Hey everyone!
Would you like to see a facility with an aerial image background or without? Personally, I prefer having spatial context for the buildings in Tandem. Having an aerial image background provides a lot of context to the facility. Otherwise, they appear to be floating in space.
I recently worked on a project where I needed to add an aerial image background to a Tandem facility and I thought I'd share the step-by-step process with you. It's pretty straightforward and can really enhance your model's visual appeal. Let's dive in!
Pre-requisites: You'll need access to Navisworks, InfraWorks, and relevant BIM data to align the aerial image model. Basic familiarity with Navisworks and InfraWorks is required. To import NWD files in Tandem, sign up for the Tandem beta program, if you haven’t already and you should be able to import NWD files in Tandem.
Step 1: Obtain, Configure, and Export Your Aerial Image and 3D Model
First things first, you'll need an aerial image of your facility site. You can easily get this using Model Builder in InfraWorks. Once you have your model, open it in InfraWorks and configure the data sets. Next, you'll want to modify the Model Builder model as needed. You can add, remove, or modify them to fit your needs. This includes adding or modifying data sets such as terrain, roads, buildings etc. You can also bring in your own aerial images or other data if the one from Infraworks is not detailed enough.
Pro-Tip: The default resolution of aerial images in InfraWorks isn't the best. Change the Raster Tile Level in Data Source Configuration to get the highest detail.
Once you're happy with it, export the 3D model from InfraWorks in FBX format.
Step 2: Align the Aerial Image with the BIM Model
Now comes the fun part! Align the FBX model with the BIM model in Navisworks, ensuring everything is positioned correctly. This step is crucial for aligning and repositioning the FBX model correctly.
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To align the FBX model with the BIM model in Navisworks, right-click the FBX model in the Selection Tree and choose Override Item > Override Transform.
Pro-Tip: The FBX model coordinates are usually close to the origin (like in the low 100s or less), while BIM model coordinates are typically in a projected coordinate system (in the order of tens of thousands). Check the coordinate values in Navisworks, and when using Transform, enter the BIM model location values minus FBX model coordinates to bring both models into view. Make sure the z-value of the FBX model is below the BIM model to avoid hiding it. Adjust the z-value and align the FBX model with known points in the BIM model iteratively. You would need to iteratively transform FBX model until it aligns with the BIM model.
Once you're happy with the alignment, delete the BIM model from the Selection Tree and export the file as NWD.
Step 3: Import and Configure in Tandem
In Tandem, open the facility and import the NWD model via the Files tab in the Tandem Facility by clicking Import Model. Under Filters, make sure the NWD model is turned on.
And there you go! You should now see the aerial image background for your Tandem facility!
I hope these steps are useful. Please ask any questions or share your experiences. If you find a better way, let me know. We're all learning constantly.
