Projects Control department

General Comparison between “4D”

Software
(Navisworks, Synchro professional, Vico control, iTwo and Navigator)

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

 Projects Control department

Comparison between “4D” Software

4D BIM is the next generation of project management, including project planning and scheduling, data
analytics, and management. 4D literally adds vision. It integrates detailed spatial data from the BIM
model.

The ability to visualize your project and analyze dynamic spatial data on your computer before you
break ground creates a practice field for the delivery team that is highly engaging and efficient.

Score out of 5
Attribute Navisworks Synchro Navigator ITwo Vico Comments
Professional Control

· Synchro appeared a lot easier to

pick up and has a relatively simple
user interface, also programme
input is more advanced because it
allows the user to input more
complex programmes which
include discrete functions such as
Ease of “start as late as possible”, delays,
learning 2.5 3.5 2.5 3 2 float etc – it also allows the user to
compute the critical path.

· In all packages, it is simple to link

elements from a 3d model to an
activity/moment in time.

· Interoperability between Revit and

Navisworks is really good, as both
are Autodesk products. All the
data from the BIM model is
available in Navisworks and ready
to be utilized for sophisticated
purpose. Further, the ‘switchback’
and synchronization options
offered work very well with the
tested workflow.

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

 Projects Control department

· Synchro –software focuses on

4D programming and is very
effective and can be done
easily and intuitively as a
planner for both simple and
complex project operations,
Costs/material/equipment/and
location resources can also be
associated with activities and
reported accordingly.

· Navisworks , Navigator and

Itwo does not allow the user to
enter new tasks or complex
discrete functions for
Extent of programmes, although this is
4D 3.5 4.5 2.5 2.5 3 not necessary for producing
features ( presentation animations as the
scheduling programme can often be
, project “fudged” as required to show
Analysis, the idea of the project but not
conflict support management
detection functions. Navisworks is fine
and what for marketing ideas.
if
scenarios) · Vico 4D system that uses line
of balance method which is a
special unique methodology
that has no industrial following
or foundation of support from
academia or industry.

· It should be noted that both

Navisworks and Synchro has
additional functionality aside
from animation that could find
value in large building projects
such as 3D clash detection,
Synchro alone has 4D clash
detection, real-time mark-ups,
rendering, and the ability to
cut a cross-section in the
model at any point in time.

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

 Projects Control department

Animation 2.5 3.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 · Synchro is a lot easier to

time produce a simple animation
and is less labour intensive.
· Navisworks can produce more
elegant animations, but it
requires much more labour and
Animation 4 3.5 2.5 2.5 3 is not intuitive.
Quality · Vico, Navigator and Itwo
animation is a bit frustrating
and unnecessarily iterative
given the objective.

· All software packages can

export animations in a variety
of AVI movie file formats and
Import compression methods. “Still”
And images can be output from any
Export 4 4 4 4 3.5 view at any time.
· Synchro has many reporting
( File functions for project planning
format, and scheduling that are missing
File Size, in the rest.
Snapshots · Navisworks, Navigator, itwo
and and Vico has strong design
videos) review functions while Synchro
is for project scheduling and
project management functions
using 4D features.

· Navisworks does not integrate

with full round trip data
exchange with p6.
Exchange · Synchro integrates with full
with p6 3 4.5 2.5 3 2.5 round trip data exchange with
and Auto p6
linking · Vico, Navigator and Itwo does
not integrate with full round
trip data exchange with p6.
Clash
Detection 4 2 4 4 2
rules
Multiple
users 1 5 1 1 4

5D & QTO
capabilities 3 3 1 5 4

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

Projects Control department

Software BIM Key Feature

· Point/Line Based Clashing

· Track status of clashes as they are found and
· resolved
· Export Reports
· XML import/export
Navisworks · 4D Simulation
· Schedule linking from other project management
· software
· Set up planned and actual times to visualize
· deviations from the project schedule
· Export 4D simulations into a prerecorded .AVI
· animation
· Create project presentations
· Rendering capability

· "What if" scenario with side by side comparative Analysis.

· Resource management
· Multiple baselines capability to compare actual
· performance against planned
· Progress tracking
· Rescheduling options
Synchro · Critical path planning and analysis
· Synchronization with MS Project and Primavera
· Ability to update the model
· Mark Up and Annotate
· E-mail tools
· Earn value analysis reports
· Resource and task usage reports
· Line of balance view

· Design Review and manipulation

· Photorealistic visualization
· Schedule simulation
· Clash detection
Navigator · Export Reports
· Interoperability: IFC, DGN, DWG, DXF, SKP,
· PDF, IGES, STEP, etc
· History tracking
· Database repository

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

Projects Control department

· 5D End-to-End Platform
· Combine Models from Multiple Sources
· 2D Takeoff Integration
Itwo · Schedule Integration Process.
· Finance Integration
· Create Organization Cost Code Standards
· Reconcile with Finance in Real-Time
· Utilize Finance Connectors
· Mobile Field Data Collection
· Collaborate with Project Stakeholders

· Ability to input schedule in Gantt or linear format

· Location breakdown structure
· Ability to create quantity based schedules to see
· bill of quantities
· Resource histogram
Vico · Control chart color coding
· Schedule forecast according to real progress inputs
· Link multiple projects
· Monte Carlo Risk analysis simulation
· Prerequisites check capability (For the
procurement)
· Cost and cash flow capability
· Look ahead reporting capability
· Integration with MS Project and Primavera

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

Projects Control department

Conclusion

1-Daynamic Analysis :

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

Projects Control department

2.Head to head analysis:

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

Projects Control department

3.Performance Analysis :

As result I believe that :

1- Synchro is the most powerfull tool in the market for the 4D simulation and schedul analysis
but with good rendering output , visual clash detection only and fair EVA capabilities.

2- Navisworks is Powerfull in Quantity take-of and clash detection with good 4D capabilites and
good rendering output.

3- Vico is not recommended since it depends on flow line techniques.

4- Navigator is Powerfull in Quantity take-of and clash detection with poor 4D simulation
capabilites and poor rendering output .

5- ITwo is very powerfull in 5D simulation and quantity take of with low 4D simulation
capabilities and good clash detection reports.

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

Projects Control department

Synchro

ITwo

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

Projects Control department

Navisworks

Vico Control

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari

Projects Control department

Navigator

1 July 2015 Tamer Elgohari