Create Smart Issues by reporting clash results

Create Smart Issues by reporting clash results

Smart Issues in BIMcollab are issues that contain and track reported clashes from BIMcollab ZOOM.

In a traditional model checking workflow, clashes are detected in a model validation tool and reported as issues. When new models are created, the clash detection has to be repeated to verify if clashes are resolved.  In some cases it is possible to update issues based on updated clash results.
This workflow has some limitations:
  1. A  full clash detection test has to be performed again to update clash results with new models
  2. If the new clash detection results in less clashes than the previous version, it might not be clear what happened to the resolved clashes
  3. Any status change of a clash has to be either updated manually in the issues, or an additional action is required to update the status of the issue based on the status of the clash
  4. Clashes can be found in multiple clash tests, which can result in duplicate issues
To address these limitations, the Smart Issues in the BIMcollab ecosystem improve the traceability of clashes:
  1. Smart Issues know the clashes they represent, to which elements they belong, and what their status in BIMcollab ZOOM is. Because of this, it is redundant to re-run a clash test to update clashes. A new clash detection only needs to be performed to find new and unreported clashes
  2. The 3D view in BIMcollab ZOOM gives feedback on whether the clash is still active or resolved when zooming to the issue, when you are using an active ZOOM license
  3. The issues can automatically be updated according to the latest status of the clashes
  4. Because the Smart Issues are shared in the cloud, it is impossible to accidentally report any already reported clashes, even if the same clash is detected across multiple clash rules. The clash results and the 3D window give feedback on whether a clash has been reported, ignored or new
In this article, we will explain how to report Smart Issues and how to follow up on them.
To create Smart Issues from BIMcollab ZOOM, make sure you meet these requirements:
  1. You are using an active ZOOM license
  2. You are connected to a project in BIMcollab Cloud. Issues created in offline mode in BIMcollab ZOOM do not track the status of clashes
  3. ZOOM edit rights are enabled for you in the BIMcollab Cloud project settings
  4. You are a project leader or editor in the BIMcollab Cloud project

Perform a Clash detection

To start reporting clashes, the first step is to perform a clash detection in BIMcollab ZOOM.
The clashes that have been detected based on the parameters of the clash rule, will be displayed in the Clash results window, as well as in the 3D window.

Report clashes from the Clash results

Go through the clashes in the Results window and determine whether you want to report or ignore them. You can do this by right clicking on the clash or clash group, or using the buttons at the top of the results window.
  1.  Report: An issue is generated for selected clashes, or unhandled clashes in a clash group. The clash will be greyed out in the list of clashes
  2.  Ignore: No issue will be created, and the selected clashes or unhandled clashes in a clash group will be greyed out in the list of clashes
  3.  Mark as new: Mark reported or ignored clashes as unhandled again. 
              Note: When marking already reported clashes as new, the link to the issue will be lost. The issues needs to be closed manually
You can either report separate clashes, or clash groups as one issue. You can also select multiple clashes or clash groups to report multiple issues.
When reporting or ignoring clash groups to issues, the action will only apply to unhandled clashes in the group.
You will get feedback on the report status of clashes in the Results tree by means of the symbols in front of the clashes, and in the 3D window by means of the color of the clash boxes.
For more information about the statuses of the clashes, consult the article   The status of a clash.



Detected clashes are unique, based on the relationship of the clashing elements. The status of a clash is the same, regardless of the clash rule used to detect it, or which team member  performed the clash detection.
For example:
Team member 1 runs a clash rule which checks the ventilation system against the structural model.
He reports the clashes detected with the clash rule.
Some time later,  Team member 2 runs a clash rule checking the MEP systems against the structural walls. Some of the clashes which are found with this clash rule, were also present in the results of his colleague's clash rule.
Because these clashes were already reported, and clashes are unique, they are marked as Reported in Team member 2's clash results as well.
This helps a team to avoid duplicate issues in a more straightforward workflow.
If a clash has already been reported, it is still possible to add an additional issue for the same clash, if extra communication is necessary.
In the clash results tree, both issue numbers will be linked to the clash.

Share issues with your team

In the issues panel, issues are created for all reported clashes and clash groups.
Synchronize your project to share the issues with the rest of your team. The number of the newly created issues to which the clashes are linked, is shown in the clash results.



The issues are now available for all team members and can be looked up in their own BIM software to solve.

Update Smart Issues in BIMcollab ZOOM

When new models are available, it is possible to update existing Smart Issues containing clashes. The update checks if the clashes are still present in the new models.
  1. Update the models in BIMcollab ZOOM to the new version
  2. Go to the Issues panel
  3. Set the issue filter to show all Smart Issues you want to update
    Only issues which are visible in the issue panel will be updated
  4. Update the issues by clicking the button 
    The issues themselves will determine whether the clashes are still present in the current models or not. It is not necessary to re-run the clash detection before updating the issues
  5. The viewpoints of the issues will be updated according to the latest status of the clashes. The following elements are taken into account, when checking if the viewpoint should be updated:
    1. The size and location of the clash box
    2. The status of the clash
      You will get feedback on the status of clashes by means of the color of the clash boxes in the viewpoint and in the 3D window when zooming to the issue.
      For more information about the statuses of the clashes, consult the article The status of a clash.
  6. Go through the updated issues to determine if any of them can be closed based on the new status. It is also possible to automatically close issues during the update if all clashes that are reported to the issue have been solved
  7. Synchronize the project so the latest status of the issues is available for all team members
Additional options when updating the issues:
  1. Only update selected issues : If this option is disabled, all issues which are visible in the issue panel will be updated
  2. Close issues where all clashes are solved : if all clashes which are reported to an issue are found to be resolved, the Smart Issue is automatically closed.
  3. Reopen previously closed issues : if clashes are still (or again) active in issues that have been closed, the Smart Issue will be reopened
  4. Add a comment : the comment will be added to all updated issues, along with the new snapshot



Track project progress in BIMcollab Cloud

You can follow the progress of Smart Issues in BIMcollab Cloud as well. 
Smart Issues which contain clashes, will contain an overview of all clashes in the issue and their status.
This list, as well as the issue's snapshot will reflect the status of the Smart Issue, so you also can review issues directly from the project in your space.



It is possible that the latest snapshot in the Issues overview is not immediately refreshed. To make sure that the most recent snapshots are shown in BIMcollab Cloud, clear the cache of your browser when refreshing the Issues page.
Use these shortcuts to force your browser to refresh your page with new data and ignore the saved, cached data:
  1. Windows: Ctrl + F5
  2. Mac Chrome/Firefox : Cmd + Shift + R
  3. Mac Safari: Shift + Reload

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