The traditional architectural design and construction process begins with architectural design, followed by structural engineers who handle the building’s structural design. Next, specialized engineers—such as those in MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), including HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, and electrical systems—complete their professional designs. Finally, the construction team carries out the building process based on these drawings. Because each engineering discipline works independently during the design phase, conflicts and inconsistencies among the various specialties are inevitable.
Due to these design inconsistencies, designers and layout teams must manually review and resolve conflicts by comparing the drawings from various disciplines. This manual process consumes significant time and effort for both structural and installation engineers, ultimately impacting the project’s schedule and quality. Additionally, because the review relies on two-dimensional drawings, human errors are common, leading to rework during construction. This not only wastes valuable resources but also delays project progress.
Navisworks, a 3D simulation software acquired by Autodesk, addresses these challenges. With added data interface capabilities, it can import model data created in Revit and offers a range of simulation and analysis features. The software includes seven functional modules, among which the Clash Detective module is designed to detect conflicts between building elements and piping systems, as well as conflicts within piping systems themselves. Navisworks enables integration of critical digital model information into a single Building Information Model (BIM), providing all project stakeholders with a clear, comprehensive view of the entire project. This facilitates design decision-making, construction drawing management, progress forecasting, and supports future facility management and operations.
Types of Collision Detection in Navisworks:
Hard Clash: This occurs when two entities physically intersect in space. Hard clashes are very common during the design phase, especially when there is no unified elevation standard across disciplines. Typical examples are clashes between structural beams, air conditioning ducts, and water supply or drainage pipes.
Space Clash (Clearance Clash): Unlike hard clashes, space clashes occur when two entities do not physically intersect but are closer than a set tolerance distance (T). If the distance (d) between entity 1 and entity 2 is less than T, it is considered a clash; if d > T, then no collision is detected. This type of detection mainly addresses safety and compliance issues, such as minimum spacing requirements between plumbing pipes and electrical conduits or busbars. It also helps verify that pipelines and equipment do not obstruct wall-mounted sockets, switches, or other fixtures.
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