What Is ClashMEP and How Is It Improving Our Coordination

Image: BuildingSP, ClashMEP

To build off of our collaboration with Building System Planning, Inc. (BuildingSP), we’ve started working with a new intelligent tool called ClashMEP. This is a real-time clash detection and visualization add-in within the Autodesk Revit environment that was designed by BuildingSP and is already changing the way we approach projects. By using advanced data analysis created for GenMEP, it offers real-time clash detection for Revit objects, IFC files, linked files, and point clouds .

What makes ClashMEP stand out to us is how it enables multiple design teams to coordinate with each other on projects in near real-time. With this software, we don’t need to export and import to another application to view the system coordination, which makes everything flow easier and more efficiently. The ability to check for errors as you model is invaluable because it transforms separate and disjointed operations into an interconnected and interactive experience.

With this tool, we get near real-time feedback on coordination issues. This means that we don’t have to wait around for a response or worry about miscoordination. Within this one application, we are also able to streamline the cycle of draw-review-adjust-draw-review adjust.

To demonstrate how this software works and how we’ll be using it for our operations, we created a video of one of our team members, Tony Campos, utilizing ClashMEP. Check it out here:

We believe that this tool can improve upon our processes because of how tedious and time-consuming the old processes used to be. In the past, if we drew in Revit without linked designer models, we had to start by drawing in the authoring software, save/export for coordination software, and then import to the coordination software. From there, we had to review the model alignment in the coordination software, measure and plan in the coordination software, make adjustments in the authoring software, and repeat that process all over again.

When we used to draw in Revit with linked designer models, the process was just as complicated. After drawing in the authorized software and visually checking it against other designer models (hoping we had the latest and greatest ones), we had to go through this same lengthy process.

Moving forward, we’re hoping that this type of guesswork and extra steps are a thing of the past. ClashMEP brings great value to complex projects because it utilizes multiple platforms to create opportunities for work and coordination that frankly don’t happen otherwise. With the old process, human errors would inevitably creep into the process. But by eliminating the troubling element of multiple software platforms, there is a lower entry point for coordinated models and less room for mistakes.

So once again, we are very excited to be collaborating with BuildingSP to further our mission of applying technology to improve the way construction industry works. If you’re curious to learn more about how ClashMEP functions and how this software may help improve your coordination processes, contact us to discuss your project.

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