Autodesk Navisworks: Practical Tips and Tricks from

Seven Years in the Construction Industry

Josh Lowe TURIS Systems
Brady OBrien 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 WisconsinMilwaukee, 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.

jlowe@turissystems.com

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Key Points

Can
help
with
standardization
Useful for automation of
tasks

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

Select Tab

Key Points

Verify search sets work

prior to applying to your
template clash tests
Check clearances and
make sure they are
appropriate

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

Results 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

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

Report Tab

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

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

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 The
based
on thein this case we
condition
files name
and
want to be the
used for a flexible
name is
located under
application.
Contains allows
the Item
fortab.
a flexible naming convention
because all that is necessary for
the template to work is that the
file name contain the word

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

The value for the lighting file is

Lighting. However to create
the remaining search sets for all
other standard file types the
Using search sets for setting up Clash TestsValue is the only thing that
needs to be modified to make
To create our template files we use blank files with our
naming
convention
any
additional
sets. 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.

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

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.

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

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

subcontractor or A/E action.

resolution.

3.

This is very important for the next step,

One of the benefits of this method is that the resolution phase with the
subcontractors and A/Es 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.

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

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

TimeLiner
Tasks Tab

Key Points

Use rules to your

advantage
to
automate
based
upon standards.
Import schedules
Start simple!
Naming conventions
are critical

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

Data Sources Tab

Key Points

Updating schedules
are as easy as right
clicking
and
selecting rebuild

Configure Tab

Key Points

Allows
for
the
creation
of
appearance
colors
and transparency

Simulate Tab

Key Points

Settings allow you

to
adjust
you
playback
duration
and how you want
your animation setup.

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

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

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.

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

Animator

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.

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.

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

Name the animation

Right click on the
Saved
Viewpoints
window
and
select
Add Animation.

Navigate in the model

to the starting location
view of the animation.
Right click on the new
animation
we
just
added
and
select

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.

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.

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

Navigate in the model

to the starting location
view of the animation.
Right click on the new
animation
we
just
added
and
select

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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