Autodesk Navisworks
Design & BIM
Autodesk's model-review software, where the separate 3D models different trades build, often in Revit, get combined into one federated model and checked against each other.
What it does
Navisworks aggregates models from Revit, AutoCAD, and other design tools into a single combined model without requiring every trade to design inside the same platform. Its clash detection engine compares every discipline's geometry against every other discipline's and flags where two systems physically occupy the same space, catching a conflict on screen months before it would otherwise surface as a real problem in the field. A separate 4D mode links model elements to the project schedule so a team can watch the building go up in simulation before it goes up for real.
Key features
- Model aggregation, combining models from Revit, AutoCAD, and other design tools into one federated model
- Automated clash detection that flags where two trades' systems physically occupy the same space
- 4D scheduling simulation, linking model elements to a project schedule to visualize the sequence of construction over time
- Quantity takeoff tools that pull material counts directly from the combined model
How it's actually used
- A BIM/VDC Specialist runs a clash detection pass combining the structural, mechanical, and electrical models and finds a ductwork run cutting through a structural beam months before that beam is ever fabricated
- A project team runs a 4D simulation of the erection sequence to confirm crane access won't be blocked by an earlier phase of the work
Tutorials
Tutorial videos for this tool are coming soon.
Good to know
- Pricing:
- Subscription-based, usually sold bundled into a broader Autodesk construction or BIM collection rather than purchased as a fully standalone product on its own.
Reviewed 2026-09. Costs, timelines, and licensing details vary by location and change over time. Treat these as a starting point, not a quote.