General Comparison Between BIM 4D Softwares

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Tamer Elgohari
Senior VDC Engineer at ASGC (4D/5D BIM) 584 93 109
9 articles
General Comparison between BIM 4D Softwares

Published on September 10, 2015
The 4D BIM modeling is the next genera on of project management including project planning , scheduling
and data analy c . The 4D literally adds vision to the construc on team also It integrates the ability to visualize
your project and analyze dynamic spa al data on your computer , before you break ground creates a prac ce
field for the delivery team that is highly engaging and efficient.
But the ques on here " Which 4D BIM so ware do we have to adopt " ?This ques on have been struggling all
over the BIM discussions and the answer is really hard especially for AEC companies who are new to the BIM
technology.
So i have prepared this paper based on many BIM expert's reviews to answer that ques on and I will compare
between the most common 4D simula on so ware in the market : Navisworks - Sychro - Bentley Navigator -
ITwo - Vico control
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Conclusion :
1.Head to head analysis:
2.Dynamic analysis :
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3.Performance Analysis :
As result I believe that :
1- Synchro is the most powerful tool in the market for the 4D simula on and schedule analysis but with good
rendering output , visual clash detec on only and fair EVA capabili es.
2- Navisworks is Powerful in Quan ty take-of and clash detec on with good 4D capabili es and good rendering
output.
3- Vico is recommended for projects with repeated ac vi es ( for example pipe laying ac vi es ) , since it
depends on flow line techniques based on loca on.
4- Navigator is Powerful in Quan ty take-of and clash detec on with poor 4D simula on capabili es and poor
rendering output .
5- ITwo is very powerful in 5D simula on and quan ty take of with low 4D simula on capabili es and good clash
detec on reports.
In my opinion the best powerful 4D so ware , is the one that will sa sfy your 4D integra on needs.
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GOOD LUCK,
Tamer Elgohari
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93 Comments
3y
Parveen Sharma • 2nd
CEO - India at 'The BIM Engineers' II BIM Worksharing II BIM Outsourcing II Leading in the world of BIM
good work Tamer, you have done the thorough comparison. …see more
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Subhojit S. • 2nd
Mechanical & Plumbing BIM Consultant - US & Canada
Thank you for sharing …see more
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ElGohary Refaat • 3rd
Head Of Retail / Q-Dècor at Al-Yaqout Group
Amazing efforts 👍 …see more
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Moataz Zaki • 3rd
Retail Sales Manager at Al Mulla Group
Good luck bro …see more
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Mike Ford • 2nd
Leadership Professional.
Great article, having seen Synchro in action I would concur with the findings. …see more
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Muhammad Adli Bin Wan Jaafar • 2nd 584 93 109
Senior VDC Engineer at ASGC (4D/5D BIM)
Founder & Business Owner at XPERTEAM CONSULT
9 articles
Great article. The statistics make the story easier to understand. Good afford. …see more
3y
Suresh Nuggehalli • 3rd
Chief Estimator at Balfour Beatty plc - Major Projects UK
Good Article. Easy to follow and understand …see more
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Hugues Zarka • 2nd
APAC Regional Digital Manager
Good analysis …see more
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Tamer Elgohari • Following
Thank you …see more
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Haytham Atta, PMP Freelance Trainer • 2nd
Contracts Section Head at Administrative Capital for Urban Development "ACUD"
4D BIM Technology in Nutshell.. Thanks Tamer …see more
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You are welcome Haytham …see more
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Amr Kamal, P. Eng, PMP • 2nd
BIM Manager -Major Projects at AECOM
Hi Mohamed
As a Synchro user, one thing I am frustrated about in Synchro is if you have a large scale project
with a lot of context, Synchro can't handle it & crashes a lot, which won't happen in Navisworks,
Other than that I agree with you that Synchro is the best 4D software I have seen so far.
…see more
hi h li i i h h i h i i f h
3y
Hi Kamal, Messaging
Tank you for your comment,

Regarding the crashes it depends on your hardware capabilities, also to overcome this
…see more
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3y
Eng. Paulo Roberto Cid Loureiro, PMP, PMI-SP • 3rd
Project Manager, Scheduling Professional, Cost and Quality Control, Risk Management
4d programming is here to stay. It could represent millions on savings and is really a

competeteve advantage for construction companies. …see more
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3y
Totally agree with you. …see more
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3y
Ibrahim Naeem • 2nd
Employer BIM Manager at Confidential
Moreover about Navisworks BIM capabilities that aren't shown here :

1- It performs Clash detection across the time-liner module.
2- it contains an API platform where you can script your workflow more powerfully,
3- it has an automated presets to access database.
4- it can integrate further with GIS Software through the Green Building XML(GBXML) …see more
3y
Thank you @ibrahem Naeem …see more
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Hossein Mousavi • 2nd 3y
Civil Engineer at The Office of Facilities Management and Maintenance (OFMM) for Public Sector 1 Free Upgrade to
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what Asta Powerproject is there any basic guide out there explaining about project squalling Premium
on other softwares ?
Tamer Elgohari
p6 or MSP wont recognise this need in future ? …see more
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9 articles
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Barry Ramsay • 2nd
Managing Director - Advanced 3D Technologies
Hi Tamer Elgohari
Whilst your evaluation is pretty clear and well done,I don't agree with the planner having to
work inside software which isn't as good as the native planning software such as MSP and P6 for
example.
…see more
h i i df ffi h i ll h i l d k f b
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3y
Amir Hamaoui • 2nd
Platform Manager at Bentley Systems
Hi Barry Ramsay,
I agree that industries seem to use 4D for visuals, animations, and tenders, but that is
mostly because that is what is publicly available.
…see more
h b l i i b i i i di h f bi f i
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3y
Jon Berkoe • 2nd
Construction Innovation Leader | Consulting to the AEC Industry
Think about the "digital rehearsal" capability that products like Synchro bring to our
industry because they include not only the schedule and model, but also equipment,
temporary works, workspaces, and resources. you can actually build a complex
construction sequence virtually before doing it in the field, you can find mistakes and
screw-ups and they cost you NOTHING to fix, vs. the alternative which can be hugely …see more
i d h ill b h h i f b l h d l
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3y
Derek Graham • 2nd
Boots on the Ground Senior Scheduler at Pizzarotti-IBC; Project Delivery Expert, & Expert Witness, since 2006
BIM is mostly hype in the US, except for some megaprojects. Less than 10% of all US work is BIM
driven, but proponents say it is taking over by storm. Go figure. I wrote a paper on BIM adoption
in my blog her on LinkedIn …see more
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Tom Dengenis • 2nd
Senior Director at Bentley Systems
Derek, can you share the source of your statistics for the 10% figure? …see more
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3y
Derek Graham • 2nd
Boots on the Ground Senior Scheduler at Pizzarotti-IBC; Project Delivery Expert, & Expert Witness, since 2006
yes, you will find the references in my white paper

http://repone.net/uncategorized/influence-bim-hype-just-hopeful/ …see more
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3y
Benjamin Greig • 2nd
Manager - Power Operations Centre - Worlds largest Tram network.
BIM is a multi level TOOL which needs input from all stakeholders to be effective and effective it
can be. We used 12D modeling at Roy Hill with great success. All software is only a TOOL and if
you don't have the experience in defining parameters and requirements they become a useless
tool. To show my case how many people use 3 D models and the equipment still doesn't fit and
they find clashes etc!!! It is not the TOOL it is the people using it that makes it work!!! …see more
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3y
Barry Ramsay • 2nd
Managing Director - Advanced 3D Technologies
hi Amir Hamaoui
Not sure you are right about all those companies using 4D for construction.
This was clear from the recent 4D seminar in London where companies likes of Mace are only
…see more
i f d h ll d i h 1 ih d l di f
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3y
James O'Hagan • 2nd
National BIM Manager at Summerset Group Holdings Limited
I completely agree with Barry, 4D should be be industry standard and I believe it will be in the
very near future. …see more
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3y
Hossein Mousavi • 2nd
Civil Engineer at The Office of Facilities Management and Maintenance (OFMM) for Public Sector
Is there any pdf version of this article?! …see more
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Maimoun Halim • 3rd
Site Civil Engineer ‫ ﻓﻲ‬VINCI Construction
U r amazing, I just asked this question Tring to get full comparison from few minutes to you.
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Tamer Elgohari • Following 584 93 109
9 articles
Maimoun Halim Thank you . …see more
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Ricardo Khan • 2nd
Senior Director of Innovation at Mortenson Construction - Inspire | Engage | Partner
Great analysis Tamer Elgohari. We need more of this type of analysis to help the AEC select the
best solution. In my opinion, Synchro is far superior as a visual scheduling solution. The others
have pluses. It's not that we need the one tool to rules them all, but we need as an industry to
have the tools that support our process and people first and foremost! We need software
companies who listen and react to their customers (ALL OF US). That is not always the case, …see more
h h l l d h d l h di i hif i h
3y
Ricardo Khan Thank you so much for your feedback, yes Sure.
I totally agree with you, that's how the software companies should start to react.I think
Synchro have noticed this that's why they created something called customers ideas in
their website : https://synchroltd.com/ideas/ …see more
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Muhammed Aljada'a • 3rd
10000
Civil site engineer …see more
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Rendy Tendean, MSc. CCP • 3rd
iTWO BIM 5D Sr. Consultant at RIB U.S.Cost
Tamer Elgohari,
Good work and effort in analyzing the software. However, it seems that your comparison seems
more of a software specs and capabilities that are a bit bias toward Synchro, your user
experience, and only coming from a planning and scheduling perspective. In the bigger scheme
…see more
f i j i f h l di i i
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Rendy Tendean, CCC

First of all thank you for your feedback. Since we are talking about the 4D BIM then our
first priority should be the planning/ scheduling / project control perspective only and the
rest considered as an additional services/capabilities . Also I can't say this is my own…see more
i b h i di h i l h d hi
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2y
Sarah Frances Procter • 2nd
Director Sales and Marketing at Copenhagen Optimization #BetterAirport
Hi Tamer Elgohari, good piece of work and to great to see someone has taken the time to
compare the various tools / solutions in the market.
What I miss however, is the reflection that whilst all this software is helpful and will improve our
ability to increase efficiency and value, a significant aspect is that taking an enterprise approach
…see more
h h l hi k i f ll h f i l
2y
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your comment.
I totally agree with you, however as a managers we should know exactly what we need
and what are the capabilities of each software so we can make the correct decision…see
andmore
h i bl f
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2y
Neculai Ghimbovschi • 2nd
General Manager at CADexpert NET
You missed from the list Asta Powerproject BIM. It's an important player in 4D BIM. …see more
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2y
Lukas Olbrich • 2nd
Sablono - Digital Construction Platform for Enterprises
Great Article! Thanks …see more
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2y
Thank you …see more
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Mikkel Laurberg • 3rd 2y

Salgschef | Energy Systems A/S | Vi maksimere jeres værdi og udbytte fra energidata og energimærker | Vi sikre jer større energi- og …
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Arnaldo Landivar
Senior VDC Engineer • 2nd BIM)
at ASGC (4D/5D 584 93 109
9 articles BIM Specialist | Architectural Engineer | Project Construction Manager
Dear Tamer,
I'm a bit late for the discussion on this article, but I'm agree with Mr. Ramsay 4D is more than
visuals, in my opinion a difference should be made between 4D simulations vs. 4D visualization
vs. 4D scheduling.
All the tools you compare can produce a 4D simulation, but not all are suitable to develop…seea more
h d li h ill b h l f h f h f i l bili i f
2y
Hi Arnaldo Landivar,
First of all I really appreciate you useful comment and you are not late.But let me answer
you in points:
…see more
1 ll ih d h i h i l d hi h
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2y
Dr Haydn Read • 2nd
Infrastructuralist and Visiting Scholar IFSD Ottawa University
Hi All,
These are exactly the kinds of discussions that folk are looking for. Something we also need to
keep front and centre of these discussions is the ecosystem of elements which these types of
tools are inextricably part of. Many of us are reliant on the data which these models create upon
development. I ask for consideration to some important software agnostic elements which…see willmore
l h b i h b ff
2y
I totally agree with you Haydn Read, Since the 4D should be the shared integrated core
of the whole construction project. …see more
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2y
Godefroy de CASTELJAU • 3rd
Software Development Manager, BIM Solutions
HxGN SMART Build will be the next BIM 4D & 5D software. …see more
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1y
VIVEK NANDA • 2nd
Lead BIM 3D Visualizer at vConstruct, Inc.
https://youtu.be/Ze3I0DtsjTE Hey guys Check this out link, I have made 4D ANIMATION
SEQUENCING VIDEO for youtube stuff. …see more
1y
Sourabh Juneja • 3rd
Hybris Developer , Microservices , Java , Spring MVC , Agile
Very nice 👍 …see more
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Leonardo Gottschalg Zacarias • 3rd
Project Engineer
Excelente! …see more
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kedar pimpalgaonkar • 2nd
BIM Consultant at TCE
great comparisons... very helpful …see more
Like Reply 1 Like
1y
John Wheeler • 3rd
Project Director
Reuben Burns …see more
Like Reply 1 Reply
1y
Reuben Burns • 3rd
MCIOB Project Manager and 4D Planner
I'm keeping a sharp eye out for Asta! …see more
Like Reply 2 Likes
1y
Mads Bording • 2nd
Executive Board Member and Group COO hos RIB Software SE
For those interested in 4D based on GANTT and Flow Lines (Line of Balance, last planner etc.)
look here: http://www.itwo.com/en/5d-bim-enterprise-platform-itwo-4-0 …see more
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1y
Simon Cuciurean • 3rd
Regional MD for EMEA at LoadSpring Solutions - Specialists in Cloud Project Management Solutions for over 17 years!
Asif Sharif …see more
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Sean Chen • 2nd
Tamer Elgohari
Business Development Manager - BIM & Innovation Sports Technology; Entrepreneur
9 articles Would like to see an article for 5D …see more
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Colin Bell • 3rd
Regional BIM Manager at Sir Robert McAlpine
Richard Dale …see more
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M Sc Darko Nikolovski mech eng IWE • 2nd
Research and Development Manager
Zoran Delev …see more
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Helena Quiles • 3rd
Architect - BIM Coordinator
Thierry MAKSIMOVIC por si te interesa! …see more
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Mujtaba Hedayat • 3rd
Senior Digital Engineer at Laing O'Rourke
Phuong Hua …see more
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Alejandro Iturriaga • 2nd
Assistant Project Manager - BIM/VDC Coordinator at AECOM
Matthew Fuller Good article! …see more
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1y
Julio Carrillo Echeverria • 3rd
Dirección Administración Proyectos Edificación,MBA,Director BIM,Gestión Innovación Sistemas Constructivo Alta Eficiencia
Muy bueno el análisis , cosa que con el tiempo ha ido cambiando .Siempre queda SUJETO al
tipo de proyecto a construir . Atte …see more
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1y
José Albarrán Díaz • 3rd
Independiente en Centro de Cubicaciones
Buen artículo. Increíble pensar que estamos prácticamente invadidos por Autodesk ya que no
conocía los otros softwares.
En cuanto a los programas, me parece excelente que todas tengan buena puntuación en
interoperabilidad y me sorprende que Naviswork tenga una nota tan baja en lo que es trabajo
…see more
l b i á
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11mo
Ernestas Beržanskis • 3rd
BIM (Building Information Modeling)
What about ASTA POWER PROJECT? …see more
11mo
It's a very good software , but it wasn't in the comparison. …see more
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11mo
Ernestas Beržanskis • 3rd
BIM (Building Information Modeling)
Also you forgot main VICO advantage it's flow line diagrams and location base management .
…see more
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11mo
I have mentioned that for sure. …see more
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11mo
Sagar Raut PMP-SP -RMP, CCP-PSP, MCIArb-MCIOB-MAPM-ARICS • 2nd
Senior Project Controls Engineer | Delay Analyst & Claims professional
Tamer Elgohari, I think you missed analysis on widely used Bentley Microstation for 4D
scheduling.. …see more
11mo
Sagar Raut MCIOB- MAPM-ARICS,CCP-PSP,PMP-SP-RMP,PRINCE2 as far as I know ,

Navigator is the Bentley 4D software. Which is very basic compared to the other
softwares, don't u agree ? …see more
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Tamer Elgohari
Tamer Elgohari.. Yes.. I agree that not only Navigator is a584
Bentley product
93 but it
109is also
Microstation.... navigator is only used to review models and take accessibility decisions while
9 articles microstation provided you a perfect 4D planning platform at par with synchro and
astapowerproject.. …see more
11mo
Would you please share with us 1 sample video for microstation 4D simulation? …see more
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11mo
So pls include microstation instead of navigator …see more
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11mo
Mark Austin MCIOB • 3rd
Innovation director at Kier Group
Graeme Forbes …see more
Like Reply 1 Like
11mo
Joost Schlebaum • 3rd
BIM Manager bij Arup
Margarita Tsavdaroglou …see more
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11mo
Daniel Fahmi • 3rd
Senior Scheduler at Robins & Morton
https://blog.cafebim.com/synchro-or-navisworks-for-project-management-5244bcee2ae
…see more
Like Reply 1 Like
11mo
Frank O'Callaghan • 2nd
BIM Manager at HOCHTIEF Infrastructure GmbH | Nederland
Stefhan Broekema …see more
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11mo
Graeme Forbes • 3rd
Managing Director Clearbox
I notice the comparison leaves out Asta and the Clearbox BIMXtra solution both of which
provide benefits over some of the other solutions. In particular the Clearbox solution stacks up
well against the Navis and Solibri which seemed to be the tools coming out on top. However the
Clearbox solution is an enterprise solution and this generates many benefits in how the
information is shared and reviewer across the project …see more
Like Reply 5 Likes · 3 Replies
10mo
Carlos Souza Graeme Forbes you are correct , that post was in 2015 and for sure it need
to be updated. However, I will post new one soon …see more
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10mo
Carlos Souza • 2nd
Project Controls Tools Expert | BIM Methodologies Enthusiast | Entrepreneur of Renewable Energy Projects-Emphasis on WtE
Tamer Elgohari ok! Thank you. We are waiting anxiously for this update. …see more
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10mo
Eric Guizzetti • 2nd
Operations Technology Manager at Datum Tech Solutions
Wow no Fuzor Kalloc Studios? …see more
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3mo
Tomasz Wiatr • 3rd
Construction Project Management with BIM
Great job, but real 3D PMS/CPM class is only Synchro Pro, ASTA PP BIM and Vico because rest
needs to import schedule DATES, so Navisworks, Navigator and ItWO it is something another
class, they are 3D analysis and 4D simulation. …see more
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1.Head to head analysis:

As result I believe that :

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Thank you for sharing …see more

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Amazing efforts 👍 …see more

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Good luck bro …see more

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Good Article. Easy to follow and understand …see more

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Good analysis …see more

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Thank you …see more

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4D BIM Technology in Nutshell.. Thanks Tamer …see more

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You are welcome Haytham …see more

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Tank you for your comment,

4d programming is here to stay. It could represent millions on savings and is really a

Like Reply 1 Like · 1 Reply

Totally agree with you. …see more

Moreover about Navisworks BIM capabilities that aren't shown here :

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Thank you @ibrahem Naeem …see more

Load previous replies

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Like Reply 1 Like

yes, you will find the references in my white paper

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Like Reply 3 Likes

Is there any pdf version of this article?! …see more

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Civil site engineer …see more

Rendy Tendean, CCC

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Great Article! Thanks …see more

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Thank you …see more

Mikkel Laurberg • 3rd 2y

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Very nice 👍 …see more

Excelente! …see more

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great comparisons... very helpful …see more

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Reuben Burns …see more

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I'm keeping a sharp eye out for Asta! …see more

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