Multiple Models

Overview

As the AEC industry increasingly adopts BIM modeling as a part of standard processes and deliverables, models have substantially increased in size and complexity. With OpenSpace BIM+, you have the ability to upload as many models as you want—on the same coordinate space—to any OpenSpace project. This feature enables you to upload an entire suite of models to your project (as opposed to first having to federate those models in a program like Navisworks and upload only the single federated NWD file). Large NWD files can impact performance in our web-based BIM Compare viewer. By uploading linked source files directly in OpenSpace BIM+, you get improved performance since you can choose just the models you need to load into BIM Compare. (If you’re not using OpenSpace BIM+, you can upload only one model per OpenSpace project.)

Notes: 

• OpenSpace BIM+ also includes a Saved Views feature, which enables you to save settings for the models you selected to load, and return to that state from a pull-down menu the next time you open BIM Compare.
• If you still prefer to upload a single NWD file, visit our Set Up BIM Compare support article.

Permissions

How to upload multiple models

1. Log in to your local OpenSpace web server.
2. Select the project and go to your Project Settings page.
3. Go to the BIM+ tab.
4. Upload your model from your local drive or using Autodesk model import.

Linked files in a Revit model

If you’re using Revit models and uploading locally, please note that linked files in a Revit model, even if it is the central model, still do not exist in the Revit file itself. Therefore, if you upload a Revit model with linked files into OpenSpace from a local drive, the linked files will not show up in the BIM viewer. If your Revit models are hosted in Autodesk Forma via Revit Cloud Worksharing, you can import those linked files via our Autodesk Model Import feature in order to view all those files in OpenSpace.

How to use multiple models

1. Log in to OpenSpace and select your project.

2. You can access BIM Compare from any OpenSpace site via the lefthand side navigation. Or, from the capture view, select the BIM icon in the lower right corner.

   

3. Once in BIM Compare, all models successfully uploaded and processed will load by default. To make any changes to what models are loaded, select your desired model(s) to load by toggling it/them on using the model tree in the upper right corner.

   

4. If you have access to Project Settings (Site Admin or Org Admin), you can modify which model(s) load  by default for which sheet(s) in the BIM+ tab; see below.

How to set a default sheet on a model

1. Log in to your local OpenSpace web server.
2. Select the project and go to your Project Settings page.
3. Go to the BIM+ tab.
4. After you’ve successfully uploaded a model, you’ll now see a Load on default column.
   • Tip: Setting sheet defaults allows projects to automatically load models in BIM Compare to the selected sheet.
5. Select one or more sheets from the drop-down.
   • Note: once you select the sheet and click out of the drop-down menu it will be automatically saved.

FAQ

After I’ve uploaded multiple models to a project, which model loads when I open BIM Compare?

If a Site or Org Admin has set a default model in Project Settings, that is the model that will load when you open BIM Compare. If a default model has not been set, then all models successfully uploaded to the site will load when you open BIM Compare.

• Tip: Any user on an OpenSpace project can create a Saved View with their desired model usability settings and return to it later.

What BIM file types are supported?

If you’ve uploaded or imported an unsupported file type or you’ve made an invalid point cloud selection, you’ll be notified of these errors in a status window. Head here for our list of compatible file types.

Are there file size limits for multiple model uploads?

You can upload models up to 4 GB in size to OpenSpace. You can upload as many models to a site as you’d like—no limit! 

Can I upload individual models for each floor?

Yes, as long as all uploaded models are on the same coordinate system before uploading to OpenSpace.

What will happen to sheet alignments if I upload additional models to a project that already has a model aligned to sheets?

If the newly uploaded multiple models are on the same coordinate space as the federated model, the sheet alignments will be the same and no realignment is required. If the newly uploaded multiple models are NOT on the same coordinate space, then sheets will need to be realigned.

Which option is OpenSpace taking to align all models from BIM 360 or Autodesk: internal origin, base point, or shared coordinates/georeferencing? Also, is the choice exclusive, meaning can we align some models with shared coordinates and some others with internal origin or base point?

Regardless of which method is used to establish shared coordinates (internal origin, base point, or shared coordinates), as long as one of those methods is used, multiple models will come into OpenSpace correctly aligned to one another. The choice is not exclusive, and yes you can align some models with shared coordinates and others with internal origin or base point.

Can I manually modify models’ positions relative to one another in OpenSpace after the model(s) have been uploaded?

Currently, manual alignment is not possible. All models must be on the same coordinate system. You will need to use a BIM authorship program to align models to the same coordinate system. Manual alignment is an OpenSpace BIM+ feature request. Contact our Support team if you’d like to associate your account to this request.

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