BIM Link
The model knows what’s been inspected.
BIM Link binds each RTI tag to its element in the project’s IFC model by GlobalId, so the model shows every bound tag’s inspection status on the element itself. Bind once, and the turnover package can show where each tag sits.
- Bound by IFC GlobalId
- Status shown on the element
- On for new workspaces
Drag the model to orbit · pick a tag above or its label in the scene to zoom to it
What goes wrong when the model and the inspection log live apart
A parallel spreadsheet
Tags are matched to model elements by hand, in a sheet that drifts with every revision.
Matched by a typed name
A record points at an element by a name someone re-typed, so the link breaks when the name changes.
Status in a list, not a place
Finding which unit on which floor is holding up closeout means scrolling a punch list.
With BIM Link
- Bound once, by GlobalId
- Status shown on the element
- Open NCRs found in the model
The link is the element’s IFC GlobalId, not a name, so a tag stays bound for as long as the model keeps that GlobalId.
One identity, then the model carries the status
Bind by GlobalId
Bind a tag from the model with a click, type the GlobalId on a new tag, or paste a list of tag numbers and GlobalIds to bind a project’s tags in one pass. Never the expressID a viewer assigns when it loads the file.
See status in space
Each bound element takes its tag’s status. Zoom to any tag, cut a section through the floors, or step from one open NCR to the next.
Hand over with the place
Approvals are hash-chained as always. The turnover package can add a picture of where each bound tag sits in the model, with its GlobalId in the caption and in the CSV.
What each status means
- NCR open: an NCR on the tag is not closed yet. It outranks every other status.
- In review: the inspection is submitted, in review, or sent back for rework.
- Approved: the inspection is approved.
- Not started: a draft, or no inspection yet. Elements without a tag keep their own colours.
The model and the tag register meet at the GlobalId.
Click an element in the model and its tag is right there, matched by GlobalId, not by a name someone re-typed.
Three moments it answers
Use case 1
A pump with an open NCR
When an NCR is raised on a bound pump, the pump shows NCR open in the model, and Next NCR steps straight to it.
Use case 2
A revised model
When the design team issues a revised model, tags whose elements kept their GlobalIds stay bound, and any that point to a missing element are flagged to re-bind.
Use case 3
The owner’s package
When an owner downloads the turnover package from the client portal, each bound tag can carry a picture of where it sits in the model.
From an IFC file to a model that shows status
Check the switch
BIM model viewer is on for new workspaces. An admin can turn it off in Workspace settings, under Capabilities.
Upload the model
On the Model page, an admin or QA manager uploads the project’s .ifc file. It is converted in the browser, and only the converted model is stored, in private storage.
Bind the tags
Click an element to create a tag on it or bind an existing one, run Detect equipment to tag the model’s equipment by type, or paste a list of tag numbers and GlobalIds from Tags & QR.
Walk as usual
Crews scan and inspect exactly as before. The model shows each tag’s current status, from the same records the review board uses.
What it doesn’t do
- It opens .ifc files only. The file is converted in your browser, so a very large model is limited by the browser’s memory, and the viewer needs WebGL.
- It holds one model per project. Uploading a new one replaces it, and nothing re-matches bindings: tags whose GlobalIds are missing from the new model are flagged to re-bind.
- It does not hash the binding. Approvals are hash-chained as always; the GlobalId is printed in the package for reference and is not part of the chained record.
- It does not update live or edit the model. The colours are current when the page loads, and nothing is written back to your authoring tool.
Questions about BIM Link
6 answers
- What is BIM Link?
- BIM Link binds each RTI tag to an element in the project’s IFC model by the element’s GlobalId. The model then shows every bound tag’s inspection status on the element itself. In the app it is the Model page.
- Which model files does BIM Link open?
- IFC files (.ifc). The file is converted in your browser into a compact model, and only that converted model is uploaded and stored, in private storage. A project holds one model; uploading a new one replaces it.
- Do tags need to be re-bound when the model is revised?
- Only where an element’s GlobalId changed. Bindings live on the tags, so an element that keeps its GlobalId in the new export stays bound. Tags that point to elements missing from the new model are flagged so they can be re-bound.
- What do the statuses on the model mean?
- NCR open means an NCR on the tag is not closed, and it outranks the rest. In review covers submitted, in review and sent back for rework. Approved means the inspection is approved. Not started means a draft or no inspection yet.
- Is the GlobalId part of the tamper evident record?
- No. Approvals are written to the hash-chained activity log as always, but the binding itself is not hashed. The GlobalId is printed in the turnover package’s CSV and under each model picture, for reference.
- Can BIM Link be turned off?
- Yes. It is on for new workspaces, and an admin can turn off the BIM model viewer in Workspace settings, under Capabilities. That hides the Model page and the model pictures in turnover packages.
Point us at your model.
BIM model viewer is on for new workspaces. Bring the project’s .ifc file and bind your tags to it.
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