Navisworks - Format Overview
Table of Contents
General Information
This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database.
| Format Name | Navisworks |
|---|---|
| Long Name | Autodesk Navisworks |
| Extensions | .nwd, .nwc, .nwf |
| Internet Media Type (previously MIME) | application/navisworks, application/x-navisworks, application/vnd.autodesk-navisworks |
| Common Use Cases | BIM Review, Project Coordination, Clash Detection, Model Visualization, Construction Planning, Quality Control, 4D Simulation, 5D Cost Analysis, Design Review, Multi-disciplinary Coordination |
What is the Navisworks format, and what is it used for?
Autodesk Navisworks is a 3D design review package for architecture, engineering, and construction industries. It allows users to open and combine multiple 3D models from different CAD systems, navigate around them in real-time, perform clash detection, create 4D simulations, and coordinate multidisciplinary projects within a single federated model environment. It is a file format mostly used for 3D design review and project coordination software for BIM model visualization, clash detection, and construction planning.
Features supported by the Navisworks format
| Feature | Supported? |
|---|---|
| Morph Targets | No |
| Rigid Animations | Yes |
| Skinned Animations | No |
| Animations | Yes |
| Free-Form Surfaces | Yes |
| Geometry Compression | Yes |
| Quad Meshes | Yes |
| Basic 3D Geometry | Yes |
| PBR Materials | Yes |
| Transparent Materials | Yes |
| Vertex Colors | Yes |
| Materials | Yes |
| Scene Composition | Yes |
| Hierarchical Scene Graph | Yes |
| Scene Nodes | Yes |
| Standardized Format | Partial0 |
| Embedded Textures | Yes |
| Multiple UV Channels | Yes |
| Normal Mapping | Yes |
| Procedural Textures | Partial1 |
| Texture Compression | Yes |
| Texture Transforms | Yes |
| Texturing | Yes |
Converting and Optimizing Navisworks Files
There are various ways to convert between Navisworks files and other 3D formats. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize Navisworks files, at scale. It supports Navisworks, as well as many other file formats (examples: 3dsMax, AutoCAD, CATIA, Creo, FBX, glTF, Inventor, OBJ, PLY, Revit, Solid Edge, SolidWorks, STEP, STL, USD, USDZ, VRM), at high quality.
Due to the potential limitations aforementioned on the table above, in principle, this format cannot always perfectly convert 3D data between Navisworks and other formats. In the following, you can find format conversion guides between Navisworks and the most important other formats, along with a rough score for compatibility of this workflow:
Converting Navisworks to Other 3D File Formats
- Navisworks to 3dsMax
- Navisworks to AutoCAD
- Navisworks to CATIA
- Navisworks to Creo
- Navisworks to FBX
- Navisworks to glTF
- Navisworks to Inventor
- Navisworks to OBJ
- Navisworks to PLY
- Navisworks to Revit
- Navisworks to Solid Edge
- Navisworks to SolidWorks
- Navisworks to STEP
- Navisworks to STL
- Navisworks to USD
- Navisworks to USDZ
- Navisworks to VRM
Converting Other 3D File Formats to Navisworks
- 3dsMax to Navisworks
- AutoCAD to Navisworks
- CATIA to Navisworks
- Creo to Navisworks
- FBX to Navisworks
- glTF to Navisworks
- Inventor to Navisworks
- OBJ to Navisworks
- PLY to Navisworks
- Revit to Navisworks
- Solid Edge to Navisworks
- SolidWorks to Navisworks
- STEP to Navisworks
- STL to Navisworks
- USD to Navisworks
- USDZ to Navisworks
- VRM to Navisworks
What's the best way to get Navisworks files into my 3D applications?
Doing 3D conversion right, especially at scale, can be tricky, as 3D data is in general a rather complex (yet very powerful!) medium. This also applies to Navisworks files - the conversion guide above gives a rough idea. Once you know what you would like to do, tools like RapidPipeline can help you perform the necessary steps, and to automate the process.
However, especially when introducing pipelines and workflows at scale in an enterprise context, it is usually good to rely on dedicated expertise, making sure you do not introduce any steps into your 3D workflow that are detrimental to the final output's quality, or that take your team too much time (and money).
If you're interested to hire dedicated expertise from the best in the field to help your company reach your goals fast and reliably, please do not hestitate to contact DGG. Being the creators of RapidPipeline, and ambassadors for open 3D standards for more than a decade, we have been building some of the world's most advanced 3D pipelines, having processed many millions of 3D assets.
Therefore, our expertise will help you to reach your goals faster, at scale, and with the least possible friction, since we are focused on maximum interoperability.
To get started with 3D data conversion and optimization today, sign up for a free account!
If you have any questions, feel free to chat with our human team.
Meet the Author
3D Knowledge Team
3D Technical Artists
RapidPipeline lets you convert, optimize and prepare your 3D models, easily. Try it today, or meet our human 3D experts. The Best-in-Class Tools for Your 3D Processing Jobs