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🧩 Model Coordination, Clash Detection, Checking & Review

Coordination and checking tools take the discipline models produced in authoring software (architecture, structure, MEP, civil), federate them into one shared model, and test that model for geometric clashes, clearance problems, missing data and rule violations. They are also where issues are raised, assigned and closed, usually through the open BCF format, so that the design team can fix problems before they reach site. Most tools in this category read IFC and native formats, and many now offer cloud viewers and automated checks against IDS or custom rulesets.

50 questions in this category

What is the difference between Navisworks Manage, Simulate and Freedom?

FoundationAutodesk Navisworks (Manage / Simulate / Freedom)Basics

All three open the same NWD, NWF and NWC files. Navisworks Manage is the full product with Clash Detective, TimeLiner (4D), Quantification, Animator and all file readers. Navisworks Simulate has everything except Clash Detective, so it can review, simulate and quantify but not run interference tests. Navisworks Freedom is a free viewer that opens published NWD and DWF files for navigation, viewpoints and saved clash results but cannot run clash tests or edit schedules.

About Autodesk Navisworks (Manage / Simulate / Freedom) · Certification

What are NWC, NWF and NWD files in Navisworks?

FoundationAutodesk Navisworks (Manage / Simulate / Freedom)File formats

NWC is a cache file that Navisworks or its exporters create from a source model such as a Revit or IFC file; it stores converted geometry so the next load is fast. NWF is a lightweight project file that stores only references to the appended files plus your viewpoints, search sets, clash tests and TimeLiner data, so it updates when the source models change. NWD is a published, self-contained snapshot that embeds the geometry and can be opened in the free Freedom viewer. Navisworks 2027 introduced an optimised NWD/NWF format with better compression and loading speed.

About Autodesk Navisworks (Manage / Simulate / Freedom) · Certification

How do I set up a clash test between two disciplines in Navisworks Clash Detective?

PractitionerAutodesk Navisworks (Manage / Simulate / Freedom)Coordination

Open Clash Detective, add a new test and give it a name such as MEP vs Structure. In the Select tab choose Selection A (for example a search set for ducts and pipes) and Selection B (a search set for structural framing). Set the test type to Hard for physical intersections or Clearance with a distance for required gaps, set a tolerance to ignore trivial overlaps, then run the test. Results appear in the Results tab where you can group, assign and set status. Navisworks 2027 lets you organise tests into folders and create several tests at once.

About Autodesk Navisworks (Manage / Simulate / Freedom) · Certification

How do Navisworks clashes get to the design team as issues?

ProfessionalAutodesk Navisworks (Manage / Simulate / Freedom)Interoperability

Navisworks does not write BCF natively, so there are three usual routes. First, publish clash results as HTML or XML reports with viewpoints and share them, which is the oldest method. Second, use the Autodesk Forma for Construction (formerly ACC) issues integration, where clashes become issues that appear as pushpins in Revit and in Model Coordination. Third, install a BCF add-in such as the free BIMcollab BCF Manager for Navisworks, which converts selected clash groups into BCF issues that Revit, Archicad or Solibri users can open with the correct viewpoint and element selection.

About Autodesk Navisworks (Manage / Simulate / Freedom) · Certification

Can I automate Navisworks so clash tests run overnight without a user?

ExpertAutodesk Navisworks (Manage / Simulate / Freedom)Automation

Yes. Navisworks Manage has a .NET API and a COM API that can append files, run saved clash tests and export reports, so a scheduled script can refresh a federated model every night. The Batch Utility can convert or publish files in bulk from a folder or a file list, and third-party tools use the API to push results into issue trackers. Autodesk's cloud alternative is Model Coordination in Forma for Model Management, which clashes every uploaded model version automatically.

About Autodesk Navisworks (Manage / Simulate / Freedom) · Certification

What does Solibri actually do that a normal BIM viewer does not?

FoundationSolibri (Starter / Essential / Advanced / Premium)Basics

Solibri is a rule-based checker rather than a viewer. It imports IFC models, then runs rulesets that test geometry and data: intersections and clearances between components, required properties and classifications, space and accessibility rules, deliverable completeness and IDS specifications. Results are ranked by severity, grouped into presentations and exported as BCF issues or reports. It also has Information Takeoff for quantities and data extraction, so it is used to accept or reject deliverables against a BIM execution plan.

About Solibri (Starter / Essential / Advanced / Premium) · Certification

What happened to Solibri Office, Solibri Site and Solibri Anywhere?

FoundationSolibri (Starter / Essential / Advanced / Premium)Licensing

On 13 April 2026 Solibri stopped selling Solibri Office and declared Office, Site and Anywhere legacy products. The line was replaced with four annual subscription tiers: Starter (IFC federation and visual inspection), Essential (structured clash detection and BCF issue management), Advanced (custom rules, clash matrix control, ITO/QTO and WebChecker tokens) and Premium (point cloud checking, centralised validation frameworks and an AI assistant), plus Security+ for air-gapped environments. Existing licences remain valid under their contract terms and the software itself continues as Solibri 26.x.

About Solibri (Starter / Essential / Advanced / Premium) · Certification

How do I check an IFC model against an IDS file in Solibri?

PractitionerSolibri (Starter / Essential / Advanced / Premium)Workflow

Open the federated IFC models, then in the Checking view add Rule 244 (IDS) and load one or more .ids files from buildingSMART's Information Delivery Specification. Solibri displays each specification as a separate rule with its applicability and requirement facets and validates entities, properties, classifications, materials and cardinality. Results show which components fail which facet; you can group them, add them to a presentation and export BCF for the authoring team. Recent 2026 releases added backward compatibility for IDS files from older Solibri versions and fixes for USERDEFINED predefined types.

About Solibri (Starter / Essential / Advanced / Premium) · Certification

Is Solibri buildingSMART certified, and which IFC versions does it read?

ProfessionalSolibri (Starter / Essential / Advanced / Premium)Standards

Yes. Solibri holds buildingSMART certification as an IFC4 import capable product and earlier obtained IFC2x3 Coordination View 2.0 import certification. It reads IFC 2x3, IFC4 and, since version 24.5, IFC 4.3 including IfcAlignment for infrastructure. Solibri does not export IFC; it exports BCF, reports, Excel from Information Takeoff and its own SMC model files.

About Solibri (Starter / Essential / Advanced / Premium) · Certification

How can Solibri checks be automated across a portfolio of projects?

ExpertSolibri (Starter / Essential / Advanced / Premium)Automation

Three mechanisms exist. Solibri Autorun runs saved rulesets and exports reports from the command line so a CI-style job can check every new IFC upload. The Solibri Developer Platform (Java API) lets you write custom rules and integrate checking into other systems. In the 2026 product line, Advanced and Premium tiers include WebChecker tokens for cloud checking, and Premium adds centralised validation frameworks so one organisation-wide ruleset and parameter set are enforced on every project.

About Solibri (Starter / Essential / Advanced / Premium) · Certification

Is BIM Collaborate Pro still a product, or is it now called something else?

FoundationAutodesk BIM Collaborate / BIM Collaborate Pro (Model Coordination)Basics

The software still exists but the name changed. In March 2026 Autodesk rebranded Autodesk Construction Cloud as Forma for Construction, and BIM Collaborate / BIM Collaborate Pro became Forma for Model Management (the module names Design Collaboration and Model Coordination stay the same). Autodesk Docs became Forma Data Management and Autodesk Build became Forma Build. Existing subscriptions, projects and data rolled over automatically with no migration.

About Autodesk BIM Collaborate / BIM Collaborate Pro (Model Coordination) · Certification

How does automatic clash detection work in Model Coordination?

PractitionerAutodesk BIM Collaborate / BIM Collaborate Pro (Model Coordination)Coordination

An administrator creates a coordination space that points at one or more folders in Forma Data Management (Autodesk Docs). Every model published or uploaded into those folders is processed and clashed against all other models in the space, so results are ready without a user running a test. The clash matrix shows counts per model pair; you open a pair, filter by tolerance, review grouped clashes in the browser viewer and convert real problems into issues assigned to a company and person. Since 2025 you can switch automatic clash off when creating a space if you only want model aggregation.

About Autodesk BIM Collaborate / BIM Collaborate Pro (Model Coordination) · Certification

When should I use Model Coordination in the cloud instead of Navisworks Manage?

ProfessionalAutodesk BIM Collaborate / BIM Collaborate Pro (Model Coordination)Comparison

Use Model Coordination when all models already live in Forma for Construction, you want clashes refreshed automatically on every upload, and reviewers work in a browser or on mobile. Use Navisworks Manage when you need precise control over clash rules, clearance tests, search-set based selections, 4D TimeLiner, quantification, or when models come from non-Autodesk sources that the cloud does not accept. Many teams do both: cloud clashes for daily monitoring and Navisworks for formal coordination meetings, with issues synchronised between them.

About Autodesk BIM Collaborate / BIM Collaborate Pro (Model Coordination) · Certification

What is Trimble Connect and which apps does it include?

FoundationTrimble ConnectBasics

Trimble Connect is Trimble's cloud collaboration and CDE platform for construction. It has a web app for viewing federated 2D and 3D data in the browser, Trimble Connect for Windows for heavier desktop work including clash sets, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and mixed-reality viewing on HoloLens and Trimble XR10. It supports more than 45 file types including IFC, SKP, DWG, RVT, NWD, TRB and glTF, and it replaced Tekla BIMsight in 2019.

About Trimble Connect · Certification

How do I run a clash check in Trimble Connect?

PractitionerTrimble ConnectCoordination

Clash checking lives in Trimble Connect for Windows. Open the project, load at least two models, then create a Clash Set: pick the models or objects to compare, choose the clash type and enter a clearance or tolerance distance. Run the set and review the resulting clashes in the list and 3D view, then create ToDos or BCF Topics from the clashes you want the design team to fix. The results synchronise to the cloud so web and mobile users can see the same items.

About Trimble Connect · Certification

Do all my project partners need a paid Trimble Connect licence?

ProfessionalTrimble ConnectLicensing

No. Trimble's plan pages state that external collaborators invited by a paid Business, Business Premium, Pro or Innovate licence holder can view, mark up and interact with project data without their own paid seat. Plan names differ between Trimble regional sites in 2026, and a 30-day free trial covers all features, so check the current plan page for your region before quoting a client. Paid seats are needed for the people who create projects, manage permissions and use advanced BIM tools.

About Trimble Connect · Certification

What makes Revizto different from a clash tool like Navisworks?

FoundationReviztoBasics

Revizto is a collaboration platform built around an Issue Tracker. It combines 2D sheets and 3D models in one workspace on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and web, and every stakeholder sees the same issue list with stamps, assignees, deadlines and history. Clash Automation is one source of issues, but so are site observations, design questions and mark-ups. Navisworks is a desktop tool focused on aggregation, clash tests and 4D; Revizto is about tracking and closing issues across the whole team.

About Revizto · Certification

Is there an official Revizto certification and does it cost money?

PractitionerReviztoCareer

Yes. Revizto Academy offers three sequential certifications: Level 1 Collaboration Core, Level 2 Coordination Pro (roles, permissions, templates, search sets, clash automation) and Level 3 Implementation Expert (implementation strategy, automation and the Revizto API). Every course and exam is free, you do not need a Revizto licence to take them, and certificates can be shared on LinkedIn. Each level is a prerequisite for the next.

About Revizto · Certification

How do models get into Revizto from Revit, Navisworks or Archicad?

ProfessionalReviztoInteroperability

Revizto uses Revizto+ plugins installed in the authoring tools. From Revit, Navisworks, Archicad, Tekla or Civil 3D you export the model (and 2D sheets from Revit) into the Revizto project on the cloud, and the plugin also synchronises issues so a Revit user sees Revizto issues as pins in their own view. IFC files can be imported directly, and BCF import/export connects Revizto with tools that do not have a plugin. Model updates re-export to the same project so issue positions are preserved.

About Revizto · Certification

What is the difference between BIMcollab Nexus and BIMcollab Zoom?

FoundationBIMcollab (Nexus / Zoom / BCF Managers)Basics

BIMcollab Nexus is the cloud issue-management platform: it hosts projects, issues, a web viewer and the BCF API that plugins connect to. BIMcollab Zoom is a desktop application for Windows and macOS that views federated IFC models and runs clash detection, Smart Views, Lists and IDS validation; a free Zoom viewer covers viewing and basic checks and a licence unlocks the checking features. Free BCF Managers for Revit, Archicad, Navisworks, Solibri and Tekla connect those tools to the Nexus issue list.

About BIMcollab (Nexus / Zoom / BCF Managers) · Certification

What are Smart Views and Smart Issues in BIMcollab Zoom?

PractitionerBIMcollab (Nexus / Zoom / BCF Managers)Workflow

Smart Views are saved rules that colour, isolate or hide components based on their IFC properties, for example colouring walls by fire rating or showing every element missing a classification; they are used for visual data validation and can be shared through the project folder and the Nexus WebViewer. Smart Issues are issues linked to clash or check results that Zoom re-evaluates when models are updated, so an issue is automatically flagged as solved when the clash disappears, avoiding duplicate reports. Zoom Nightshift can run these checks on a schedule.

About BIMcollab (Nexus / Zoom / BCF Managers) · Certification

Which BCF versions and openBIM standards does BIMcollab support?

ProfessionalBIMcollab (Nexus / Zoom / BCF Managers)Standards

BIMcollab is built on buildingSMART standards. Nexus stores issues in BCF and exposes the openCDE BCF API, imports and exports BCF 2.1 and BCF 3.0 files, and Zoom validates models against IDS files including cardinality and the Part Of facet. The whole stack reads IFC 2x3 and IFC4 and the company (KUBUS) hosts data in the Netherlands with ISO 27001 certification.

About BIMcollab (Nexus / Zoom / BCF Managers) · Certification

Is Dalux BIM Viewer really free and what does the paid version add?

FoundationDalux BIM Viewer / Dalux BoxLicensing

Yes, Dalux BIM Viewer is free on Windows, web, iOS and Android with no time limit; it federates models automatically, shows 2D and 3D side by side, measures, sections, filters by property and lets you comment. The paid Dalux Box is a full CDE that adds document control with ISO 19650 shared and published states, hard and soft clash detection, automated property validation, BCF exchange and integration with Revit, Navisworks and Solibri. Dalux Field extends the same models to site snagging and inspections.

About Dalux BIM Viewer / Dalux Box · Certification

Can Dalux take clash results from Navisworks or Solibri?

ProfessionalDalux BIM Viewer / Dalux BoxWorkflow

Yes. Dalux Box and BIM Viewer can import clash and issue results from Solibri and Navisworks so site teams see the same coordination items in the mobile viewer without running Dalux's own checks. Combined with BCF support, this lets a project keep Solibri or Navisworks as the checking engine while Dalux is the distribution channel to the field. Model updates are uploaded through Dalux plugins for Revit, Archicad, Tekla and Navisworks or as IFC.

About Dalux BIM Viewer / Dalux Box · Certification

What is Bentley Navigator used for?

FoundationBentley NavigatorBasics

Bentley Navigator CONNECT Edition is Bentley Systems' review and coordination application. It opens large multi-discipline DGN, i-model, DWG, IFC and Revit content, runs clash detection, records issues and markups, simulates schedules and supports virtual walkthroughs, with a mobile companion for site use. It is typically used on rail, road, plant and utility projects where MicroStation, OpenRoads or OpenPlant are the authoring tools and ProjectWise is the document system.

About Bentley Navigator · Certification

How does clash detection work in Bentley Navigator?

PractitionerBentley NavigatorCoordination

It runs in two phases. First you define a clash job: which selections or models to test against each other and what type of interference to find. Navigator processes the job and in the second phase you review the results, mark them, and share them with other participants. Suppression rules filter out clashes you do not want to see, such as known acceptable overlaps, so repeat runs only surface new problems.

About Bentley Navigator · Certification

Can I use BIMvision commercially for free?

FoundationBIMvisionLicensing

Yes. Datacomp IT states that BIMvision is free for private and commercial use. The base viewer opens IFC 2x3 and IFC4 models, measures, sections, lists properties and includes built-in collision detection. Advanced features such as the Advanced Clash Detection bundle, BCF tools, glTF export, IFC splitting and the Python API bridge are paid plugins from the BIMvision Plugin Store. Version 3.1.4 was released in July 2026.

About BIMvision · Certification

Can BIMvision be scripted or extended?

ExpertBIMvisionAutomation

Yes. BIMvision was the first IFC viewer with a plugin interface, and Datacomp publishes a plugin API so developers can add functions to the viewer. A Python API Bridge plugin exposes the viewer through a REST API and Python scripting, which allows automated model inspection, property extraction and batch tasks. Plugins are distributed and sold through the official BIMvision Plugin Store.

About BIMvision · Certification

What is usBIM.clash and is it free?

FoundationACCA usBIM.clash / usBIM.viewer+Basics

usBIM.clash is ACCA software's browser-based clash detection application inside the usBIM cloud platform. It checks IFC and other 3D models (DWG, SKP, 3DS, models from Revit, Archicad, Allplan, Tekla via IFC) for hard clashes and clearance clashes and exports results to BCF, PDF, XLSX, CSV, XML and HTML. It is free for one month and then requires a subscription plan. The separate usBIM.viewer+ desktop viewer is permanently free.

About ACCA usBIM.clash / usBIM.viewer+ · Certification

Can usBIM.viewer+ convert a DWG or SketchUp model to IFC?

PractitionerACCA usBIM.clash / usBIM.viewer+File formats

Yes. usBIM.viewer+ is a free Windows application that opens IFC 2x3, DWG, SKP, 3DS, OBJ and DAE files, federates them, allows basic IFC editing and exports the result to IFC. This makes it useful for bringing non-BIM content such as a SketchUp massing or a DWG plant model into an IFC-based coordination workflow, after which usBIM.clash or another checker can test it.

About ACCA usBIM.clash / usBIM.viewer+ · Certification

What does BEXEL Manager do beyond clash detection?

FoundationBEXEL ManagerBasics

BEXEL Manager is an integrated BIM management tool. Alongside clash detection with colour-coded breakdown structures it provides automated quantity takeoff, cost breakdown structures, 4D and 5D construction simulation, Takt planning, version comparison, scenes and 360-degree photo integration. It is IFC-based, uses BCF with a BCF server for issue exchange, and has a cloud CDE and mobile app. The vendor states it can identify over 20,000 clashes in seconds.

About BEXEL Manager · Certification

How does BEXEL Manager link clash coordination to schedule and cost?

ProfessionalBEXEL ManagerWorkflow

Because model elements, quantities, cost items and schedule activities live in one database, a clash found between a duct and a beam can be traced to the activities and cost lines that depend on those elements. Coordinators can prioritise clashes by upcoming construction date from the 4D schedule, and the data enrichment workflow adds the attributes needed for 3D, 4D and 5D uses so that the same model serves coordination, takeoff and progress monitoring.

About BEXEL Manager · Certification

What happened to Verifi3D?

PractitionerVerifi3D (Xinaps) / Solibri CheckPointHistory

Verifi3D was a cloud model checker from Dutch company Xinaps that validated IFC and Revit models pulled from CDEs such as ACC, Procore and Trimble Connect. Solibri, part of the Nemetschek Group, acquired Xinaps in January 2025 and relaunched the technology as Solibri CheckPoint for Revit, ACC and Procore users. By the June 2026 Solibri release notes CheckPoint itself is listed as a legacy product, with cloud checking now delivered through Solibri's tiered subscriptions and WebChecker tokens.

About Verifi3D (Xinaps) / Solibri CheckPoint · Certification

Is Newforma Konekt the same thing as BIM Track?

FoundationNewforma Konekt (formerly BIM Track)History

Newforma Konekt is the successor to BIM Track. Newforma acquired the Canadian BIM Track issue-tracking platform and merged it with Newforma Project Center into Konekt, a cloud platform whose BIM Track package covers issue management, a 2D/3D web viewer, mobile access, 100 GB storage and an open API. Info Track adds email and document control and CA Track adds RFIs, submittals and contract changes. Pricing is by quotation.

About Newforma Konekt (formerly BIM Track) · Certification

How do Navisworks clashes and Revit issues reach Newforma Konekt?

ProfessionalNewforma Konekt (formerly BIM Track)Interoperability

Konekt provides plugins for Revit and Navisworks that push issues (including clash groups) into the cloud issue list and show existing issues back in the authoring view. For tools without a plugin, issues are imported and exported as BCF files, and the App Marketplace lists BCF-compatible links to Aconex, Novapoint, NEXT-BIM and others. The Open API allows custom reporting and integrations.

About Newforma Konekt (formerly BIM Track) · Certification

How is Catenda Hub priced compared with per-user tools?

FoundationCatenda Hub (formerly bimsync)Licensing

Catenda Hub is priced per project according to the construction value, with unlimited users and no per-seat fees. Catenda's pricing page gives examples of roughly EUR 400 per month for a EUR 10 million project and about EUR 1,100 per month for a EUR 50 million project; projects above EUR 100 million move to an Enterprise agreement with SSO, MFA and tenant isolation. This suits public clients who want every consultant and contractor in the same CDE.

About Catenda Hub (formerly bimsync) · Certification

What does it mean that Catenda Hub is an openCDE?

ProfessionalCatenda Hub (formerly bimsync)Standards

It means the platform implements buildingSMART's openCDE APIs, in particular the BCF API, at api.catenda.com/opencde/bcf, so any BCF-capable tool such as Solibri, BIMcollab or a Revit plugin can read and write issues directly without file exchange. Catenda Hub also federates IFC in the browser, supports BCF 2.1 and 3.0 files, uses IDS for information requirements and provides ISO 19650 document states with an audit trail. Clash detection itself is done in connected tools such as Solibri or Navisworks.

About Catenda Hub (formerly bimsync) · Certification

Why would I run an IFC through Simplebim before checking it in Solibri?

PractitionerSimplebimWorkflow

Because checkers and takeoff tools only work if the data is consistent. Simplebim imports the IFC, trims unnecessary content, merges or splits models, normalises property names and units, adds classifications and computed quantities through formulas, validates that required properties exist and exports a clean IFC. A Solibri ruleset or an IDS check then produces real findings instead of hundreds of failures caused by inconsistent exports from different authoring tools.

About Simplebim · Certification

Can Simplebim processing be standardised across projects?

ExpertSimplebimAutomation

Yes. Simplebim uses dataflows composed of more than 100 processing actions and templates that can be saved and reused, so a company can define one standard flow for each authoring tool or discipline and apply it to every project. Excel-based mapping tables drive property renaming and classification, and the same template produces identical IFC output for every delivery, which makes downstream checks repeatable. Version 11 (2025) supports IFC 4.3.

About Simplebim · Certification

Can I still download and use Tekla BIMsight?

FoundationTekla BIMsightHistory

No. Trimble discontinued distribution, support and maintenance of Tekla BIMsight on 31 December 2019 and replaced it with Trimble Connect for Desktop, now Trimble Connect for Windows, which can open native BIMsight project files. Old installations may still run but receive no updates and lack IFC4 and current BCF support, so new coordination work should use Trimble Connect or another current viewer.

About Tekla BIMsight · Certification

What is xeokit and who is it for?

Practitionerxeokit SDK / xeokit BIM ViewerBasics

xeokit is an open-source JavaScript SDK maintained by Creoox AG in Switzerland for building browser-based BIM viewers. It converts IFC and other formats into an optimised XKT format that loads very large models in seconds and provides section planes, measurements, tree views, plan views, annotations and BCF viewpoints. It is aimed at developers and software vendors rather than end users; platforms such as Thinkproject, Fieldwire, BEXEL Manager and OpenProject embed it.

About xeokit SDK / xeokit BIM Viewer · Certification

What are the licensing implications of building a coordination portal on xeokit?

Expertxeokit SDK / xeokit BIM ViewerLicensing

xeokit is released under AGPL-3.0, so a product that integrates it must also be released under AGPL-3.0, including when it is offered over a network. Companies that want to keep their portal proprietary buy a commercial licence from Creoox, which removes the open-source obligations and adds support. From September 2026 the npm package ships only ES module builds, so build pipelines that relied on UMD or CommonJS bundles must be updated.

About xeokit SDK / xeokit BIM Viewer · Certification

What is the difference between a hard clash, a soft clash and a workflow clash?

FoundationBasics

A hard clash is a physical intersection where two elements occupy the same space, such as a duct passing through a beam. A soft or clearance clash occurs when elements do not touch but are closer than a required distance, for example a pipe within the maintenance zone of an electrical panel. A workflow or 4D clash is a sequencing conflict, such as equipment that cannot be installed because the access route is already closed by finished walls. Navisworks, Solibri, Trimble Connect and usBIM.clash test the first two; 4D tools such as Navisworks TimeLiner or Synchro test the third.

Certification: Model Coordination, Clash Detection, Checking & Review

What is BCF and why does every coordination tool mention it?

FoundationFile formats

BCF, the BIM Collaboration Format from buildingSMART, is an open format for exchanging issues rather than geometry. Each BCF topic holds a title, description, status, assignee, comments, a snapshot and a viewpoint with camera position and the GUIDs of the selected components, so the receiver's tool can jump to the exact spot in their own model. It exists as .bcf/.bcfzip files (versions 2.1 and 3.0) and as the openCDE BCF API used by platforms such as BIMcollab Nexus and Catenda Hub. It lets Solibri, Revit, Archicad, Navisworks (via add-ins) and issue trackers work on the same issue list.

Certification: Model Coordination, Clash Detection, Checking & Review

Which tool should a small architecture office use to check IFC deliverables without a large budget?

PractitionerComparison

Start with a free viewer: BIMcollab Zoom free, BIMvision, Dalux BIM Viewer or usBIM.viewer+ all open IFC, federate models and let you inspect properties, and BIMvision includes basic collision detection. If you need proper clash tests with BCF output, the next affordable steps are a BIMcollab Zoom licence, usBIM.clash on a subscription or Solibri Starter/Essential. Solibri Advanced is the reference for rule-based checking but is priced for organisations that check many projects.

Certification: Model Coordination, Clash Detection, Checking & Review

What does a BIM coordinator actually do in a weekly clash cycle?

PractitionerWorkflow

A typical cycle is: collect the latest discipline models from the CDE on the agreed day, federate them (Navisworks, Solibri, Model Coordination or Trimble Connect), run the agreed clash matrix and rule checks, filter and group the results to remove noise and duplicates, create or update issues with a clear owner and due date via BCF or the platform's issue module, and chair the coordination meeting where each issue is accepted, rejected or reassigned. Metrics such as open issues per discipline and average closure time are reported to the project manager.

Certification: Model Coordination, Clash Detection, Checking & Review

How does model checking fit into ISO 19650 information management?

ProfessionalStandards

ISO 19650 requires that information containers pass through defined states (work in progress, shared, published, archived) and that each transition is checked against the exchange information requirements. Checking tools implement the check: Solibri or BIMcollab Zoom validate IFC deliverables against the BIM execution plan and IDS files, Navisworks or Model Coordination confirm spatial coordination before a model is shared, and the CDE (Catenda Hub, Dalux Box, Forma Data Management, Trimble Connect) records the approval with an audit trail. IDS is the buildingSMART format that turns the written requirements into machine-checkable rules.

Certification: Model Coordination, Clash Detection, Checking & Review

My federated model shows disciplines in different locations. What is wrong?

ProfessionalTroubleshooting

Almost always the models were exported with different coordinate bases. In Revit, check whether each discipline exported using Shared Coordinates or Project Internal origin and whether the survey point and project base point match the agreed setting-out point; in Archicad and Tekla confirm the IFC site placement. Large real-world coordinates can also cause precision problems in some viewers, so many projects agree a local origin near the site. Fix it in the authoring tool and re-export rather than moving models in the coordination tool, otherwise every future update repeats the error.

Certification: Model Coordination, Clash Detection, Checking & Review

How do I keep clash detection useful on a very large project with thousands of clashes?

ExpertPerformance

Define a clash matrix that only tests discipline pairs that matter and set tolerances so trivial overlaps are ignored. Build clash tests from search sets based on properties or classifications rather than manual selections so they survive model updates. Group results by location or system, use rules to suppress accepted conditions, and record status so only new and active clashes are discussed. Run heavy tests overnight through automation (Navisworks API, Zoom Nightshift, Model Coordination or Solibri Autorun) and track closure rates per discipline instead of raw clash counts.

Certification: Model Coordination, Clash Detection, Checking & Review

Which certifications and training are worth having for a model coordination role in 2026?

ExpertCareer

Revizto Academy offers three free certifications (Collaboration Core, Coordination Pro, Implementation Expert) that employers recognise. Solibri eLearn issues certificates for its onboarding program and Solibri training partners deliver classroom courses. Autodesk provides free on-demand Navisworks and Model Coordination learning modules and Autodesk Certified Professional exams for related products; an official Navisworks-specific ACP could not be confirmed on Autodesk's certification pages as of September 2026, so check the current catalogue. Beyond vendor courses, buildingSMART Professional Certification (openBIM foundation) and a working knowledge of ISO 19650 and IDS are the most transferable credentials.

Certification: Model Coordination, Clash Detection, Checking & Review

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Product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Facts are verified against vendor documentation and dated sources; pricing is described by model only. Spotted an error or a missing tool? Write to [email protected] and we will correct it. Database updated: 2026-09-15.