Using the BIM Link Visualisation Styles Tool
The BIM Link Visualisation Styles tool allows users to apply dynamic styles or animations, such as movement, growth, and swiping, along with color changes to BIM elements during their construction and/or deconstruction phases. This tool enhances task methodologies through interactive, real-time visual feedback.
Setting Up the Process
To enable this process, the user needs to have an existing program with BIM links established. Select the task with the BIM links you want to visualize.
Select any task inside ToBe Builder
Click on "Task Inspector" to open up the inspector panel
Scroll down and expand the "Visualization" Tab
Understanding Visualisation Styles
In the visualisation edit mode, you can modify the following properties:
Style Type: We support 4 types of visualisation: Move, Grow, Swipe, None
None:
In "Construction" None will instantly make the linked BIM elements appear as soon as the task begins
In "Deconstruction" None will instantly make the linked BIM elements disappear as soon as the task begins
A single color can still be set in None mode
Move:
Move requires an Offset position.
If in "Construction", at the start of the task the linked BIM elements will start at this Offset, and over the Task duration applied will interpolate to its respective position in the model.
If in "Deconstruction", at the start of the task the linked BIM elements will start in its respective position in the model and over the task duration applied interpolate to the Offset position.
Offset Options:
Reset- resets the Offset to 0,0,0
Copy – copy the current Offset
x,y,z Inputs – manually enter the Offset in the inputs
Manual – enters manual mode, where the Offset can be set with the transform gizmo, Offset will automatically apply to the below inputs
Grow:
Grow requires an Origin position.
If in "Construction", at the start of the task the linked BIM elements will start to scale its size from zero to one over the task duration.
If in "Deconstruction", the linked BIM elements will start at a size of one and scale its size to zero over the task duration.
Origin Options:
Reset- resets the Origin to the center of the linked BIM elements
Copy – copy the current Origin
x,y,z Inputs – manually enter the Origin in the inputs
Manual – enters manual mode, where Origin can be set with the transform gizmo, which will automatically apply to the below inputs
Swipe:
Swipe requires a Direction.
If in "Construction", at the start of the task the linked BIM elements will start to wipe in from the specified direction over the duration of the task.
If in "Deconstruction", the linked BIM elements will start to wipe out from the opposite of the specified direction over the duration of the task.
Direction Options:
Reset- resets the Direction to Local Up
Copy – copy the current Direction
x,y,z Inputs – manually enter the Direction in the inputs
Manual – enters manual mode, where Direction can be set with the transform gizmo, which will automatically apply to the below inputs
Preview: Preview the visualisation from start to finish using the slider, or click play to let it loop in the scene
The preview slider lets you preview the visualization from start to finish.
You can also click the play button to let the visualization loop in the scene.
Task Duration: Set the relative time range in the task where the visualization will be played (e.g., for a 4-day task, 25% would be 1 day; if the task is set to "Construction," it would appear and complete one day after the tasks start. "Deconstruction" would disappear one day after the task starts).
Start: The first color when the BIMs begin their visualization.
End: The last color of the BIM visualization.
Will interpolate between the two colors if start and end are different colors.
Color Options:
No Color change, solid
Dithered
Custom Colour
Manual Transform Mode:
Some visualization types will have an action to enable Manual mode where you can set Offset, Origin, or Direction via the scene with the transform gizmo
Manual Mode – When entered the inputs will automatically be set based on the position/rotation of the transform gizmo
Applying Visualisation Styles
Select 'Edit'
Style and its options can now be edited, current links are selected
Additional Actions
Revert: When in Edit, Revert all changed options to previously set options
Apply: When in Edit, apply your changed options
Copy: Copy visualization options
Paste: Paste copied visualization options
Example Scenario
Imagine you have a task for installing a structural beam. You can use the "Move" visualization style to show the beam moving from its delivery location to its final position. Or, use the “Grow” feature to show the beam growing into place.
Important Notes
Ensure BIM elements are properly linked to tasks before applying visualization styles.
Use the preview controls to verify the visualization before applying changes.
The manual transform tool allows for very accurate placement of the start and endpoints of the animations.