Skip to Content

Navisworks

Navisworks: The Ultimate Guide to BIM Coordination and Project Review for EngineersThe Navisworks Advantage: Streamlined BIM CoordinationGetting Started: Setting Up Navisworks for Your Project ReviewClash Detection: Identifying and Resolving Conflicts4D Simulation and Scheduling: Visualizing Construction SequencesQuantification and Takeoffs: Estimating Materials and CostsCollaboration and Review: Enhancing Team CoordinationReal-World Example: Coordinating a $2 Billion Airport Terminal in DubaiWhy Navisworks Is Essential for BIM Coordination

Navisworks: The Ultimate Guide to BIM Coordination and Project Review for Engineers

In the collaborative world of modern engineering, where seamless coordination across disciplines can make or break a project, Autodesk Navisworks stands as a pivotal tool—enabling engineers to review, coordinate, and manage Building Information Modeling (BIM) projects with precision. From clash detection on a $2 billion airport terminal in Dubai to 4D scheduling for a mixed-use development in Cairo, Navisworks has been instrumental for firms like Turner Construction and Laing O’Rourke in delivering complex projects. Launched by Autodesk in 2001, Navisworks integrates 3D models from various platforms, providing a unified environment for project review, clash detection, and construction simulation. In this detailed guide, we’ll explore every facet of Navisworks, empowering you to master this tool and ensure your engineering projects are coordinated, efficient, and ready for execution.

The Navisworks Advantage: Streamlined BIM Coordination

Navisworks is designed to aggregate 3D models from multiple sources (e.g., Revit, Civil 3D, AutoCAD) into a single environment, allowing teams to review designs, detect clashes, and simulate construction processes. It comes in three versions: Navisworks Freedom (free viewer), Navisworks Simulate (for review and simulation), and Navisworks Manage (for clash detection and advanced coordination). Unlike Civil 3D, which focuses on infrastructure design, Navisworks excels in project integration and review, making it ideal for large-scale, multi-disciplinary projects. For example, the $1.5 billion Dubai Expo 2020 pavilions used Navisworks Manage to identify over 5,000 clashes between architectural, structural, and MEP models, saving an estimated $3 million in rework costs.

Navisworks is available through Autodesk subscriptions, with Navisworks Manage priced at approximately $2,500/year for a single user (as of 2025, per Autodesk’s website). Its ability to enhance collaboration, reduce errors, and simulate construction sequences makes it a critical tool for engineers aiming to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Getting Started: Setting Up Navisworks for Your Project Review

Let’s dive into setting up Navisworks and preparing it for your coordination needs.

Installation and Licensing

  • System Requirements: Navisworks requires a Windows OS (e.g., Windows 11, 64-bit), at least 16 GB of RAM, and 15 GB of free disk space. A dedicated graphics card (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060) is recommended for handling large models.
  • Download and Install: Purchase a Navisworks subscription (e.g., Navisworks Manage) from Autodesk’s website or an authorized reseller. Download the installer from your Autodesk account, run it, and activate your license using your Autodesk ID.
  • Initial Setup: Launch Navisworks Manage. The interface includes a ribbon toolbar, a scene view for 3D models, a properties pane, and a selection tree for navigating model elements.

Importing and Aggregating Models

  • File Formats: Navisworks supports various formats like Revit (.rvt), AutoCAD (.dwg), Civil 3D, and IFC. Go to “Home” > “Append” to import models (e.g., architectural model from Revit, structural model from ETABS, MEP model from AutoCAD).
  • Units and Coordinates: Ensure all models use consistent units and coordinate systems. Go to “File Options” > “Units and Transform” to align models (e.g., set units to meters, adjust origins if needed).
  • Model Organization: Use the “Selection Tree” to organize models by discipline (e.g., Architectural, Structural, MEP). Rename files for clarity (e.g., “Arch_Model_Revit”).

Clash Detection: Identifying and Resolving Conflicts

Navisworks Manage’s clash detection is its flagship feature, ensuring design conflicts are resolved before construction.

Setting Up Clash Tests

  • Define Clash Tests: Go to “Clash Detective” > “Add Test.” Name the test (e.g., “Structural vs. MEP”). Select the models to compare (e.g., Structural model vs. MEP model).
  • Clash Rules: Set clash tolerance (e.g., 0mm for hard clashes, 50mm for clearance). Choose clash type (e.g., “Hard” for physical intersections, “Clearance” for proximity checks).
  • Run Clash Test: Click “Run Test.” Navisworks identifies clashes (e.g., a duct intersecting a structural beam). Results appear in the “Clash Detective” pane (e.g., 150 clashes found).

Reviewing and Resolving Clashes

  • Review Clashes: Click a clash to view it in the scene (e.g., Clash 1: Duct vs. Beam). Use “Zoom to Clash” to inspect the conflict. Navisworks highlights the clashing elements in red.
  • Assign and Communicate: Assign clashes to team members (e.g., MEP engineer) via “Assign” in the Clash Detective. Add comments (e.g., “Reroute duct 300mm downward”).
  • Export Reports: Generate a clash report (HTML or XML) via “Clash Detective” > “Report.” Share it with the team for resolution (e.g., 50 hard clashes, 100 clearance issues).

Resolving Clashes

  • Update Models: The MEP engineer updates the duct route in Revit, exports the revised model, and re-imports it into Navisworks. Re-run the clash test to confirm resolution (e.g., Clash 1 resolved).
  • Track Progress: Use “Clash Grouping” to categorize clashes (e.g., “Resolved,” “In Progress”). Update statuses as clashes are fixed.

4D Simulation and Scheduling: Visualizing Construction Sequences

Navisworks enables 4D scheduling by linking your 3D model to a project schedule for construction simulation.

Linking to a Schedule

  • Import Schedule: Use a schedule from Microsoft Project or Primavera P6. Go to “Timeliner” > “Data Sources” > “Add” and import the schedule (e.g., CSV or MPP file with tasks like “Foundation,” “Columns,” “Slabs”).
  • Link Tasks to Model: In the “Timeliner,” map tasks to model elements. For example, link the “Foundation” task to foundation elements in the Selection Tree (e.g., select all concrete footings).
  • Set Timelines: Assign start and end dates to tasks (e.g., Foundation: May 1–May 15, 2025). Navisworks automatically sequences the tasks based on the schedule.

Running the Simulation

  • Simulate Construction: Go to “Timeliner” > “Simulate.” Play the simulation to visualize the construction sequence (e.g., foundations appear first, followed by columns, then slabs).
  • Analyze Conflicts: Identify scheduling conflicts (e.g., MEP installation overlaps with structural work). Adjust the schedule (e.g., delay MEP by one week) and re-run the simulation.
  • Export Animation: Export the 4D simulation as a video (e.g., AVI format) via “Timeliner” > “Export Animation” for stakeholder presentations.

Quantification and Takeoffs: Estimating Materials and Costs

Navisworks supports material takeoffs for cost estimation and planning.

Setting Up Quantification

  • Enable Quantification: Go to “Quantification” > “Enable Quantification.” Create a new workbook (e.g., “Material Takeoff”).
  • Define Items: Add items to quantify (e.g., “Concrete Volume,” “Steel Weight”). Use the “Item Catalog” to map model elements to takeoff items (e.g., map concrete slabs to “Concrete Volume”).
  • Takeoff Properties: Navisworks automatically extracts properties like volume, area, and length from the model (e.g., Concrete Volume: 5,000 m³).

Generating Reports

  • Run Takeoff: Select model elements (e.g., all concrete elements) and perform the takeoff. Navisworks calculates quantities (e.g., 5,000 m³ concrete, 200 tons of steel).
  • Export to Excel: Export the takeoff data to Excel via “Quantification” > “Export to Excel” for cost estimation (e.g., 5,000 m³ at $150/m³ = $750,000).
  • Visualize Quantities: Use “Color Override” to highlight quantified elements (e.g., concrete in blue, steel in red) for visual verification.

Collaboration and Review: Enhancing Team Coordination

Navisworks fosters collaboration by enabling real-time reviews and communication.

Real-Time Review

  • Viewpoints: Save specific views (e.g., “MEP Clash at Level 5”). Go to “Viewpoint” > “Save Viewpoint.” Add comments (e.g., “Check duct routing”) and share with the team.
  • Redlining: Use “Review” > “Redline” to mark up the model (e.g., draw an arrow to indicate a clash). Save markups for team review.
  • Sectioning: Use the “Sectioning” tool to slice through the model (e.g., view a cross-section at Level 10) for detailed inspection.

Sharing and Collaboration

  • NWD Files: Publish the model as an NWD file (read-only format) via “File” > “Publish.” Share it with stakeholders using Navisworks Freedom (free viewer).
  • BIM 360 Integration: Upload the model to BIM 360 for cloud-based collaboration. Go to “BIM 360” > “Publish,” invite team members, and track issues.
  • Issue Tracking: Use “Clash Detective” or BIM 360 to log issues (e.g., “Duct clash unresolved”) and assign them to team members for resolution.

Real-World Example: Coordinating a $2 Billion Airport Terminal in Dubai

Let’s apply Navisworks to a practical scenario: you’re coordinating a $2 billion airport terminal project in Dubai.

  • Setup: Import models into Navisworks Manage (Architectural from Revit, Structural from ETABS, MEP from AutoCAD). Align units (meters) and origins.
  • Clash Detection: Run a clash test (Structural vs. MEP). Identify 200 clashes (e.g., a pipe intersecting a column). Assign clashes to the MEP team, who reroute the pipe in Revit. Re-run the test to confirm resolution.
  • 4D Simulation: Link the model to a Microsoft Project schedule (e.g., Foundation: May 1–May 20, 2025). Simulate construction, identifying a conflict (e.g., MEP work overlaps with structural). Adjust the schedule and re-simulate.
  • Quantification: Perform a takeoff (e.g., Concrete: 10,000 m³, Steel: 500 tons). Export to Excel for cost estimation (e.g., $1.5 million for concrete).
  • Collaboration: Save viewpoints (e.g., “Level 5 MEP Clash”) with comments. Publish an NWD file and share it with the client via BIM 360.
  • Outcome: Navisworks reduces rework costs by $2 million through clash detection, ensures the schedule is feasible, and enhances team coordination.

Why Navisworks Is Essential for BIM Coordination

Navisworks isn’t just a review tool—it’s a catalyst for project success. Its ability to integrate models, detect clashes, and simulate construction ensures your projects are coordinated and error-free. Features like 4D scheduling, quantification, and real-time collaboration streamline workflows, while its compatibility with various formats fosters interdisciplinary teamwork. Though it requires familiarity with BIM workflows, its impact on large-scale projects is profound.

For global engineering teams, Navisworks’s integration with Autodesk tools, cloud collaboration via BIM 360, and support resources—like Autodesk Knowledge Network, YouTube tutorials (e.g., “Navisworks Basics”), and user forums—make it indispensable. Whether you’re coordinating a $2 billion airport terminal or a $50 million commercial project, Navisworks empowers you to deliver with confidence. To explore more insights, tools, and strategies for engineering excellence, visit my blog, Engineering Vanguard, and elevate your project management journey.




Civil 3D