Not limited to simple orbit and pan, BIMx allows navigation in a similar manner to a FPS–now a well-defined and understood 3D navigation trope.

The difference between BIMx and a traditional standalone rotatable 3D model (a 3D PDF for instance) is quickly visible after just a few minutes of use. Viewing the models on a PC or Mac requires either a free desktop viewer or the self-executing. While the add-on to ArchiCAD required to produce the BIMx models must be purchased, the viewers on mobile devices are free (you can download them from the Mac App Store or Google Play Store). Originally a standalone viewer for PC and Mac, BIMx is now also available on iOS and Android devices. And that’s when things got really interesting. For the release of ArchiCAD 15 in 2011, VBE was rebranded as Building Information Model Explorer (BIMx). The core engine for VBE was developed by Zermatt Virtual Reality Software, which was subsequently bought by Graphisoft in 2010. In 2009, Graphisoft released Virtual Building Explorer (VBE) for ArchiCAD 12. BIMx is a game changer that allows for innovation with the types of models created and the presentation/utility of these models. So what exactly is BIMx and how can it be used? Graphisoft BIMx is an interactive 3D presentation tool that allows all the stakeholders in a project to have access to the building model, without requiring any specialized BIM skills.

Bimx mac