BIMcollab is a connected platform that helps teams manage BIM project information in one place.

You’ve been added to a BIMcollab space by your space administrator or project leader so you can collaborate with your team on models, documents, and issues.

This guide walks you through the essential steps to get started quickly.

💡 Tip: For more detailed guidance, follow the BIMcollab Academy course on Getting started with BIMcollab.

Step 1 - Access and navigate your projects

⚠️ Attention: Your BIMcollab space account (that you can use to log in to your company’s BIMcollab space) is different from your BIMcollab ID (that you can use to log in to desktop applications like BIMcollab Zoom).

Read more about these two accounts in: BIMcollab ID vs. space account.

Log in to your BIMcollab space with your space account

You will receive an invitation email when an administrator or project leader adds you to their BIMcollab space. Follow the instructions in the email to log into the web application (example.bimcollab.com).

Later in this article, we will review how to log into the desktop model checking tool, BIMcollab ZOOM, as well as other BIM tools you can connect to BIMcollab.

View my role, rights, and licenses

To view the role and rights that have been assigned to you, click on your profile image in the top left corner and select My account menu.

In this menu, you can view:

Space role
On a space level, there are two types of roles a user can have. As a Space Administrator, you can access the Space administration page and manage all space settings. As a User, you can only access the projects and functionalities you have been permitted to through your project role.
Licenses
With a BIMcollab license, you have access to the BIMcollab platform, where you can work with issues, documents, and projects.
If you also have a BIMcollab Zoom license (depending on your subscription), you can use BIMcollab Zoom for advanced model checking features.
Can create projects/users.
If, as a regular user, you have these permissions enabled, you will be able to add new projects to your BIMcollab space from the My projects page, and you will be able to add new team members to projects even if they do not exist in the BIMcollab space as a user yet.

Navigate your space

After logging in, you’ll land on the My Projects tab. This page acts as your homepage for the BIMcollab space, displaying all the projects you’re part of.

💡 Tip: If you need to create a new project (and have appropriate rights to do so), follow this article: Create a new project.

To access your project, click the title, or click the To do's, Open Issues, or 3D Model buttons to go directly to what you are interested in.

Follow the introduction tour to learn how to navigate your BIMcollab space and projects.

Step 2 - Upload your documents and models

Add your first project documents

With BIMcollab's Document management functionality, you can upload all your 2D and 3D project data directly to your project.

To upload documents:

Open the required Project or Phase.
From the Document tab, click the Add to project button.
Add your files.

Upload your models to the WebViewer

There are two ways you can share your project models with your team using the BIMcollab WebViewer:

For a complete follow-up and versioning in the future, upload files as Documents, and make them available in the WebViewer.

⚠️ Attention: As a user, your ability to upload documents depends on your assigned project (phase) team role. If you don’t see the upload option, check your permissions with your project leader.

For a quick viewing, upload IFC files directly to the WebViewer
1. Open the required Project or Phase.
2. Click on the Model tab.
3. From the navigation menu, select the load icon.
4. Add your IFC, IFCzip, and RVT files.

Step 3 - Connect to other BIM applications

By connecting BIMcollab Zoom (if available in your subscription) and the BCF Managers to a project, you can make the most of BIMcollab's online collaboration features.

Connect to BIMcollab Zoom

Connect to BIMcollab Zoom to review and validate your IFC, RVT, and Point Cloud models with advanced model checking features.

Download and install the Zoom desktop application.
Although it is possible to view your models with the free version of BIMcollab Zoom, you need to be assigned a license to use certain advanced model checking features. For this, you need to retrieve a license.
Follow the Get started with Zoom guide for a detailed explanation of features.

Once your models are loaded, you can start performing your model checks using Lists, Conflict Detection, Smart Views, and more.

Connect BIMcollab from a BCF manager

BCF Managers are plugins that link your designing software to your BIMcollab space, allowing you to view, create, and manage Issues within your modeling environment.

You can find a full list of BIMcollab integrations here, and download available BCF managers from here.