PRODUCT FOCUS
Navisworks Manage 2013 The scan positions are held in the associated Navistools SQL database along with associated user-defined data such as photographs and other required documentation. Navistools is built upon Profox Navistools software, the project portal which allows external project data to be easily linked and managed within Navisworks. Navistools Pointcloud enables easier management of renovation projects containing large unwieldy point cloud datasets by creating visual demolition project plans. Navistools Pointcloud enables easier comparison through visualisation between as-built data and design data through the design review process and for space management and facilities management. Navistools Pointcloud saves on project time scales and costs through reducing the traditional requirement to produce costly CAD models from laser scanned point cloud data.
of Autodesk Navisworks stay available and you can delay the publishing action to the non-productive hours of the day. Navistools Publisher also includes the following features: • If you use Navisworks properties during publishing, then Publisher will use these same properties as well. You can even set the properties for your Navisworks models using the Publisher; it is not necessary to activate Navisworks for that. • To use Publisher, Navisworks only has to be installed on the system where you want to use the Publisher. Publisher uses the Navisworks engine in the background; you hardly even notice when it’s running. • Publisher is delivered with “AutoDetect” and “Scheduler”— there are no separate licenses required.
Figure 3: Navistools Pointcloud
NAVISTOOLS PUBLISHER Manage Navisworks projects more easily Let’s say you are project coordinator and on a regular basis you encounter the problem that the Navisworks files available to the project team aren’t up-to-date. In many cases, one of the project members has the responsibility to make sure the Navisworks models are updated several times a week, which can take a serious amount of time. Navistools Publisher for Navisworks enables you to automatically publish your CAD models to the familiar .nwd format. Publisher is equipped with “AutoDetect” functionality that continuously monitors a designated project folder and detects when a new or modified CAD model appears, and then publishes it automatically to a specified location. If you prefer to publish on a given date or time such as overnight, for example, then Publisher is also the tool for you. The “Scheduler” functionality allows you to publish on the time and date that you want. This functionality means all your systems and licenses 42
www.augi.com
Figure 4: Navistools website
John Foster is a Director of Profox Companies Ltd, an Autodesk partner and software development company based in Helsinki, Finland and Cambridge, UK. Profox specialises in all things Navisworks and offers products and services to enhance the benefits and increase efficiency of the Autodesk Navisworks products. Central to this is the unique Navistools suite of products, which is benefitting Navisworks users in the Building and Construction, Process Plant, and Civil Engineering sectors. Prior to Profox, John worked for NavisWorks Ltd and Autodesk Ltd. Find out more and download a free trial at www.navistools.com. John can be reached at john.foster@profox.com or at +44 7770 502456 July 2013