far, please let me know if there are others!

    The end goal is a directory with a short description and image for each, and some form of category.

    Blender - Polygonal 3D modeling, animation, and rendering

    FreeCAD - Parametric, constraint-based solid modeling and analysis for industrial design

    Tissue - Create parametric and tesselated panels in Blender

    Sverchok - Parametric and algorithmic or generative design with Blender, similar to Grasshopper

    ArchiPack - Quickly model parametric architectural objects in Blender

    BlenderBIM Add-on - Read, write, and management of IFC data with Blender

    Measure-it - Create 3D measurements in Blender

    IfcOpenShell - A C++ and Python library for manipulating IFC data for programmers

    BIMServer - An online server to view and manage IFC files, similar to BIM360

    Radiance - Scientifically validated light simulation for light engineering

    EnergyPlus - Scientifically validated energy analysis platform

    OpenFOAM - Computational fluid dynamics analysis platform

    ParaView - Scientific visualisation platform for analysis results

    Code_Aster - Numerical simulation for structural mechanics

    Flexible Collision Library - Allows interrogation of geometry clashes

    BIMTester - Write unit tests to perform quality auditing of IFC data

    IFCDiff - Compare changes between two IFC files

    IFCCOBie - Convert COBie data from an IFC file to spreadsheet format

    BIMSurfer - Web-based IFC model viewer

    BRL-CAD - Command based solid modeling platform

    I have probably missed quite a few, so please feel free to add your own!

  1. M by Moult on 5 Feb 2020 #

    @magicalcloud_75 - just to clarify, this is for "free" software, as in software that promotes the freedom of industries and users. This is not to do with the price tag :)

    I did not see any free software license for BricsCAD Shape - unless I missed something?

    Notepad++ is indeed free software, have you got a link to the IFC add-on for it? I'd love to add it to the list.

  1. M by magicalcloud_75 on 4 Feb 2020 # +3 votes

    BricsCAD Shape : great for 2D / 3D Dwg editor

    Eats Sketchup files too

    Notepad++ (Addon for IFC amd LISP)

  1. M by magicalcloud_75 on 6 Feb 2020, edited 6 Feb 2020 # +1 votes
  1. B by bitacovir on 7 Feb 2020 # +3 votes

    sweethome3d

    LibreCAD

    QCAD

    MeshLab

    IFC++

    xBIM Xplorer

    GIMP

    Hugin

    Inkscape

    Scribus

    LibreOffice

    OpenProj

    Freeplane

    PDFSAM (basic)

    PDFedit

    LuxRender

    Mitsuba Render

    Applessed Render

    ODS Studio (basic CFD in Blender)

    Meshroom (photogrammetric)

    OpenStudio

    ShareX (screenshot)

  1. M by Moult on 7 Feb 2020 #

    Fantastic! I can start the process of setting up an application directory. @bitacovir can you provide a short 1 sentence description of each one as well as a link? That would speed up the process of me compiling it into a searchable directory.

    Any suggestions on categories which would be useful?

  1. B by bitacovir on 7 Feb 2020 # +4 votes

    Ok. I will suggest an architecture design workflow stages as 3 main categories. and then, sub categories. But, try to keep few groups. For example:

    Schematic / Preliminary design / Information Gathering

    Concept Design

    Presentation (this can be refereed to the second subcategory)

    GIS software

    Design Development / Construction documents / Technical Design

    2D CAD

    3D CAD / BIM

    Analysis (Structural, Sustainable, etc)

    Graphic Presentation

    Office /Construction Administration

    Office software

    Gantt

    Diagrams

    Sweethome3d (Interior Design application for furniture layout design - http://www.sweethome3d.com/ )

    LibreCAD = 2D CAD software https://librecad.org/ )

    QCAD = 2D CAD software https://qcad.org/en/)

    MeshLab = 3D meshes processing software http://www.meshlab.net/

    QGIS = Geographic Information system https://www.qgis.org/en/site/

    IFC++ = IFC Viewer https://ifcquery.com/

    xBIM Xplorer = IFC Viewer http://docs.xbim.net/downloads/xbimxplorer.html

    GIMP = Photo Editor software https://www.gimp.org/

    Hugin = panoramic Photo Tool http://hugin.sourceforge.net/

    Inkscape = vector graphic editor https://inkscape.org/

    Scribus = Page layout program https://www.scribus.net/

    LibreOffice = alternative office suit, for all platforms https://www.libreoffice.org/

    OpenProj = Gantt software for project management https://sourceforge.net/projects/openproj/

    Freeplane = mind map software for diagrams and mind maps https://www.freeplane.org/wiki/index.php/Home

    PDFSAM = PDF editor for Split and Merge files https://pdfsam.org/

    PDFedit = PDF editor http://pdfedit.cz/en/index.html

    LuxRender = external Rendering engine for 3D files https://luxcorerender.org/

    Mitsuba = external Rendering engine for 3D files http://www.mitsuba-renderer.org/

    Applessed = external Rendering engine for 3D files https://appleseedhq.net/

    ODS Studio = Plugin for Blender to perform CFD analysis https://www.ods-engineering.com/tools/ods-studio/download/

    Meshroom = 3D photogrametric software for 3D reconstruction and camera tracking https://alicevision.org/

    OpenStudio= suite of free and open-source software applications for building energy analysis https://www.openstudio.net/

    ShareX = screenshot and screencast program https://getsharex.com/

  1. B by bitacovir on 9 Feb 2020 # +2 votes
  1. J by Jesusbill on 9 Feb 2020 #

    Great list of software!! I am providing some more related to structural engineering or engineering modeling/simulation:

    OpenSees - (opensees.berkeley.edu): A software framework for developing applications to simulate the performance of structural and geotechnical systems subjected to earthquakes

    FDS - (github.com/firemodels/fds): Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) is a large-eddy simulation (LES) code for low-speed flows, with an emphasis on smoke and heat transport from fires

    Syrthes - (https://www.edf.fr/en/the-edf-group/world-s-largest-power-company/activities/research-and-development/scientific-communities/simulation-softwares?logiciel=10818): A general thermal software dedicated to transient thermal simulations in complex solid geometries including radiation

    Code Saturne - (code-saturne.org): A numerical solver for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations

  1. M by Moult on 9 Feb 2020 #

    Add a couple more to the list:

    CloudCompare - Point cloud manipulation and processing software

    COLMAP - Point cloud to mesh convert using photogrammetry

    JOSM - Download and edit OpenStreetMap GIS data

    I'll find some free time to set up a directory on the main site either this week or next.

  1. B by bitacovir on 14 Feb 2020 # +2 votes
  1. R by ReD_CoDE on 17 Feb 2020 #
  1. B by bitacovir on 4 Mar 2020 #
  1. M by Moult on 4 Mar 2020 #

    Wow, fantastic @bitacovir - do you know if OpenProject implements the OpenCDE spec and the BCF-API specification? That would allow integration of issue management tools and authoring programs.

  1. M by Moult on 4 Mar 2020 #

    Do others here think it's a good idea if I set up wiki.osarch.org? This directory can be moved there, along with individual pages for each application, links to tutorials, where to find support...

  1. J by Jesusbill on 4 Mar 2020 #

    I think yes

  1. J by Jesusbill on 4 Mar 2020 #
  1. B by bitacovir on 5 Mar 2020 #

    <p>Wow, fantastic <a class="atMention" data-username="bitacovir" data-userid="19" href="https://community.osarch.org/profile/bitacovir">@bitacovir</a> - do you know if OpenProject implements the OpenCDE spec and the BCF-API specification? That would allow integration of issue management tools and authoring programs.</p>Sorry. No idea.

  1. R by ReD_CoDE on 5 Mar 2020 #

    Just choosing a tool because it's opensource (indeed, somewhat open source) or because it's related to our friends is not a logical way

    For me OpenProject is an average project and there's a better solution than it

    Researching and finding the best solution is more important that just choosing a solution and "go the wrong way"

  1. S by shanmama on 8 Mar 2020 # +1 votes

    XBIM，like this

    image.png

  1. S by shanmama on 8 Mar 2020 # +1 votes

    <p>Great list of software!! I am providing some more related to structural engineering or engineering modeling/simulation:</p><p>OpenSees - (opensees.berkeley.edu): A software framework for developing applications to simulate the performance of structural and geotechnical systems subjected to earthquakes</p><p>FDS - (<a href="https://github.com/firemodels/fds" rel="nofollow">github.com/firemodels/fds): </a>Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) is a large-eddy simulation (LES) code for low-speed flows, with an emphasis on smoke and heat transport from fires</p><p>Syrthes - (<a href="https://www.edf.fr/en/the-edf-group/world-s-largest-power-company/activities/research-and-development/scientific-communities/simulation-softwares?logiciel=10818" rel="nofollow">https://www.edf.fr/en/the-edf-group/world-s-largest-power-company/activities/research-and-development/scientific-communities/simulation-softwares?logiciel=10818</a>): A general thermal software dedicated to transient thermal simulations in complex solid geometries including radiation</p><p>Code Saturne - (code-saturne.org): A numerical solver for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations</p>OpenSees is a kind of FEM software. My master thesis used it to calculate model. But now I am learning construction management lol

  1. J by Jesusbill on 8 Mar 2020 #

    Yeah, I took the description directly from OpenSeesWiki but it is a bit too general. Essentially yes it is a finite element solver for structural engineering. There are a couple of projects for python versions of opensees, nowadays, perhaps in the future we can connect it to the "ifc2ca" project

  1. R by ReD_CoDE on 14 Mar 2020 # +3 votes

    I add some Open Source tools was shared privately

    I'll try to share things publicly most and less privately

    Cesium (https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium) JS-based 3D Globes and Maps

    Terria.io (https://github.com/TerriaJS) An Australian startup based on Cesium, which these days work directly in and with Cesium team

    PlayCanvas (https://github.com/playcanvas/engine) A game engine based on HTML5 and WebGL which cooperates with Mozilla

    Webcodesk (https://github.com/webcodesk/webcodesk-srv) A front-end visual development tool for React applications

  1. B by bitacovir on 16 Mar 2020 #

    OpenOrienting: https://www.openorienteering.org/ Collection of tools (opensource and free) which help with the creation of orienteering maps and the organization of orienteering events.

  1. B by bitacovir on 16 Mar 2020 # +1 votes
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