In-Depth: Graphisoft BIMx for iPad & iPhone

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of previewing Graphisoft’s new BIMx mobile application before anyone else in the press got a chance to see it. This feature article will cover that conversation and delve into smaller details perhaps not covered elsewhere on the Internet.

To recap this announcement, Graphisoft has announced a new mobile application for Apple’s iPad and iPhone for viewing BIM models using a powerful but easy to navigate user interface, fully controllable with Apple’s Multi-touch gesture technology. Additionally, the company announced a new website with deep Facebook and cloud storage integration.

Graphisoft BIMx – Beginnings

One of the more ironic developments since Apple developed the iPad is that its two largest Mac CAD developers, sister companies Graphisoft and Nemetschek Vectorworks, were apparently late to the iOS development game. But late is a relative term in this specific sense and is measured against their rival Autodesk, which developed an iOS version of AutoCAD at the same time it introduced AutoCAD back on the Mac.

For Graphisoft the decision to development an application for the iOS platform was never a question in itself but rather a series of questions about how to do it specific to the needs of its ArchiCAD users utilizing BIM (Building Information Modeling) around the world.

“As you know Anthony we have had Virtual Building Explorer around for a few years now,” said Akos Pfemeter, Director of Global Marketing, Graphisoft, “and it is a self-running environment enabling anybody to explore a full BIM model anywhere on any desktop.” “It works like a first person shooter game…easy and simple navigation.”

What Graphisoft has done with its BIMx application is essentially port over that code base to Apple’s iOS platform and optimize it for a touch-based user interface. It has also been tuned for performance, making it a very powerful complex BIM model viewer or, in another sense, a powerful 3D model viewer on iOS.

“The Apple iPad is very impressive,” said Tibor Szolnoki, “it is very capable of pushing around quite big models.”

Graphisoft BIMx – Details

Graphisoft’s BIMx application for iPad and iPhone is based on the same code base as its Virtual Building Explorer for the desktop. That application was originally developed in Sweden and acquired by Graphisoft for integration into ArchiCAD in 2010. BIMx is actually a suite of three applications. A desktop (BIMx) application is available for Windows and OS X which enables you to publish BIMx models from within ArchiCAD. And there is the BIMx desktop viewer application, for Windows and OS X, which can be freely downloaded to view BIMx models. Finally, there is BIMx for iOS, a free app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store after September 20, 2011.

BIMx for iOS is compatible with iPad (1 and 2), iPhone (3GS or 4) and iPod touch 4th generation. Most users will enjoy this application on an iPad the most.

Graphisoft created BIMx for iOS to extend BIM further noting that many users are now carrying iPads around as their primary mobility computing device. Akos Pfemeter noted that not all of the features on the desktop version of BIMx viewer are on the iOS version of it. But as both applications advance those features should emerge as one unified set relative to each platform’s capabilities.

Today you cannot turn on and off layers with BIMx for iOS. Data extraction from model elements is not yet supported. Some features on BIMx for iOS are unique to that platform. For example, based on the touch interface, double tap on any point in the model and the BIMx app will fly you there. Also there is an icon that appears on doors and a click on it will take you through the door.

next page: Graphisoft BIMx on iPad

Graphisoft BIMx on iPad

As we have noted in our 2011 State of Apple in CAD/3D Industries reports, the iPad is a hugely successful device with game-changing applicability to the world of building design and construction. Graphisoft is of course deeply aware of this and BIMx on iOS is the first salvo in response to changing forces in the industry.

“Like our main tool ArchiCAD, we created BIMx for architects…to help them share their visions with their clients and partners,” said Tibor Szolnoki.

We won’t cover every single aspect of BIMx on iOS’s navigation system but suffice to say it is very nice and thorough. Highlights that impressed us include such things as the use of a “gravity” mode that keeps the user on the ground. This makes it natural to walk up stairs while utilizing the ‘first-person shooter’ (FPS) game-like navigation system.

BIMx for iOS supports two distinct navigation modes. One allows you to travel through wall and floor and slab elements (fly mode) while the other keeps you in a gravity mode, forcing the FPS like experience, which is more realistic. A very nice touch Graphisoft has employed is the ‘egress recognition’ (ER) technology. This helps navigate through doorways in a seamless way with the rest of the navigation system.

As we watched the demo we were impressed with the speed of the application. We think architects who use ArchiCAD are going to love having BIMx on their iPad.

Graphisoft BIMx and the Cloud

In order for BIMx to have the widest possible use and impact Graphisoft has developed it in conjunction with a ‘cloud-based’ computing strategy. From within BIMx one can upload their BIM models directly to a new BIMx community website with full Facebook integration.

The whole system is based on Microsoft Azure cloud technology. The Facebook-based site isn’t hosted at Facebook (it’s not a fan page or group page) but is separate and taps into Facebook API’s (application programming interfaces) bringing Facebook features like “Likes” and sharing into a private cloud-based website.

Users can share their BIM models on the new BIMx community site. You upload to it and download model files from it for exploration with BIMx on either desktop or iOS device.

Final Comments

The current version of BIMx is only able to work with the current version of ArchiCAD 15. You do not need ArchiCAD 15 or any version of it to work with viewing BIM models through BIMx. You only need access to BIMx model data. This means clients, contractors and non-ArchiCAD users like consultants can utilize desktops and iPads for example, with BIMx, to view BIM models.

While this is the first version of BIMx for iOS it is hardly going to be the last. In speaking with Graphisoft they noted they already have several initiatives in mind and will be anxious to get user feedback on feature requests. “We know that mobility in AEC is changing how BIM is developing back in the offices,” said Tibor Szolnoki, of Graphisoft, “one strategic direction is taking this type of tool to construction sites and then changes are made and pushed back to the office.”

There are no such tools in existence yet by any developer that do exactly that in the world of BIM. But Graphisoft has several key technologies that are market-leading with regard to how BIM and the cloud can develop further together. It’s new BIMx and Azure cloud integration is one such area and its market-leading Graphisoft BIM Server with Delta Technology is another. As time marches on we’ll just have to see how the company advances both towards common goals. For now, BIMx on the iPad is a very good next step for Graphisoft and a wonderful new option in the market.

To learn more visit: www.graphisoft.com and the Facebook BIMx site.