Session 3 _ Part A Effective Coordination with Revit Models Class Description Effective coordination relies upon a measured strategic approach to using clash detection software. This class will share best practices for conducting interdisciplinary coordination using 3D models from Revit. You will learn how to use Navisworks Manage and Solibri Model Checker to help you evaluate your collaborative project models better, detect interferences earlier, and communicate design issues more clearly with the project team. About the Speaker: Amy Patel is an Associate in the New York office of HOK, where she is a member of the firm-wide buildingsmart group. Her primary focus is on performance based building design processes and technologies. She has worked on a variety of complex projects, including healthcare, justice, and large-scale, mixed use developments, where she led the implementation and use of BIM technologies. Amy has also taught classes in BIM, sustainability and digital presentation techniques at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a LEED Accredited Professional with over 10 years of experience in the industry and holds and M.Arch from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Introduction Model-based coordination also known as 3D coordination is the process in which clash detection software is utilized during the coordination process to determine conflicts by comparing 3D models of building systems. The goal of this is to eliminate major system conflicts prior to construction. This process is a fundamental aspect of working in BIM and delivering coordinated documents. This class will provide you with an overview of the powerful Clash Detective tool within Navisworks Manage. We will focus on how to combine multiple project files and create custom search sets for effective clash tests. In addition, you ll learn best practices for reviewing and reporting clash results. An introduction to Solibri and its robust rule-based checking capacity will also be presented. Solibri offers a more comprehensive approach, called Spatial Coordination, that checks for both modeling errors as well as design errors. With the use of rules and rule sets, we will focus on how to identify issues, based on compliance with existing rules and codes, and how to effectively manage those findings. Page 2 of 21
1. Model Based Coordination a. Tools i. Revit ii. Navisworks Manage iii. Solibri Model Checker 2. Coordinating with Navisworks Manage a. Preparing for Coordination i. Exporting Models ii. Building a Composite Model iii. Model Formats b. Managing the Coordination Model i. Search Sets and Selection Sets ii. Controlling Visibility iii. Organizing Viewpoints c. Managing the Coordination Process i. Clash Test Process using Clash Detective ii. Tracking and Reporting 3. Coordinating with Solibri Model Checker a. Establishing the SMC file b. Rule Checking c. Reports and Presentations Page 3 of 21
Model Based Coordination When combining models from multiple disciplines into one project model, it s important to organize the file in order to evaluate the model more efficiently. This handout will provide you with a general overview of the interface and many tools within Navisworks Manage and Solibri Model Checker. You ll learn how to combine multiple project files and create custom search sets for effective interference tests. These strategies will help you to better coordinate design models. Tools Revit Revit includes a basic interference checking tool found in the Collaborate tab of the ribbon in the Coordinate panel. While corrections can be made on the fly as you review the report, it is very slow at finding and displaying clashes. It can be useful for some situations, but our experience has led us to the conclusion that it is too limiting for full interdisciplinary coordination on larger projects. Navisworks Manage Navisworks Manage is an application that allows you to combine 3D models from different authoring platforms into a single, lightweight composite model. It doesn't contain any modelling tools but it does have modules that support model inspection functions. It allows you to conduct clash tests to determine conflicting elements within multiple models providing you with the ability to navigate and analyze complex projects. Solibri Model Checker Solibri Model Checker is a composite model viewer with characteristics similar to Navisworks. It allows for rule-based checking using the IFC model format. It has the ability to enable a wide-variety of custom, rule-based checks and can go far beyond clash detection and into program validation and code compliance. Page 4 of 21
Coordinating with Navisworks Manage Preparing for Coordination Exporting Models Navisworks supports many file formats from all major CAD applications, including both Autodesk and non-autodesk programs. Any combination of the supported file formats can be opened and combined to create a single, unified project model. Navisworks does not support the native Revit file format. However, an exporter plug-in within Revit allows you to export your Revit model to a Navisworks NWC file. There is also the option of exporting your Revit model to other supported file formats, such as DWG, IFC, or DWF. However, exporting to the Navisworks file is the recommended method because it optimizes data fidelity. Navisworks 2012 allows for the export of linked files. Revit Export Utility File Export Dialog Box Navisworks Export Settings Page 5 of 21
Building a Composite Model The actual coordination model will be a Navisworks fileset (*.NWF) which is representative of the various files (NWC, DWG, etc.) appended to it. In order to confirm model alignment in Navisworks, it is important that the Revit project origin or a known building datum, such as a grid be identified and visible. A generic model family of model lines placed at the known datum in the Revit project can help to align the files appended to the fileset. Model Formats Autodesk Navisworks works with three main file extensions: NWD, NWF, and NWC. NWC files are cache files containing conversion data only. NWF files, also known as Navisworks Filesets, are reference files and contain no geometry. They contain pointers back to the original files that you append together plus any changes you make to the model in Navisworks. It is recommended to save a master NWF file for your project once you ve appended all of your model files. NWD files (Navisworks Document) are a complete data set, containing all of the geometry and any changes to the model in Navisworks. It is highly compressed, and can be secured with password protection and expiration date. The NWD file is the recommended format for sharing the entire project and can be reviewed in the free viewer, Navisworks Freedom. When you save an Autodesk Navisworks file, you have a choice between the NWD and NWF file formats. As a rule of thumb, use the NWF file format to save the settings and links to the original files and the NWD file format when you simply want a snapshot of your current work. Page 6 of 21
Navisworks Manage Graphic Interface Managing the Coordination Model Search Sets and Selection Sets One of the most important things you should do to make the process of working in Navisworks more efficient is to organize groups of objects into search sets or selection sets. This allows you to distill an enormous dataset into reasonably sized and useful subsets which will facilitate running clash tests, performing construction simulations and creating presentations. Selection Set: A saved set of objects grouped together to be selected simultaneously. A selection set can be moved, reordered, or organized manually, but will never add more items automatically. Search Set: A set of criteria used to dynamically selects objects within the composite model for future reference. A search set will search the model for the parameters specified each time they are invoked and select any objects that match those criteria. It is created by performing a search for similar object names or properties and then saving the result as a group. Page 7 of 21
Use the Find Items window to search for items with similar criteria. You can search for a single parameter or multiple search terms to acquire a selection. Find Items Dialog Box After the search terms are created, test them by clicking the Find All button. Review the resulting selection in the model window. When satisfied with the results, save the current search as a search set by right clicking in the Sets window and choose Save Current Search. To modify a search set, select on it in the Sets window, make the modifications to the search terms, then right click on the search set s name in the Sets window and choose Update. It is more efficient to create a series of standard search sets used frequently in clash detection and general maintenance of the model. These can be saved as an XML file and loaded into other filesets. Controlling Visibility You have the ability to manipulate models or individual elements within the fileset to make the coordination process easier to manage. You can hide, isolate, and override the material, color and transparency of objects. Additionally, you have the ability to transform the location, scale and rotation of the objects. All of these options are found by right-clicking on the selection in the navigation window. Page 8 of 21
Object Visibility Controls Previously an extension pack, the Appearance Profiler tool has been fully incorporated in Navisworks 2012. This tool lets you customize color and transparency profiles based on Selection/Search Sets. Be sure to update the overrides when the models are refreshed, to capture any new elements. Selections can be saved to allow for sharing among projects and users. Appearance Profiler Organizing Viewpoints Page 9 of 21
Viewpoints allow you create snapshots of the model so that you can jump to preset viewpoints without having to navigate each time to reach an item. Viewpoints recall sectioning, navigation mode, projection, and mark-ups. New viewpoints are named "ViewX" where 'X' is the next available number added to the list. You can drag viewpoints around the viewpoints control bar, and reorganize into folders or animations. Saved Viewpoints Window Recommended Viewpoint Organization: Start View: This can be considered the home view. Typically this view shows the entire building from the front of the project. If one is lost in the model, this is the view to go to. Clash Tests (Folder): This folder is used to store the most current viewpoint report for a clash test. Revit Views (Folder): By default the Navisworks exporter includes all 3D views found in the RVT file and converts them to Navisworks viewpoints when the file is appended creating a huge number of viewpoints in a folder for each NWC appended. By Floor (Folder): It is useful to set up several viewpoints that represent single floor sections cut horizontally. Sections (Folder): This folder is for all sectional views created during the coordination process. Page 10 of 21
Working (Folder): This folder is for viewpoints that may be used as a starting point for manipulation. Navigating through a large composite model without the availability of known references can be cumbersome. To alleviate this problem; a 3D grid should be included in the architectural model for use as a navigation aid. A special Revit, line-based generic model, family has been developed by David Kingham, author of the blog, bimmanager.blogspot.com. Alternatively, you can export the grid as a.dwg file into ACAD and import that into the Navisworks fileset. Managing the Coordination Process Clash Test Process using Clash Detective The Clash Detective is used to find and track interference clashes in the model. This is a cyclic process; tests are run, analyzed and reported, issues are corrected in the native model, exports from the native model are run again at a tighter tolerance until the test is substantially free of clashes at the tolerance threshold for that test. Within the Clash Detective tool, there are a few ways to select the objects you want to test for interference. One way is to select the first and second group of objects you want to test for interferences in the left pane and right pane, respectively. You have the option to select an entire file or expand the hierarchy to select single objects or multiple objects. Select the type of clash; hard clashes, clearances, or duplicates and specify the tolerance. Run the test and go to the results tab to view the clash test results. Alternatively, you can select the search sets you have created. Lastly, you can import an XML file that contains standard clash tests and search sets. Page 11 of 21
Clash Detective Dialog Box Severity and Resolution Priority Due to the iterative process of clash detection, it is efficient to have a standard list of clash tests to be run. Additionally, organizing these into a prioritized list in the order they are considered critical to the design and construction process will be of value to the process. This style of prioritizing clashes originated from the Indiana University BIM Requirements. Level One Collisions reported conditions that are considered critical to the design and construction process. These collisions are assigned the highest priority and should be rectified within the model as soon as possible. Level Two Collisions reported collisions that are considered important to the design and construction process. These collisions are assigned a greater priority and should be rectified during project meetings during the design phase. Level Three Collisions reported collisions that are considered important to the correctness of the model and will generally be changing on a regular basis throughout the design and construction process. These collisions have been assigned a lower level of priority and should be rectified before the phase submission of the models. Page 12 of 21
Collision Severity and Priority Once the clash test has completed analyzing the composite model, clashes are collected and tracked in the Results tab of the Clash Detective window as shown below: Clash Detective Results As you click on each clash listed in the Results tab, you will notice that Navisworks will automatically take you to a custom view of the clash. You can customize how the clash is displayed by using any of the options in the Display list at the right of the dialog box. Page 13 of 21
Tracking and Reporting After running your first clash test, you should take advantage of the ability to group individual clashes into issues. To find related clashes, you can use the Select Filter or Highlight All display options. In the example below, use the Select Filter option where a duct is selected to show the two related clashes with structural framing. Clash Detective Grouping This condition may not simply represent one actionable issue. The duct segment from the picture above is part of an entire route that has generated other clashes with the structural framing. Clash Detective Grouping Page 14 of 21
It is more efficient to organize the clashes into coordination issues. Create folders in the results panel by clicking on the New Clash Group button. Clash Detective Grouping Each clash has a status associated with it which is updated automatically by Clash Detective each time the same test is run. You can also update the status manually. Reports Clashes can be organized in the exported reports. You will have the ability to export all clashes, only grouped or only ungrouped clashes. Page 15 of 21 Clash Report
XML: Creates an.xml file containing clash details and viewpoint jpegs. You can create a custom style sheet to format the report. HTML: Creates an.html file for viewing with an Internet Browser and contains all clash details and viewpoint jpegs. HTML (tabular): Creates an.html file for viewing in MS Excel. Text: Creates a.txt file with included clash content and a path to the location of individual clash jpegs. The report is read using Notepad or MS Word. Viewpoints: Creates a folder in the Viewpoints window named according to the clash test. Another option is to publish your file to an NWD file and have any recipients of the clash report view the viewpoints in the free viewer, Navisworks Freedom. Page 16 of 21
Coordinating with Solibri Model Checker Solibri Model Checker is used to analyze models saved in the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) file format for model conflicts and design inaccuracies. It has the capability to bring together multiple models, and save them in a single SMC file. Similar to Navisworks, it can be used to check for modeling errors using geometry based clash detection, model visualizations and walk-throughs. Once all the modeling errors are resolved, it can then be subjected to tests for design errors using rule based checking. This can include code requirements, egress constraints, ADA accessibility, among others. In addition to this, it has the ability to compare two versions of a model and see the changes, the ability to generate take-offs for estimating applications, and reporting abilities to illustrate and share the model checks. In addition to the main Solibri Model Checker application, there are a few other tools available: Solibri Model Viewer: acts as a viewer for IFC am SMC files and allows for the sharing of the analysis results from the Model Checker. Solibri IFC Optimizer: used to reduce the size of BIM models by 5-10% of the original by removing redundancy and duplicate elements. The smaller files load faster and use less memory in IFC applications. Solibri Issue Locator: allows for the issues discovered in Model Checker to be viewed in the original BIM application which allows them to be fixed easily and quickly. Establishing the SMC file Multiple models are grouped together into a single, highly-compressed SMC file. The original Revit model saved in the IFC format can be opened in Solibri and saved in the native SMC format. This results in a file much smaller than the IFC file or the Revit models from which it was generated. Page 17 of 21
Once the IFC model is opened in the application, you will need to confirm the discipline the model belongs to. This is required for the rules to work correctly when checking the model. For MEP models, use the Building Systems discipline, or create separate views in the Revit model for each system and assign in Solibri Model Checker accordingly. The main components in Solibri are accessed by the tabs at the top. The Model tab allows you to select and isolate individual components in the model tree. The Checking tab allows you to run checks based on rules and rule sets. And the Presentation tab allows you to compile the results into reports and presentations. The Info panel shows the properties and object attributes from the Revit model of the selected components. The 3D graphics window allows you to navigate through the building and adjust visibility settings for selected objects. Solibri Model Checker Graphic Interface Page 18 of 21
Rule Checking In the Checking tab, load the specific rule sets you want to use for checking the model. Solibri provides a series of rule sets organized by disciplines that can be loaded into the platform. There are also a large number of templates available to allow you to create and organize custom rules using the Rule Set Manager. You can check the model against multiple rulesets at once, but it s recommended to approach the checking in a more sequential process, where basic checks are run and resolved before more advanced checks. Solibri Model Checker Rule Sets In the Checking tab, select the rule set and click on the Check Model tool to initiate checking. Expand the rule tree to start analyzing the results that are completed. The table in the tree shows the status of each check. It shows whether it has passed or if problems were detected, with icons used to designate how critical the problem is. In the Results tab, select specific elements to highlight them in the graphics window. This can be viewed in relation to the model or isolated with a section box. The Result Details dialog can be accessed by right clicking on the issue in the Results tab. Here you can change the status, add related comments, save the view, and export the view to a presentation or report. Page 19 of 21
Solibri Model Checker Results Severity and Resolution Priority It s more efficient to run more conceptual checks first, ones that will find problems that if found later in the process, they would lead to changes to architectural design or other disciplines. These types of checks include the BIM Validation rule which is used to verify the building components have been defined and are free of major issues, and the General Space Checking rule which is used to check that spaces are defined according to surrounding walls. Once the more general quality assurance checks have been run, the geometry based interference checks should be run next. These include the Structural versus Architectural and Object Check rule sets which check building components in one discipline are not clashing with components in other disciplines or for duplicate components. Lastly, the checks that test that the models comply with code and accessibility requirements should be run. These include the Egress Analysis and ADA Accessibility rule sets. The Model Revisions Comparison Architecture rule set allows for comparisons of two versions of the model by importing a previous version of the model into the file. The Quantity Takeoff rule set allows for the results to be exported to estimating applications. Page 20 of 21
Reports and Presentations A report can be generated from the Checking tab. Once the report is reviewed, the necessary changes need to be made in the Revit model and saved as an IFC file. The IFC update option allows you to update the IFC file. Decisions and comments for those parts not changed are not affected by the update. Solibri Model Checker Report Views can be captured to allow you to create presentations and coordination reports to share with other team members. You can add all results at once by selecting the <Click to add New Presentation> option or each view individually by selecting Capture in the Results Dialog box and updating the presentation under the Presentation tab. Solibri Model Checker Results Page 21 of 21