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As one of the earliest and leading practitioners of BIM, you might expect Graphisoft to lead the way in BIM collaboration as well - and you would not be disappointed. Users appreciate its excellent IFC handling capabilities, and I have even used the software to act as a conduit between one version of Revit and a later one. Its visualisation capabilities are just as useful, with BIMx capable of being used for smooth and easy communication with all stakeholders in a project, providing a direct link to ARCHICAD based BIM projects.

BIMx, aimed mainly at Graphsoft clients, enables users to view, interact with and extract some of the vast amounts of information available within the typical BIM model, in a number of different formats, downloading them onto any type of mobile computing device. BIMx has integrated 2D documentation with the model, but that only shows the 2D floorplan. BIMx PRO, however, is a subscriber offering that extends the facilities of BIMx, turning it into a full-scale viewing platform that replicates many of the navigation features, modified for use in a mobile situation, in ARCHICAD itself.

They can do this through Graphisoft's own cloud services, BIMCloud or using the Document Picker in BIMx to access other cloud storage services like iCloud and Dropbox, linking them to the app to make downloading them as seamless as possible. BIMx Model Transfer ensures that the model data is both secure and effective.

In addition to providing full access to the 3D model, allowing users to interact with it using typical navigation tools to, for instance, rotate, slice, walkthrough and select parts of a model, it provides tools for accessing the large amounts of information behind the model. Much of this relates to links to referenced material for additional information, which are held in a number of formats - emails, telephone numbers, weblinks, addresses and so on - for suppliers of components, furniture, and building utilities, all of which can be recognised by automatic means, providing direct links to the appropriate mobile app.

ZONE INFO AND ORIENTATION LABELS
Other simplifiers are the Zone info and orientation labels. These consist of Zone Stamps on the Floor Plans and Zone Labels in the 3D model, which are interactive within the BIMx model. By tapping on these items a user can access Zone info tags where architects can provide additional information about any space-related details. This is particularly useful for Estate agents and building operators who need to keep information about room finishes and other accessory details packed in Zone info tags, which can be accessed with a tap on the Zone Label.

And not just estate agents! There is really no practical limit to the amount and type of information that can be attached to any element, zone or space, and landlords can accumulate hypothetical letting costs to calculate the cut-off point for profitability or loss.

VIEWING 3D MODELS
I hardly need explain what users can expect when they view a 3D model. Interactive gaming has been around for a while now, and anyone with children, or still in the grip of adolescent urges, has mastered the digital dexterity to romp through a 3D scenario at some pace. BIMx adds another couple of dimensions that you don't get in gaming, though - the ability to progressively slice through a model to lay bare its inner structure, and the use of Hyper models to add further dimensions to the display.

What makes BIMx Hyper-models unique? What are these model-based, context sensitive hyperlinks for? As hyperlinks they provide a connection with other information, much like that described above, but that information is attached to the current view of the model, increasing the amount of information that can be displayed alongside the originating source of the hyperlink - its context. Moreover, the hyperlink information is fixed in plane with its context, and when the model is rotated in space, the hyperlink data rotates with it. This makes it very easy to understand the model, whilst navigating through it.

3D cutaways are a very handy tool for looking at the interior structure of a building. Users move an interactive slider along the length of the building in any display format - rendered, wire frame, etc.

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