computer science

Graphisoft

Graphisoft is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Graphisoft rather than just read about it. In short: Graphisoft SE is a European multinational corporation that designs software, and is headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. As a subsidiary of Nemetschek, Graphisoft develops Building Information Modeling software products for architects, interior designers and planners.

Key takeaways

Graphisoft belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Graphisoft to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Graphisoft from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Graphisoft SE is a European multinational corporation that designs software, and is headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. As a subsidiary of Nemetschek, Graphisoft develops Building Information Modeling software products for architects, interior designers and planners. Graphisoft has subsidiaries in Germany, France, Switzerland, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Japan and a representative office in Singapore. The company's flagship product is Archicad — an architectural design software developed since 1984 for Windows and Mac platforms.

History

Foundation In 1982, Graphisoft was established by Gábor Bojár. The Hungarian software developer created terrain modeling software on microcomputers while he was head of a mathematical department at the Geophysical Institute in Budapest. The communist history of Hungary was an important factor in the success of Graphisoft. When private companies had been allowed, Bojár promptly left his job and launched Graphisoft with a competent team. They were all experts in three-dimensional mathematical modeling but had no access to the most modern and efficient computers. This limitation led to the development of 3D modeling software that could be used on low-cost PCs. Then the team provided such software to architects. Since 1984, Graphisoft has been supported by Apple. Steve Jobs was impressed by Graphisoft's capability and the development of the architectural CAD from Bojár in the 2D/3D technology. Therefore, he sent them an Apple computer. This made it possible to create Archicad, the first desktop BIM system and Graphisoft's flagship product. Graphisoft's flagship product, Archicad was introduced in 1987 as the Virtual Building concept, later (2003) regarded as building information modeling (BIM), and allowing architects to draw walls, windows, doors, slabs and roofs — a common feature now of every BIM-based architectural design software. Subsequent Archicad releases introduced other BIM features such as Teamwork, which enabled more architects to work on the same building in parallel, edit functions in three-dimensional model views, and interoperability add-ons to communicate with other applications using IFC — now a de facto standard in data exchange between BIM applications. Graphisoft built a campus north of Budapest, Graphisoft Park. The construction of the technology park began in 1998. Today, it includes the company‘s global headquarters and hosts several technology companies such as Microsoft, SAP and Canon. Graphisoft was introduced to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 1998 and the Budapest Stock Exchange in 2000, and was purchased by Nemetschek AG (Germany) in 2007. In 2013, Graphisoft signed a contract with Nikken Sekkei, to create the BIM Competence & Research Center in order to advance BIM in Japan and Southeast Asia. In 2016, Graphisoft partnered with the company Atlas Cloud to provide a cloud-based access to Archicad. In September 2018, Graphisoft Park expanded by 20,000 square-meters in the cause of its 20th anniversary, lifting the park's total area to 75,000sqm. The new buildings are rented to companies under lease. In addition, Graphisoft Park developed an advanced learning center, the Aquincum Institute of Technology (AIT-Budapest). In April 2019, Graphisoft's CEO Viktor Várkonyi started to manage the Planning and Design Division at Graphisoft's mother company Nemetschek. Huw Roberts was appointed the new CEO of Graphisoft. In June 2019, Graphisoft entered a partnership with Epic Games to launch next-generation real-time rendering solution for its customers. Daniel Csillag was named CEO of Graphisoft in February 2024, succeeding Huw Roberts.

Products

Graphisoft Archicad Archicad is a complex architectural design tool offering 2D and 3D drafting, visualization and documentation functions for architects and planners to create three-dimensional designs and detailed technical documentation, thus enabling architects to use Archicad from the earliest design phases to the technical detail drawings. As of 2023 Archicad is in its 26th generation.

Graphisoft BIM Server Graphisoft's second generation collaboration system lets more architects work on the same building simultaneously with Archicad by allowing them to access and manage the building information model database over the internet. Graphisoft BIM Server is shipped with Archicad from version 13. Available in both private and public cloud configurations on standard hardware. BIMcloud SaaS allows fast, efficient, and secure access to shared projects in real time

Graphisoft MEP Modeler Graphisoft MEP Modeler (Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing) Modeler is an Archicad extension for architects to incorporate duct work and piping into the architectural design. MEP Modeler allows architects to create, edit or import 3D MEP networks and coordinate them with the Building Information Model, facilitating the BIM workflow between engineers and architects.

Graphisoft EcoDesigner Graphisoft EcoDesigner helps architects to use virtual building information to evaluate energy performance, thus the sustainability of the building from the very first concept design. EcoDesigner allows architects to analyze their design for energy efficiency, providing feedback on the building's estimated energy performance.

Graphisoft BIMcloud BIMcloud offers secure, real-time multi-disciplinary collaboration between all project team members regardless of the size or complexity of the project, the location of the offices, or the speed of the internet connection. Available in both private and public cloud configurations on standard hardware.

DDScad Graphisoft merged with sister company DDScad in 2021 to add full MEP capabilities to Archicad. DDScad solutions support users with intelligent Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP) design tools, integrated calculations, and comprehensive documentation of all building systems.

Archicad Collaborate Graphisoft announced Archicad Collaborate on March 21, 2023. The subscription-based offering combines Archicad with BIMcloud Software as a Service (SaaS) for the price of an Archicad subscription. “The included software, services, and cloud technology in Archicad Collaborate offer a compelling advantage over rival BIM solutions in the market where such items are often separated into additional to-purchase options.”

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Graphisoft

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Graphisoft claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Graphisoft before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Graphisoft ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Graphisoft

In research: Graphisoft appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Graphisoft in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Graphisoft is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Companies based in Budapest, Companies in the BUX, Hungarian brands, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Graphisoft outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Graphisoft in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Graphisoft means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Graphisoft out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Graphisoft in simple terms?

Why does Graphisoft matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Graphisoft?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Graphisoft.