User Guide: Clash Manager for Navisworks®

Overview

The Clash Manager for Navisworks® is a Procore BIM Plugin component that speeds up coordination. It syncs seamlessly with Procore’s Coordination Issues tool to help your team find and fix issues early.

Key benefits include:

Smart Clash Grouping: Automatically groups clashes to save time.
Clearer Spatial Context: Improves visual understanding and team communication.
Better Organization: Optimizes and streamlines your daily workflow.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions

Associate a Model with a Procore Project

Link your Navisworks® model to a Procore project using the Procore BIM Plugin. The Procore BIM Plugin is required to publish models for mobile viewing and manage coordination issues directly from your Windows®-based design software. Ensuring all stakeholders have access to the most current model data helps reduce RFIs and keeps the project on schedule.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions
Additional Information:
- A Navisworks® model can only be associated with one Procore project at a time.
- You can link multiple Navisworks® models to a single Procore project.

Steps

Open your model in Navisworks®.
Click the Procore tab to use the Procore BIM Plugin.
In Procore Clash Manager, click Settings.
Select the Company and Project to link the model file to Procore. You can use the Search bar to find the project by name or number.
Click Update.

Next Steps

Create Areas to Name Clash Groups

Create 3D areas to include dynamic location data in your clash group names automatically. You can verify these areas directly in the 3D view. Distill handles configuration flexibly: it assigns clashes in overlapping areas to the smallest zone, or it can combine names to describe multiple locations. This approach lets you sort groups by name, making it easy to isolate clashes within a specific area.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions

Steps

Open your model in Navisworks®.
Click the Procore tab to use the Procore BIM Plugin.
In Procore Clash Manager, click Create Area.
Draw any polygon in your model to define an area of interest (e.g., phases, multiple buildings, or specific rooms like a mechanical room).
Type the name of the area.
Select the grid system to associate with the area.
Select the Level From to set the lowest floor in multi-level models.
Select the Level To to set the highest elevation in multi-level models.
Click Save.

Set Group Naming Templates

You can customize how Clash Manager automatically names your clash groups to match your company's preferences. Defining a standard naming template provides clear, consistent tracking across your project coordination workflows.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions

Steps

Open your model in Navisworks®.
Click the Procore tab to use the Procore BIM Plugin.
In the Distill Group Naming Template, change the name elements.
- In the text box, type the standard text you want for each clash group name.
- Select the variables from the tags. Variable values change to correspond with the current value. For example, the month tag displays the current month.
Click Save Settings for Current Model.

Concatenate Area Names

When a clash group spans multiple nested areas, you can concatenate area names to include multiple area descriptions in the title. This gives your team better context and visibility into the exact locations of model clashes.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions

Steps

Open your model in Navisworks®.
Click the Procore tab to use the Procore BIM Plugin.
In Procore Clash Manager, click Settings.
Select the option for "How area names are concatenated".
- All containing areas, largest to smallest
- All containing areas, smallest to largest
  
  Note
  You can also choose a delimiter (e.g., ">") for concatenation.
Click Save.

Run Distill

Distill is an automated clash grouping algorithm. It processes the multitude of clashes from Navisworks® and organizes them into intelligent groups that represent specific, actionable issues within your model.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions
Additional Information
- To learn about configuration settings: Show/Hide
  - Distill lists every active Navisworks® clash test. You can customize settings for each test, and changes save directly to the model for team-wide consistency.
    - Focus / Global Slider: Controls grouping density:
      - Focus creates tight clusters.
      - Global gathers clashes over a wider area.
    - Model Most Likely to Move: Sets the coordination hierarchy.
      - Select the more flexible model (e.g., plumbing vs. structure).
      - Distill groups clashes around the element that needs fixing.
- To learn about behavior settings: Show/Hide
  - Default settings usually work best, but you can customize how Distill sorts clashes.
    - Default Behavior: New clashes are added to Active or Reviewed groups.
    - Protected Groups: Distill will not change groups marked Approved or Resolved.

Steps

On the Procore Clash Manager tab, click Distill. The Distill window appears.
Select the clash tests you want to distill. If you want to distill all tests, skip this step.
Adjust the slider for proximity to determine how close clashes must be to each other to be grouped together.
Select the Model Most Likely to Move.
Click one of the following:
- Distill Selected Tests
- Distill All Tests
After Distill processes the clashes, it creates a list of groups.
- By default, groups are named "Group" followed by a unique number (e.g., Group 69). This number is never reused within that clash test, even if you delete or rename the group, ensuring clear communication with your team.
- The list of groups is sorted in descending order of the number of clashes within each group, providing a priority list for review.
- Distill groups all related clashes that make up a single problem in an area that can be addressed together. For example, one group for a ductwork problem includes hanger hits, insulation hits, and duct hits.

Run a Heatmap

Use the Heatmap to quickly find high-priority clashes in your model. It provides a central location to review and track these critical areas so you can focus your coordination efforts where they matter most.

Procore recommends running the Heatmap:

At the start of coordination, when clash volume is highest.
Periodically throughout the project, to reassess critical areas as models update.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions

Steps

Click Heatmap in Procore Clash Manager.
Select the clash tests to analyze, or Select All.
Select the Floor Plan Up Direction.
Enter the number of HotSpots to Show.
Select the clash statuses to analyze. The Heatmap analyzes new, active, or renewed clashes by default.
Select an area to limit the Heatmap, if needed. You must have defined areas in your model.
Click Show HeatMap. The model displays the 10 highest clashing areas.
Click Publish.
Select the options to update your clash groups.
- Prepend Clash Group Name With Hotspot Number: Adds the hotspot number to the front of the name of the clash group. This allows everyone to work on the same hotspot to resolve the issue.
- Save Heatmap Viewpoint: Creates a viewpoint that everyone can see highlighting each hotspot.
- Create Hot Spot Clash Tests: Creates one clash test for each hotspot, so that you can review all the clashes at the same time.
Click Publish Heat Map.

Clean Up a Heatmap

Clean up the Heatmap to reduce the number of clash groups and viewpoints on the model.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions

Steps

Click Heatmap in Procore Clash Manager.
Click Remove Heat Map Tags and Tests.
Click Yes to confirm that you want to remove the items from the Heatmap.

Orient to the Model

Use the Orient tool to isolate specific objects by hiding surrounding systems. This focused view makes it easier to inspect clashes, share precise locations, and navigate in 3D. You can select single or multiple objects across different models.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions
Additional Information:
- Additional settings to customize the tool:
- Top Bullet Text: Show/Hide
  - Visibility: Choose which object sets remain visible during orientation.
  - Direction: Define the 'top' direction for 2D plan views.
  - Cut Plane: Adjust the vertical offset of the Cut Plane.

Steps

Open your model in Navisworks®.
Click the Procore tab to use the Procore BIM Plugin.
In Procore Clash Manager:
- Select the object in the model and click Orient.
- Right-click the object in the model and select Orient.
To select more than one object, CTRL+click (CMD+click) the objects. More than one model displays.

Isolate Model Items

Use the Isolate feature to analyze specific model areas, providing a focused perspective on selected clashes or individual model items against the backdrop of the surrounding model. This tool allows you to resize the isolated area, zoom in for details, and add clashes to the section box. You can also add clashes the section box.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions

Steps

Open your model in Navisworks®.
In the Navisworks® Clash Detective, select the specific clash or clash group you wish to isolate.
Click the Procore tab to use the Procore BIM Plugin.
Choose one option:
- In Procore Clash Manager, click Isolate.
- Right-click the clash in the model and choose Isolate.
- Click to select an item in the model, and choose Isolate from Item Tools.
Review the Isolated View. The model highlights your selected clash with a 3D bounding box. This details the area and its surroundings.
Work in Isolated View as follows:
- Move the handles to resize the bounding box.
- Click Zoom to center your view on the isolated area.
Click Save Viewpoint.

Bulk Rename Clash Groups

Use the Bulk Rename feature to update the names of multiple clash groups. By applying custom naming conventions or utilizing standardized templates, you can ensure consistency across your coordination issues and streamline project tracking.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions
Additional Information:
- New issues are automatically placed in the Open status.
- A Procore log appears next to linked clashes in Navisworks® to indicate they are tracked in Procore.

Steps

Open your model in Navisworks®.
In Navisworks® Clash Detective, press CTRL+A to select individual groups or SHIFT+CLICK to select multiple groups.
Click the Procore tab to use the Procore BIM Plugin.
In Procore Clash Manager, click Rename.
Do one of the following:
- Enter a new naming convention by typing in static text and selecting the tags for variable values.
- Click Use Distill Naming Template to apply the current naming convention from Settings.
Preview the change in the Updated Name column.
Click Rename. The clash groups in Navisworks® Clash Detective are updated with the new names.

Create Viewpoints

Use Viewpoints to effectively organize and communicate model clash data during coordination. By providing immediate location context, Viewpoints streamline the note-taking process. Users can generate multiple viewpoints per clash test, choosing from 3D, Orient Plan, or Isolate view types to best capture the necessary details.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions

Steps

Click the Camera. The Save Viewpoint window appears.
Enter a title for the viewpoint. The title is often a comment to give information about the location.
Click Save Viewpoint.

Create Bulk Viewpoints

You can automatically create viewpoints for each clash to provide consistency and streamline your workflow. You can create viewpoints for specific clash statuses, so that you can focus on the most important issues. Viewpoints are saved to a time-stamped folder, creating a clear record in time. You can create 3 different types of viewpoints: 3D View, Orient Plan View, and Isolate View.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions
Additional Information:
- Best practice is to choose the folder structure for Assignment, then Test. Folders are created for individuals assigned with sub-folders for each clash test.

Steps

Click Viewpoints in Clash Manager.
Select the clash tests you want to create viewpoints for.
- All Tests
- Selected Tests to create viewpoints for the clash tests currently selected.
Select how you want your viewpoints organized into folders.
- Test: creates folder based on the clash test name
- Assignment: creates folder based on the individual assigned
- Status: creates folder based on the clash status
- None: no folders created
Select the viewpoint types to include.
Select the clash statuses that you want to create viewpoints for.
Click Create Viewpoints.
Viewpoints appear in the Saved Viewpoints panel, organized as specified.

Create Coordination Issues

You can create one or more coordination issues directly from your clashes or clash groups in the Procore Clash Manager for Navisworks® feature, which is a component of the Procore BIM Plugin. A separate coordination issue is created for each item selected.

Tip

Did you know you can create, edit, and view coordination issues from a variety of different Procore tools and products? To learn more, see What are the different tools I can use to create a coordination issue?

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions
Additional Information:
- New issues are automatically placed in the Open status.
- A Procore log appears next to linked clashes in Navisworks® to indicate they are tracked in Procore.

Prerequisites

Steps

Start Autodesk® Navisworks® on your Windows® computer.
In Navisworks®, go to the Clash Detective Results tab.
Select a clash or clash group.
In the Procore BIM plugin, go to Clash Manager for Navisworks®.
Click Create CIs.

Complete the required fields for the new issue: Show/Hide

Field Name	Description	Required?	Notes
Snapshot	Displays a thumbnail image of the current view to illustrate the issue.	No
Title	Enter a concise, descriptive name for the issue to help collaborators identify it.	Yes
Description	Provide a detailed summary of the issue. This text is also saved as a viewpoint comment in the final NWD file.	No	When creating an issue from Clash Manager, you can also select Append Clash Comments or Append Redline Text.
Location	Select the primary project location where the issue occurs.	No
Due Date	Set the target deadline for issue resolution.	No
Priority	Select the level of urgency: Low, Medium, High, or Critical.	No
Assignee	Select the person responsible for resolving the issue.	No	This list only includes users with 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions for the Coordination Issues tool.
Watchers	Select team members to receive email updates.	No	Watchers must have at least 'Read Only' permissions for the Coordination Issues tool.
Trade	Identify the discipline involved (e.g., Mechanical, Electrical).	No
Type	Categorize the issue for reporting and tracking.	No	Options include: Building Code, Clash, Client Feedback, Constructability, Coordination, Design Review, Existing Condition, Requirement Change or Other.
Private	Select this checkbox to limit issue visibility.	No	When checked, the issue is only visible to the Creator, Assignee, Watchers, and users with 'Admin' level permissions on the Coordination Issues tool.
Source File	Displays the name of the source file.	No	Automatically generated if the source file name exists.
Created From	Displays the name of the originating source tool.	No	Automatically generated.
Date Created	Displays the creation date and the creator's name.	No	Automatically generated.
Attachments	Upload up to 20 relevant images, PDFs, or documents to provide additional context.	No	Maximum of 20 files.
Custom Fields	Displays any company-specific fields configured for the Coordination Issues tool	Varies

Click Create.

Procore creates a new coordination issue in the Open status for your selections.

Sync Coordination Issue Changes

Sync coordination issues to keep both Procore and Navisworks® up-to-date. The smoother workflow reduces errors and manual work. When both systems are updated, the responsible person is clear and accountable.

Things to Consider

Required User Permissions

Steps

Click Sync CI Changes in Clash Manager.
Review the changes.
Select the coordination issues you want to sync.
Click Sync Selected.

Permissions

Important

Permissions for the actions below are managed in the Coordination Issues tool.

Permissions

Action	None	Read Only	Standard	Admin	Notes
Associate a Navisworks® Model with a Procore Project					Users also need 'Admin' level permissions on the Models tool.
Bulk Rename Clash Groups
Clean Up a Heatmap
Concatenate Area Names
Create Areas to Name Clash Groups
Create Bulk Viewpoints
Create Coordination Issues
Create Viewpoints
Isolate Model Items
Orient to the Model
Run a Heatmap
Run Distill
Set Group Naming Templates
Sync CI Changes

Overview

Things to Consider

Important

Associate a Model with a Procore Project

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

Create Areas to Name Clash Groups

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

See Also

Set Group Naming Templates

Things to Consider

Steps

See Also

Concatenate Area Names

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

Note

Run Distill

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

Run a Heatmap

Things to Consider

Steps

Clean Up a Heatmap

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

Orient to the Model

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

See Also

Isolate Model Items

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

See Also

Bulk Rename Clash Groups

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

See Also

Create Viewpoints

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

See Also

Create Bulk Viewpoints

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

See Also

Create Coordination Issues

Tip

Things to Consider

Prerequisites

Important

Steps

See Also

Sync Coordination Issue Changes

Important

Things to Consider

Steps

See Also

Permissions

Important

Permissions