BIMcollab Model WebViewer offers a streamlined way to view IFC models, their properties, and issues in one go. With this powerful tool, you can effortlessly navigate through intricate models while gaining insights into their properties and addressing any issue that arises.
⚠️ Attention:
The maximum file size for models uploaded to the BIMcollab Model WebViewer is 4GB. Ensure your IFC files are optimized before uploading.
BIMcollab Model WebViewer currently supports the following file types: IFC models (.IFC, .IFCZIP)
You can find the BIMcollab Model WebViewer by going to your BIMcollab project and clicking on the Model tab.
Explore the panels
The WebViewer includes four main panels, which can be easily hidden or revealed based on your requirements:
1. Navigation panel
2. Property panel
3. Issue/Document panel
4. List panel
These panels are revealed and hidden by clicking on their icons. You can also click the minus sign on the property and navigation panels to hide them.
1. Navigation panel
The navigation panel gives you the option to open models and navigate through them from the Models section. Additionally, the panel provides a detailed insight into the constituent components of the models through the Objects and Structure sections.
Models
When the Navigation menu is open, you can click on the load icon to add models to the BIMcollab model WebViewer. Then the models load quickly and are visible in the viewer. Other members of the team can then view the models and work with various available panels and features.
If this icon is greyed out, you do not have the rights to add models. Here is an article on how to enable this right for users: Allow or limit team members to upload and modify files in the WebViewer
Model tags allow you to categorise your models based on the needs of the project. Each model can be assigned to multiple tags. To learn more about the tagging feature, consult this article: Using model tags in BIMcollab Model WebViewer.
⚠️ Attention: Only the team members who have the right to add models will be able to add model tags.
If you are working with Document management, models can also be made available in the WebViewer from the Document tab. You can toggle between documents with the Shared or Published document state in the model list using the dropdown menu. To learn more about document states, consult this article: Document state workflow
You can choose to load or unload added models by switching the toggle next to each model's name.
Hovering over each model name reveals a menu icon with three dots, providing options to assign model tags, remove, or add version. Moreover, you can unload all other models except the selected one (load isolated) and focus on one model.
⚠️ Warning: Model names in the navigation panel will not be updated when using the Add Version option to update your files.
Within BIMcollab, models and documents are associated with a unique (a)Document name, which differs from the (b)file name. This unique Document name is linked to multiple BIMcollab workflows and therefore remains unchanged, even if the new version of the file has a different name.
👉 The name of the latest updated file can still be viewed in the Properties panel.
💡 Tip: To efficiently manage the loading and unloading of multiple models simultaneously, follow these steps:
Choose models by holding down Ctrl for individual selections or Shift for consecutive selections (begin by clicking on the first model, press Shift, and click on the last one).
Adjust one of the toggle switches to initiate the loading or unloading process. This action will be applied to all the selected models.
Objects
In the same panel we have the Objects section that allows you to select a specific object category and you can hide/unhide each category by clicking on the eye icon.
💡 Tip: To hide/unhide multiple categories:
Choose object categories by holding down Ctrl for individual selections or Shift for consecutive selections (begin by clicking on the first model, press Shift, and click on the last one).
Click on one of the eye icons. This action will be applied to all the selected categories.
It is also possible to load spaces and openings by clicking on the gear icon and moving their toggles.
Structure
The Structure in the Navigation menu shows the hierarchical organization of your BIM model. It displays models, groups, zones, and objects, allowing you to easily explore how elements are structured within the project.
Use it to expand model elements to view their parent–child relationships, and select items to highlight or isolate them in the viewer.
2. Property panel
When the property panel is turned on and an object (or a model) is selected, you will have a list of relevant properties on this panel such as summary, location and IFC property sets. You can scroll down to see the full list and close/open the titles with the arrow icon to adjust the size of the property list.
3. Issue/Document panel
The issue panel provides the functionality to view, create, import, and edit issues. It enables simultaneous viewing of issues alongside the model, and users can apply filters to find specific issues as needed. (Available on Project level)
⚠️ Attention: Issue panel is only relevant if you have the Issue management subscription of BIMcollab.
In the Document panel, users can attach Documents directly to specific elements within the 3D model. Connecting documents to relevant objects provides context specific information and makes it easier to find relevant information. Read more about attaching documents to 3D objects in this article. (Available on the Phase level)
⚠️ Attention: Document panel is only relevant if you have the document management subscription of BIMcollab.
You can also try out Document Management by starting a trial.
4. List panel
If you have a BIMcollab model validation subscription, you can create lists in the desktop application and share it with your team members. Then the team can view the lists in the BIM WebViewer as well. It's important to note that sharing the results of the list is crucial; merely sharing the list definition will not display the outcomes.
Learn how to Setup lists and Share List results with the team members.
Navigating your models
By making use of the following mouse and keyboard shortcuts you will be able to easily navigate through your federated model.
Besides the orbit mode, there are two additional view modes available while using the BIM WebViewer:
Fly Mode
It helps you to easily position yourself within your federated models, especially in large-scale models.
💡 Tip: Use the 'W' and 'S' keys to zoom in and out from the model.
Walk Mode
It gives users the experience of walking through the models, particularly useful for closer inspection of internal spaces.
💡 Tip: Use the '↑' and '↓' keys to pan the camera forward or backward.
Fly speed
In both modes, it is possible to adjust the speed of movement using the keys ', ' '.'and Shift or by using the Flight Speed panel (automatically visible when using Flight Mode or Walk Mode).
Using the toolbars
In the main window of the BIMcollab Model WebViewer, you'll find essential tools for customizing your viewpoint while navigating and creating issues.
1. Constant toolbar: Always available below your WebViewer window, this toolbar offers quick access to essential Viewpoint customization tools such as Sections, Restoring Views, Hiding or Isolating Objects, and Measurements.
2. Contextual Toolbar: This toolbar adjusts its options dynamically based on your selections or actions. Clicking on an object, a section plane or a measurement reveals relevant tools tailored to your current context.
For a deeper understanding of these toolbars and further customization options, refer to this article: Toolbars in BIMcollab Model WebViewer
⚠️ Attention: Since BIMcollab Zoom application version 8, users can download and review WebViewer models directly within the application by connecting to their online project. For detailed instructions on using this feature, please consult the article 'Loading WebViewer Models in the BIMcollab Zoom application' If you do not wish to use this feature in your project you can turn off its toggle.