Distance checking with BIMcollab Zoom

Distance checking with BIMcollab Zoom

BIMcollab Zoom users who have a Zoom license, so not in BIMcollab Zoom Viewer, can perform checks within the loaded set of models. Within the conflicts tab, there are three different options you can use to check your models: 
  1. Clash detection
  2. Property (IDS) validation
  3. Distance checking 
Do you want to advance your knowledge about this subject? Go to our BIMcollab Academy and enroll in the BIMcollab Zoom conflicts.

Distance checking

Distance checking in BIMcollab Zoom ensures that elements in a model have the required spacing or clearance. You can set a minimum distance, and the tool will highlight any areas where elements are too close together by marking them with red dimensions. This helps you quickly spot and fix potential conflicts in your design. This article will go in detail about how you can perform distance checking using BIMcollab Zoom. 




With the distance checking feature available from BIMcollab Zoom version 9, it's crucial that all team members update to the same BIMcollab Zoom version. Once a team member updates and edits shared conflict rules, they will no longer be usable for others on previous versions. To avoid compatibility issues, please ensure the entire team updates simultaneously.

Setup a distance checking rule

Follow these steps to create a distance checking rule:
  1. Start BIMcollab Zoom with a Zoom license
  2. Connect to a project on BIMcollab Nexus or load a set of models manually
  3. Select the Conflicts panel
  4. All rules must be added to a rule set.
    Expand 'Local' or 'Shared' and select an existing set. If no conflict rule set is present yet, create a new one by clicking the [+] button, or right clicking on 'Local' or 'Shared' and choosing 'Add conflict rule set'.
    It will be automatically selected once created



  5. Click the [+] button again to start creating a new conflict rule, or right click the conflict rule set and choose 'Add conflict rule'



  6. While creating a new conflict rule you can edit the following fields:
    1. Name
      Give your rule a clear and unique name. The name can later be appended to issue titles to make them better searchable in BIMcollab. (For example: Maintenance space around installations >1m) 
    2. Source set
      Define a set of components which will be used as your source set by filtering them out by defining rules. Each rule consists of:
      1. An Element type you want to focus on (e.g. walls, doors, columns)
      2. A Property, Operator and Value to be used to filter out elements with a specific property value
      3. The action which defines if the elements found should be added or removed from the set
        (Note: You should first start with "adding" a selection of elements and then you can further refine the selection by "removing" unwanted elements.) 
      Test your set by clicking on the Show selected set button . The result will be shown in the 3D view
    3. Target set
      Define a set of components which will be used as your target set the same way as with the source set.
    4. Include Parts
       Choose whether sub-components are included in your distance check. You’ll find this checkmark under the rules section for both source and target sets.
      Sub-components are individual parts of a larger composition. This is common in assemblies like curtain walls made up of parts, and container elements like spaces or building storeys. Working with sub-components can have a big impact in your distance checks. 
    5. Type
      Determine if you want to check for only Distance or also Clashes and Duplicates. In this article we are focusing on distance. 
    6. Minimum distance 
      Define the minimum distance between source and target elements. If they are too close, the conflict-checking process will mark the distance with red dimensions.



    7. Tolerances
      Override the default tolerances in regard to clash box size, volume or both. This is only relevant for clash detection and not for distance checking. 
    8. Include results from a single:
      Define if the result may contain conflicts that are found within the same model, system or component.
    9. Description
      Provide the rule with a clear description so it's purpose is easily identifiable


7. Click "save". 
8. Execute the conflict rule (set)
  1. Double-click or use the Run button  to execute a selected rule (set)
  2. Right-click to run on components in My view


9.The results of the distance checking can then be found in the results panel.


Results

After running a conflict rule, the number of results will be displayed on the same line. For example, in the case below, seven results were found. Alternatively, instead of a number, you might see a check mark   indicating "check passed" if no conflicts were detected, or a null symbol   indicating that "no applicable components" were found. If you encounter the null symbol, you may need to load the correct models or adjust the rule accordingly.

  

In the results section, we categorize results by type, such as distance or clashes (A). Under each type, there are conflict groups (B), which can be customized by the user based on preferred properties (this will be discussed further). Within each group, you'll find individual results (C). Unreported results are marked with a red circle.  Clicking on a result will display it in the 3D view, and the section below the results (D) provides a summary of the conflict, including details like the shortest distance or nearest space. You can further expand the result to view the source and target elements (E).



The window below allows you to (1) view results and (2) handle them by generating issues. Issues can be generated from conflict results in different ways, depending on whether you are connected to a BIMcollab Nexus project or not. When connected, you have access to additional features, including the ability to generate Smart Issues that are trackable. If you're not connected to BIMcollab Nexus, issues are generated as BCF files without tracking capabilities. Therefore, we recommend using the connected method for seamless collaboration and project management. Depending on whether you are connected to BIMcollab Nexus, the buttons and features in the results section will differ:

Smart Issues (Connected to BIMcollab Nexus)


Not connected to BIMcollab Nexus:


1. Viewing results

You can use filters, grouping and view modes to view results from different perspectives: 

Filters

With this filter, you can focus on the results that matter to you, without seeing ignored or previously reported results. This is especially helpful when dealing with a long list of results.



Grouping

By default, conflicts are grouped by the source component, nearest grid position, and story level. To customize these settings, click 'Change grouping settings' .  You can modify the default options or select a specific property to group the results.
The name of the conflict group will be structured as follows if all of them are selected: Component (1), property (2), nearest grid (3), story level (4).


View modes

By default conflicts are displayed using the schematic mode. The user can choose between a number of view modes which determines how the issue is displayed, by clicking the 'Change conflict view mode' button . Three view modes are available:
  1. Regular: Display the two conflicting components with their original graphic
  2. Selected: Display the two conflicting components as selected
  3. Schematic: Display the two conflicting components transparent including the distance checking dimensions ( if you are ever missing the dimensions in your viewpoint for a distance checking result it is because the schematic view is disabled.) 


Additionally, you can place a section box around the conflicting components, which is useful for recreating an issue within a modeling application. You can also enable the floor plan if it provides additional context for the issue generated from the result.

2. Generating issues from results

Smart Issues (Connected to BIMcollab Nexus) 

When connected to a project on BIMcollab Nexus, you can report conflicts as Smart Issues to easily track their status. This can be done from either the conflict results panel or the 3D window. You have the option to report issues individually or combine multiple conflicts into one issue. You can handle issues using the buttons at the top of the results section or by right-clicking on each result or result group. 

Using the buttons: 


 Report: Change status from Unhandled or Ignored to Reported. 
 Ignore: Change status from Unhandled to Ignored
 Mark as new: Change status from Reported or Ignored to Unhandled

Click right on results: 




To learn more about creating Smart Issues, read this article: Create Smart Issues by reporting conflict results. Once Smart Issues are reported and synced to BIMcollab Nexus, they can be updated with each model iteration to check if the issues have been resolved. For more information on updating Smart Issues, refer to this article: Update Smart Issues based on conflict results . The status of Smart Issues can be tracked throughout their entire lifecycle. To understand these statuses better, read this article: The status of a conflict.

Make sure you are connected to the correct BIMcollab space and project before generating the issues.

In offline mode

Without connecting to BIMcollab Nexus, you can still report conflicts, but they will be offline issues without any link to BIMcollab Nexus or tracking capabilities. To do this, simply select one or more results in the list and click 'Batch Generate Issues.'





    • Related Articles

    • Manage conflicts in BIMcollab Zoom

      BIMcollab Zoom provides essential tools for detecting and resolving conflicts in 3D models, including Clash Detection, Distance Checking, and IDS Property Validation. These tools help identify issues early, ensuring smoother project execution. Below ...

    • Quick Start Guide BIMcollab Zoom

      Find a printable version as attachment This Quick Start Guide describes the work environment and functionalities of BIMcollab Zoom. It will get you up and running in no time. If you have not yet installed it, download and install BIMcollab Zoom ...

    • Download and set up BIMcollab Zoom

      BIMcollab Zoom is a fast and intuitive model checker that offers rule-based data and geometry checks and information takeoffs. Integrate model viewing and checking into your issue management workflow for efficient clash management. Share ...

    • How to perform a clash detection with BIMcollab Zoom

      BIMcollab Zoom users who have a Zoom license, so not in BIMcollab Zoom Viewer, can perform checks within the loaded set of models. Within the conflicts tab, there are three different options you can use to check your models: Clash detection Property ...

    • Loading WebViewer models in BIMcollab Zoom

      When working with a project created in BIMcollab Nexus, it's easy to upload models to the WebViewer and immediately load them in BIMcollab Zoom to start model checking. This also means that models need only to be updated in one location, the ...