Vcad

VCAD enables quantity extraction and analysis directly from BIM models within Power BI and Tableau, turning complex geometry into structured, measurable data. Model elements such as walls, slabs, windows, and systems can be grouped and filtered by type, material, level, or any custom property to calculate quantities such as volume, area, or length. This supports use cases like cost estimation, procurement planning, and progress verification. Users can break down quantities by discipline or contractor, compare designed vs. executed works, and detect inconsistencies across phases. The integration of visual and tabular data provides both geometric context and numerical accuracy, helping teams move from manual takeoffs to dynamic, real-time quantity control. Whether used for early budgeting or ongoing site validation, this functionality connects model data directly to project performance indicators.

VCAD supports 4D visualization by linking time-based data from scheduling tools (e.g. MS Project or Primavera) to BIM model elements. Users can view the model evolving over time, visualizing each construction phase directly in Power BI. Tasks are mapped to objects using WBS or activity codes, enabling intuitive filtering and timeline playback. This helps planners and managers detect sequencing issues, communicate progress visually, and align stakeholders around the project timeline, all through a single, integrated interface.

With VCAD, users can integrate BIM models with time and cost data from MS Project, achieving a 5D view within Power BI. Tasks and cost codes are linked to specific model components via WBS references. The result is a synchronized timeline view where model elements change color based on project progress or cost status. This enables intuitive tracking of construction phases, cost variations, and scheduling performance directly inside the model, turning planning and control into a visual, model-driven process.

VCAD supports integration with BCF (BIM Collaboration Format), allowing issue tracking and communication within the Power BI environment. Users can access issue data linked to model elements, such as design clashes, reviews, or comments, and visualize their status directly within the model view. This creates a collaborative space where designers, coordinators, and contractors can monitor progress on open issues in real time. By combining spatial and tabular representations, it simplifies coordination and reduces the need to switch between tools.

Clash detection data from coordination platforms can be imported and visualized within VCAD for Power BI. Users can filter, group, and display clash points within the model, linking them to related disciplines, severity levels, or resolution status. This makes it easy to analyze trends, identify critical zones, and track progress in resolving design conflicts. By embedding clash results in dashboards, stakeholders gain full visibility over project health, improving transparency and decision-making across teams.

This use case focuses on combining 3D BIM models (in Navisworks format) with multiple 2D DWG drawings in the same Power BI report. VCAD enables users to navigate between 3D geometry and 2D documentation with full data consistency. Selecting a 3D object reveals its detailed 2D representation, creating a bidirectional link between plan and model. This hybrid approach enhances clarity, especially for facility managers or designers who need both spatial overview and technical precision, bridging traditional CAD and BIM workflows.