Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using

Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks

Manage
David Foley Norman Disney & Young

Code MP2489 Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk
Navisworks Manage
While construction collisions/clashes are not deliberate in the AEC profession, most of them could have
been avoided. This class covers practical techniques, tips, and tricks to effectively manage the data
exchange between Autodesk Revit software and Autodesk Navisworks software to detect, resolve, and
avoid the unforeseen collisions/clashes that have long plagued design professionals in the AEC industry.
We start with an overview of whats required to set up Revit MEP to work with Navisworks on a live
construction project, including live examples. We cover proven tips, tricks, and techniques from active
practitioners in the fields of architecture, building services, and structural engineering. In the second part
of the class, we focus on using the Revit BIM data inside Autodesk Navisworks Manage to produce
meaningful clash detection reports, Timeliner animations, and automation tips to standardize and
expedite the process of importing models into Navisworks Manage.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this class, you will be able to:

Describe what is required to effectively get Revit models into Navisworks Manage

Automate the process with templates, filters, and selection sets

Apply standards, tricks, and tips to your own projects.

Standardize collision/clash detection in your organization

About the Speaker

David is an established leader in the management and implementation of Building Information
Modelling (BIM) throughout the construction industry. His role at NDY involves the
development of BIM protocols, standards, workflows and techniques using the knowledge and
experience the has gained from over 20 years experience in both construction and consultancy
roles throughout the United Kingdom and Australia. David is devoted to improvement within the
construction industry and is passionate about effective collaboration and performance.

Contact Details
Email

[email protected]

Linked In

au.linkedin.com/pub/david-foley/30/866/a43/

Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

What is required to effectively get Revit MEP models into Navisworks

Manage
There are several ways in which you can import Revit into Navisworks.
You can append the Revit file directly or you could use the Autodesk Navisworks exporter to export 3D
views to NWC. Unfortunately this is risky as when appending a RVT file you can come up against a few
issues.

.
These all stem from the settings of the standard {3D} view. It will only i port whatever is within that views
section box. As most organisations have standard Revit template that may make the utilisation of this
view is redundant.
My preferred method is to export Revit to NWC is to create 3D Views inside Revit and export each of
them to NWC. This gives you more control when exporting to Navisworks and more control in Navisworks
Why would spend time exporting multiple views to NWC? The main reason is we have developed a
Navisworks template that compliments the way we work in Revit.

When using Revit 2014

There is an add-in that lets you export multiple NWC form one model in one go.
It called Xporter Pro by RTVtools (www.rtvtools.com) it is only $49.99 more on this later.

Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Preparing your Revit file

We started by creating a set of 3D Views level by level in each Revit model.
Creating a set of views in Revit for Exporting to Navisworks
To facilitate exporting to Navisworks, each stakeholder is to create dedicated floor plans, with the prefix
ETN, for the purpose of creating a set of 3D views, with a set of a suffix of ETN.
The view ranges are to be set as detailed below:

2D Plan Views:
Level

Bottom Range

Bottom Range
Offset

Top Range

Top Range
Offset

Level 1

Unlimited

Unlimited

Level Above

Level 2

Associated
Level

Level Above

Level 3

Associated
Level

Unlimited

Unlimited

Then from the floor Plans we need to create a set of 3d views to create these views

3D Views:
Start by creating a 3D model of each level the open a level at time go to the cube right click on the little
house

Go to Orient to View to Floor plans and select the relevant floor plan you created previously
This will then display the view ranges you set previously
These are the views to Export to Navisworks name them accordingly

Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Exporting to Navisworks
Make sure your settings are correct for exporting to NWC
Also ensure a 3D view is selected when exporting and check the export settings every time:
Ensure world units are in mm

Coordinates = shared

Project Internal = Project North

Shared = True North

Export =Current View

You will need to export each level independently using the Navisworks
export. This process will work in any version of Revit.

What you can do different in Revit 2014

New in Revit 2014 is not the ability to export files that are linked but the ability to only export the visible
part of the linked file.
This means that we have now created a control file which links in all Revit models in one file and this file
now has a series of views created just for exporting to Navisworks. These views will be creating in
accordance with your template.
Also by using the add in by RTVtools Xporter Pro
You can export Multiple NWC with one command and name then in accordance with your template

Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Automate the process with templates, filters, and selection sets

Navisworks files
For the purpose of this presentation I have created a basic template which should speed up the way you
work with Navisworks. To create a template in Navisworks you must create a NWC.
We used 3D model text as a place holder and then create copy it and rename it in accordance with your
Template a simple naming convention

The naming convention for this file type (.nwc) is as follows:

[DISCIPLINE]-[LEVEL].NWC
Below is a brief list of the Discipline Abbreviations to be used in the .nwc file naming convention:
Discipline
Architectural

Abbreviation
ARCH

Discipline

Abbreviation

Mechanical Ductwork

DUCT

Civil

CIVL

Structural

STRL

Electrical

ELEC

Fire Protection

FIRE

Mech Pipework/Medical Gas

PIPE

Hydraulics

HYDR

The naming convention follows that each level from Level 1 will be named as such:

Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Project Defined Levels Abbreviation

LEVEL1

[L01]

LEVEL2

[L02]

LEVEL3

[L03]

Roof

[L04]

Each level below Level 1 will be named as follows:

Project Defined Levels Abbreviation
Ground

[L00]

Lower Ground

[L-01]

Basement 1

[L-02]

Our template the consists of a folder structure like this

Within each folder you will find a NWCs for

o
o
o
o

Architecture
Electrical Services
Mechanical Services
Structural

ARCH-[L00]
ELEC-[L00]
MECH-[L00]
STRL-[L00]

Within the NWF folder you will find a NWFs for each level
o
o
o

Level 00
Level 01
Level 02

FED-[L01]
FED-[L02]
FED-[L03]

Preloaded in to each NWF for each level will be the associated NWCs
We now have the beginnings of a basic Navisworks template.

Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Create Filters/View Templates in Revit

To keep things consistent you should create specific filters and view templates in Revit to standardize
your export to Revit.
In this Example I am just going to create a simple view template that controls which link file it views
Here is a simple step by step guide
In your project browser select one of the 3D Views you have created. I have selected Structural level 6

Set the visibility graphics to display what you intend to export to Navisworks

I have just selected everything in the structural file by making the other linked files not visible

Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Creating a view template right click on the view you have just set then click on create view template from
the view

Call your view template something obvious but keep to a standard

Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Select the settings you need to capture. Then select ok

Applying a view template right click on the views you would like to apply the template
Then click on apply templates and your views will be ready for exporting to Navisworks

Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

How to Create Selection/Search Sets

Properties
When an object is selected in Navisworks, the Properties window will reveal the internal properties of the
selected object. This is delivered through an object property hierarchy: Category, Property and Value.
The following is an explanation of the concept:

Category

The tabs highlighted in Red above are the object properties defined as Category.
The Category can be related to as the broadest definition of an object property. This acts as a tool to
categorically filter the vast amount of properties within an object.
Property

The tab highlighted in Red above is the object property known as Property.
This can be regarded as the 2nd filter towards narrowing down on a specific object property.

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Value

The tab highlighted in Red above is the object property defined as Value.
The Value can be related to as the specific object property which the user is seeking to obtain.
These three fields allow the user to enter any search string into the Find Items window to create Search
Sets.
Find Items

Visible in the Right pane of the Find Items window are the object properties Category, Property and Value
with the addition of Condition.

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Creating Search Sets

A search string can be created in the Find Items window using the object properties and saved as a
Search Set following the steps in this example:
Select an item in Navisworks and view the Properties window:

In this example, a Chiller was picked

Select a Value which the Search Set would be based upon:

In this example:

Category: Element > Property: Category > Value: Mechanical Equipment

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Now that the object properties have been discovered, the fields in the Find Items window will be
populated:

First, click into the Category field. A drop down box will appear showing every category currently
in the model. Select the Category chosen in step ii. In this example, Element is selected.
Then, click into the Property field. A drop down box will appear showing every category currently
in the model. Select the Property chosen in step ii. In this example, Category is selected.

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Next, is a condition drop down field with the following operators:

Equals; can be used to evaluate any type of property. To qualify for the search, a property must match
the specified value exactly.
Not Equals. Can be used to evaluate any type of property.
> -. Greater Than; can be used to evaluate numerical property types only.
Greater Than or Equals; can be used to evaluate numerical property types only.
Less Than; can be used to evaluate numerical property types only.
Less Than or Equals; can be used to evaluate numerical property types only.
Contains. To qualify for the search, a property must contain the specified value
(for example, series of letters within a string).
Wildcard. Enables you to use wildcards in the Value field to allow matching against any character (?) or
an arbitrary sequence of characters (*).
Defined to qualify for the search, a property must have some value defined.
Undefined to qualify for the search, a property must not have any defined value. Select the condition
which will best define the Search Set. In this example, = is selected.

Next, the Value field allows the user to either type in a value freely in this box, or choose a predefined value from the drop-down list which shows all values in the scene available within the
category and property you defined earlier.

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

If you used Wildcard as the condition operator, you can type a value with wildcards. To match
one single unspecified character use the symbol ? (Question mark).
To match any number of unspecified characters, use the symbol * (asterisk)
For example, b??k will match brick and block; b*k will match bench kiosk, brick, and
block; and *b*k* will match bench kiosk, brick and block and also Coarse bricks and
block 2.
This box is not available if you used Defined or Undefined as the condition operator.
AVOID using Defined or Undefined as the condition operator.

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Finally, we have the following Search Options:

Match Case
Select this check box to respect the upper and lower case letters of the values tested during the
search. This affects all statements in the search. Its also possible to set case sensitivity for
individual search statements by using the Search Conditions shortcut menu.
Prune below Result
Selection Tree as soon as the first qualifying object is found.
Search
This specifies the type of search to run. Choose from:
Default. Searches all items selected in the Find Selection Tree, along with the paths below these
items, for qualifying objects.
Below Selected Paths. Only searches below the items selected in the Find
Selection Tree for qualifying objects.
Selected Paths Only. Only searches within the items selected in the Find
Selection Tree for qualifying items.
NOTE: It is Highly Recommended that Match Case and Prune Below Result are un- ticked and
the Search is specified as Default when creating a Search Set. However, this varies on a project
to project basis.
*In this example, Match Case and Prune Below Result are un-ticked with Search specified as
Default.

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Click Find All. The items which match the Search Options specified in the Find Items window will
be selected in the Selection Tree:

Verify that the items selected in the Selection Tree meet the Search Options defined.

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Once the search has been verified, Right-Click into the Sets window and select Add
Current Search. Give the Search Set a name. In this example, Mechanical Equipment.

Clicking on the Search Set will bring up all items which meet the object properties defined by the
Search Options in the Find Items window.

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Apply standards, tricks, and tips to your own projects.

Selection set tips
Create Selections sets to match the NWC names you have already exported.

to define the colour coding used in all Navisworks Federated models for the project, to facilitate
the ease of discipline identification
Make sure when you create you selection sets for each file you add the level to the name this
will be useful when using timeliner.
You can also export out these section sets to XML
You need to name this consistent with the Level
Selection set L00.
Then you create a copy of this for each floor

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

You will need an XML editor

We use Notepad ++

Dont worry even if you not an expert with XML you only need to do a find and replace

All you have to do is use the find and replace command and just replace the level or floor name
and save the file

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Apply Appearance profiler

When you first open Appearance profiler it will look like this. Your selection sets will appear in
the left hand side

You will need to create tables that define the colour coding used

Inter Discipline Colour descriptions

Search Set
Name

Colourised Items

Colour Name

RGB Code

ARCH

Architectural Files

White

255-255-255

DUCT

Mechanical Ductwork Files

Green

0-255-0

ELEC

Electrical Files

Yellow

255-255-0

FIRE

Fire Protection Files

Red

255-0-0

HYDR

Hydraulic Services Files

Blue

0-0-255

PIPE

Mechanical Pipework Files

Dark Orange

255-140-0

STRL

Structural Files

Brown

165-42-42

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Start be apply selecting a search set and select the color you have chosen and hit add

When you have completed all the search sets you can save and apply it to the view you are in

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Create tables to define more detailed colour coding for your more detailed selection sets that
may match Revit categories or system names.

Mechanical Services
Search Set Name Colourised Items

Colour Name

RGB Code

Exhaust Air

Mechanical Exhaust Air

Ductwork

Pale Green

152-251-152

Return Air

Mechanical Return Air

Ductwork

Spring Green

0-255-127

Supply Air

Mechanical Supply Air

Ductwork

Lawn Green

124-252-0

Toilet Exhaust

Mechanical Outside Air

Ductwork

Olive Drab

107-142-35

Flex Ducts

Mechanical Flex Ducts

Lime Green

50-205-50

Mech Equipment Mechanical Equipment

Medium Turquoise

72-209-204

Outside Air

Mechanical Outside Air

Ductwork

Medium Spring
Green

0-250-154

Smoke Spill

Mechanical Smoke Spill

Ductwork

Sea Green

46-139-87

Duct Fittings

Mechanical Fittings

Forest Green

34-139-34

Air Terminals

Mechanical Louvres/Air
Terminals

Dark Olive Green

85-107-47

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Standardize collision/clash detection in your organization

Use the selection sets you have previously created to define your standard clash detection
batches

Clash Sets
Search sets Sets have been setup for the selection of specific data sets for consideration to
enable the swift use of appearance profiler. The intention is to use the same selection sets for
Clash detection
These sets have been defined as search sets and will automatically select the required data as
the source models are updated for subsequent runs of the clash tests.

ARCH

Architectural model data

DUCT

Mechanical Ductwork model data

PIPE

Mechanical Pipework model data

ELEC

Electrical Containment model data

FIRE

Fire Services model data

HYDR

Hydraulic Sanitary Services model data

STRL

Structural model data

Clash Check Matrix

The following matrix shows the Selection/Search Sets that have been defined and the Sets that
are Clash Checked against each other.

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Collision Course: A Practical Guide to Using Autodesk Revit MEP with Autodesk Navisworks Manage

Top tip you can also export the clash detection sets to XML in the same
way we exported the selection sets.

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