by: Joseph Ales

feature focus
Cross-Discipline

Navisworks is Not Just for Clash

Detection

➲
Introduction
As soon as one hears the term Navisworks, they
automatically think clash detection. That is really
a shame because there are several other uses of the
product that provide great value to the user. The
purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the uses and
benefits of Navisworks, and how one can incorporate Navisworks
into the production workflow. In simple terms, Navisworks is a
software package used for reviewing and communicating infor-
mation about a 3D model. Pretty much any 3D file format can be
read into Navisworks and multiple models can be combined into
one file. As a model develops over the course of design, it can be
refreshed in the same Navisworks file, negating the need to re-as- Figure 2 - Model Imported as a nwc file
semble models from scratch each time Navisworks is used.
When exporting as a dwg file from Revit, remember to select
Navisworks in your Production Workflow ACIS Solids in the export options if you want to be able to select
In a typical situation a user will create a 3D model. This may be discrete model elements.
a model created in Revit, a model created in AutoCAD, a model
created in Sketchup, or perhaps in 3DS Max. You can also bring You may also have project information in 3D models other than
in your structural analysis model. In order to get the model into Revit. When we design our retractable roofs, we often detail
Navisworks you can either just read the file in, if it is a file format complex structural steel connections in TEKLA Structures. We
that Navisworks reads natively, or you will need to export the will export these connections from TEKLA in IFC format and
file in a proper format. For example, if you are using Revit, you then bring them into Navisworks and combine them with our
will need to export the file since Navisworks does not currently primary structural model in order to view all model information
read native .rvt files. Your typical export format options would at once. This process is also used to bring in the geometrically
be either as a dwg file, or as an nwc file. The primary difference complex parts of a project that may have been modeled in 3DS
between these two formats is the way the model information is Max or similar programs. The terrain as shown in Figures 1
categorized. A dwg export will categorize the model in layers, and 2 was brought in from Google Earth to Sketchup, and then
whereas the nwc file will categorize per project level. See Figures appended to the Navisworks model.
1 and 2.
Another excellent use of Navisworks is to compare the BIM and
structural analysis models. Unfortunately in most cases our BIM
model and analysis models are separate models, but being able to
bring them both into a single Navisworks file allows for a quick
review of the models for missing or uncoordinated geometry.

Before we decide what to do with our model, there is one more

step I like to take, and that is make the model “look nice.” As you
can see in Figure 1, a dwg import will present you with the gaudy
AutoCAD color palette. An nwc import isn’t much better, just
duller (see Figure 2). So go ahead and change the colors. Make
the colors distinct, so you can visually identify groups of elements
easily, and of course make them pleasant to look at. You can also
Figure 1 - Model Imported asa dwg File
take it a step further and create a custom material palette, as
shown in Figure 3. The same model shown in Figures 1 and 2 is
shown in Figure 4 with the custom palette applied.

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feature focus Cross-Discipline

convenient to share marked up dwf files than a viewpoint re-

port or an nwd file.

Figure 3 - Custom Material Palette

Figure 5 - Coordination Items Documented Through Viewpoints

So if you don’t want to run clash detection, and you want to take a
tour of your building, walk-through coordination is your answer.

Visualization
Not everyone is a master of 3D Studio Max, but everyone would
like to produce nice rendered images of their model, or even pro-
duce a fly-through video. Fortunately Navisworks has made it
fairly easily to do both. In order to render an image you will need
to use the Presenter module. Navisworks comes with a whole host
Figure 4 - Custom Material Pallette Applied
of built in materials, as shown in Figure 6. Since I am normally
Now that we have our model in Navisworks, what do we do with dealing with concrete and steel materials, I don’t want everything
it? gray. I apply different colors to a basic concrete or steel material in
order to differentiate various components. For example, my con-
Walk-through Coordination crete and steel beams are red, my slabs are gray, and my foundations
When I go out to a job site, my primary task is to walk through are green. Our purpose in rendering is not to create a photo-
the building and identify anything that is wrong, and make sure it realistic image but to produce a nice image that communicates
is being built as I have shown on my documents (or should I now design information to
say model!) Wouldn’t it be nice to do the same thing before it is the viewers. Since you
built, and identify problems before they occur in the field? Well, have already created
Navisworks is the perfect tool to perform this task. Think of it your custom material
as creating your own virtual punch list. Of course, you cannot palette (see Figure 3) it
physically walk through the building (since it hasn’t been built) is easy to apply the ma-
but Navisworks will provide you with an Avatar to walk through terials to your model.
the building for you. The Avatar can walk up and down stairs (or The tricky part with the
fly if you want), bump his head if there is a beam in the way, and rendering is to apply
look around at anything you want. When you come to something the lighting properly.
in the model that is not right, you can document the issue in a This will take some
couple of different ways. trial and error on your
part to find out what
1. Save the view as a viewpoint and title the viewpoint with a works best. The image
description of the problem. As you walk through the model in Figure 7 was pro-
you will slowly build up a collection of views that illustrate duced with the custom
coordination issues. You can also use the Navisworks red- material palette and a
line tools to markup these problems. This set of viewpoints spot light applied.
can then be exported into a report or saved in an nwd file that
can be shared with others.
2. Take a snapshot of the view using Design Review and mark
up the problem that way. Design Review has superior Figure 6 - Built in Materials
markup tools compared to Navisworks and it may be more

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Creating a video is applied to the relevant elements in the model. For example, if the
pretty straight-for- task was “Form and Pour Foundations East of Grid C,” then you
ward. Make sure you would select all of these foundations in the model and apply the
are in Walk mode, task to these foundations.
select the Animation
tab, and press Record. You have several options for setting the timing and appearance
Now start walking. of the model elements as well. Using Task Type, elements can
Just like a Macro Re- either be constructed, which means they will appear at the time
corder, Navisworks they are built; elements can be demolished, which means they will
will record the ac- disappear; and elements that are temporary, such as construction
tions of your Avatar equipment. The appearance of the elements can also set through
walking through the the Configure Tab, as shown in Figure 9. This is about commu-
project. When you nicating information, and Navisworks once again provides plenty
are finished, press of tools to accomplish the task.
Stop. The animation
is saved along with
any other Viewpoints
you have and you can
Figure 7 - Rendered Image play it back whenever
you need to. Your
animations can be exported as a video, or they can be saved as
part of any nwd files you create. It is usually best to share your
animations using an nwd file as the quality of the video is a bit
better and the file size is smaller. Exported videos can get very
large, very fast, if you want something of good quality and larger
than a mobile phone screen.

Construction Sequencing Figure 9 - Configuration Options in Timeliner

The constructability of a project is an important consideration in
the design process. It is generally not a good idea to design some-
thing that cannot be built. By using Timeliner in Navisworks,
very simple to very complicated construction sequencing visual-
izations can be created. All you need is a construction schedule,
and some persistence and patience in applying this schedule to
the model.
Figure 8 - Gantt Chart
The construction schedule can be entered either manually in
Navisworks, or it can be imported from a scheduling program.
If you are not a contractor, then you will probably be using Mi-
crosoft Project as your scheduling software. I recommend that
you link the schedule in, as it will be faster and easier to create in
the scheduling software. A new feature of Navisworks 2011 is
the ability to view a Gantt chart of the schedule (shown in Figure
8), which allows for easier visualization of the construction se-
quence. The tasks entered into your schedule will then need to be
We are just scratching the surface of what Timeliner can do, but
a little bit of investment in time to learn this tool can pay off as
you show your client some real-world aspects of building their
project. The following tips will make your job a bit easier.
1. Group your elements together in Navisworks, rather than
scheduling them one at a time, as it can get quite complicated
and time-consuming to apply the schedule as the number of
model elements increases. See Figure 10 below.
2. Make sure that you model in sufficient detail in order to map
to the likely tasks in the schedule. For example, if you model
your columns from foundation to roof in Revit, rather than
level to level, you will need to re-model in order to capture the
proper sequencing of the columns.
3. Run through the sequencing process a few times, as it is easy
to miss some elements or assign them to the wrong task.
Your finished construction sequence will be saved as part of
your file, and you can export it as a video to share with oth-
ers.
4. Under Settings, set the time of your simulation to an appro-
priate length. Set it too fast, and you won’t see anything. Set
it too long, and it will get a bit tedious to watch. Again, some
trial and error will be required.

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feature focus Cross-Discipline

cess, and in combination with Revit and Design Review, it will

allow you to work more efficiently, produce better quality docu-
ments (and models), and give your firm a competitive edge in the
marketplace. And I have not even mentioned Naviswork’s new
Animation feature, which allows you to animate objects, cam-
eras, and section planes. Thinking outside of the box is always a
good thing but it is especially important in today’s economy when
it is vital to set yourself apart from the competition. By using
Navisworks to its full potential, you are showing your clients the
added value you will bring to their projects.

Joe Ales is a Principal and Managing Director for

Figure 10 - Screenshot from Timeliner Simulation
the Los Angeles office of Walter P Moore, a consult-
ing engineering firm based in Houston, Texas. He
is part of the structural engineering service group of
Walter P Moore and is chair of its BIM Implemen-
tation Task Force. He is also active in the BIM
technical community, serving as Vice-chair of the
Joint SEI – CASE Committee on Building Infor-
mation Modeling for the Structural Engineering Institute.

Conclusion
I hope I have shown you that Navisworks is not just for clash
detection. Do not limit the use of Navisworks to just the BIM
gurus in your office. Make it part of your normal production pro-

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