In the extremely robust and dynamic architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry with so many excellent CAD services on offer, missing relevant CAD file support in your system can lead to lost business opportunities. Understanding the game-changing benefits of quality CAD interoperability, the client charged AMC Bridge to develop plug-ins for Autodesk® Navisworks® model review software and Autodesk® Revit® building information modeling software. As a result of the efficient collaboration, the client has gained powerful, fully functional plug-ins and professional support of the entire set of the company’s import solutions.
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Customer Benefits
- A brand-new, fast, stable, and fully functional plug-in for Navisworks
- Redesigned, fast, stable, and fully operational plug-in for Revit
- Reduced time to market
- Boosted performance of the existing IFC import
- Implemented export functionality to the gLTF format with required custom attributes
- Saved time on support and bug-fixing of the entire set of solutions
- Expanded and diversified client base
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Project highlights
- A plug-in for Autodesk Navisworks developed from scratch
- A plug-in for Autodesk Revit redesigned from the existing one with better stability and import quality
- Maintenance and support of the interoperability tool for the IFC and glTF formats
- Staging environment maintenance
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Why AMC Bridge?
- Extensive knowledge of various CAD systems, including Navisworks and Revit
- Demonstrated expertise in geometry exchange file formats like IFC and glTF
- A proven track record of successful CAD interoperability projects
- A broad spectrum of AR- and VR-related solutions tailored to client’s needs
- A seasoned, professional team of experts
Client
Our client—an American technology company—develops and supports reliable VR design review solutions for the AEC industry. Their flagship technology empowers AEC professionals with robust tools for fast, accurate, and easy VR collaboration on design review, model coordination, and clash detection.
Challenges
The client approached AMC Bridge with their need for a plug-in for Autodesk Navisworks to cater to the established and growing base of their users.
Also, our client already had a plug-in for Autodesk’s Revit software, which they wanted to replicate and improve. With a focus on customer satisfaction, the company was challenged to provide the product’s end users with a similarly powerful plug-in with faster export results, more stable performance, and quality.
To fulfill the demanding task and get the new product to market faster, they were looking for a vendor with a thorough knowledge of Autodesk Navisworks and Revit and vast experience in similar interoperability projects. That would cut down the time and cost of training the in-house professionals in the new CAD environment.
With extensive expertise in interoperability and CAD systems, including Navisworks and Revit, and a proven track record of successful and on-time projects, AMC Bridge was a great fit to take on the challenge, deliver the products, and unlock the value for client’s end users.
Solution
Addressing the client’s requirements, AMC Bridge has developed a Navisworks plug-in and reimplemented Revit plug-in that allow users to directly import 3D models and their BIM data into VR. The AMC Bridge team has offered greater stability and import quality to the solutions. The team also evaluated efforts to improve and expand other import plug-ins of the client.
The resulting functionality of the developed plug-ins include:
- Export of the BIM metadata properties directly into the plug-ins to streamline data access to element-level BIM metadata and materials during coordination meetings in VR
- Export of any linked geometry from Navisworks or Revit to the plug-ins to ensure accurate geometry translation that goes with the model
- Export of a customizable set of BIM data and control over what geometry gets exported and what can be moved
- Export of the PBR material properties from Revit to provide the best VR user experience
- Optimized memory consumption that supports export of models of all sizes for faster conversion time
While developing the project, the AMC Bridge team has used the following technology stack:
- The Navisworks plug-in: .NET, C#, SQLite, WPF, Autodesk Navisworks SDK, glTF
- The Revit plug-in: .NET, C#, SQLite, WPF, Autodesk Revit SDK, glTF
Process
The AMC Bridge developers joined the project as a dedicated team. In the first project iteration, the team was expected to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) according to the outlined acceptance criteria. Then, the team reviewed and analyzed the existing plug-in for Autodesk Revit.
Owing to its extensive experience with the Navisworks and Revit SDK and knowledge of the required data-translation mechanisms, the AMC Bridge team delivered the MVP. During the development process, they closely collaborated with the client’s team, reporting on their progress and sharing insights, prototyping, and planning decisions.
Following the MVP stage, the team continued with the iterative development of the plug-in, focusing on its stability and speed.
Results
Equipped with the brand-new plug-in for Autodesk Navisworks and an enhanced plug-in for Autodesk Revit, end users can now view and collaborate on Navisworks and Revit models in VR at the click of a button.
The plug-ins seamlessly convert the input formats of Navisworks and Revit or any linked geometry, streamlining user review workflows. The functionality of saving Navisworks Viewpoints and selecting exact views and BIM metadata offers users a more customizable VR experience for more efficient and time-saving model reviews, subcontractor training, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing coordination.
Through collaboration with AMC Bridge, the client has gained enhanced product capabilities that should increase the number of users and reliable partners to trust with further upgrades of the entire set of tools.
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