10 Best Practices & Advanced Techniques in Navisworks for Architects & Civil Engineers

The advent of software has dawned a tech-first approach in the building design and construction industry. From drafting on CAD to modelling on Revit, architects and engineers are continually exploring new-age tools to improve their everyday workflows. Speaking of which, Navisworks is a software that is now gaining rapid acceptance among AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) professionals. So, through this blog, let’s explore Navisworks' best practices and tips to enhance project quality and output.

What is Navisworks?

Developed by Autodesk, Navisworks is a 3D modelling software for comprehensive design visualisation and coordination. So, if you are wondering what is the purpose of Navisworks and what are Navisworks' best practices, here’s all you need to know!

Navisworks enables professionals to combine 3D models from various design software into a single, unified environment, providing a complete view of a project’s design. It is especially valuable for identifying potential design clashes between different systems, like mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural elements, before construction begins. This ability to detect and resolve clashes in the planning stage helps reduce costly rework and delays during actual construction.

Navisworks offers three main types of interfaces tailored to different needs: Navisworks Freedom, Navisworks Manage, and Navisworks Simulate.

1. Navisworks Freedom

It is a free viewer that allows users to view and explore NWD and DWF files, making it ideal for stakeholders who need to review models without modifying them. It's perfect for clients or team members who only need to inspect project details.

2. Navisworks Manage

It is the most comprehensive version, featuring advanced tools for clash detection, model coordination, and project management, enabling teams to identify and resolve issues early. It is designed for project managers and BIM coordinators handling complex construction workflows.

3. Navisworks Simulate

It sits between the two, offering features for model review, 4D simulation, and visualisation without the full clash detection suite found in Manage. This version is excellent for those who need to visualise construction sequencing and project timelines but do not require the extensive coordination tools of Manage.

5 Key Features and Benefits of Navisworks

Navisworks offers a variety of tools that enable professionals to achieve more accuracy and creativity with their work. So, mentioned below are the most significant features and Navisworks' benefits for architecture and engineering projects.

1. Clash Detection and Coordination

The most sought-after feature of Navisworks is its clash detection capabilities. By integrating 3D models from various software platforms, it identifies clashes between structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems early in the design phase. Clash detection by Navisworks prevents costly errors during construction, reducing the risk of rework and delays. Project teams can collaborate effectively by addressing these clashes before they impact the construction timeline.

2. 5D Project Simulation

Navisworks extends beyond just 3D modelling by incorporating 5D and 4D simulation in Navisworks. It allows users to link model elements with scheduling data and cost estimates, providing a clear visualisation of construction progress over time. This feature enables project managers to monitor timelines and budgets more accurately, optimising both scheduling and resource allocation.

3. Model Aggregation

One of the most lucrative Navisworks benefits is that the software supports various file formats, making it a central hub for different types of models. You can combine models from Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and more into a single, unified workspace. For example, you can export models from Civil 3D to Navisworks seamlessly. This ensures that all project stakeholders, including designers, engineers, and contractors, work from the same set of information. It facilitates better decision-making and reduces the chances of miscommunication.

4. Quantification and Costing

Navisworks offers built-in quantification tools that make estimating material quantities easier and more accurate. This feature allows users to perform automated takeoffs directly from 3D models, streamlining the cost estimation process. By simplifying quantity calculations, Navisworks helps teams produce faster, more reliable cost estimates, supporting better budgeting and resource planning.

5. Real-Time Collaboration

With the ability to share and review models in real-time, team members from different locations can collaborate on the same project. The software's cloud integration also ensures that changes are reflected instantly, reducing the back-and-forth of file transfers and updates. This seamless collaboration improves communication, decision-making, and overall project efficiency.

6. Advanced Rendering and Visualisation

For teams needing to visualise complex designs in high detail, Navisworks offers advanced rendering features. Its powerful visualisation tools allow users to create photorealistic renderings, providing a clearer understanding of what the final project will look like. This is beneficial for presenting designs to clients, stakeholders, and contractors, helping them better grasp the project’s scope and aesthetic.

Navisworks Plug-in for Advanced Modelling & Clash Detection

Plug-ins are an “add-on” feature for software that elevates their performance. They help make the software more holistic and improve user experience. So, let’s delve into some of the most promising Navisworks plug-ins.

1. Dynamo

Dynamo is a visual programming tool that integrates seamlessly with Navisworks, enabling advanced automation and customization in your workflows. With Dynamo, you can create custom scripts to automate repetitive tasks like clash detection, model coordination, and data extraction. For example, Dynamo allows you to automate the process of checking models for specific parameters, filtering clash reports, or even generating detailed project reports.

2. Section Box

The Section Box plug-in enhances Navisworks’ model visualisation capabilities by allowing users to create custom, dynamic section boxes around specific areas of interest in a 3D model. This is useful when working with large models, where focusing on certain elements without being distracted by irrelevant details is crucial. The Section Box tool enables users to easily isolate areas for better visualisation, clash detection, or detailed review, ensuring a more targeted approach to model inspection and problem-solving.

3. Clash Manager

Navisworks' clash detection is one of its core features, but the Clash Manager plug-in takes it a step further by giving users better control over their clash detection workflows. Clash Manager allows you to organise, filter, and prioritise clashes based on their severity or relevance. It offers customizable clash grouping and more intuitive clash navigation, making it easier for teams to address high-priority issues first. This plug-in also supports collaborative workflows by allowing users to assign specific clashes to team members, ensuring accountability and effective resolution.

4. BIM Manager

The BIM Manager plug-in is designed to improve overall BIM data management within Navisworks. It provides users with tools to audit, validate, and manage BIM models more efficiently. BIM Manager allows you to track model updates, ensure data consistency, and validate that models meet specific project standards or requirements. This plug-in is helpful for large-scale projects where multiple teams are involved, ensuring that all stakeholders work with accurate, up-to-date information. It also integrates with other BIM software, helping maintain a seamless workflow across platforms.

5. Viewpoints

Viewpoints are a fundamental feature in Navisworks, enabling users to save specific views of the model for easy access during project reviews. The Viewpoints plug-in extends this functionality, allowing users to create and manage dynamic viewpoints more effectively. You can tag specific locations in a model, add notes, and even link viewpoints to specific tasks or clashes. It aids team collaboration by allowing stakeholders to focus on specific areas of the model, understand the context of issues, and track progress.

10 Best Practices for Navisworks in 2024

Now that we’ve discovered what Navisworks is and its characteristics, let’s explore the best ways of working with the software. Here are some of Navisworks' best practices that AEC professionals can embrace in their profession.

1. Optimise Model Aggregation

Navisworks file types allow you to combine models from various software, such as Revit, AutoCAD, and SketchUp, into one comprehensive environment. To ensure seamless model aggregation, always maintain proper naming conventions and file structures. It’s crucial to break down large models into manageable segments and ensure they are updated regularly.

2. Use Clash Detection Early and Often

Clash detection is one of Navisworks' most powerful features, and it's important to run it early in the project lifecycle to catch issues before they escalate. Set up regular clash detection reviews and customise clash rules for specific project needs. One of Navisworks' best practices is to prioritise clashes by severity to ensure high-impact issues are addressed first, reducing costly changes during the construction phase.

3. Maintain Consistent Data Formats

With multiple stakeholders using different design software, maintaining consistent data formats is key to smooth model integration. Make sure all teams are exporting models in a format that Navisworks exporters can easily read, such as NWC or NWD files. Regularly validate data integrity to ensure no information is lost during the import process, specifically when dealing with updates or revisions.

4. Automate Repetitive Tasks Using Dynamo

For 2024, leveraging automation tools is becoming a critical best practice. Dynamo allows users to create custom scripts that automate repetitive tasks such as clash report generation, model checking, and data extraction. By using Dynamo, you can save time and ensure consistency across tasks, enabling your team to focus on more complex aspects of the project.

5. Collaborate in Real Time with the Cloud

Navisworks' cloud integration makes real-time collaboration easier than ever. Ensure all stakeholders, from designers to project managers, can access updated models and project data in real-time through cloud services like Autodesk Construction Cloud. As one of the key Navisworks' best practices, this reduces delays caused by waiting for file updates and ensures that everyone is working from the latest version of the model.

6. Regularly Audit and Clean Up Models

Keeping your models clean and well-organised is essential for preventing errors and performance issues. Regularly audit your models to remove unused elements, correct naming conventions, and eliminate outdated files. This will improve model performance, reduce processing time, and make the review process much smoother for all project stakeholders.

7. 8. Automate with Scripts and Plugins

In 2024, automation will continue to be a key component in improving efficiency. Navisworks supports the creation of custom scripts or the use of third-party plugins that can automate repetitive tasks, such as batch file loading or clash reporting. Python scripts and Dynamo integration offer advanced ways to push the boundaries of automation within your workflows.

8. Master the Use of Quantification Tools

Navisworks' quantification tools offer a streamlined process for material take-offs and cost estimation. Make sure you're familiar with the Quantification Workbook and how to map your project’s materials accurately. By mastering this feature, you'll be able to generate detailed reports that align closely with real-world cost considerations, improving project planning and budget control.

9. Collaborate in Real-Time with BIM 360

With BIM 360 integration, Navisworks facilitates real-time collaboration across teams, no matter where they are located. Utilise this feature to create centralised communication channels, track issues, and ensure everyone is working on the latest version of the model. This collaborative approach significantly reduces the back-and-forth on model updates and errors.

10. Use Selection Sets to Organise Objects

Selection sets help group objects based on their attributes, such as material, type, or function. Organising objects into sets allows you to easily isolate, analyse, or clash-test specific groups. This practice is useful when working on large models, allowing you to filter out unnecessary information quickly.

In Conclusion

The future of Navisworks in architecture and construction activities looks promising as the industry continues to embrace digital transformation. With advancements in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the increasing complexity of construction projects, Navisworks is set to play a pivotal role in enhancing project coordination and efficiency. Its ability to integrate with multiple design tools and streamline workflows across different stakeholders ensures its relevance in the years to come.

If you want to learn Navisworks' best practices and unlock lucrative job opportunities in the AEC industry, we suggest you check out the BIM Professional Courses offered by Novatr. The platform provides niche-specific courses for architects and civil engineers, respectively. These programs teach the fundamentals of BIM processes with a focus on software such as Revit, Rhino, and Navisworks.

Industrial experts who bring more relevance to the curriculum through case studies lead the courses. Additionally, the participants gain an opportunity to work on capstone projects, which enables them to apply their learnings in real-time. Further, Novatr provides placement assistance for learners to help them secure jobs in top construction and infrastructure firms across the globe.

Explore the courses today:
BIM Professional Course for Architects
BIM Professional Course for Civil Engineers

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