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At GRAPHISOFT, developing innovative design software has always been at the center of
what we do.
We've been enhancing ArchiCAD, the leading professional architectural design and documentation
solution for the Macintosh platform, for over 25 years now.
Our goal has always been to match the excellent user experience Mac users demand and have.
Based on that experience, bringing BIMx to the iPad promised to be an easy task.
It turned out to be a very challenging and adventurous journey, though.
We “just” had to create a tool capable of presenting very robust, detailed 3D architectural
BIM models on a hand-held device, and we've managed to achieve just that.
GRAPHISOFT BIMx is more than just a simple 3D navigation tool.
It allows you to fully understand and experience the building design on an iPad or iPhone.
Important BIMx features include Gravity, Collision detection, Stereo View and various model representation
modes.
As BIMx is more than just a simple 3D model viewer tool, one of our greatest challenges
was to resolve the navigation.
Although the navigation seams really easy when opening a BIMx model on the iPad, there's
heavy technology running in the background to make it a true, natural experience.
For instance, using the pinch gesture to zoom in and out actually means real camera movements.
In other words, true 3D navigation in the model, even for the simplest zoom.
Another essential component was the natural feel of the navigation -- the support of
inside and outside.
Most 3D applications only support either orbiting the model in an external view, or walking
inside the building, like in games.
In BIMx, we are not only supporting both navigation modes, but could make the switch between the
two a natural and very smooth process as well.
We designed BIMx in a way that anyone can easily use it.
Whether you have any previous experience with 3D navigation software or not -- if you are
a gamer and you want to navigate in the normal way, you can use a joystick -- that's easy.
If you are an architect and in a special design process you just want to hold a paper mockup
building in your hand -- just want to look around -- you can do that with just one finger
in BIMx;
you can navigate like that.
If you are a client, and you have no experience with any kind of 3D navigation software and
you are totally lost in space, what do you do?
I just want to go there!
OK, I need to do the same; I just touch the screen and I will go there...that's easy.
BIMx offers really unique features to explore 3D building models on a tablet device, including
full stereo viewing mode.
Viewers with stereo glasses can enjoy the ultimate 3D experience on an iPad.
BIMx for the iPad and iPhone supports the entire design communication workflow.
Buildings can be created and shared through the web with just one click of the mouse.
All participants of the building process, including clients, builders, constructors
or even principals will be able to understand the architect's design intent, since the buildings
can be explored in an interactive 3D environment.
Thanks for watching and have fun with BIMx!