Using BIM Compare

Overview

This article explains how to upload a BIM (Building Information Modeling) model to your OpenSpace project on desktop. Once uploaded, your BIM model can be used for alignment, clash detection, and navigating your project in 3D. Uploading your model keeps your project data centralized and allows your team to reference the most up-to-date design information directly within OpenSpace.

Permissions

The following permissions are required to upload a BIM model:

Prerequisites

• You have a BIM model file in a supported format: .rvt (Revit), .ifc, or .nwd.
• You have Site Admin or Org Admin access to the project.
• The project has been created in OpenSpace and at least one capture has been uploaded.
• Your BIM file is under 4 GB. Files larger than 4 GB must be reduced to 4 GB or under before uploading.
  • Tip: For best results, simplify and optimize your BIM model before uploading by removing unused families, purging unused elements, and reducing file size where possible.

How to upload a BIM model

• Access your project

  • Log in to OpenSpace on desktop.
  • From the main dashboard, locate and click on your project.
• Navigate to BIM upload
  • In the left navigation panel, click Project Settings.
  • Select the BIM tab.
  • Click the Local Upload button or Add Files, and then Local Upload.
• Upload your file
  • In the upload dialog, locate your BIM file, or drag and drop your BIM file into the upload area.
  • Select your .rvt, .ifc, or .nwd file from your computer.
  • Review the file name and size shown in the dialog to confirm the correct file has been selected.
  • Click Open to begin.
• Monitor upload status
  • The Status column on the BIM tab will display Processing while your file is being prepared.
  • Once complete, the status will update to Ready to Use. This may take several minutes depending on file size.
  • You will receive an email notification when your model is in the queue for alignment. OpenSpace aligns your model to sheets that have captures on them; this alignment turnaround time is typically 1-24 hours. You can reach out to support@openspace.ai or to your customer rep to request faster alignment.

Note: Do not close your browser or navigate away from the page while your file is uploading, as this may interrupt the process.

Viewing BIM model information

The following details are available in the BIM tab of Project Settings for each model:

• Timestamp: The date and time the model was uploaded.
• Uploader: The email address of the user who uploaded the model.
• Alignment: The number of floors (also referred to as sheets) in your project that are aligned to the model. Only floors that contain captures are aligned to models unless you request otherwise through your account representative.

Please note: Only Site and Org Admins can access Project Settings.

FAQ

What file formats does OpenSpace support for BIM upload?

OpenSpace supports .rvt (Autodesk Revit), .ifc (Industry Foundation Classes), and .nwd (Navisworks) file formats.

Why is my BIM model still showing as “Processing” after an hour?

Large or complex models may take longer to process. If your model has been processing for more than two hours, please reach out to the OpenSpace Support team for assistance.

Can I upload multiple BIM models to the same project?

Yes, you can upload multiple BIM models to a single project. Each model will appear as a separate entry on the BIM Models page and can be toggled on or off independently.

Can I replace an existing BIM model with an updated version?

At this time, you cannot directly replace an existing model. To update your BIM model, upload the new version and delete the outdated model from the BIM Models page once the new one has processed successfully.

What are my keyboard shortcuts?

Walk: ↑ W ↓ S ← A → D

Move up: ↑ Q

Move down: ↓ E

Focus: F

Hide: H

Isolate: I

Overlay: O

Unhide all: shift + H

Multi select: shift

Clear selection: esc

Next steps

• Set Up BIM Compare
• Self-Serve BIM to Sheet Alignment

If you have any additional questions please reach out to the OpenSpace Support team at support@openspace.ai.