Availability
Upload your BIM file to the project, then perform alignment so the model positions correctly relative to 360 Walks. Project admin permissions are required for BIM alignment.
If you don’t see the Alignment tools in BIM Compare, contact support to inquire about self-alignment access.
How to use BIM Alignment
The alignment process is broken into two main parts: XY alignment (plan view) and Z alignment (elevation).
Part 1: XY alignment (plan view)
XY Alignment
- Open any 360 Walk
- Open BIM Compare mode and allow the model to fully load
- You should see the Alignment tools in the upper right.
- Orient the model into the middle of the right screen, and ensure you're in the top down view:
Once you're in the top down view of the model, choose Continue:
- Once the 2D alignment page opens, choose the level and drawing you'd like to align to at the top of the window.
First, on the left side, place the points 1 and 2 on easy-to-match locations. This is typically the edge or corner of a building. This will allow you to drag and align the model to the drawing.
Once you've chosen two points, move to the right side and adjust the model to match the drawing. Zoom into the window to better align the two maps. - Great! Your model is aligned with your project in XY coordinates. You can choose to apply this to the entire project (all levels) by choosing Save in the top right corner.
Alignment per Level
When you've aligned the model, this will apply to all levels in the project. For this to work best, all levels in your project should be aligned to each other. If they are not, you have the option to align the model per level.
To align per level, check the Calibrate Alignment for Specific Levels or Exterior option:
Then choose Save and Next Level in the top right to work on your next alignment.
Leaving this box unchecked will apply your alignment to all levels in the project.
Z Alignment
- Next, you’ll want to map elevations in your model to your levels. This ensures you’re viewing the correct z-position in the model relative to your 360 walks.
- Open a 360 walk on the level you’d like to align and enter BIM Compare mode
- Wait until the model fully loads - You should see the Alignment tools in the upper right - if you don’t, reach out to support@dronedeploy.com to inquire about self-alignment.
- Use the ‘Z’ slider in order to reposition your model correctly relative to your chosen level. You may also input elevations directly for your z position.
- Repeat these steps for each level. The z positions will be saved to your levels in DroneDeploy, so even if you upload a newer version of your model, they should apply - only XY alignment will need to be repeated.
Note:
*Interested in having your models automatically aligned? Reach out to your customer success manager or account executive in order to enable this workflow if a good fit for your needs*
Try BIM Model Management in the Interior BETA:
With BIM Model Management, you can replace your model anytime and maintain alignment. You can also re-align, preview, rename, or delete a model.
Upload using Add Files and choose from local or Autodesk Import.
Quick checklist
- View Cube = Top; text upright
- Camera = Orthographic (not Perspective)
- Rotate the model in top-down view to match drawing orientation, then place two control points
- Avoid “Home” during alignment; it can reset to Perspective
- Use Z slider to map elevations per level
- Use “Calibrate Alignment for Specific Levels or Exterior” for levels with different footprints
Best practices for accurate alignment
- Keep the camera in a true top-down, Orthographic view while setting XY alignment. A tilted or Perspective view can introduce errors.
- Verify the View Cube shows “Top” and on-screen text is right-side up before placing control points.
- If necessary, rotate the model in top-down view to match the orientation of your drawings before placing control points, then proceed with Orthographic top-down alignment.
- Trim excess empty space in your BIM before uploading, or zoom into the building area and ensure a top-down view with North up; this simplifies alignment and reduces drift from a large model extent.
- Ensure all model layers are aligned in elevation; far-offset or mis-elevated layers (e.g., utilities far below the building) can cause discrepancies when comparing to walkthroughs.
- Confirm your 360 Walks are correctly aligned to the floor plans and that floor plans are correctly aligned to the site map; misalignment in those sources will propagate into the model compare view.
Limitations
- Do not use the viewer’s “Home” button mid-alignment; it often resets the camera to Perspective, which can cause misalignment even when other steps are correct.
- Rotating the Z-axis isn’t accounted for during BIM alignment; doing so will always result in misalignment of BIMs.
- Sub-meter walk-to-BIM alignment is not guaranteed today; small residual errors of ~1–5 meters are expected depending on inputs and workflow.
FAQs
Q: My alignment looks close, but not exact. What's wrong?
A: Re-check that the camera is set to Orthographic and the view is perfectly top-down with the View Cube reading “Top.”
Q: My alignment drifts after I press the 'Home' button. How do I fix this?
A: Switch the camera back to Orthographic and re-enter a true top-down view before placing your points. The "Home" button often resets the camera to Perspective, which can cause misalignment.
Q: My alignment is still off after following all the steps. What should I do?
A: Verify your 360 Walks are correctly aligned to your floor plans and that your floor plans are accurately aligned to the site map. If they are, repeat the XY alignment for the affected level(s). If you are still stuck, contact support for assistance.
Q: What happens if I upload a newer version of my model?
A: If you upload a newer version of your model to the same project, you only need to repeat the XY alignment. Your saved Z mappings remain associated with your Levels and will re-apply to the new model version.
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