Tridify and Unity Technologies collaborate to announce automation solution for AEC customers
Partnership allows experts in AEC to bridge the gap between BIM and Unity
12 December 2018 – Tridify, the software technology specialist delivering automation products for the AEC industry, announced today a partnership with Unity Technologies to deliver Tridify Convert, an automation tool available on the Unity Asset store, which will streamline Unity AEC developer workflows.
Tridify Convert is an automatically scalable BIM cloud service, enabling the conversion of 3D BIM CAD data into Unity in real-time. It delivers UV-mapped and optimized models regardless of the project size. Tridify Convert includes a simple Industry Foundation Class (IFC) file export from all BIM and CAD software platforms, with automated features such as material mapping, colliders, and lighting generation.
“We have a deep understanding of BIM and the AEC industry having used Unity to develop our own AEC visualization application over five years ago,” said Juha Alanen, EVP of Sales at Tridify. “Our R&D team recognized that by working with Unity, we could deliver a solution that would automatically streamline the process of delivering UV-mapped and optimized architectural models to XR-ready 3D files. Together, with Unity, we are solving the problem of repetitive, slow, and error-prone re-modeling.”
“Unity’s mission is to solve hard problems for all developers and working with Tridify ensures that our AEC developers can save money, increase efficiencies, and improve collaboration,” said Tim McDonough, General Manager of Industrial at Unity Technologies. “For designers, engineers, and trailblazers across AEC, Unity is the most versatile and widely used real-time 3D platform for visualizing products and building interactive and virtual experiences and we look forward to working with Tridify to shape the future of AEC.
For more information about Tridify Convert, visit the Tridify website.
The new partnership introduces a dramatic increase in efficiency for all AEC designers, architects and engineers, enabling them to create virtual models much faster with fewer errors. Time savings vary depending on the size of a project but for a typical medium-sized 100MB building, the process now takes minutes instead of hours. For complex Unity visualisations, the development time shrinks from 3-4 weeks to several days.
Tridify Convert is a cloud service that automates the delivery of UV-mapped and optimised architectural models to XR ready 3D files for any project size, using a simple IFC file export, from all BIM and CAD software platforms, including Autodesk Revit, ArchiCAD, etc. Pricing for Tridify Convert is by monthly subscription plan, based on the size of model and conversion required, ranging from free to $860. The Tridify BIM Tools are free but can only be used on models that have been converted via the Tridify Convert pipe.
About Tridify:
Tridify was established in Finland in 2012 with their HQ in Helsinki and sales teams based in Singapore, Dubai, London and Sydney. Their technologists have over 30+ years of experience working in VR and for the last five, Tridify has been focused on developing a solution to automate the delivery of 3D architectural models to XR ready 3D files.
What users are saying:
Bevel - Seattle, USA
"We’ve been using Tridify Convert to bridge the gap between Revit and Unity, exporting the entire BIM model via IFC and then working with all of the Revit metadata within the Unity 3D environment. It’s the type of tool we’ve been waiting for as it completely streamlines an otherwise untenable workflow. Being able to easily bring in the Revit model to Unity, in all of its detail with the associated BIM metadata, has changed the way we work. Previously, this simply wasn't possible for large scale, open-ended building projects. Once in Unity, we’re now able to click on a feature such as a wall and bring up all the associated metadata straight out of Revit, accessing the information architects or engineers have designed into a space, without any extra work.
Once the Tridify conversion has taken place, we start to organise the 3D model, turn different categories on or off, use photospheres to show a client a VR view inside the building from a particular viewpoint, as well as select specific objects that are linked to the metadata. This is just one example of how we’re using Revit and Tridify Convert to bring architectural models seamlessly into Unity so that we can add more functionality and enhance 3D interactive experiences for clients.
In terms of benefits to our business, a lot of our work is about placing data into context and Tridify Convert lets us bring much more of the design data into immersive applications. We will be using it for construction site augmented reality QA/QC tools as well as virtual reality design tools. The increase in conversion automation means we can better provide clients with reusable tools that follow them throughout the design and construction process, which ultimately saves them money."
Simon Manning, Creative Director, Bevel
Bevel creates advanced virtual and augmented reality experiences for architecture, construction and design clients in North America
Billard Leece Partnership - Sydney, Australia
"We worked with Tridify Convert on a 125,000sqm hospital project, taking the BIM model into Unity with all the data attached. What an outstanding service – instead of taking weeks, the automated conversion took a matter of minutes and because the data was now available in Unity, the advanced search function meant that we could collate all objects in a couple of clicks. This allowed us to perform mobility clearance checks using Unity’s Pathfinding in a matter of minutes; typically we might spend a week on this function alone. Now working with With Tridify Convert, not only can we speed up our workflow so we can spend more time on the creative elements, we can turn around multiple projects in the same timeframe. Tridify Convert is a must-have service for anyone developing a BIM-data to Unity visualisation workflow."
Adrian Esdaile, Senior Project Architect/BIM Manager, Billard Leece Partnership (Sydney, Australia)
BLP is a multidisciplinary Australian practice that combines architecture, urban planning and interior design, with over 100 specialists known for award-winning projects.
ATEA - Oslo, Norway
"When our company ATEA moved into one of the world’s smartest buildings, Sola Airport Arena in Norway, I wanted to create a digital twin of the new premises in Unity using the Building Information Model (BIM). The process took about a week and became incredibly complex, lost a lot of information along the way and the final model was too large for a web version. Tridify Convert solved all my problems – importing and converting Architectural files became much easier, the new model runs smoothly in a browser but most importantly, all the BIM data was kept intact and it only took a few hours instead.
I was able to link technical data to objects automatically using tags, instead of manually, which saved a lot of time. The digital twin now works perfectly, divided into layers and streaming live data from sensors around the building, with technical BIM information visible when looking at objects. Tridify Convert also makes updating the model with new modified BIM files an easy task. I'm already looking forward to utilizing and improving our automated workflow for our new building at Hasle Linje in Oslo."
Bjørn Hegle, Solution Architect SmartX, ATEA (Oslo, Norway)
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