User Guide: Clash Manager for Navisworks®

Overview

With Clash Manager you can resolve coordination issues faster, with enhanced clash detection, streamlined communication, and improved efficiency.

  • Automated and intelligent clash grouping
  • Enhanced spatial understanding and communication
  • Improved organization and workflow efficiency
  • Proactive issue identification and coordination
  • Seamless integration with the Coordination Issues tool in Procore.

Install the Procore BIM Plugins

  1. Navigate to the Coordination Issues tool. 
  2. Click Download Plugin
  3. Download and install both Procore BIM plugins for the Clash Manager:

After installation, a Procore tab and a Clash Manager button appear in Autodesk Navisworks®.

Associate a Model with a Procore Project

Objective

To associate a model in Navisworks® with a Procore project.

Background

When you associate a model with a project in Procore, you are able to create and manage issues found in the model and track them in Procore. Resolving these issues helps save you time and money as well as reduces the number of RFIs and change events that your team has to create as the project progresses. 

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Admin' level permissions on the Coordination Issues tool on the project you will associate with the model.
  • Additional Information:
    • A model can only be associated with one Procore project at a time. However, you can associate multiple models with the same project.
    • You can reassociate a model with another project if there are no coordination issues associated with that model. To associate a model to another project, you must delete any existing coordination issues. See Reassociate a Model with a Procore Project.

Video

 

Steps

  1. Open the Navisworks® application on your computer.
  2. Click the Procore tab to open the Procore plugin.
  3. Open the model you want to associate with a project in Navisworks®.
  4. Click the Procore button (e.g., Issues List, Publish, or Settings). The Associate a Model to a  Project panel appears when the plugins are installed. 
  5. Select the company.
  6. Choose the project you want to associate with the model.
  7. Click Submit.
    The Clash Manager tab displays within Navisworks®. 
     Note
    If the association panel does not appear automatically, click Settings from the Procore tab.

Create Areas to Name Clash Groups

Objective

To define an area on the model to use its location in the clash group name in Procore Clash Manager. 

Background

To include dynamic location information in the clash group name, you must first create the area. 

  • You can create 3D areas that you can verify when viewing in the 3D view.
  • When you name clash groups by area, you can sort groups by name to view all clashes in an area. 
  • You can create overlapping groups. Distill includes the clash in the smallest area.
  • You can concatenate area names to include more than one (1) area description. 

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • ‘Standard’ or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

  1. From the Clash Manager tab, click Create Area.
  2. Draw any polygon in your model to define an area of interest (e.g., phases, multiple buildings, or specific rooms like a mechanical room).
  3. Type the name of the area.
  4. Select the Grid System that you want to associate with the area.
  5. Select the Level From to set the lowest floor in multi-level models.
  6. Select the Level To to set the highest elevation in multi-level models.
  7. Click Save.

Set Group Naming Templates

Objective

To customize the Distill Group Naming Template.

Background

You can change the way Clash Manager automatically names your clash groups, based on your company’s preferences. 

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

  1. In Navisworks®, open the Procore tab.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. 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.
  4. Click Save Settings for Current Model.

Concatenate Area Names

Objective

To concatenate area names in Procore Clash Manager.

Background

If an area encompasses multiple smaller areas, Distill picks the smallest (most detailed) containing area by default for the clash group name. However, you can concatenate area names to include multiple area descriptions.

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • ‘Standard’ or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

  1. In Procore Clash Manager, click Settings.
  2. 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.
  3. Click Save.

Run Distill

Objective

To run Distill and create reviewing groups in Clash Manager.

Background

Distill is an automated clash grouping algorithm. It takes the many clashes from Navisworks® and creates groups that represent specific issues within your model. 

For each clash test you have set up in √, Distill displays these tests. You can adjust the following settings for each clash test. Settings are saved with the model, so that they apply when anyone opens the model in Distill.

  • Focus Global Slider: This setting affects the proximity portion of the grouping algorithm, determining how close clashes must be to each other to be grouped together.
    • Focus: requires close proximity
    • Global: requires less proximity
  • Model Most Likely to Move: This setting informs the algorithm about your hierarchy as a coordinator, indicating which model generally moves out of the way of another in that clash test. Choosing the model most likely to move helps Distill create a group that encompasses everything a specific detailer could fix by moving that element, such as a run of plumbing.

You have some control over Distill's behavior, although default settings are often sufficient.

  • By default, Distill is allowed to insert clashes into active or reviewed groups, but it will not insert clashes into approved or resolved groups. You can change this by selecting different settings.
  • All Distill settings are saved directly into the model. This means when you or another team member opens the model later, the settings will be pre-selected.
  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

  1. On the Procore Clash Manager tab, click Distill. The Distill window appears.
  2. Select the clash tests you want to distill. If you want to distill all tests, skip this step.
  3. Adjust the slider for proximity to determine how close clashes must be to each other to be grouped together.
  4. Select the Model Most Likely to Move.
  5. Click one of the following:
    • Distill Selected Tests
    • Distill All Tests
  6. 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

Objective

To run a Heatmap to find the areas where there are the most clashes. 

Background

Use the Heatmap to identify the areas in your model with the most clashes and where the most trades clash.  The Heatmap provides a centralized area for review, tracking and communication about the critical areas. You can target your coordination efforts and resolve them quickly. 

Best practice is to run the Heatmap:

  • At the beginning of the coordination phase, when the largest number of clashes occur. 
  • Several ties throughout coordination to reassess the most critical areas as models are updated.

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

  1. Click Heatmap in Procore Clash Manager.
  2. Select the clash tests to analyze, or Select All.
  3. Select the Floor Plan Up Direction.
  4. Enter the number of HotSpots to Show.
  5. Select the clash statuses to analyze. The Heatmap analyzes new, active, or renewed clashes by default.
  6. Select an area to limit the Heatmap, if needed. You must have defined areas in your model. 
  7. Click Show HeatMap. The model displays the 10 highest clashing areas. 
  8. Click Publish
  9. 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. 
  10. Click Publish Heat Map.

Clean Up a Heatmap

Objective

To clean up the Heatmap, reducing the number of clash groups.

Background

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

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

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

See Also

 

Orient to the Model

Objective

To find an object’s location on the model.

Background

You can easily find an object’s location by hiding other systems. This allows you to share locations or to view clashes in a specific location and model. Once you orient the model, you can view the selected system more easily, even in 3D. You can choose more than one (1) object in one or more models. 

You can also adjust the Settings to customize Orient.

  • Choose which sets stay visible when you Orient the model. 
  • Select the direction that you want to set as the top of the model in a 2D plan view.
  • Enter an amount to adjust the Cut Plane's vertical position in your plan view. 

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Select the object in the model and click Orient from the Clash Manager tab.
    • Right-click the object in the model and select Orient.
  2. To select more than one object, CTRL+click (CMD+click) the objects. More than one model displays. 

Isolate Model Items

Objective

To isolate model items and their surroundings using Procore Clash Manager.

Background

Use Isolate to view and analyze specific areas of your model. Isolate provides a focused perspective on selected clashes or individual model items while surrounding model elements remain visible for context. 

  • Easily resize the isolated area.
  • Zoom to view the details within the isolated area.
  • Save a viewpoint from the Isolate view, including the active section box.
  • Add clashes to the section box.
  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

  1. In the Navisworks® Clash Detective, select the specific clash or clash group you wish to isolate.
  2. Choose an option:
    • Click Isolate in Procore Clash Manager.
    • Right-click the clash in the model and select Isolate items.
    • Select a model item, and choose Isolate from the Item Tools.
  3. Review the Isolated View. The model highlights your selected clash with a 3D bounding box. This details the area and its surroundings.
  4. 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

Objective

To rename Clash Groups in Bulk.

Background

You can apply custom naming conventions, and update existing names across multiple clash groups for consistency. 

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

  1. Select the clash groups you wish to rename in Clash Detective. You can select individual groups or use Control + A or Shift + Click to select multiple groups.
  2. Click Rename in Procore Clash Manager. 
  3. 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.
  4. Preview the change in the Updated Name column.
  5. Click Rename. Clash groups in Clash Detective are updated with the new names.

Create Viewpoints

Objective

To create a location viewpoint and share comments. 

Background

Viewpoints are a powerful way to organize and communicate information about clashes in your model during coordination. 

  • Viewpoints enable quick location and context in the model. 
  • Communication and note-taking are simplified.
  • You can create more than one viewpoint for your clash tests. 
  • You can create more than one type of viewpoint: 3D view, Orient Plan view and an Isolate viewpoint.

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

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

Create Bulk Viewpoints

Objective

To create multiple viewpoints for clashes.

Background

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
  • Isolate View

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.
  • 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

  1. Click Viewpoints in Clash Manager.
  2. Select the clash tests you want to create viewpoints for.
    • All Tests
    • Selected Tests to create viewpoints for the clash tests currently selected.
  3. 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
  4. Select the viewpoint types to include.
  5. Select the clash statuses that you want to create viewpoints for. 
  6. Click Create Viewpoints
    Viewpoints appear in the Saved Viewpoints panel, organized as specified.

Create Coordination Issues

Objective

To create coordination issues from Clash Manager.

Background

You can create one or more coordination issues directly from your clashes or clash groups in Procore Clash Manager. A separate coordination issue is created for each item selected.

Things to Consider

  • Required User Permissions:
    • 'Standard' or 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

  1. Select one or more clashes or clash groups in Clash Detective
  2. Click Create CIs in Clash Manager. 
  3. Select the Assignee as the person responsible for resolving the issue.
  4. Select the Location for the project’s locations.
  5. Select the issue Type.
  6. Select the Priority for the issue.
  7. Enter a description of the coordination issue. You can select one or more of the following as part of the description:
    • Append clash comments
    • Append redline text
  8. Enter the due date.
  9. Click Create
    When the issue is created, the Procore logo appears next to the clash or clash group in Clash Detective. The coordination issue displays in the Procore Coordination Issues panel in Navisworks® and in the Procore application. 

Sync CI Changes

Objective

To synchronize the changes in coordination issues between the Procore application and Navisworks®.

Background

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:
    • 'Admin' level permissions on the project's Coordination Issues tool.

Steps

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