6109BEUG_Construction Site Management

4D BIM Tutorials

This booklet will help you to create a 4D simulation/4D timeline using various software packages:

1) Creating a 4D simulation in Autodesk Navisworks from either an Asta Powerproject Programme or a Microsoft Project Programme using a Revit model.

2) Creating a 4D simulation in Asta BIM from an IFC model.

1) Linking a programme to a model in Navisworks and functioning timeliner

Linking an Asta Powerproject/Microsoft Project programme to a Revit model

Before linking can be commenced you must have developed the programme (or revised programme) within in the Asta Powerproject or Microsift Software. The completed programme must then be saved as a MPX File.

• Start Navisworks • Open the Revit model within Navisworks • Open the Navisworks Timeliner function by going to the Home tab and selecting Timeliner.

The Timeliner window should automatically position itself at the bottom of the screen. • Go to the data sources tab and then click add. Choose the Microsoft MPX option and select

your saved programme. • The field selector dialogue box will open. Choose the Synchronisation ID and choose the

Name option. The programme will appear as the new data source. • Right click on the new data source and select ‘Rebuild task hierarchy from link’ so that the

activities in the scheduler are imported. • Click on the tasks tab and you will note that the programme, along with the task duration and

dates, has been imported.

The next stage is to commence linking the tasks to the model. There are a number of ways this can be done; the method below describes linking the tasks manually through the use of selection sets:

Assigning model components manually and creating a basic 4D simulation

1. Link individual or multiple 3D objects to the activities by selecting the objects, either in the model itself or within the Selection Tree window and then right clicking on the activity which you would like the object to be linked to and select ‘Attach Current Selection’. This will link the schedule activity to the 3D objects (to select multiple objects, simply hold down the control key and keep picking the design objects).

2. Alternatively, Selection sets can be developed first. This will allow multiple 3D objects to be selected and saved as a selection which can then be attached to the activity in the same way as above. Selection sets can be saved as follows:

a. Within the home tab navigate to the ‘select & search’ section, left click on ‘Sets’ and ‘Manage sets’

b. Select the 3D objects you want to save (e.g. all of the windows) the click on ‘Save Selection’. You can then name this Set (e.g. windows). The selection sets should

correspond to the activity or task on your programme.

3. Once an activity has been linked, you need to tell Navisworks whether this is a Construction, Demolition or Temporary Works activity. This is done in the Timeliner under ‘Task Type’ as below:

4. After linking all the objects to the tasks, you can review the simulation in the Simulate tab of Timeliner. Just left click on the Play arrow.

2) Creating a 4D programme using Asta BIM

1) From Blackboard – Download the Simple House Model RVT file and save this to your M Drive/My Documents

2) Once downloaded open the simple house model within Revit

3) Export the model to IFC and save to M Drive/My documents (This is because ASTA BIM will only open models which are in the IFC format)

4) Open up ASTA PP BIM and create a new Construction Template

5) Click on the BIM tab along the top of the ribbon and then click on IFC Configuration.

6) Under model configuration/IFC (or prject configuration for older versions) click on the drop down menu and Select New.

7) Find the location you have saved the Simple House Model IFC file and select Open.

8) Go back to the BIM tab and in the second pane on the ribbon click on the drop down menu (None) and select the Simple House Model. This will then fetch the model into the programming workspace.

9) Using the Selection Mode (3D Viewer pane) select items within the model and drag those over to the task bar.

Tips: When not in Selection Mode you can move around the model by using the following:

RH Mouse – Orbit

LH Mouse – Pan

Wheel – Zoom

10) Once an object has been attached to the task bar, right click on the object and ‘Hide Selected’ this allows you to work through the model until nothing is left to plan.

11) Use IFC Categories to select all objects in a particular family (e.g. doors or windows)

12) Once all objects are attached, start to edit the programme in terms of name, task duration and logic.

13) Items such as floor slabs or walls can be split to better simulate the construction process. To do this select the item, right click, select ‘Split Products’

14) Each split product can then be placed on the programme as a separate task

15) Once all objects are selected and links have been added the programme can be rescheduled. A 4D simulation can automatically be produced by starting the timeline. Click the Track in Bar Chart button to specify that as the timeline simulation is run, the tasks in the bar chart that correspond to the objects that appear at each stage will be displayed. To play, pause and stop a timeline simulation, use the

16) Creating a simulation video (assignment task 2). Within the timeline pane click on Create Video. Give your video a name and choose the location to save it. Ensure the video codecs type is set to Microsoft video 1 then click create. Your video will be saved to the chosen location.

17) Creating a simulation from an existing programme. It is likely at this stage that you have already developed your programme, but not necessarily in conjunction with the BIM model as above. This does not pose a problem and the model can be linked to the programme afterwards. Open up your previously developed programme and follow steps 5 to 8 to load up the model. Tip: Once loaded you may need to select the IFC model pane in the 3D viewer panel to see the model within the same interface space. Items from the model can then be selected and dragged/dropped onto the existing task bars in much the same way as step 9. Creating the timeline and video are the same as the above.

4D coverProgramme Linking NavisworksProgramme Linking Asta BIM