Currently it is not possible to create dedicated "Footing" / foundation elements in OBD. The workaround is to use Beams (for strip foundation) or Columns (for pad foundation). However it's not an ideal situation. Proconcrete of course does offer the different types of foundations.

I'd love to see specific tools for creating different foundation types, based on the ifcFootingTypeEnum:

• FOOTING_BEAM: Is very similar to any other beam, but will automatically have the correct DG assignment and more importantly the proper IFC classification

• PAD_FOOTING: Similar placement as for a column, but it would be nice if it were possible to automatically position those based on a selection of columns

• PILE_CAP: the difference with PAD_FOOTING for placement is mainly the shape. Where a pad foundation usually has a rectangular footpring, a pile cap will often have triangular based (in case of 3 piles) or "I" shaped (in case of 2 piles) footprint. The ability to load and edit these shapes, maybe even parametically would be a necessity

• STRIP_FOOTING: These should be able to be placed by selection of one or more walls. This can be a simple rectangular cross section, or a more complex one. Cells with "Placement point" could be a good way to define the cross section. Then the placement point could be alligned with either the inside, outside or center of the selected walls.

Then there is the question of the "BASESLAB", which is a subtype of ifcSlab. In my opinion it's not really necessary to add this as a separate tool. But it could be handy if the ribbon "Structural", category "Foundations" would also feature a button that launches the proper tool.

Last in the list are the foundation piles "ifcPile". Again, very similar to an already-existing tool (place Structural Column). But it is a different category in IFC. Also it's closely related to the other foundation types (like pile cap, foundation beam between pile caps, ...)

Apart from creating those elements it will also be of importance to add the required "Pset_..." and "Qto_..." property sets for the IFC export.