Autodesk Navisworks: Practical Tips and Tricks from Seven ...

Autodesk Navisworks: Practical Tips and Tricks from

Seven Years in the Construction Industry Josh Lowe – TURIS Systems Brady O’Brien – TURIS Systems

CR2852

Learning Objectives At the end of this class, you will be able to:

Explain how Clash Detective can become your best friend

List easy ways to use TimeLiner

Make templates for Navisworks

Use Animator effectively

About the Speaker

Josh Lowe is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he received a Bachelor of

Science degree in architectural studies and a certificate in urban planning. In 2004, Josh joined the J.H.

Findorff & Son team, where he is was a construction visualization and integration specialist. TURIS

Systems was formed in 2011 as a technology spin off from JH Findorff & son where he is not a Project

Lead. He is responsible for integrating trades during construction as well as promoting Lean construction

by leveraging the power of building information models in the field to increase productivity. In addition to

the utilization of BIM models for projects, Josh also is involved in the research and development of new

BIM applications and recently contributed to Mastering Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012.

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Autodesk Navisworks: Practical Tips and Tricks from Seven Years in the Construction Industries

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The User Interface (UI)

Home

Summary

The Home tab is up the most on our screens. Most of the quick access links to toolbars are located here.

Viewpoint

Summary

The Viewpoint tab allows for creation of views, playback of animations, navigation options and styles.

Review

Summary

The Review tab is used to access measure, redline and tagging tools.

Animation


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Summary

The animation tab is an additional location where animations can be recorded and played back. The scripting can

be turned on and off in this tab.

View

Summary

The View tab is used for navigation tools as well as changing the scene appearance.

Output

Summary

The Output tab is where all export options are accessed.

Item Tools

Summary

The Item Tools tab appears once an element is selected. It allows for transformation and the appearance of

elements. You can also access the link tools to add document and hyperlinks to the elements.


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The Tools

Clash Detection The Clash Detection tool allows users to create and name new clash tests. It allows users to create and apply rules, select files associated with clash tests, add clearance tolerances to selections, manage the results of the clash tests and create reports.

Rules Tab

Select Tab

Key Points

Can help with standardization

Useful for automation of tasks

Key Points

Verify search sets work prior to

applying to your template

clash tests

Check clearances and make

sure they are appropriate


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Results Tab

Report Tab

Key Points

We have found the most useful

visibility settings are highlight

all, transparent dimming and

auto zoom

When managing clashes inside

of the clash detective tool we

have found grouping to be

highly beneficial to the

workflow

Key Points

The reports are viewable in

Freedom

We have found running tests

separate to be beneficial so

trades can focus on only their

issues

Exportable


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Templates

Template files do not exist in Navisworks like they do in Revit. Creating a template file is better described as

creating a standard .nwf file using empty files that will be replaced later.

Using “dummy” files for template creation

To create our template files we use blank files with our naming convention applied and append them all

into the “template” file so that we have a basis for all search sets and clash tests. Once the file is complete

and all standards are set up the file is saved to a accessible location. When a new project is started the

entire file structure is copied and renamed. The .nwf file is renamed for the specific project. The actual

project files are loaded in and all of the “dummy” files are deleted and will not be needed again.

How to use search sets in templates

First of all to utilize search sets for a template you need to develop strict naming standards and a method

of distribution for all projects. You need to develop a template to work around your existing workflow but

to be successful you must create standards.

In our case we developed our naming conventions to be flexible. See the example below.

The Lighting file is

selected in the selection

tree. We use its property

values to base our

search sets on.

The category tabs across the

top of the Properties dialog

box allow us to choose a

Category in the “Find Items”

dialog box. In this case we

want to select based on the

files name and the name is

located under the Item tab.

The value for the lighting file is

“Lighting”. However to create the

remaining search sets for all other

standard file types the “Value” is the only

thing that needs to be modified to make

any additional sets.

The condition in this case we want to be

used for a flexible application. “Contains”

allows for a flexible naming convention

because all that is necessary for the

template to work is that the file name

contain the word “Lighting”.


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Using search sets for setting up Clash Tests

To create our template files we use blank files with our naming convention applied and append them all

into the “template” file so that we have a basis for all search sets and clash tests. Once the file is complete

and all standards are set up the file is saved to a accessible location. When a new project is started the

entire file structure is copied and renamed. The .nwf file is renamed for the specific project. The actual

project files are loaded in and all of the “dummy” files are deleted and will not be needed again.

Using the Appearance Profiler

The appearance profiler can be used to apply a standard color scheme based on a variety of property data. In this

example we are using the file naming conventions so that we can use the search sets shown above.

1. Select the search set to base the color application by

2. Choose the color

3. Click “Add”

4. Repeat as necessary

5. Run the profile to make sure it functions properly

6. Save the .DAT file so the color scheme can be imported

to any .nwf file.


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Using tagging to track and resolve issues There are many ways to manage a long list of clashes and one strategy we have found to be successful is using tags and viewpoints. We have found this strategy to be highly effective on fast tracked collaborative projects. Below is an example of a potential workflow.

1. Using the clash detection tool run a clash test and use the highlight all display option. Focus areas as opposed to going through individual clashes look at the area and assign tasks by trade to resolve coordination issues. This method allows for one task to resolve multiple clashes without needing to group and review individually. When an issue is identified and a task has been assigned a tag is added.

2. Navigate to a view that will show the issue clearly. Place the tag by clicking on the source of the

issue and the second click where you want the number to appear (notice that a viewpoint appears

when you complete the second click). When adding comments one approach is to use a standard

list of coordination participants such as “plumber” so when assigning tasks you always include

the participants name prior to the action that needs to take place. The viewpoints are organized

into a folder structure by trade and by subcontractor or A/E action. This is very important for

the next step, resolution.


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3. One of the benefits of this method is that the resolution phase with the subcontractors and A/E’s

only requires Navisworks Freedom. Issues can be found in the appropriate folders or by

searching comments.

If you do not see either the Comments or Viewpoints windows turn them on by the following

method.

4. This process can be adjusted to be as formal tracking with spreadsheets and issue logs to keeping

it all in the model and notifying completion based on tag # through email.


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TimeLiner

Tasks Tab

Data Sources Tab

Configure Tab

Key Points

Use rules to your

advantage to automate

based upon standards.

Import schedules

Start simple!

Naming conventions are

critical

Key Points

Updating schedules are

as easy as right clicking

and selecting “rebuild”

Key Points

Allows for the creation of

appearance colors and

transparency


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Simulate Tab

Templates

Creating templates for schedule integration in Timeliner is similar to setting one up for clash detection. Naming

convention is the primary focus especially for schedule integration. One example below shows how we animate self-

performed concrete sequencing. To start we created a standard Microsoft Project schedule (because our project

managers are using it). This schedule is used on every project and is prepopulated with the tasks. And just like the

clash detection template once everything is set up with our “dummy” files we save the file out as an .nwf to be copied

and renamed for new projects.

Key Points

Settings allow you to

adjust you playback

duration and how you

want your animation set-

up.

Similar to our clash detection

template it all starts with a

standard set or search sets

that are driven by our Revit

standards.

Task naming conventions

were created to match the

search set naming convention.

This allows for an easy rule to

be established automating

model linking to the standard

schedule.

In this case we applied a rule to map

selection sets to tasks with the same name.

Once the rule is applied Timeliner

automates the mapping making it an easily

repeatable application of BIM to a

construction project.


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Animator

The Animator tool is great for anything from a quick visualization to a full utilization marketing piece. The

animator is not the best tool for high end rendering for some of these applications we turn to 3ds Max. But for the

majority of our technical animations Navisworks does the trick and is easily learned.

How to have better control over a viewpoint animation

One way to create animations and the first way most people learn is by doing a quick viewpoint animation. The

steps are shown below.

Right click on the Saved

Viewpoints window and

select “Add Animation”.

Name the animation

Navigate in the model to the

starting location view of the

animation. Right click on the

new animation we just added

and select “Save Viewpoint”. Continue locate key point of

the animation and create

viewpoints for each. You

have just created a quick

animation that can be

exported or played directly in

Navisworks.


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We just created an animation however you have very little control over the animation speed and editing. This is a

good strategy for a quick visualization but for marketing and animations that require a higher level of control and

the ability to edit, the Animator tool has advantages.

You do not need to abandon viewpoint animations all together it is still a good way to start an animation. To

demonstrate how to get better control over our animations we will use the viewpoint animation we just created. To

set up your animation in the Animator tool follow the steps below.

Navigate in the model to the

starting location view of the

animation. Right click on the

new animation we just added

and select “Save Viewpoint”.

To set up the viewpoint animation in the

Animator Scene, right click on the Scene and

select add camera and then “From current

viewpoint animation”.

Animation viewpoints are

converted to key frames in the

animator timeline.


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Now that the animation viewpoints are in the Scene timeline they can be move around to modify speed. If more

points along the animation path need to be added to speed up or slow down any part of the animation it is easily

done.

Presenter

The presenter tool allows for material application within the Navisworks program. The presenter tool can be used

to standardize the look of models from project to project. It can also be used to add more realistic looking materials

for presentation purposes.

Palette standardization

Palette standardization is important. It allows our project managers to become aware of what systems are what

colors from by maintaining consistency from project to project.

To save a standard palette for use on

future projects right click in the palette

space and select “Save Palette As…”


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Scripter

The scripter tool can be useful for presentations to be able to make animations play or make other actions occur

based on specific key strokes or other actions.

Creating a basic script

Creating a script is an easy process that can be used for a variety of reasons. We are going to create an example

below based on an existing animation and a key stroke.

Name the script

Click on “Add New Script”

Since we are making this script to be

activated by a key stroke, click on “On

Key Press”.

After selecting “Play Animation” as

shown below we need to set the

animation we want to play.

Click on play animation because when

we click on a key we want an animation

to play.


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After selecting the animation to be

played select “On Key Press” from the

Events menu and in the Properties select

in the Key area and press the key you

want to activate the animation.

Enable Scripts must be selected for the

script we just created to work. The

Active box must also be selected in the

Animator tool as well.

Autodesk Navisworks: Practical Tips and Tricks from Seven ...

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