GIS Integration

Import GIS data and automatically generate IFC models for trees, infrastructure, and terrain.

Overview

BIM AVA integrates GIS data directly into your BIM projects:

• GIS Import - GeoJSON, Shapefile, GeoPackage, KML
• WFS Connection - Direct connection to Web Feature Services
• IFC Generation - Automatic creation of IFC models from GIS points
• Tree Cadastre - 3D trees from point data with species-specific templates

Importing GIS Data

Supported Formats

Format	Extension	Description
GeoJSON	.geojson, .json	Open exchange format
Shapefile	.shp (+ .shx, .dbf)	ESRI standard
GeoPackage	.gpkg	SQLite-based
KML	.kml	Google Earth format

Performing Import

1. Open a project
2. Click "Import GIS" in the toolbar
3. Select your GIS file
4. The system automatically detects:
   • Coordinate system (EPSG code)
   • Geometry type (point, line, polygon)
   • Attributes (columns)
5. Choose the desired action:
   • As Annotations - Points become 3D markers
   • Generate IFC - Create objects as IFC model

Coordinate Systems

Supported reference systems:

EPSG	Name	Usage
25832	ETRS89 / UTM zone 32N	Germany (standard)
4647	ETRS89 / UTM zone 32N (N-zE)	NRW standard
8395	ETRS89 / Gauss-Krüger zone 3	Alternative DE
4326	WGS 84	GPS / International
3857	Web Mercator	Online maps
31467	Gauss-Krüger zone 3	Historical DE

Automatic Transformation

The system automatically transforms to the project coordinate system. Ensure your IFC model is georeferenced.

WFS Connection

Connect directly to Web Feature Services for current geodata.

Connecting to WFS

1. Click "Connect WFS"
2. Enter the WFS URL (e.g., https://geo.example.de/wfs)
3. Click "Connect"
4. Available layers are displayed
5. Select the desired layer
6. Optionally define a bounding box
7. Click "Fetch Data"

Typical WFS Sources

• Land Survey - Topography, buildings
• Tree Cadastre - Municipal tree inventories
• Utility Networks - Supply lines (gas, water, electricity)

Permissions

Some WFS services require authentication. Check the data provider's terms of use.

Generating Trees from GIS

Create 3D tree models from point data with realistic species-specific crowns.

Requirements

Your GIS data should contain the following attributes:

Attribute	Description	Example
X/Y/Z	Coordinates	Automatic from geometry
species	Tree species (Latin/common)	"Quercus robur"
height	Tree height in meters	15.5
crown	Crown diameter	8.0
trunk	Trunk diameter (optional)	0.6

Generating IFC Trees

1. Import GIS point data (see above)
2. Select "Generate IFC Trees"
3. Map the attributes:
   • Species column → Species name
   • Height column → Height
   • Crown column → Crown diameter
4. Choose detail level:
   • Simple - Fast, fewer polygons
   • Detailed - Realistic crowns
5. Click "Generate"

Supported Tree Species

The system includes templates for over 50 tree species:

Deciduous:

• Quercus robur (English Oak)
• Tilia cordata (Small-leaved Lime)
• Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
• Fagus sylvatica (European Beech)
• Betula pendula (Silver Birch)

Coniferous:

• Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine)
• Picea abies (Norway Spruce)
• Larix decidua (European Larch)

Unknown Species

If a tree species is not recognized, a generic deciduous tree template is automatically used.

Generating Infrastructure

Create IFC models for roads, paths, and other infrastructure.

Supported Elements

Element	IFC Type	From GIS Type
Roads	IfcRoad	Line/Polygon
Paths	IfcFooting	Line
Parking	IfcSlab	Polygon
Curbs	IfcCurbElement	Line

Generating Infrastructure

1. Import line or polygon GIS data
2. Select "Generate IFC Infrastructure"
3. Choose the element type (road, path, etc.)
4. Configure:
   • Width (for lines)
   • Material (asphalt, concrete, paving)
   • Layer structure (optional)
5. Click "Generate"

Importing Terrain

For terrain models, use GeoTIFF files:

→ See Terrain for details

Generated IFC Models

Generated IFC models are automatically:

1. Added as a new model in the project
2. Georeferenced to the project coordinate system
3. Displayed in the 3D viewer
4. Available for collision detection

Model Properties

Generated elements contain:

• IFC type (IfcPlant, IfcRoad, etc.)
• Properties from GIS attributes
• Material assignment
• Georeferencing

Hamburg Data Sources

BIM AVA provides pre-configured data sources from the Hamburg Open Data portal for direct import.

Available Sources

Source	Data Type	Description
Street Tree Cadastre	WFS (Points)	All street trees in Hamburg with species, height, and crown diameter
Buildings LoD2	3D Tiles	3D building models at Level of Detail 2
DGM1	WCS (Raster)	Digital terrain model with 1m resolution

Importing Hamburg Data

1. Open a project
2. Click "Import GIS"
3. Select the "Hamburg Open Data" tab
4. Choose the desired data source
5. Define a bounding box for the area of interest
6. Optional: Set a model name
7. Click "Import"

Bounding Box

Always use a bounding box to limit the data volume. Without a bounding box, the import can produce very large datasets.

Street Tree Cadastre

Trees are generated as an IFC model with species-specific 3D crowns:

• Automatic species recognition (German and Latin names)
• Height and crown diameter from original data
• Positioned in UTM 32N (EPSG:25832)

Buildings LoD2

3D building models are imported via 3D Tiles:

• Building footprints with realistic roof shapes
• Automatic conversion to IFC
• Georeferenced in Hamburg's coordinate system

3D Tiles

Import 3D Tile datasets (Cesium format) as IFC models.

Importing 3D Tiles

1. Click "Import 3D Tiles"
2. Enter the tileset URL (e.g., https://example.de/tileset.json)
3. Click "Fetch Info" to check metadata:
   • Bounding box (geographic extent)
   • Number of tiles
   • Geometry types
4. Define a bounding box for the area of interest
5. Set a model name
6. Click "Import"

Supported Formats

Format	Description
B3DM	Batched 3D Model (buildings, infrastructure)
I3DM	Instanced 3D Model (trees, street furniture)

Tile Server

3D Tiles are often provided by municipal geodata portals. Check availability with your geodata provider.

PostGIS Integration (Admin)

For advanced applications, BIM AVA can connect directly to PostGIS databases.

Setting Up Connection

1. Admin Panel → GIS Settings
2. Enter connection details:
   • Host, port, database name
   • Username, password
3. Test the connection
4. Select available tables/views

Queries

-- Example: Trees in an area
SELECT * FROM trees
WHERE ST_Within(geom, ST_MakeEnvelope(x1, y1, x2, y2, 25832))

Administrators Only

Direct PostGIS connection is only available to administrators and requires database access.

Best Practices

Check Coordinate System

Ensure GIS data and IFC model use the same coordinate system so objects are correctly positioned.

Standardize Attribute Names

Use consistent attribute names in your GIS data:

• Height: height, hoehe, h
• Species: species, art, baumart
• Crown: crown, krone, kronendurchmesser

Check Data Quality

Before IFC generation, verify:

• Attribute completeness
• Plausible values (height > 0, crown > 0)
• Correct coordinates within project area

Troubleshooting

Import Failed

1. Check the file format (supported?)
2. Check the coordinate system (EPSG known?)
3. Check the file size (max. 50 MB)
4. Check the geometry (valid objects?)

Wrong Positioning

1. Check the source EPSG of GIS data
2. Check the georeferencing of IFC model
3. Enable coordinate debug in settings

Trees Not Recognized

1. Check attribute names (see above)
2. Check species spelling (Latin or common name)
3. Manually add missing species

See Also

• Annotations - 3D markers from GIS
• Coordinate Tool - Coordinate systems
• Models - Model management
• Collision Detection - Check GIS models