What are hard clashes and soft clashes that are detected

during clash detection?

Application of Building Information Modeling process which results in the development of 3D
models helps architects and engineers in developing and coordinating the design of different
building disciplines along with assisting in clash detection services. Since it is easy to identify
clashes from BIM models design and construction professionals have completely left the
traditional methods of discovering clashes from the building design wherein they generally used
to compare 2D drawings created for different disciplines.
Well, how are clashes created? And in what way they affect the performance of building
project? Clashes occur when major and minor mistakes are created by design and construction
professionals when they develop building design. For example using incorrect geometrical
information for developing 3D models may lead to the creation of clashes. Clashes may also
occur due to the inappropriate distribution of design data among design development team
members, which refrains modelers from using correct information for developing the design. The
application of incorrect information during design development obviously leads to the formation
of clashes. And these clashes have huge potential to decrease the productivity of the construction
project by manifolds. Occurrence of clashes between the model elements of multidiscipline
building models finally leads to highly effort taking and costly rework. This also becomes a
reason for late project deliveries.
Due to all these construction complications, design and construction professionals make it
mandatory to conduct clash tests in preconstruction after the successful accomplishment of
multidiscipline <a href="http://www.teslacad.com.au/bim-services.php"">BIM models</a>.
When clash tests are administered by design and construction professionals with the support of
Autodesk application Navisworks, they first have to convert all the Revit files that are created for
different disciplines into meaningful file formats. The main motive of converting Revit files into
Navisworks files is to easily import them into the software. When clash detection is administered
in clash detective tool, thousands of hard clashes and soft clashes are identified by the AEC
professionals.
Hard clashes are those clashes wherein model elements of inter-disciplinary models fight for
existing in a same place. That means when two or more than two elements belonging to different
building disciplines acquire the same place it can be considered as a hard clash.
However, when elements of inter-disciplinary models come too close to each other but refrain
from colliding or overlapping that can be called as a soft clash. For solving both hard clashes and
soft clashes modelers have to make changes in the positions of the elements.