7.2 Element Geometry

Expressions that can be applied to any BIM element to retrieve generic measurements like bounding size.

These will typically be prefixed with element, e.g. element.length, in order to make the measurement applicable to any element type, but any specific element type can be used, e.g. wall.length, if the measurement is only required for that type. Restricting the measurement to a single element type does not cause an error – the result of the calculation is simply voided for any other types.

Also refer to section 4.4.4 for more detail about using element geometry in calculations.

level	The base level of the element (from project zero)
width	The element width, typically of the bounding box. Beams and columns return their profile width
depth	The element depth, typically of the bounding box. Beams and columns return their profile width
height	The element height, typically of the bounding box
heightMin	Generally the same as height. The exceptions are walls and columns, which will respond with the least height differential when they have a sloped base/top
heightMax	Generally the same as height. The exceptions are walls and columns, which will respond with the greatest height differential when they have a sloped base/top
length	The element length, interpreted differently according to type. The generic response is the same as width. For linear elements like beams and walls, it returns literally the length along the element path. Columns return height, and slabs return the perimeter length.
volume	The net volume of the element
volumeGross	The gross volume of the element, i.e. ignoring penetrations or other volume subtractions
area	The net area of the element’s bounding polygon
perimeter	The perimeter of the element’s bounding polygon
holeCount	The number of holes in the element’s body
holeSurface	The total surface area of holes in the element’s body
holeVolume	The total volume of holes in the element’s body
surface	The total surface area of the element
surfaceA	Surface area of the element following GRAPHISOFT’s conventions for scheduling
surfaceB	Surface area of the element following GRAPHISOFT’s conventions for scheduling
surfaceC	Surface area of the element following GRAPHISOFT’s conventions for scheduling