Nemetschek Presents First Universal Viewing Tool for IFC
Columbia, Maryland (May 4, 2007)-Nemetschek North America announced today that its parent company, The Nemetschek Group, has released new software for viewing IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) building models.
The Nemetschek IFC Viewer enables project members to verify and coordinate planning data in a simple manner. The advantage to users is that no special software is required, as the viewer runs as a stand-alone solution. The recently-released public beta of the VectorWorks IFC v.2x3 plug-in allows VectorWorks users to create files that can be opened in the IFC Viewer. The Nemetschek IFC Viewer is available for the Windows platform only, and is a free download on the Nemetschek North America web site.
"The market launch of the IFC Viewer underpins our strategy of driving IFC forward as a powerful future format for the exchange of component-oriented data," says Michael Westfahl, member of the managing board responsible for sales and marketing at The Nemetschek Group. "We are, thus, pioneers not only in the implementation of open data standards, but also in the development of tools for practical, everyday use. The IFC format is designed to facilitate communication between our three core products: Allplan, VectorWorks, and ArchiCAD. It complements Nemetschek's strategy of establishing an additional independent data exchange format for the building industry, besides PDF."
Open data exchange between planners and building clients The Nemetschek IFC Viewer was jointly developed with the Karlsruhe Research Center's Institute for Applied Computer Science (IAI), iai.fzk.de/english/
In addition to offering pure visualization capabilities, users can also use this tool to perform analyses and generate schedules for doors, windows, and rooms. Furthermore, building models can be exported from the IFC Viewer to Google(TM) Earth, to visualize how they would fit into their intended environment.
With the Nemetschek IFC Viewer, simple building coordination processes that include all the members of a project are well within reach. For example, architects can send a model to their building clients as an IFC file. The client opens the file in the IFC Viewer and obtains access to all the building information without having to use complex, specialized software or deal with vendor-specific formats. Therefore, users can communicate more efficiently and more easily with all the members of a team.
VectorWorks users may download the IFC Viewer and IFC v. 2x3 plug-in at www.nemetschek.net/architect/IFC_viewer.php
About Nemetschek
The Nemetschek Group is a leading international IT company in the AEC sector (Architecture, Engineering, Construction). The software company develops integrated solutions for the complete life cycle of buildings and real estate - from building design and construction through to facility management. The company's products are currently used by more than 270,000 companies in 142 countries and in 16 languages to optimize the complete building creation and management process in terms of quality, cost and time. Nemetschek was founded in 1963 by Prof.
Nemetschek and has more than 1,000 employees worldwide (2007). In fiscal
2006 the group achieved sales of 107.5 million euros. For more information, see www.nemetschek.com
Nemetschek North America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of European software giant Nemetschek AG. A global leader in design technologies, Nemetschek N.A. has been developing CAD software for the AEC, entertainment, landscape design, and manufacturing fields since 1985.
VectorWorks, its flagship product, is one of the world's best-selling cross-platform CAD applications. An all-in-one solution that's easier to learn and use and more cost-effective than most other CAD programs, VectorWorks is ideal for firms that don't have unlimited IT budgets. For more information, visit www.nemetschek.net Michelle Ervin
Marketing Manager Nemetschek North America 7150 Riverwood Drive Columbia, MD 21046 USA
410-290-5114, ext. 719 mervin@nemetschek.net
