Separates referent and alignment layout usages into different referents

src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/alignment/get_alignment_layout_nest.py

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# IfcOpenShell - IFC toolkit and geometry engine
+# Copyright (C) 2025 Thomas Krijnen <thomas@aecgeeks.com>
+#
+# This file is part of IfcOpenShell.
+#
+# IfcOpenShell is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# IfcOpenShell is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+# along with IfcOpenShell.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import ifcopenshell
+from ifcopenshell import entity_instance
+
+def get_alignment_layout_nest(alignment: entity_instance) -> entity_instance:
+    """
+    Searches for the IfcRelNest that contains IfcAlignmentHorizontal, IfcAlignmentVertical, or IfcAlignmentCant
+
+    :param alignment: the alignment 
+    :return: Returns the IfcRelNests containing the alignment layout
+    """
+    layout_types = ["IfcAlignmentHorizontal", "IfcAlignmentVertical", "IfcAlignmentCant"]
+
+    for nest in alignment.IsNestedBy:
+        for related_object in nest.RelatedObjects:
+            if related_object.is_a() in layout_types:
+                return nest
+
+    return None