Install the Bridge
Connect Revit and Navisworks to Bimiq without a VPN, a firewall change, or an open port.
The Bridge is a small Windows application that runs in the system tray. It lets Bimiq read the model you have open, and it is what the live parts of the product depend on.
You do not need it to review drawings, review submittals, import a BCF file, or use Project Intelligence on documents. See What you need to start.
What it is for
| Capability | Needs |
|---|---|
| Live Navisworks clash sync | Navisworks Manage, model open |
| Model reconciliation in Drawing QA | Revit, model open |
| Model vs Spec Check | Revit, model open |
| Model reads and proposed changes in Project Intelligence | Revit, model open |
Requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Windows 10 64-bit (1903 or later) | Windows 11 recommended |
| .NET Desktop Runtime 10.0 | Bundled with the self-contained installer |
| Internet connection | Used for the outbound tunnel |
| Revit 2020 to 2027 | At least one version, for model work |
| Navisworks Manage 2023 to 2027 | Optional, only for clash operations |
Navisworks Simulate and Navisworks Freedom do not support plugins. The clash operations need Manage.
Install it
Download and run the installer
Download the Bridge, then run the installer. It does not require administrator rights for the recommended per-user install.
Say yes to the plugins
On first launch the Bridge offers to install the Revit and Navisworks plugins. Accept. It scans for the versions you have installed and puts the matching build in each one.
You can do this later instead, from the tray icon, with Install Revit Plugin and Install Navisworks Plugin.
Let it connect
The Bridge opens an outbound tunnel and registers itself with Bimiq. A notification confirms it is running, and the tray icon shows the connection state.
It registers for auto-start, so it comes back with Windows.
Open your model
Open the model in Revit or Navisworks. The plugin connects to the Bridge on your own machine automatically. Bimiq will now show the Bridge as connected.
How it reaches Bimiq without opening your network
The Bridge calls out. It opens an encrypted tunnel from your machine to the internet, and Bimiq sends requests back down that tunnel.
That is why it asks nothing of your network:
- No VPN
- No firewall rule for inbound traffic
- No open ports on your machine
- No project files uploaded
The plugins only ever talk to the Bridge over localhost. They never touch the internet themselves, and every plugin call is authenticated.
If your firewall restricts outbound traffic, the tunnel needs ports 443 and 7844 outbound, and access to *.trycloudflare.com. That is the one thing worth telling IT in advance.
What crosses the wire
A query and its answer. The model file is never uploaded, and it never leaves your machine.
For model changes, Bimiq proposes and you execute. See Security.
Sessions expire
A Bridge session goes idle after 15 minutes without activity. This is normal. The Bridge heartbeats while it is working, and reconnects when you use it again. If Bimiq reports the Bridge as not connected after a long gap, restart it from the tray.