Compare Digital Twins with the BIM Viewer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BIM Compare Layout
Capture and Plan Viewer Navigation
BIM Viewer Navigation
- Sync'd Camera
- Unsync'd Camera
Overlaying BIM Objects in the Capture Viewer

SiteView enables you to view 3D digital twins (panos) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) files side by side. You can view and navigate each one together (synchronized), or separately (desynchronized). This is done using a Capture Viewer, Plan Viewer and BIM Viewer in the BIM Compare Layout.

BIM Compare Layout

To view 3D digital twins and BIM files side by side:

Click on Manage viewers in the top Toolbar.
Click on BIM Compare Layout.

The BIM Compare Layout is made up of three different viewers, each having their own set of controls: Capture Viewer, Plan Viewer, and BIM Viewer. To learn how to navigate and control the Capture Viewer and Plan Viewer, please read:

Sync'd Camera

All BIM Viewer movement is synchronized with the Capture Viewer by default. Available control options:

Transport - Select one or more objects to overlay onto a pano or point cloud in the Capture Viewer, then click this button to Transport it over.
Measure Distance - When enabled, this allows you to measure distance, angles and calibrate from one point to another.
Add Z Plane - Change the plane of the BIM model.
Levels - View details on levels.
Model Structure - Turn specific object model types on and off. This is useful for viewing certain areas that are blocked from view by walls and other objects.
Properties - Click on any object in the BIM model to see details like constraints, material type, cost, dimensions and more.
Reset View -Return the view to the original one. This is only active when the Capture Viewer and BIM Viewer are desynchronized.
Filter Visibility - click on this to turn pano bubbles on/off in the BIM Viewer.

Unsync'd Camera

Right click, then click on Unsync Camera to change the view and examine BIM objects outside of the current pano. Once enabled, the following options are available:

Fly Mode - Navigate the BIM file using a first-person view. Activate the option by unsyncing the camera view. Available options are shown in the image below.

Orthographic/Perspective Views - Choose from orthographic or perspective views of the BIM model.
Transport - Select one or more objects to overlay onto a pano or point cloud in the Capture Viewer, then click this button to Transport it over.
Measure Distance - When enabled, this allows you to measure distance, angles and calibrate from one point to another.
Add Z Plane - Change the plane of the BIM model.
Levels - View details on levels.
Model Structure - Turn specific object model types on and off. This is useful for viewing certain areas that are blocked from view by walls and other objects.
Properties - Click on any object in the BIM model to see details like constraints, material type, cost, dimensions and more.
Reset View -Return the view to the original one. This is only active when the Capture Viewer and BIM Viewer are desynchronized.
Filter Visibility - click on this to turn pano bubbles on/off in the BIM Viewer.

Overlaying BIM Objects in the Capture Viewer

SiteView has the ability to transport BIM objects into the Capture Viewer and overlay them on panos. This is useful for directly comparing BIM designs with as-built (real life) panos.

Overlay BIM Objects on Panos

To overlay BIM objects on panos:

1. Use the Capture Viewer to navigate to the area with the BIM objects you'd like to transport over.

2. (Optional) If more than one BIM Model exists, choose the one you need from the Model Control at the bottom of the BIM Viewer.

3. Select a BIM object by left clicking on it. You can choose multiple objects at once by holding CTRL while clicking on each object.

4. Click on Transport.

5. The object(s) will display in the pano.

Filter BIM Object Groups with Model Structure

If you want to filter and transport specific groups of objects from a BIM file, the Model Structure control can help. For example, let's say you want to overlay specific objects onto the panos like the images below.

Here is the suggested procedure:

In the BIM Viewer, click on Model Structure .
Use SHIFT + Left Click to select a group, or several groups, of objects from the list. To make it easier to filter, click on the "eye" to change a group from visible to invisible as needed.
Click on Transport to overlay all of the objects onto the panos in the Capture Viewer all at once.