Model formats
The fastest way in is the floor plan as a PDF or a photo. If you already have a model, glTF and GLB come out of SketchUp, Rhino and Blender; IFC from Archicad, Revit or Vectorworks is converted in your browser.
In short
Send the floor plan when you want to start quickly: one sheet per storey, and the geometry is built from it. Send glTF or GLB when your programme exports it — those are display formats and appear in the browser immediately. IFC is converted to GLB in your browser on upload; only the GLB is stored. Export in metres, near the origin, with only the parts you want to see.
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What the formats are for
IFC describes a building as objects with properties: a wall with its axis, thickness and layers, a window with its opening. It is the exchange format of the construction industry, standardised as ISO 16739.
glTF and GLB describe surfaces: triangles, materials, textures. They are made for display and load in a browser without conversion. GLB is the binary form, a single file.
Export settings that save trouble
Metres
Millimetres turn a house into a city. Check the unit before exporting.
Near the origin
Geo-referenced models sit kilometres away from zero, which costs precision. Move the model to the origin on export.
Only what is needed
Reinforcement, fixings and furniture libraries make files large without changing the picture.
One file
glTF with separate textures often arrives incomplete. GLB keeps everything together.
What conversion keeps and what it drops
For display, geometry and colour are used. Properties such as fire rating, U-value or manufacturer are not carried over — the original IFC keeps them and stays untouched.
If the preview looks empty, the export usually was: hidden layers stay hidden, and parts outside the exported storey do not appear.
Frequently asked questions
Which IFC versions do you accept?
IFC 2x3 and IFC 4. IFC files up to 60 MB are converted in your browser; glTF and GLB upload directly up to 95 MB.
How long does conversion take?
Usually a few minutes, depending on size. The preview appears as soon as it is done; you can keep working meanwhile.
Do I need a model at all?
No. A floor plan as PDF or photo is enough: the geometry is read from the drawing and a model is built from it.
More detail is available in German: Model formats (Deutsch)
Next step
How long do you wait for an image today?
Send us a model from a current project, as IFC or GLB. We show you in a video call what VEDUTUM makes of it.
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