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NavVis IVION Add-In for Revit

The NavVis IVION Add-In for Revit connects a Revit project to a NavVis IVION site.

Use the add-in to:

  • Create BIM models faster.

  • Compare as-built with as-is.

  • Spot differences visually.

  • Verify measurements remotely.

  • Collaborate with stakeholders online.

Installing the Revit Add-Ins

Follow these steps to install the NavVis IVION Add-In for Revit.

  1. Make sure you have installed Revit from Autodesk's website.
  2. Go to the Autodesk App Store and download NavVis Revit Add-In.
  3. Create an Autodesk account and sign in.
  4. When the Add-ins finish downloading install them.
After the installation is finished you will see a tab called NavVis in the Revit menu bar.

Connecting to NavVis IVION

Before connecting to NavVis IVION from your Revit project, make sure that an accurate site model exists in the NavVis IVION site.

Follow these steps to connect to NavVis IVION from your Revit project.
  1. Open your Revit project.
  2. Click on NavVis > Settings.
  3. Enter the NavVis IVION base URL instance address, for example https://hq.iv.navvis.com/ without any additional parameters.
  4. Click Connect.
    If the connection succeeds, the tab Coordinate System opens.
Continue by selecting an existing coordinate system transformation or by creating a transformation.

Connecting to your local IVION instance with NavVis Revit Add-Ins

  • Make sure your Hosted IVION instance is running on the same Local Network as your Windows workstation.

  • Revit is Installed on your Windows workstation.

  • IVION Instance running Docker/Ubuntu Workstation.

  1. Go into your Ubuntu Workstation Network settings and locate the IP address. (Option: Open Terminal and type in hostname -I)
  2. Click the button next to the active connection for the IP address and to display other details.
  3. Note the IP address.
  4. On your Windows Workstation Open your Revit project.
  5. Click NavVis > Settings.
  6. Enter the NavVis IVION base URL instance address (Use the IP address from the Ubuntu workstation for example http://xxx.xxx.xx.xx:8083/iv).
  7. Click Connect, If the connection succeeds, the tab Coordinate System opens.
    Note: If the connection fails, check that your local instance keys fpr the API are up to date

Using an Existing Transformation

The NavVis IVION Add-in for Revit uses a coordinate system transformation to understand how the data in the two programs fit together. If your Revit project uses the same coordinate system as your NavVis IVION site or you have pre-defined transformations, you can select an existing transformation. Otherwise, create a transformation.

Follow these steps to use an existing transformation in your project.
  1. In Revit, go to NavVis > NavVis IVION Settings > Coordinate System.
  2. Select a NavVis IVION site from the Site drop-down menu.
  3. Check the check box Use an existing transformation.
  4. If your Revit project uses the same coordinate system as your NavVis IVION site, select the option Site from the drop-down menu.
  5. If you want to use a transformation that you have previously created, select the desired option from the drop-down menu.
  6. Click Apply.

Creating a Transformation

To create a coordinate system transformation, you should either already have a model or open the point cloud of the site which you are going to model. Check that the floor levels defined in Revit are at the correct heights of the point cloud.

Follow these steps to transform the data in both programs to the same coordinate system.
  1. Create two points of interest (POIs) in NavVis IVION to serve as tie points.
    1. Choose two corners on the same floor, but on opposite sides of the selected building.
    2. Place the POIs on the floor of the point cloud.
    3. Give them a recognizable name.
  2. In Revit, select a floor plan which corresponds to the floor where the two POIs are located in NavVis IVION.
  3. Open NavVis > NavVis IVION Settings > Coordinate System.
  4. Select a NavVis IVION site from the Site drop-down menu.
  5. Select the building corresponding to your current Revit model from the Building drop-down menu. The options are based on the site model defined in NavVis IVION.
  6. Select the correct POIs as tie points from the respective drop-down menus. If the POIs do not appear here, you may need to re-connect to NavVis IVION in order to refresh it.
  7. Click the Pick button for the first tie point.
  8. Click on the location on the top view that corresponds to the location of the point of interest.
  9. Repeat the two previous steps for the second tie point.
  10. Click Calculate Transformation. The add-in calculates the transformation matrix (translation and rotation).
  11. Click Apply.
Note: You get feedback about the accuracy of the transformation. This number is the distance between the POIs minus the distance between the points you picked on the floor plan. If the difference is larger than 0.05 m, try picking the points again.

Now that you have created a transformation, save it to the connected NavVis IVION instance. You can start using the add-in to help you work with your Revit model.

Saving a Transformation to the NavVis IVION Instance

Follow these steps to save a transformation to the connected NavVis IVION site.

  1. Enter a name for the transformation and click Save to NavVis IVION.
    You will see a pop-up window asking you to log in.
  2. Enter the administrator credentials for the NavVis IVION instance and click Log in.
    The add-in saves the transformation in the instance.

Finding a Location in NavVis IVION

Once you are connected to a NavVis IVION site and have your transformation set up, you can find any location in NavVis IVION directly from your Revit model.

Follow these steps to find a location in NavVis IVION directly from your Revit model.
  1. Click on NavVis > Locate.
  2. Click on a location on the floor plan.
    NavVis IVION shows that location in a separate window and you can see a panorama image of the real building.

Taking a Measurement in NavVis IVION

Follow these instruction to take a measurement in NavVis IVION.

  1. Find the location where you need to take a measurement in the NavVis IVION site.
  2. Select Show point cloud from the View menu in NavVis IVION. We recommend setting the point cloud quality to High quality and adjusting the point size until you feel you can see what you are doing.
  3. Use the measurement tool to take a measurement in NavVis IVION.

Exporting DXF Floor Plans

If you are exporting DXF floor plans to use in your connected NavVis IVION site, the add-in can save you work on geo-registering them.

Follow these steps to export DXF floor plans for use in NavVis IVION:
  1. Save the transformation to the NavVis IVION site.
  2. Export your floor plans in DXF format using meters as the unit.
  3. Clean up the floor plans.
    Remove annotations and explode unsupported geometries in AutoCAD or another CAD program.
  4. When importing the plans to NavVis IVION, start typing the name of the saved transformation in the field Source Coordinate System and select your transformation.
    The plans will appear in the correct location after the upload finishes.