Power BI does not display a 3D model on its own, so a model goes into a report through a custom visual. The visual loads the model inside the report page and links each component to a row in the dataset by a shared ID, such as a tag number. Once linked, the model filters and colors with the rest of the report.
What You Need
- A model in a viewable format. Design models from tools such as Navisworks or Revit are translated into a format the viewer can stream
- A shared ID. Each component needs a property that matches a column in your data, usually the tag number or an element ID, and model conditioning covers keeping that property consistent
- A dataset with that column. Package status, progress, constraints, or any other field you want to see on the model
- The custom visual, added to the report page from Microsoft AppSource
How It Behaves in the Report
- Color by data. Components take a color from any field, such as IWP status or percent complete, using the report's own legend
- Filter both ways. Selecting a package in a table filters the model, and selecting components in the model filters the tables and charts
- Section and isolate. Readers can look inside congested areas without leaving the page
Where It Helps Most
A colored model communicates package status to people who do not read tables, such as construction managers, owners, and field leads. Power BI for construction reporting covers the reports that sit around it.
How 3D for Power BI Does It
3D for Power BI is our Power BI custom visual for this. It embeds a 3D viewer in the report page, colors the model from your dataset, and filters both ways. Models can come from a demo model, an upload, Autodesk Construction Cloud, or openAWP, where the components are already linked to packages and tags.
Want the report built for you? Our reporting and analytics team builds Power BI reports with the model inside them.