Hello All,
From my usage, I feel that 3d programs in the non-construction sector use display technology that is orders of magnitude better than 3d/BIM programs for the AEC industry. Navisworks is just a little below average on that scale.
Navisworks also has no useful output (is not interoperable), is way too expensive for what you get and it forces you to purchase the programs that it inputs. For example, what good is it to input and resolve a point cloud (laser scan) if you can't output the geometry?
The loss of Navisworks should be a call to arms to replace the need for its use. A GS reseller once said to me: "sadly Navisworks is all we have". I deeply respect her intellect and knowledge. I do feel, however she has a non-visible set of blinders on.
AC really needs to come up to the standards of computer software circa 2007. Is your layers panel interactive? Does it update the viewports as soon as you make a layer(s) visible? Can you have any number of backround (ghost) layers visible in the 3d view. Can you mix and match selected foreground and backround (ghost) layers from multiple models all loaded into RAM at the same time? Can you view pancake flat multiple dwg drawings in the 3d (perspective) viewport? Can you walk through walls in the perspective (3d) view? Redraw in the 3d viewport should be so fast that you are not aware that the computer is doing it. You should be able to jiggle your mouse as fast as you hand can move it and have the model jiggle on screen with it just as fast. Is the limit of polygons around 100 million before AC starts to react slower?
In December of 2005 a friend said to me, "you won't like it compared to what you are doing, ArchiCAD is clunky". Sheesh, I dearly want to use AC's toolset without work arounds. My merely human mind can detect problems with a design a whole lot better than a $5000 (US) Navisworks module can detect the (problem) subset of interferences. But I do need to be able to look at and manipulate the model correctly.
Riff Masteroff
