Graphisoft BIMx is an interactive 3D presentation tool for architects to create 3D models in .bimx document format with ArchiCAD

ArchiCAD

ArchiCAD is an architectural BIM CAD software for Macintosh and Windows developed by the Hungarian company Graphisoft. ArchiCAD offers specialized solutions for handling all common aspects of aesthetics and engineering during the whole design process of the built environment — buildings, interiors,...

 15 which can be viewed with native viewer applications developed for Mac OS X

Mac OS X

Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...

, Apple iOS

IOS

iOS is an operating system for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.IOS may also refer to:-Companies and organisations:* Illinois Ornithological Society, American state-based bird club...

  and Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 operating systems. BIMx presents three dimensional building models in an iteractive way similar to First-person shooter

First-person shooter

First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...

 video games. Clients, consultants and builders can virtually walk through and make measurements in the 3D model without the need of installing ArchiCAD.

Features

The Graphisoft BIMx software suite consists of three different applications:

• Desktop Application (OS X / Windows): A commercial application to publish BIMx models from ArchiCAD, on the same computer that is running ArchiCAD.
• Viewer App (iOS): A free app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for communicating and viewing BIMx models on iPad
  IPad
  The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
  
   (1 or 2), iPhone
  IPhone
  The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
  
   (3GS or 4) or iPod
  IPod
  iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
  
   Touch 4th generation.
• Desktop Viewer (OS X / Windows): A desktop application that can be freely downloaded to view BIMx models.

BIMx viewer applications not only allow users to walk through the entire building just as players do in FPS games but also lets users access information about certain building parts and take measurements in 3D.

History

The core engine of BIMx was originally developed by a Swedish developer: Zermatt Virtual Reality Software. The original product was released as an add-on for ArchiCAD 9. Graphisoft

Graphisoft

Graphisoft SE develops Building Information Modeling software products for architects, interior designers and planners. The company is headquartered in Graphisoft Park Budapest, Hungary. Graphisoft has subsidiaries in Germany, USA, UK, Spain, Japan and representative offices in Russia and Singapore...

 acquired Zermatt in 2010 and released Virtual Building Explorer for ArchiCAD 13 and ArchiCAD 14. Virtual Building Explorer for ArchiCAD 15 was renamed to BIMx or BIM Explorer.

External links

Graphisoft BIMx home page

BIMx Community on Facebook

Architosh review on BIMx (Sep 8, 2011)

ArchDaily review on BIMx (Sep 14, 2011)