---
title: "Creating a Site Model"
slug: "creating-a-site-model-v2"
tags: ["Building Definition", "Floor Plan", "Outdoor maps", "Site Model"]
updated: 2026-05-27T13:43:07Z
published: 2026-05-27T13:43:07Z
canonical: "knowledge.navvis.com/creating-a-site-model-v2"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.navvis.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating a Site Model

Use this guide when setting up NavVis IVION for the first time or when you need to define the spatial structure of a new site. You'll need at least one aligned dataset and a floorplan of your building. By the end, you'll have a published site model with named buildings and floors that NavVis IVION uses to generate navigation and 2D maps.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:**If you only want to preview point clouds and panoramas, you can skip the site model.

## **Choosing a creation method**

NavVis IVION offers two ways to create a site model.

- **Manual**: Use this method when you need a precise site model, or when the site has multiple nearby buildings or floors with uneven heights (for example, ramps or raised platforms).
- **Automatic:** Use this method for simpler sites. NavVis IVION generates a rough outline that you can then fine-tune.

## **Creating a site model manually**

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:**After any change to the site model (adding or removing floors, adding rooms, or editing the building outline), click **Save** in the **Datasets** menu, then click **Publish**.

### **Before you start**

Have the following information ready before you start:

- How many buildings does the complex have?
- Where are the perimeters of those buildings?
- What are the names of the buildings?
- How many floors does each building have?

### **Defining a building**

1. Go to **Site Setup** > **Site Model**.
2. Hide all datasets except the ones that belong to the building you want to define. See [Hiding floors and datasets](https://knowledge.navvis.com/docs/hiding-floors-and-datasets) for instructions.
3. Click the **Top View** label, then click **+Building** in the **Editor Options** menu. ![Site model displaying building layout and editor options for site management.](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-1706104532631(2).png)
4. Click the first corner of your building. NavVis IVION starts the outline here, and you will click this point again to close it. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-9QRR5L1R.png)
5. Draw the perimeter around your datasets, using the underlying map as a guide. Include all point cloud data. You can leave out noise points that fall far outside the building. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-HAYMNQR7.png)
6. To undo a point, right-click it and select **Delete last point**.
7. To close the outline, click the first node again. The node turns green when the outline is closed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-RTT3IHS7.png)
8. Adjust the shape by dragging the white points around the perimeter.
9. Click **Save**.
10. Click the pencil icon next to **Building** to name the building.
11. Click **Publish**.

### **Defining floors**

1. Go to **Site Setup** > **Site Model**.
2. In the **View Configuration** panel, select **Side View (N->S)**, **Side View (E->W)**, or both. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-G5M24NVC.png)
3. In the **Top View** panel, scroll out over the rectangle to resize it, then drag it to the area you want to examine. To rotate the view area, hold **Shift** while dragging.
4. Once you can clearly see the floor outlines in the side view, click the **Side View** label to enter it.
5. Click **+** next to your building name to create the ground floor. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-CIMMO8TF.png)
6. The ground floor is named **Floor 0** by default. To rename it, click the pencil icon next to **Floor 0**, edit the name, then click **OK**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-P2JO1BJ9.png)
7. A yellow mesh rectangle appears around the ground floor. Drag the floor and ceiling handles so the rectangle covers the entire floor height.
8. Make sure the limits cover the ceiling and floor without cutting into adjacent floors. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-BKZOBA8J.png)
9. Click **Save**. NavVis IVION automatically assigns the ground floor dataset to this floor. A solid yellow box confirms the floor is defined. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-0OPCE66L.png)
10. Click **+** next to the building name to add the next floor. Choose to add it above or below the current floor. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-IIMLDQP0.png)
11. Repeat steps 5 through 10 for each floor.
12. Click **Publish**.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:**You can change the floor polygon (the floor's outline as seen from the top view) if needed. In most cases this is not necessary - editing the floor polygon increases the complexity of the site model and makes it more error-prone.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:**Adjusting one floor's height also adjusts adjacent floors. Always check that you have not cut into the floor above or below.

### **Adding additional buildings**

1. Follow the steps in **Defining a building** to add each additional building.
2. To connect neighboring buildings, select **Snap to lines and vertices** in the menu. This snaps your cursor to the edge of the first building as you draw the next one. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-RAQYEPCE.png)

## **Creating a site model automatically**

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:**After any change to the site model (adding or removing floors, adding rooms, or editing the building outline), click **Save** in the **Datasets** menu, then click **Publish**.

### **Before you start**

Do not use auto-generate if the site has any of the following:

- Multiple nearby buildings in one instance
- Floors with varying heights that do not line up (for example, ramps or raised platforms)

### **Auto-generating the site model**

1. Go to **Site Setup** > **Site Model**.
2. In the **Editor Options** menu, select **Auto-generate**, then confirm that you want to overwrite the existing site model. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-E8D4U213.png)
3. Once the site model appears, check that each dataset is assigned to the correct building and floor in the **Datasets** menu.
4. Click **Save**.
5. Click **Publish**.

### **Fine-tuning the site model**

#### **Building outline**

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:**If you do not need a highly accurate floorplan, the auto-generated outline is sufficient for most use cases. Fine-tune the outline only if you need precise results.

1. To rename the building, click the pencil icon next to **Building**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-MP86WDNI.png)
2. To rename a floor, click the pencil icon next to each floor name. The ground floor is labeled **Floor 0** by default.
3. Click the **Top View** label to expand the top-left view.
4. Click the boundaries icon next to the building name. A blue polygon appears over your building. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-FW04CXI1.png)
5. Drag the white points to fit the polygon to the actual building outline. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-FEA8RW80.png)
6. Click **Save**.

#### **Floor heights**

1. Click the **Top View** label to return to the split-screen view.
2. In the **View Configuration** menu, select **Side View (N->S)**, **Side View (E->W)**, or both. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-Z8VW6ZZB.png)
3. In the **Top View** panel, scroll out over the rectangle to resize it, then drag it to the area you want to examine. To rotate the view area, hold **Shift** while dragging.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:**You can rotate the view area by moving the rectangle on the top left panel while holding the Shift key.
4. To adjust the height of the floors, change to the side view by clicking on either **Side View** titles. (minumum height is 1 metre).
5. In the **Site structure** menu, click the boundaries icon next to the floor you want to adjust. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-T7YY8BNI.png)
6. A yellow mesh rectangle appears around the selected floor. Drag the floor and ceiling handles so the rectangle covers the entire floor height. Make sure the limits cover the ceiling and floor without cutting into adjacent floors.
7. Click **Save**.
8. Repeat steps 5 through 7 for each floor.
9. Check that no floors are missing. To add a floor, click **+** next to the building name, then choose to add above or below the selected floor. Set its height using steps 5 through 7.
10. Click **Save**.
11. Click **Publish**.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:**Adjusting one floor's height also adjusts adjacent floors. Always check that you have not cut into the floor above or below.

## **After creating your site model**

The following steps apply whether you created your site model manually or automatically.

### **Linking to outdoor areas**

For indoor floors, NavVis IVION uses the floor areas you defined in the site model editor to capture the right points. For everything outside your Defined Building — for example, open areas, pathways, and surrounding terrain — you can use the Outdoor Maps feature, which captures all scan points regardless of height or breadth and combines them into one complete outdoor 2D map. You just have to link which floor corresponds to the outdoor scan.

1. Select the floor you want to link to an outdoor scan. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-D3AYFKFD.png)
2. Click **Link to outdoors**. NavVis IVION connects any outdoor scans to this floor. When you view this floor, the outdoor scan appears alongside it.
3. Enter the number of the floor you want to connect the outside to and select it from the drop-down menu.
4. Click **Save**.
5. When you view the floor while navigating the site, you will see the building and the outdoor environment.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-OGKJ2RZC.png)

#### For a walk through, see the video Link to outdoors

[Video](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/Final_outdoor_scan.mp4)

Refer to the [NavVis Academy](https://academy.navvis.com/course/play/685a56e7cf4d2515ef4c3498) for more information on the topic.

### **Defining rooms**

1. Go to **Site Setup** > **Site Model**.
2. Unhide the floor you want to add rooms to. It is easier to add a room when only that floor is visible. See [Hiding floors and datasets](https://knowledge.navvis.com/docs/hiding-floors-and-datasets) for instructions.
3. In the **View Configuration** menu, select **Top View**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-D7QTTT9R.png)
4. In either **Side View** panel, scroll out over the rectangle to resize it, then drag it to the floor you want to work on. To rotate the view area, hold **Shift** while dragging. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-6EWGNR9A.png)
5. Click the **Top View** label to enter it.
6. Click **+** next to the floor you want to add the room to.
7. Click the first corner of the room. NavVis IVION starts the outline here, and you will click this point again to close it.
8. Draw the perimeter of the room, using the building outline as a guide. The room outline must stay inside the floor and building outline. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-RYU30M79.png)
9. When you are finished defining the room, close the outline by connecting the last node to the first one. The node will turn green to indicate that the outline is closed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-P8DG0B0J.png)
10. Adjust the shape by dragging the white points around the perimeter.
11. Click the pencil icon next to the room, enter a name, then click **OK**.
12. Click **Save**. Repeat steps 6 through 12 for each additional room.
13. Click **Publish**.

### **Adding custom attributes**

You can add custom attributes to buildings, floors, and rooms for additional labeling.

1. Go to **Site Setup** > **Site Model**.
2. In the site model menu, click **Edit** next to the entity you want to label (i.e floor or building). ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-62ZZHVLX.png)
3. In the **Edit site entity** menu, under **Custom attributes**, enter a key in the **Key** field and a value in the **Value** field. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-1779218269391.png)
4. Click **+** to add the attribute. To remove an attribute, click **Delete** next to it.
5. Click **OK**.
6. Click **Publish**.

### **Checking your site model**

1. Click **Save**.
2. Click the exit button in the top-right corner. NavVis IVION returns to the main site view.
3. Confirm that a floor changer appears on the right side of the screen. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/bf174766-fa1a-4fe1-a4d7-b1db1e7cb996/Images/Documentation/image-1779218366521.png)

### **Backing up your site model**

1. Click **Save** after adding all buildings, floors, and rooms.
2. Export the site model. See **Exporting a site model** below.

### **Exporting a site model**

1. Go to **Site Setup** > **Site Model**.
2. In the **Editor Options** menu, click **Export site model**.

### **Importing a site model**

1. Go to **Site Setup** > **Site Model**.
2. In the **Editor Options** menu, click **Import site model**.
3. Select the file you want to import.
4. Click **Save**.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:**You cannot import a site model that is the same as or overlaps with the current site model.