Navisworks is a plant review software commonly used by plant design professionals in various industries, including construction, oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical, power, metal, mining, and more. This software is specifically designed to aid in the review and analysis of plant designs and includes a range of components, functions, and versions. In this article, we will delve into the details of Navisworks, including its components, functions, versions, and benefits.
What is Navisworks?
Navisworks was developed by a UK-based company called Spacemaker, which was founded in 1997. The first version of Navisworks was released in 2002. Since then, it has become a popular software tool for plant design professionals, particularly in the construction and design industries.
Navisworks was developed to address the challenges that professionals face when working on large, complex design projects. These challenges include the need to review and analyze designs in a virtual environment, identify potential issues and conflicts, simulate construction sequences and site logistics, and collaborate with team members. Navisworks was designed to provide a single platform that could address all of these needs and help to streamline the design and construction process.
Today, it is widely used by professionals in the construction and design industries, including oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical, power, metal, mining, and more. It is particularly useful for plant design professionals and is often referred to as plant review software.
Functionalities provided by Navisworks
There are several functions and features available in Navisworks that are designed to help users review and analyze designs, simulate construction sequences, and collaborate with team members. Some of the key functionality of Navisworks includes:
- 3D design review: Navisworks allows users to combine 3D models from a variety of sources, such as AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp, and review them in a virtual environment. Users can navigate through the model, zoom in on specific details, and mark up the model with comments and annotations.
- Construction simulation: Navisworks includes tools for simulating construction sequences and site logistics. Users can create time-based animations to visualize construction progress, as well as run clash detection to identify potential issues and conflicts.
- Whole-project analysis: Navisworks provides tools for performing whole-project analysis, which allows users to identify potential issues and conflicts that may affect the project. This can help to improve the overall efficiency of the design and construction process.
- Collaboration: Navisworks includes collaboration tools that allow users to work together on designs and review projects in real-time. This can help to streamline the review process and ensure that all team members are on the same page.
The functionality is designed to help users review and analyze designs, simulate construction sequences and site logistics, and collaborate with team members in a virtual environment. These capabilities can help to streamline the design and construction process and improve the overall efficiency of projects.
Importance of Construction Simulation in Navisworks
Construction simulation is a key feature of Navisworks that allows users to visualize and analyze construction sequences and site logistics in a virtual environment. With construction simulation, users can create time-based animations to visualize the construction process, run clash detection to identify potential issues and conflicts, and perform other types of analysis to optimize construction processes and improve project efficiency.
Some specific capabilities of construction simulation in Navisworks include:
- Time-based animation: Users can create time-based animations to visualize the construction process and get a better understanding of how the project will progress over time.
- Clash detection: Navisworks includes tools for running clash detection, which helps users to identify potential issues and conflicts between different parts of the design. For example, users can identify clashes between structural elements and MEP systems, or between different trades.
- Construction sequencing: Users can create and analyze construction sequences to optimize the construction process and identify potential bottlenecks or delays.
- Site logistics: Navisworks allows users to simulate site logistics, including the movement of materials and equipment, to better understand the flow of the construction process and identify potential issues.
Overall, construction simulation is designed to help users visualize and analyze the construction process, identify potential issues and conflicts, and optimize construction sequences and site logistics. These capabilities can help to improve the overall efficiency of projects and reduce the risk of delays or problems during construction.
Various Components of Navisworks
The software is comprised of three main components: Navisworks Freedom, Navisworks Simulate, and Navisworks Manage
- Navisworks Freedom: Navisworks Freedom is a free viewer that allows users to view and mark up 3D designs. It is useful for users who need to review and mark up designs but do not require the more advanced features of Navisworks Simulate or Navisworks Manage. Some of the key features include the ability to open and view 3D models, mark up the model with comments and annotations, and create animations to visualize the model. It is available as a free download and is compatible with a range of file formats, including AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp.
- Navisworks Simulate: Navisworks Simulate is an advanced version of Navisworks that includes additional simulation and construction visualization capabilities. It is suitable for users who need to perform more detailed analysis of construction sequences and site logistics, as well as for those who need to visualize the construction process in greater detail. Some of the key features include the ability to create time-based animations to visualize construction progress, run clash detection to identify potential issues and conflicts, and perform whole-project analysis to identify potential problems. It is available as an add-on to Navisworks Manage or as a standalone product.
- Navisworks Manage: Navisworks Manage is the main product and includes all of the features and capabilities of Navisworks Freedom and Navisworks Simulate, as well as additional tools for 3D design review, collaboration, construction simulation, and whole-project analysis. It is the most comprehensive version of Navisworks and is suitable for users who need the full range of features and capabilities. Some of its key features include the ability to combine 3D models from a variety of sources, review and markup designs, simulate construction sequences and site logistics, and perform whole-project analysis to identify potential issues and conflicts. Navisworks Manage is available as a standalone product or as part of a suite of design and construction software tools.
Details on Roamer on which Navisworks is built
Roamer is a core module of the Navisworks 3D design review software that provides a range of in-built functionalities designed to help users review and analyze designs, simulate construction sequences, and collaborate with team members. Some of the key functionalities of Roamer include:
- 3D design review: Roamer allows users to combine 3D models from a variety of sources, such as AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp, and review them in a virtual environment. Users can navigate through the model, zoom in on specific details, and mark up the model with comments and annotations. This can help users to more effectively review and analyze designs, identify potential issues and conflicts, and collaborate with team members.
- Construction simulation: Roamer includes tools for simulating construction sequences and site logistics. Users can create time-based animations to visualize construction progress, as well as run clash detection to identify potential issues and conflicts. This can help users to optimize construction processes, identify potential bottlenecks or delays, and improve the overall efficiency of projects.
- Whole-project analysis: Roamer provides tools for performing whole-project analysis, which allows users to identify potential issues and conflicts that may affect the project. This can help to improve the overall efficiency of the design and construction process and reduce the risk of delays or problems during construction.
- Collaboration: Roamer includes collaboration tools that allow users to work together on designs and review projects in real-time. This can help to streamline the review process and ensure that all team members are on the same page.
Overall, the functionalities of Roamer are designed to help users review and analyze designs, simulate construction sequences and site logistics, and collaborate with team members in a virtual environment. These capabilities can help to streamline the design and construction process and improve the overall efficiency of projects.
File Formats supported by the Software
As you know, it is a project review software that is used to open, review, and combine 3D models and 2D drawings. It supports a wide range of file formats, including both 3D model formats and 2D drawing formats.
Here is a list of some of the 3D model file formats that Navisworks can open:
- 3D AutoCAD drawings (DWG, DXF): It can open 3D models saved in the AutoCAD DWG and DXF formats. These formats are commonly used for storing 2D and 3D drawings and designs created using AutoCAD software.
- 3D models from Autodesk products (FBX, RVT): It can open 3D models saved in the FBX and RVT formats, which are commonly used by Autodesk products such as 3ds Max, Revit, and AutoCAD.
- 3D models from Trimble products (SKP): It can open 3D models saved in the SKP format, which is used by Trimble’s SketchUp software.
- 3D models from Bentley products (DGN, i-model): It can open 3D models saved in the DGN and i-model formats, which are used by Bentley Systems’ MicroStation and ProjectWise software.
- 3D models from SketchUp (SKP): It can open 3D models saved in the SKP format, which is used by Trimble’s SketchUp software.
- Point clouds (RCP, RCS): It can open point cloud data saved in the RCP and RCS formats. Point clouds are large sets of 3D data points that represent the surface of an object or environment. They can be used to create 3D models or to measure distances and dimensions in a 3D space.
Here is a list of some of the 2D drawing file formats that it can open:
- Image files (BMP, JPG, PNG, TIF): It can open image files saved in various formats, including BMP, JPG, PNG, and TIF. These formats are commonly used for storing digital images.
- Office documents (DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX): It can open a variety of office document formats, including DOC and DOCX for word processing, XLS and XLSX for spreadsheets, and PPT and PPTX for presentations.
- PDF files: It can open PDF files, which are commonly used for sharing documents that are meant to be viewed and not edited.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and it may support additional file formats.
Advantages of using Navisworks
Among various advantages, these are the most viable ones:
- Allows for the review of 3D models and 2D drawings: Navisworks enables users to view and interact with 3D models and 2D drawings in a single, unified interface. This allows teams to see how different design elements fit together and identify any potential issues or conflicts.
- Facilitates coordination and communication: Navisworks helps teams coordinate and communicate by providing tools for marking up, measuring, and annotating 3D models and 2D drawings. This enables team members to share feedback and suggestions with each other, even if they are not in the same location.
- Improves efficiency: By allowing users to review and coordinate designs and plans in a single, unified interface, Navisworks can help teams work more efficiently and avoid costly rework.
- Enhances visualization: Navisworks includes a range of visualization tools that allow users to view 3D models and 2D drawings in different ways and from different perspectives. This can help teams better understand and communicate complex designs and plans.
- Supports a wide range of file formats: Navisworks can open and review a variety of file formats, including 3D model formats and 2D drawing formats. This makes it easier for teams to work with the tools and software that they are already using.
Comparison of Sofwares similar to Navisworks
Navisworks:
- Pros: Allows for the review of 3D models and 2D drawings, facilitates coordination and communication, improves efficiency, enhances visualization, supports a wide range of file formats.
- Cons: May not be as feature-rich as some other project review software.
Bluebeam Revu:
- Pros: Wide range of tools for measuring, annotating, and communicating changes and feedback.
- Cons: May not support as many file formats as Navisworks.
BIM 360 Design:
- Pros: Fully cloud-based, easy for teams to collaborate remotely.
- Cons: May require a subscription to use, may not be as feature-rich.
Solibri Model Viewer:
- Pros: Focused specifically on 3D model review, may be more efficient for this task.
- Cons: May not support as many file formats as other, may not have as many collaboration features.
Download Autodesk Navisworks
You can download Autodesk Navisworks from the Autodesk website. Here’s how:
- Go to the Autodesk website (https://www.autodesk.com/).
- Click on the “Products” tab in the top menu.
- Scroll down and click on the “Building Design & Construction” category.
- Scroll down until you see the Navisworks product, then click on the “View products” button.
- On the Navisworks product page, click on the “Free trial” button to start the download process.
- Follow the prompts to download and install it on your computer.
Please note that it is commercial software and you will need to purchase a license to use it beyond the trial period.
In conclusion, Navisworks is a powerful project review software that is commonly used in the AECO industry to help teams review and coordinate 3D models and 2D drawings. It includes a range of tools and features for viewing, marking up, and annotating designs, and supports a wide range of file formats. It can help teams work more efficiently and improve communication and coordination among team members, and can help identify potential issues or conflicts early in the design process. It is available in several different versions, each with its own set of features and capabilities.