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User Flow: 4D Construction Progress & Schedule Verification

Learn how to visualize pre-linked Gantt project schedules with 3D BIM models, animate planned versus actual construction progress, and scrub timeline dates to verify physical milestones in the 4D Viewer.

Written by Ken Panitz

Overview

Traditional 2D Gantt charts make it difficult to visualize how construction tasks impact the physical site over time.

By enabling 4D BIM View, the 4D Viewer connects schedule tasks directly to individual elements within 3D Building Information Models. As you scrub through time, the viewer applies visibility rules to show what should be unstarted, currently under construction, or fully built. This allows project teams to spot logical errors, assess spatial clashes, and verify construction progress against planned milestones.

Prerequisites

Before starting this workflow, ensure you have:

  • Authenticated and logged into the SensGrid platform.

  • Loaded a project in the 4D Viewer that contains both 3D BIM models and an integrated programme schedule (Gantt chart).

Workflow Sequence:

  1. Activate Project: Load the 3D BIM models and schedule dataset in Tobe Projects.

  2. Toggle 4D View: Click the 4D BIM View button on the map overlay toolbar.

  3. Open Gantt: Expand the Tasks Timeline pane at the bottom of the viewer.

  4. Scrub & Animate: Drag the schedule date scrubber to observe 3D physical construction progress.

1. Load and Activate the Integrated Project

Ensure the 4D model and schedule data are loaded:

  1. Open the Tobe Projects panel from the left Work Panel.

  2. Locate your active project in the list and click Activate.

  3. Wait for the loading indicator to complete. This downloads the 3D BIM geometry, spatial alignments, and project task schedules into browser storage.

2. Enable 4D BIM View Mode

Activate the linking rules between the schedule and 3D geometry:

  1. Open the Tasks Timeline panel at the bottom of the screen.

  2. Click the 4D BIM View toggle button located directly inside the Task Timeline header controls.

  3. Observe the 3D canvas:

    • Elements that have not yet started construction according to the active schedule start date will automatically hide from view.

    • Elements currently undergoing active construction will dither (render as semi-transparent).

3. Open and Control the Tasks Timeline

Open the Gantt chart schedule pane:

  1. Click the Tasks Timeline button (programme/Gantt icon) at the bottom of the left Work Panel.

  2. The bottom pane will expand, revealing the DevExtreme Gantt Chart:

    • Task List (Left): Displays task names, WBS codes, start/end dates, and completion percentages.

    • Gantt Chart (Right): Displays timeline progress bars and a red vertical playhead line marking the active simulation date.

  3. Use the toolbar buttons at the top of the Gantt chart to customize your view:

    • Zoom In / Out: Adjust the scale resolution (Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, or Years).

    • Scroll to Date: Click the calendar icon to jump the Gantt chart directly to the project's start date.

    • Filter Row: Type keywords into the column headers to find specific work tasks (e.g., "Foundation" or "Level 3 Slab").

4. Scrub Schedule & Analyze Physical Construction Progress

Animate the 4D sequence across key project dates:

  1. Click and drag the Date Scrubber handle at the top of the Tasks Timeline pane.

  2. As you drag the scrubber along the timeline:

    • Unstarted Tasks: Linked 3D BIM elements remain hidden.

    • Active Tasks: Linked 3D BIM elements dither (become semi-transparent) on the map, indicating active work in progress.

    • Completed Tasks: Linked 3D BIM elements render as solid, fully built geometry.

    • Temporary Works: Items categorized as temporary (e.g., scaffolding, formwork) appear during their active timeframe and vanish when completed.

    • Demolition Works: Existing structures remain visible until their demolition task becomes active (dithered), disappearing once completed.

5. Inspect Task-to-BIM Link Details

Verify specific linkages between tasks and 3D geometry:

  1. Click on any task row in the Gantt table or click its progress bar on the chart.

  2. The 4D Viewer will automatically highlight the associated physical 3D BIM elements on the map canvas.

  3. The Selection Inspector on the right side of the screen will open, displaying:

    • Task Attributes: Start Date, End Date, Duration, and % Complete.

    • Linked BIM Entities: A list of linked 3D element GUIDs and their assigned Behavior Types (Construction, Demolition, or Temporary).

Tip: If you discover a scheduling conflict (e.g., a slab being constructed before its supporting columns), double-click the task to focus the camera, capture a View State, and send it to your planning team for schedule remediation.

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