BIM Presence Tools for Concurrent 3D Model Collaboration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing BIM viewer technology allows only one individual to access a BIM file at a time, leading to inefficiencies in collaboration and potential conflicts when multiple users need to access and edit the same file, resulting in unnecessary time and effort spent on coordination and reconciliation.
Innovation Solution
Software technology that provides presence information and collaboration tools, enabling multiple users to simultaneously access and make changes to a BIM file, including features like chat, follow, tracking, and sharing tools, to facilitate real-time collaboration and coordination among team members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only one individual is allowed to access a BIM file at a time, then file integrity and simplicity of access control are maintained, but collaboration efficiency and user productivity deteriorate due to waiting time and coordination overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the BIM file access into multiple independent workspaces or views that can be simultaneously accessed by different users. Each user gets their own isolated editing environment, allowing parallel work without conflicts while maintaining overall file integrity through centralized coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server or cloud-based intermediary that manages multiple user connections to the BIM file. This intermediary coordinates access, resolves conflicts, and maintains file integrity while enabling simultaneous user participation, thus improving collaboration efficiency without sacrificing reliability.
2Productivity
If multiple users are allowed to access a BIM file simultaneously, then collaboration efficiency and productivity improve, but system complexity and potential for conflicts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a server-based intermediary that handles the complexity of multi-user coordination, conflict resolution, and data synchronization. This centralizes the complex logic, keeping client applications simple while enabling sophisticated collaborative features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple copies or views of the BIM file that can be simultaneously accessed and edited by different users. These copies can be synchronized back to the master file, allowing parallel work without direct conflicts while maintaining data consistency.
3Loss of time
If multiple users access a BIM file simultaneously, then coordination time is reduced, but the need for conflict resolution mechanisms and tracking increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback mechanisms that notify users of conflicts or changes made by other users. This immediate feedback allows for quick resolution of issues without extensive coordination overhead, reducing time loss while managing complexity through automated notification systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The server-based intermediary automatically tracks changes, detects conflicts, and manages resolution processes. This automation reduces the need for manual coordination while the intermediary absorbs the complexity of conflict resolution logic, keeping user interfaces simple.
Data Source
AI summary
Facilitating collaboration on a 3D model of a construction project involves obtaining presence information that identifies each individual concurrently interacting with a respective rendered 3D model of the construction project via a respective client station and indicates a respective position and orientation at which the respective rendered 3D model is being rendered. Based on the presence information, a first client station presents a view of a first rendered 3D model including a visual representation of a second individual concurrently interacting with a second rendered 3D model and indicating the position and orientation of the second rendered 3D model. Based on a change in one or both of the position or orientation of the second rendered 3D model, the presence information is updated. The first client station updates the view of the first rendered 3D model to reflect the change in the position or orientation of the second rendered 3D model.