Use TimeLiner and Animator for Time-Based Soft Clashing

Time-based soft clashing combines the main functions of TimeLiner, Animator and Clash Detective.

Project models can include the representation of temporary items, such as work packages, ships, cranes, installations, and so on. If you want to use static objects, they must be added into the TimeLiner project, and scheduled to appear and disappear at particular locations, over specific period of time.

Additionally, you can create dynamic animation scenes, so that the objects will be moving around a project site, or change their size, and so on. Once created, such scenes must be linked to tasks in the TimeLiner project schedule.

It is possible, that appearance or disappearance of static objects can obstruct the movement of animated objects on site.

Setting up a time-based soft clashing enables the automated checking of this throughout the project lifetime. When a time-based soft clash session is run, at each step of TimeLiner sequence, Clash Detective is used to check if a clash has occurred. If it has, a date of when the clash took place is logged, along with the event that caused the clash.

You can review the time-based soft clash results and, for example, re-route some objects to avoid any space/time conflicts.

Prepare for Time-Based Soft Clashing

1. Set up necessary static packages.
2. Set up necessary dynamic packages.
3. Link the dynamic packages (animation scenes) to the correct tasks in TimeLiner.

Link to a TimeLiner Schedule for Time-Based Soft Clashing

1. In Navisworks open the project model file, which contains the animated TimeLiner schedule.

2. If the TimeLiner window is not already open, click Home tab > Tools panel > TimeLiner .

3. Click the Tasks tab, and check the static package tasks are displayed, and at least one animation scene has been linked to one of the TimeLiner tasks.

4. Click the Configure tab, and check the task types have been added to match the static packages.

5. Click the Simulation tab, and play the simulation. Check the static and dynamic packages are shown in the correct location and over the correct periods of time.

6. If the Clash Detective window is not already open, click Home tab > Tools panel > Clash Detective .

7. Click the Select tab.

8. In the Selection A and Selection B panes, select the objects you want to test.

9. In the Link drop-down box, select TimeLiner.

10. In the Step box, enter the Interval Size to use when looking for clashes in animation scenes.

11. Click the Run Test button. Clash Detective will check at each interval in the project to see if there are any clashes present. The number of found clashes is displayed at the top of the Clash Detective window.

    Note: If the TimeLiner project is large in size, running this type of clash test will invariably take more time to complete than a normal clash run.

    You can now review the found clashes.