How Forge-Based Approach Enhanced the Viewer Experience

A paradigm shifts in the global mindset compelled the AEC industry to step up and embrace technology like never before. We’re now upskilling our workflows with smart approaches that save time and give better precision.  

And in these hyper-competitive markets, future-forward technology like 3D viewers come in handy tools. While these viewers serve a plethora of advantages to the users, the experience, however, gets cluttered with plenty of information displayed in one single view. It’s a common issue faced by most designers.  

This issue was faced by one of our clients from the construction industry. They sought to customize the way of displaying data with additional features to their conventional 3D viewer. The idea was to enhance user experience by personalizing the existing features for better outputs. And to think about it– its a win-win situation where both the team and the clients have a better collaboration.  

The team at nCircle took up the challenge and ideated several possibilities– Can a 3D viewer give customised results by displaying just the desired elements?  

How did the team cater to these demands? Read on to find out! 

Why Did the Client Approach Us? 

The client, based in the UK, has been actively engaged in 3D modeling, serving the design and manufacturing industry. While proficient in utilizing 3D viewers for project generation, they approached us with a distinct need – the development of a digital flow platform. Their aim was to enhance the viewing experience by introducing smarter features and refining the format of their 3D views.

To address this challenge, the nCircle team leveraged a Forge-based platform to propose a comprehensive solution. Initially, the client had been employing unauthorized methods to convert their Revit files to Forge Viewer. Our team identified this issue and provided authentic, authorized alternatives.  

The intricacies of the client's situation involved dealing with various companies that utilized different models across different platforms, including Revit, IFC, and various file formats. Their overarching goal was to streamline these processes, necessitating the integration of a web viewer or a 3D viewer. This integration aimed to establish uniformity across their clients for online data viewing, eliminating the need for traditional platforms. 

The client's requirements extended beyond basic viewing. They sought additional functionalities such as the ability to examine different elements along with their properties, extract relevant information, and implement color-coding options as per their specific needs. The ultimate objective was to create a one-stop-shop solution that not only facilitated viewing models but also allowed for meaningful data analysis within the 3D viewer platform or their digital flow company platform. 

In essence, the motive behind their approach was not only to enable various properties for a smoother viewing experience but also to delve deeper into data analysis within the models themselves. This holistic solution aimed to transform their digital flow platform into a comprehensive tool for both viewing and extracting valuable insights from the 3D models. 

Industry’s Most Daunting Task– Segregation of Data! 

The segregation of data – is a challenge often encountered in 3D modeling. While the 3D model inherently provides data on elements like walls and windows, the quantification specific to a particular view remains a task at hand, contributing to slower processes.  

In the realm of a single project involving multiple stakeholders, the intricate process of segregating data tailored to individual needs adds an additional layer of complexity. Recognizing this challenge, the demand for a platform that facilitates collaborative data alongside the 3D model becomes paramount. 

This is where the customization prowess of Forge Viewer takes center stage, elevating the entire understanding of data integration. Forge Viewer not only addresses the challenge but also brings forth a solution that tailors the viewing experience to meet diverse stakeholder requirements, ensuring a seamless and efficient process in the otherwise intricate task of data segregation. 

Streamlining the Heap of Data with a Forge-based Solution 

The adoption of the latest technology is recognized for its ability to drive performance within the industry. However, it is crucial to not only embrace these platforms but also to have a firm grasp of their true potential to gain a competitive edge. Forge Viewer, as a value-added approach to the traditional 3D viewer, plays a pivotal role in streamlining data. 

Forge Viewer stands out due to its unique feature of customization, a capability that played a vital role in making this implementation possible. The platform's flexibility allowed us to tailor the solution to the specific needs of the client, enhancing its overall effectiveness. This adaptability not only distinguishes Forge Viewer from conventional 3D viewers but also underscores its significance in maximizing the potential of the latest technology within the industry. 

Customized Visualisation  

The main demand of the client was to explore how to make 3D viewing more interactive, calculative, and easy. This is where Forge Viewer benefited. The platform supported the exporting of properties and views in better formats. 

Filtering of Elements 

Oftentimes, customizing the views to see particular elements is difficult. This issue was catered to with this Forge-based approach where elements could be filtered and several custom properties could be added to them.  

Visual Clustering Parameters 

The visual clustering parameter solution proposed helped in differentiating several elements and categories of a 3D model. It resolved the issue and made visualisation much clearer and simpler to understand. 

Filter Colouring 

Identification of entities in a model was made easier with the help of a filter colouring approach that highlights the chosen type of element in a distinct colour.  

Export to Excel 

The Revit experience has become much more convenient with the added feature of exporting model data to an Excel format. It made collaborating and communicating among different stakeholders even more effective. 

Solutions to the Top Challenges 

Forge Viewer is a solution that helps in the improvisation of processes, functions, and overall workflow. The unique demands from clients were taken as an opportunity by the team at nCircle to offer smart solutions.  

With the help of the Forge-based platform, the team aided in bringing more functionality to the otherwise simple viewing tool. Our expert team developed the product end to end which helped in making their tasks easier, more time-saving, and much more effective. A few of the solutions were:  

The answer to building a management platform was the effective application of Forge by the nCircle team which aided the clients in offering top-line quality in the market. Our innovative approach has streamlined the workflow for designers and manufacturers. Rather than investing a huge amount of time in 3D model analysis, users can now simply filter and assess for efficient results.  

Want to customise workflows to fit your brand’s needs? 

To know more, visit: https://ncircletech.com/