Navisworks or Showcase?

[Professor]

A client has asked me to produce a 3D model of an existing project (interstate cloverleaf bypass) that they want to then interactively play with by moving around in and turning on and off certain objects. They basically want to use the model to look at different construction sequencing. They also might want a 3D rendering of the project for presentation at a later date.

 

I personally do my modeling in 3ds Max, so plan to model this project in that, because that is what I know. However, any input on whether Navisworks or Showcase would work better for interactively "playing" with the model? They both seem like they would provide the necessary function, but Showcase looks easier to use than Navisworks to me. It looks like 3ds Max files can be imported to either Navisworks or Showcase, so that shouldn't be a problem. Just wondering which would be an easier interface to use for the client to interactively navigate around?

 

Thanks for any input.

[dande]

Both will allow you to move around interactively. But if the client what the possibility of construction sequencing it will have to be Navisworks. In Navisworks you can link your model to Microsoft Project aor Primavera for construction sequencing. You can also do clash detection in Navisworks.

[Professor]

Thanks for your reply Dan. The information was very helpful. I do not know much about Navisworks, so your information helped understand the program a little more. Thanks again!