BIMviewer

Context #

This guide describes how you use BIMviewer in AjourBox (web) to upload an IFC file and have the building model displayed as an interactive 3D model directly in the browser. BIMviewer is an integrated BIM/IFC viewer in AjourBox, where you can view 3D models without using separate BIM software.

Relevance #

Use this guide when you need to share or access a BIM model in connection with a construction project – for example to let project participants without specialised BIM software (such as Revit or AutoCAD) browse and measure the 3D model. The function is particularly useful in multidisciplinary projects where not all parties have access to BIM software.

Prerequisites and requirements #

There are four prerequisites that must be met before you can use BIMviewer:

• The system setting BIMviewer is enabled at customer level. This setting is enabled by EG Ajour and cannot be switched on by the customer.
• You are assigned to the relevant project in AjourBox. Without project access you have access to neither files nor BIMviewer.
• You have the permissions “Edit files – Own” and “Read” on the project. See the table below for which roles have the permissions automatically.
• You have read access to the folder where the IFC file is or is to be placed. BIMviewer respects all existing folder permissions in AjourBox – without read access to a folder you cannot see or interact with the files in it.

Roles and permissions:

Role	Has the permissions automatically
System administrator	Yes
Project Administrator	Yes
Project Manager	Yes
Project Assistant	Yes
User	Yes
Observer	No
Box user	Yes
Tender user	No

• Note: Users in roles without the permission can have it assigned manually, project by project, by an administrator.

Additional requirements for completing this guide:

• You have an IFC file (.ifc) ready on your computer if you are going to upload a new model.
• Your browser is up to date and supports WebGL, as this is required for the 3D view.

Overall checklist:

#	Prerequisite	Responsible
1	The system setting BIMviewer is enabled	EG Ajour
2	The user is assigned to the project	Customer administrator
3	The user has the permissions “Edit files – Own” and “Read” on the project	Customer administrator
4	The user has read access to the relevant folder	Customer administrator

Guide (step by step) #

Part 1 – Navigate to the right project folder

Step 1: Click AjourBox in the top navigation menu. You now see the project list on the left side.

Step 2: Find the desired project in the left panel under Folders on project, and click the folder tree to expand it.

Step 3: Navigate down the folder structure to the folder where the BIM model is to be placed – for example a folder for geometry or model files. You see the file contents of the selected folder in the central panel on the right.

Part 2 – Upload the IFC file

Step 4: Click the Upload files button at the top of the central panel. An upload window opens.

Step 5: Select the visibility setting in the dropdown at the top of the upload window (for example “Published”), depending on whether the file is to be available to all project participants.

Step 6: Click Add files, or drag your IFC file directly into the dashed field in the upload window.

Step 7: Click Start upload to begin the transfer. Wait while the file is uploaded – the progress is shown in the window.

Step 8: When the transfer is complete, you automatically return to the folder view. The file now appears in the file list with name, size and date.

Part 3 – Open the file’s details and start BIM Viewer

Step 9: Click the file name in the list. An information panel opens on the right with metadata about the file (file name, size, update date, status and description).

Step 10: Scroll down in the information panel, and click the Open in Ajour BIM viewer button. A new tab opens in the browser, and the system starts loading the model – you see the text “Parsing data” with a loading indicator.

Important: The loading time depends on the file size. Large models can take longer to process and render.

Step 11: Wait while the model is processed and rendered. When the model is ready, the building model is displayed as an interactive 3D view.

Part 4 – Navigate and measure in BIM Viewer

Step 12: Rotate the model by holding down the left mouse button and dragging. Zoom in and out with the mouse scroll wheel.

Step 13: Use the tools in the bottom toolbar to switch function. The icons give access to, among other things, the measuring tool and navigation modes.

Step 14: Activate the measuring function by clicking the relevant measuring icon in the toolbar. Then click two or more points on the model to measure distances, angles or areas. The result is shown directly on the model as annotations.

Next steps #

• Share access to the model with other project participants by adjusting the visibility setting or the folder permissions
• Upload an updated version of the model via the “Upload version” button in the information panel, so the version history is preserved
• Combine the BIM view with quality assurance by creating registrations in AjourInspect & QA based on the reviewed model