This guide explains how to install, authorize, and configure the NavVis IVION Connector for Autodesk Forma Data Management. The connector links Points of Interest (POIs) in NavVis IVION with issues in Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) and keeps them synchronized, enabling combined workflows between high-accuracy NavVis reality capture and Autodesk’s issue/document management.

1. App Installation

1. To install the connector, navigate to your Account Admin settings in Autodesk Construction Cloud.

2. Open the Apps section and navigate to the NavVis IVION Connector for Autodesk Forma.

   

3. Click Install. After installation, the Open button is enabled and the status will show as Activated.

1. Launch the connector

1. Open the connector and click Start.

1. Enter your Instance URL when prompted.

2. Your IVION instance must be pre-registered before it can be connected. If your instance has not yet been registered, refer to the appropriate Knowledge Base article for registration instructions.

Note: Access is restricted to pre-authorized IVION instances only.

3. Authorize access to NavVis IVION

1. Allow the connector to access your NavVis IVION instance.

Note: Use credentials with Global Admin or Site Admin permissions to ensure adequate access.

2. Once the success confirmation appears, click Next to proceed to Autodesk authorization.

1. Allow the connector to access your Autodesk Forma projects.

Note: It is recommended that you use credentials with Project Administrator permissions.

2. Depending on the size of your NavVis IVION instance and the number of Autodesk Forma projects, loading may take time. Allow the process to complete without interruption.

   

3. After authorization, you land on the Synchronization Profiles home page to view, delete, and create profiles.

3. New Sync Profile Configuration

1. Start a new profile

1. On the Synchronization Profiles page, click the plus (+) icon in the top-right corner.

2. Select your NavVis IVION site

Choose the NavVis IVION site to include in the sync profile and click Next.

3. Select your Autodesk Forma project

Choose the Autodesk Forma Data Management project to link to your NavVis IVION site and click Next.

4. Select POI and Issue types

Select the POI type in NavVis IVION and the corresponding Issue category in Autodesk Forma. Click Next after each selection.

5. Choose a sync type

After initial configuration, choose between Basic Sync or Enhanced Sync. If 3D models are found in the chosen Autodesk Forma project, you will see the option to activate Enhanced Sync.

• For Basic Sync, continue to Step 4.

• For Enhanced Sync, continue to Step 5.

4. Basic Sync Profile Setup

A Basic Sync links a single POI in IVION as the initial placement location for all incoming issues from Forma.

1. Select Basic Sync

1. Click No, Continue with Basic Sync on the sync type prompt.

2. You will be asked to define an initial position for POIs created in NavVis IVION from an external source. Click Proceed.

2. Create the initial POI

1. In the NavVis IVION site that opens in a new tab, create a POI in the category you specified earlier. This POI defines the location where incoming Autodesk Forma issues will appear as NavVis IVION POIs.

3. Confirm placement

Close the NavVis IVION tab and click Proceed After Placement in the connector.

4. Select the placement POI

From the dropdown, select the POI you just created and click Save Profile.

5. Save and activate

1. After the success confirmation, click Save & Activate to finalize and activate the sync profile.

2. The profile will now appear on the Synchronization Profiles page with the Basic sync type.

5. Enhanced Sync Profile Setup

Enhanced Sync provides spatial alignment between a Autodesk Forma 3D model and an NavVis IVION site by using three pairs of alignment points to generate a transformation matrix.

Prerequisite: Complete the steps in Step 3 - New Sync Profile Configuration.

1. Activate Enhanced Sync

On the sync type prompt, click Yes, Activate Enhanced Sync.

2. Select your 3D model

Select the Revit (.rvt) or Industry Foundation Class (.ifc) model in your Forma project to sync with your NavVis IVION site, then click Next.

3. Begin coordinate system alignment

The Enhanced Sync process uses three issues in Autodesk Forma and three POIs in NavVis IVION as alignment points. These point pairs generate the transformation matrix that maps the two coordinate systems.

Note: For Georeferenced Enhanced Sync, see Step 6.

1. Click Proceed to Alignment.

4. Place alignment issues in Forma

1. Click Open 3D Model to launch the Forma Data Management model in a new tab.

2. Create three alignment issues within the model.

   Guidelines:

   • Give each issue a distinct, memorable name.

   • Place each issue at a location that clearly corresponds to an identifiable point in the NavVis IVION point cloud.

   • Distribute the issues across the X, Y, and Z axes to improve transformation accuracy.

5. Confirm issue placement

After creating the three alignment issues, close the Autodesk Forma tab and click Proceed After Placement.

6. Place alignment POIs in NavVis IVION

1. Click Open IVION Site to launch your NavVis IVION site in a new tab.

2. Create the alignment POIs in the same locations as the issues you placed in the Autodesk Forma model.

Note: For greater accuracy, place POIs using the point cloud view rather than the panoramic view.

7. Map POIs to Issues

1. After creating the NavVis IVION POIs, close the tab and click Proceed After Placement.

2. On the linking screen, map each NavVis IVION POI to its corresponding Forma issue across the alignment pairs. Click Save & Next.

   

3. When all pairs are mapped, click Calculate Transformation.

8. Review the RMS error and activate

1. After a successful transformation, the connector returns a confirmation message and an RMS error value. The RMS value is relative and unitless but indicates alignment quality. Use the reference below:

2. Click Save & Activate to finalize and activate the profile.

Note: The alignment POIs and Issues can be deleted from their respective systems after the profile has been created.

6. Georeferenced Enhanced Sync Profile Setup

A Geo-referenced Enhanced Sync uses a shared coordinate reference system between the IFC model and the NavVis IVION site to streamline alignment without three manually placed alignment pairs.

1. Activate Enhanced Sync

On the sync type prompt, click Yes, Activate Enhanced Sync.

2. Select your georeferenced IFC model

Select the georeferenced .ifc model within your Forma project to sync to your NavVis IVION site. Click Next.

3. Confirm shared reference system

You will see a Coordinate System Check prompt asking whether your IFC model and NavVis IVION site are configured in the same Shared Reference System (SRS) and use meters as the unit.

• If yes, click Yes to proceed.

• If unsure, see Step 7 - Georeferencing Requirements for IFC Models.

Note: Project units must be set to meters for this option to work.

4. Create a calibration issue in Autodesk Forma

The georeferenced workflow requires a single calibration issue in Autodesk Forma, used for calculation purposes related to the model viewer. It can be placed anywhere and deleted after setup.

1. Click Open 3D Model, place one issue of the category Design Coordination anywhere in the model. Return to the connector and click Proceed.

5. Select the calibration issue

From the dropdown, select the calibration issue you created and click Finalize Configuration.

6. Save and activate

1. After a successful transformation, you will receive a confirmation indicating that the Enhanced Geo configuration is complete and the system is calibrated.

2. Click Save & Activate to save the profile.

7. Georeferencing Requirements for IFC Models

Before configuring a Georeferenced Enhanced Sync, ensure your IFC model meets the following requirements.

Project Units

In your authoring tool (e.g., Autodesk Revit), set the project units for Length to meters.

Export Settings

For georeferenced IFC models, confirm the following before export:

• Project units are set to meters.

• The export uses the IFC4 schema.

• The model uses the same EPSG code as specified in NavVis IVION.

The EPSG code defines the projected coordinate reference system and must match between your authoring environment and your IVION site for georeferencing to work correctly.

8. Verifying your Site and Model are Correctly Georeferenced

After configuring the Georeferenced Enhanced Sync, verify that the NaVVIS IVION site and the IFC model resolve to the same real-world coordinates.

1. Enable coordinate display in NavVis IVION

1. In NavVis IVION, open the measurement tool. Go to Settings and enable Cursor coordinates. Ensure that the correct Spatial reference system is selected.

2. You can now hover over points in the NavVis IVION viewer to see their coordinates.

2. Check coordinates in Autodesk Forma

1. Open the georeferenced IFC model in Autodesk Forma Data Management. Use the measurement tools to create a spot coordinate and set the Unit Type to meters.

3. Compare coordinates

1. Spot-check matching points across both systems. If the coordinate values in NavVis IVION and Autodesk Forma are within a few centimeters of each other, your NavVis IVION site and IFC model are correctly configured.

2. For larger sites or models, verify several points spread across the site to confirm consistent accuracy.