Import Navisworks Into Revit

[Sear Sommerfeldt]

Theone issue that I have found with "linking" the Revit files into Navisworks is that the Switchback command does not seem to work as expected because the file that is being used to generate the NWC is technically the Central model.

If using the Append method for the Revit files, would recommend creating a 3D view named Navisworks in each Revit file and then adjusting the visibility to match what you would like to have appear in Navisworks. Navisworks will use this view to generate the NWC file and it uses WYSIWYG to create the NWC.

Thank you for this explanation , but i still have a question , i heard before that naviswork can open revit files natively but it takes long time than exporting process , and maybe some data can't make a jump across transition also well , so how would that be safe for project's data ? and if i choose exporting for my workflow that means each time i update my revit model i need to export ? or just refresh from naviswork ?

There is no true reading of the native data from Revit to Navisworks. When Revit files are linked in (Appended) to Navisworks, an NWC file is created (in the same folder as the Revit file) and then the NWC is linked into Navisworks.

Personally, I have not noticed this process taking any longer than opening each Revit file and then exporting to NWC from there. One thing to note is that each time that you open or Refresh the Navisworks file (NWF), it does look at each linked Revit file to see if it has changed since the last open. If a change has been made, it does "re-export" the Revit data to NWC file prior to loading the NWC into the Navisworks session.

If you use the Append method to link in the Revit files (via the auto-created NWC files), each time that you open or Refresh the Navisworks file (NWF), it will update the info from the Revit files - automatically. If you choose to Export to NWC from within Revit, you would have to open each Revit file to re-export (either manually or scripted) prior to having those changes available within your Navisworks session.

In fact, it is my experience that if NWC out from the authoring software fails, many times you can simply snag a successful copy of the NWC file that gets (re)created when loading the DWG (or the RVT file) directly, if needed to send to designated 3d coordinator / GC.

Can the NWC files that are generated when either Opening or Appending in a Native Autocad or Revit Model be mapped to be placed into a separate folder from the folder where the Native Autocad or Revit reside?

We are trying to keep our Revit Project clean and we were hoping to have the NWC files that get created when using Navisworks could be automatically be placed into a separate folder from our Revit Models.

It does take longer to Append or Merge a Revit File into Navisworks, and it is because Navisworks seem to read every Link inside the revit file as if it is loading it. So, even when the links arent really loaded of shown in the Navisworks File, Navisworks will be taking its time to load all of them. If you export to NWC from a View and you take care of Hidding your links in the exported view, it will be much faster than appending the Revit file.

It seems to me Autodesk doesn't know the needs "out there". Like another user expresses, a way to import (or link) back and forth in Navisworks, Revit, Autocad etc. is much wanted. And when I say wanted, I mean needed, at least for some.

The problem is these models cannot be imported into architect software, not even Revit, even though it's part of same suite as Navisworks.

To work around this, the architect has to export his building to something compatible for Navisworks to import, and then do the final merging here.

But that leads to another problem: measuring in Navisworks. The measuring and snap functionality in Navisworks is neither accurate nor adequate for professional use. Escecially when it comes to pipes and holes.

It isn't a "master file converter". There's a few reasons behind this. One, is that the Navisworks data format is faceted for performance, which means that rounded shapes can lose precision if they were to be exported elsewhere. That loss of precision isn't consistent either as the resolution setting can be changed and even variable. Two, it allows various project participants to share data-rich models for coordination without exposing the original model. If you are expecting a model you can actually work with in Revit or other software, then you need to specify that in the contract and project coordination needs to ensure everyone is using appropriate software and versions.

It isn't a drawing creator either. There are so many different sources of models (not even including various third-party and in-house customizations on AutoCAD platforms) and types of drawings that there's no practical way that can be done. And this also gets back to the faceted objects - there's no center snap because there's no circles or arcs.

I tried using every Navisworks export option, opening in cad to import a few extra clearances (sent only as nwc) into my revit model. Couldn't even open in CAD because for some reason they weren't compatible even though I am using 2018 for everything. Wow this was a huge help. Can't believe I didn't see that before.

@gokermu

I did a test from Rhino to Dynamo to see if my Speckle is working and seems to import basic geometry (Brep, Meshes and Polylines) as highlighted in the Documentation.

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Well it totally depends on what you want to achieve. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you want to quickly see the geometry with correct name and category, Direct Shapes are great for that. But if you have 1000 instances of the same geometry then it becomes a bit heavy.

Creating families from received geometry is another route you can take. But in that case, the creation process is more time-consuming. You need to create the family and load it into the project and place it in its correct place.

In this first alpha release, the structure of the objects in a commit mirrors the Selection Tree absolutely faithfully. I have had about 8 different ideas for strategies around how best to use the Navisworks Speckle output for data analysis. Some good, some bad.

The question from a Speckle point of view is answered as we are currently absolutely respecting whatever Navisworks has determined the data structure to be. I am intending to give focus to the semantics of the structure we hold before making modifications.

This geometry is not 'really' there in the model but just loaded directly to the graphics pipeline. It makes it really fast, but it also means that it's never included in any of the exports in Revit (or even when using the API).

JSANDERS , as mentioned by Pieter, due to technical reasons imported Navisworks models are not yet being displayed in Enscape. Support to have them rendered is definitely on our agenda already in form of a feature request - I'll of course add your upvote to it through your voice.

I am also greatly in need to be able see an NWD file with Enscape. Even today, I have an NWD file, I can import it into Revit, but I can't see it in Enscape. It's frustrating to explain to my colleagues / superioers to explain why it doesn't work and they ask me to find another way, so do I have to look for another software ?

I have had to start using Fuzor for bringing Navisworks files to VR. Preety soon our management will want to stop paying two different software platforms and I will have to decide on Fuzor if Enscape doesn't pick up the slack.

Thank you all, I have gladly forwarded your upvotes to the existing feature request. I'm afraid at least for now there are no definite plans as to when we'll implement this. I'll keep you posted in case anything changes in the future.

In regards to bringing InfraWorks models into Revit, export them as *.fbx files, then import them into FormIt Pro. Lastly in Revit, Import CAD and change the file format from DWG to AXM and you'll see the FormIt file. It will render in Enscape, but I find the aerial imagery comes in a bit glossy.

Does anyone know of any best practice model set-up and procedure/s for SketchUp models that will need to be exported or imported into Revit . I would like to know that I am simplifying the process and accuracy when I issue to sub-consultants.

Order your Sketchup model in layers where possible to distill the information. These can then be controlled easier through visibility setting in Revit. Helps the consultants order your information using native tools in Revit.

Have a grid referencing system in your model, so they can link your model where it is supposed to go and at the correct level. OR vice versa, Shared Coordinates is a big deal in Revit on a huge project. So ensuring your coordinates are in the same place as the design team saves a lot of time later trying to move models into place using grids and levels.

Hope that helps, as mentioned by MikeWayzovski the tips provided are dependent on phase of project. The above will help with the general coordination of models i.e. BIM Management, at the construction phase of project.

Are they truly doing the work in 3D? If not just export your LO file in 2D dwg. If not export 3D ACAD. just remember what you put into your model comes out on the other end. Simple layering of groups and components really helps.

Check out this thread on BIM for a question I posted 5 years ago. If you scroll down AK_SAM, CAD110 and AndrewRubSketchup also provide some great insight on model coordination between Revit & Sketchup.

When working out of an Autodesk Navisworks model while using Autodesk Revit as your design software, Nav to Rev allows a user to instantly transfer geometry and points from Navisworks to Revit in real-time.

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