Clash Detection

Estimated reading: 4 minutes

BEXEL Manager’s Clash Detection module can perform geometric conflict analysis against any given number of groups of elements. Clash avoidance is an essential part of the design and construction process with the aim to allow execution of the project without problems in quality, delays or additional costs. Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing systems usually consist of many elements, creating a highly complex linear system, which must be carefully placed within the building structure. The Clash job represents a clash analysis between two clashing groups. When creating a New Job, the system detects clashes, as per the defined clash type and tolerance, between the individual clash detection groups defined in the Clash Detection window. The results are presented as a specified list of all detected clashes between the elements of the groups selected for a particular job in the Clash Detection module. Clash detection analysis is performed using BEXEL Manager, and the results can be uploaded to the CDE platform by simply following the “Publish to CDE” workflow. Within the CDE, clashes can be grouped, assigned priorities and statuses, and shared with other project participants via the BCF module.

1. To view Clash Detection results published to the CDE, navigate to the Clash Detection module

2. On the left-hand side of the window, users can see a list of all Clash Jobs, along with details such as the Clash Job Type, Tolerance, Total number of clashed elements, and their respective Statuses and Priorities

3. On the right-hand side, further information about the Clashes within the selected Clash Job is displayed.
Additional options are available in the toolbar, which are explained in more detail below

4. Users can filter Clash Jobs by Name, Type, and Tolerance by clicking the Filter button. By clicking the arrow icon next to each column header, results can be sorted in Ascending or Descending order

5. In the Search fields, users can search for both Clash Jobs and individual Clashes

6. To sort clashes in Ascending or Descending order, click the corresponding sort button in the toolbar

7. To view the selected Clash or Clash Group in the Viewer, toggle the Clash View Mode button to ON.
Note that the Viewer will automatically update to reflect the currently selected clash from the list

8. The Render Other Elements option allows users to control how non-clashing elements are displayed in the Viewer

Selecting Wireframe will display other elements in wireframe mode, making the clashing elements stand out
Selecting Hide will make only the clashing elements visible, hiding all others from the Viewer

9. To select clashing model elements, the user must first select the desired Clashes or Clash Groups from the list. The selected Clashes will be highlighted in grey. Clicking the Select button will select All Elements involved in the chosen clashes. By clicking the downward triangle next to the Select button, users can access additional selection options:

Select Right Elements
Select Left Elements
Select All Clashes

10. The Clash list can also be filtered based on the elements selected in the Viewer. Before using the Filter By Selected Elements option, ensure that the correct Clash Jobs are selected from the list. Once applied, the Clash list will be filtered to display only the clashes involving the selected elements

11. To cancel the filter, click the Cancel Filter button

12. By clicking the three dots button, a dropdown menu will appear containing the Column Chooser option.
Clicking Column Chooser opens a context menu where users can select which columns should be visible in the Clash list

Tips and tricks

You can drag and drop column fields from the Column Chooser dialog directly into the Clash list toolbar to customize the view.

13. By selecting one or more clashes in the Clash list and right-clicking anywhere within the Clash list window, a context menu with additional options will appear

14. To group the selected clashes into a single group, choose the Group option. A new window will open, allowing the user to enter a name for the newly created clash group

15. To create multiple groups based on either the Left or Right elements of the selected clashes, choose the Create Multiple Groups option from the context menu, then select the corresponding Left or Right grouping method

16. Clash statuses can be updated by selecting one or more clashes from the Clash List and then choosing the desired option from the Change Status menu

17. To change the priority of one or more clashes in the Clash List, select the desired option from the Change Priority menu

18. The right-click menu also includes the Select Elements and Select All Clashes options, which were described in Step 9