The Navisworks plugin enhances clash detection by allowing you to automatically transform clashes into topics. This means that issues identified during clash detection tests can be instantly tracked, assigned, and managed in the Collaboration module – without the need for manual duplication.
1 – Prerequisites
Before creating clash topics, make sure to:
- Log in with your BIMWorkplace user in the plugin.
- Confirm your Hub is connected to the correct project in BIMWorkplace
- Click here for a reminder on how to connect.
2 – Extra Buttons in Navisworks
In addition to the tools also available in the Revit Plugin (and explained here), the Navisworks Topics ribbon includes several extra functions designed for clash and viewpoint management.
Available options:
Create Topics from Clashes – Automatically transforms selected clash detections (or groups) into topics.
Create Topics from Saved Viewpoint – instantly generate topics based on previously saved viewpoints.
Create Topics from Clash Detection Tests – Converts an entire clash test into a single topic containing all clashes as subtopics (see
more below).
3 – Clash Detection Test Topics
When running clash tests in Navisworks, you can convert them directly into topics within BIMWorkplace.
How it works:
- Each clash test generates a parent topic in the Collaboration module
- The individual clashes within the test are attached inside the main topic as subtopics
Limitations:
- Clash-to-topic creation supports up to 10,000 elements per test
- For larger projects, divide your clash tests by level, zones, or models to stay within the limit.
Example:
In the example below, a clash detection test was run on several architectural vs structural levels (not the entire project, to stay within the element limit).
- 1 topic was created automatically
- Inside, 1,021 clashes were listed as subtopics – each manageable individually (e.g. go to viewpoint, change status, add comments, etc.)
4 – Automatic Synchronization
Clash topics are automatically synchronized between Navisworks and BIMWorkplace.
- Any changes made in Navisworks appear in BIMWorkplace (both in the plugin and on the platform)
- Any updates in BIMWorkplace are reflected back in Navisworks.
Example:
If Clash11 is marked as Approved in the BIMWorkplace plugin, it will automatically update to Approved in Navisworks.
If synchronization doesn’t occur automatically:
Use the last two buttons in the Topics ribbon to force manual synchronization- This ensures your clash list stays up to date across both environments.
5 – Important Notes
· Topics created from clash tests or groups will have clashes attached as sub-topics
· Updating a clash status in Navisworks updates the attached clash in BIMWorkplace – but does not change the topic’s status
- However, changing the topic status in BIMWorkplace to Approved (either in the platform or in the plugin) will prompt a pop-up asking if you’d like to approve all associated clashes as well.
- If confirmed, those clashes will be marked as Approved in both BIMWorkplace and Navisworks.
With this workflow, clash detection in Navisworks seamlessly becomes collaborative issue management in BIMWorkplace – keeping your team aligned, your models coordinated, and your data synchronized.
