Enable InfraWorks referencing of its own models

[samir_rezk]

Hello,

It seems strange that unlike AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, and most other Autodesk applications, InfraWorks does not reference it own models natively (aside from exporting to FBX)! Resulting in large sized models and often one person only can work in the model at a time (although BIM 360 addresses the multi team member collaboration issue slightly).
I think the ability to reference InfraWorks models in InfraWorks would make for reusable and smaller models with easier team authoring workflows.

Thanks,

[ramesh_sridharan]

@samir_rezk I like this idea. Lets leave it for some more time to get feedback from others as well.

[ceethreedee.com]

@samir_rezk excellent idea.. particularly in the context of proposals.. 

i have always had this feeling that "master" proposals should act as a conduit to the other proposals.. so import everything into master first always... then when it comes time to update surfaces across multiple proposals i merge master into each one.. this can be a bit time consuming though and often changes other things i don't want,,

However If I take your idea and I could "Reference" a surface from another infraworks model and keep it "live linked" like a civil 3D data shortcut, this would solve this issue of having to merge proposals.

the "master" would simply become another infraworks model or several other infraworks models.

[ceethreedee.com]

@ramesh_sridharan  and @samir_rezk  the most obvious application is creating a multi-discilpline environment more readily. You could have sub-infraworks models for each discipline on large projects.. These projects would internally reference each other as required.
-Drainage/Hydrology
-Roads
-Rail

-Bridges

Then a combined one that can be used for project visualisation. that said this last part can sort of be done in BIM360 already.