Soft for BIM management?

[jbenoit44]

hi there,

I'm looking for your experience, guys, about management soft s.a. Navisworks, Solibri model checker. I already tried Navis, but I need experts advices.

Can you share your workflow in BIM management?

see you

JB

[Brian Myers]

BIM can be practiced in different ways, depending on what your profession is. What do you do or use BIM for?

[Craig_L]

hi there,

I'm looking for your experience, guys, about management soft s.a. Navisworks, Solibri model checker. I already tried Navis, but I need experts advices.

Can you share your workflow in BIM management?

see you

JB

JB I posted a response in your "Who are you?" post with a link to some case studies these have some excellent examples of management software utilised in the BIM process, and the workflows associated. I will post it here again for you, but just so you know this is the same link from the other post...

just copy/paste the next line into google

national guidelines for digital modelling case studies

[jbenoit44]

thanx K10, I got the file already, but haven't read it yet.

Brian, my company is a general contractor in the AEC industry.

I imagine starting BIM workflow with projects s.a. office buildings, seniors houses, and also particular project like sewage water treatment plant.
My company has already a BIM experience in major projects, my purpose is for the everyday projects.
We have inside civil eng., structural eng., MEP eng., construction eng. and architects.
But if a project may be developped inside entirely; when construction starts, we deal with external subcontractors.

I tried Navis, but the soft is not quiet perfect I guess, and forums make me think there are few users.

Let me know your opinion.

regards,

JB

[RobertB]

I tried [Navisworks], but the [software] is not [quite] perfect I guess, and forums make me think there are few users.

Actually, Navisworks was quite impressive, especially before Autodesk bought it. The software was so good that it really needed few major updates.

Unhappily, since Autodesk bought it I think it hasn't been managed as well. More bugs seem to be creeping in. Clash detections seem to be less reliable. And the larger issue is that the Revit team and the Navisworks team don't seem to be talking to each other. For example, why are light sources even being imported as solid objects?!

Here in the Northwest US there are lots of firms using the product, including contractors. But it certainly behooves you get evaluation copies of Navisworks and Vico (and others) and test their capabilities and limitations in the context of your intended use.

[jbenoit44]

Ok, Navis may be the good one. Could you please give me some other soft's names? Not too much ads about those in Europe.

About the way I want to use it, don't really know. What are doing with soft like Navis in the US? I tried 4d animation, cool stuff but nothings better that a time schedule!
the main issue for me will be the lack of 3d models from MEP. we are some steps behind i guess.

As usual, your experience is helpful.

JB

[greenwaldc]

I work for a General Contractor in California, and we are using Navis as part of our BIM program. Our focus with Navis is on MEP coordination. Each of the MEP subcontractors creates their individual model, which is then imported into Navis. We run a clash detection, send out a list of the clashes, and have the drawings updated.

This basic process is repeated daily, as an alternative to the classic 'light table' coordination meetings. To facilitate this; we set up a daily virtual meeting, using Microsoft Live Meeting, where each of the MEP subs can check in, ask questions of any other contractor, and see a real-time view of the current model.

[jbenoit44]

that's the way I'ev imagined to work. What kind of files do you put into Navis?
Are they all Autodesk products?
Do you have any experience with IFC?

And the other part is: what if the subcontractors have no BIM model? do you put that thing in the contract?
Do you have internal or external modelling specialist who put 2d datas into a BIM model?
If so (a subcontactor with no model), does it worth modelling by your self anyway?

Who! so many questions I have...

Thanx in advance for your time answering.

JB

[greenwaldc]

Navis is quite powerful, and can work with every type of CAD file I have come across (including sketchup!). You'll have to check Autodesk literature for a complete list of compatible file formats / programs.
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...12&id=10578958

We require our subcontractors to produce CAD files with the 3D information built in. It's a logical extension, as we have been requiring 2D CAD files for decades already. To be blunt, if the MEP contractor is unable to produce CAD files, they will not be getting the project. They may not have experience with BIM, but we can teach that as we go...and if I'm honest, it is always a learning experience for me.

Just to help with a sample workflow:
I receive a Revit model of the project from the Architect
I export a 3D gridline file from the Revit model (in .dwg format)
I create new plan views in the Revit model, typically top-of-slab to top-of-slab, and export each one as a .dwg file. (Backgrounds)
I export MEP backgrounds and Structural from the Revit model.

Each of these files is provided to the MEP subcontractors, and they begin their coordination drawing process.

As the MEP coordination drawings are updated daily, I pull them into a Navis model which consists of Gridlines, Arch backgrounds, Struc. Backgrounds and MEP coordination drawings. I then run clash detection, publish lists of valid interferences, and repeat the process floor-by-floor.


This has been greatly simplified, but the process should make a little sense. We do our BIM work in-house. Between myself and the other BIM managers, as well as the Subcontractors, we are able to sort out any issue which comes up.

In case you were wondering, you'll need full versions of Revit, AutoCAD, and Navis, along with the numerous plug-ins that your subcontractors use.

[greenwaldc]

Navis is quite powerful, and can work with every type of CAD file I have come across (including sketchup!). You'll have to check Autodesk literature for a complete list of compatible file formats / programs.
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...12&id=10578958

We require our subcontractors to produce CAD files with the 3D information built in. It's a logical extension, as we have been requiring 2D CAD files for decades already. To be blunt, if the MEP contractor is unable to produce CAD files, they will not be getting the project. They may not have experience with BIM, but we can teach that as we go...and if I'm honest, it is always a learning experience for me.

Just to help with a sample workflow:
I receive a Revit model of the project from the Architect
I export a 3D gridline file from the Revit model (in .dwg format)
I create new plan views in the Revit model, typically top-of-slab to top-of-slab, and export each one as a .dwg file. (Backgrounds)
I export MEP backgrounds and Structural from the Revit model.

Each of these files is provided to the MEP subcontractors, and they begin their coordination drawing process.

As the MEP coordination drawings are updated daily, I pull them into a Navis model which consists of Gridlines, Arch backgrounds, Struc. Backgrounds and MEP coordination drawings. I then run clash detection, publish lists of valid interferences, and repeat the process floor-by-floor.


This has been greatly simplified, but the process should make a little sense. We do our BIM work in-house. Between myself and the other BIM managers, as well as the Subcontractors, we are able to sort out any issue which comes up.

In case you were wondering, you'll need full versions of Revit, AutoCAD, and Navis, along with the numerous plug-ins that your subcontractors use.