Optimizing imported geometry

Preparing your model before importing it into Arkio can improve loading times, preserve useful detail, and make navigation smoother across devices. This is especially helpful for large BIM projects, detailed objects, and meshes created from 3D scans.

Start by removing geometry you do not need. Then simplify dense meshes and review materials and textures. Keep a copy of the original model so you can adjust the export without losing source detail.

Prepare a dedicated export view

When using an Arkio plugin, prepare a view or selection containing the parts of the project you want to work with. The export controls vary by application; check the plugin’s settings for what will be included.

Save a dedicated export view where possible. This makes it easier to repeat the export after design changes and to test smaller parts of a model when something fails to load.

Limit the area with a section box

In Revit, use a section box in your 3D view to limit the area being exported. For large projects, prepare separate views for a building, wing, floor, atrium, or courtyard instead of exporting the entire site at once.

If an export fails, test a smaller section first. Gradually expand it to identify which area or object causes the problem.

Also check for stray objects far from the main model. Exclude unnecessary distant geometry from your export. If your project uses coordinated survey or shared coordinates, preserve that setup rather than moving the whole project just to reduce its size.

Hide unnecessary objects

Use your source application’s organization tools to control what you export:

• Revit: Worksets, categories, subcategories, and view filters.

• Rhino: Layers and object visibility.

• SketchUp: Tags and hidden objects.

• Archicad: Layers and object visiblity.

Reduce detail that does not support your design

• Keep the main architectural elements. Floors, walls, roofs, and ceilings provide useful spatial context. Add smaller details only when they help you evaluate the design.

• Simplify detailed components. Furniture, vegetation, fixtures, and imported manufacturer models can contain more geometry than the surrounding building. Replace or simplify parts such as screws, bolts, and 3D lettering.

• Use an appropriate detail level. In Revit, try Coarse or Medium instead of Fine. The effect depends on how each family was created.

• Remove overlapping surfaces. Duplicate or nearly coplanar faces can flicker as you move, a problem called z-fighting. Check thin details at the scale you intend to use in Arkio.

• Review materials and textures. Reuse materials where appropriate and avoid unnecessarily large textures. Preserve enough resolution for the surfaces users will inspect closely.

Manual mesh optimization

Dense meshes may need additional preparation in a mesh editor such as Blender or 3ds Max, even when they are part of a project exported with an Arkio plugin. This is particularly useful for LiDAR and other 3D scans.

Use triangle statistics and a wireframe view to find dense areas. Around 500,000 triangles is a useful starting target for an individual imported model, not a fixed import limit or a guarantee of full detail. Suitable complexity depends on your device, the rest of the scene, textures, and how closely the model will be viewed.

A practical mesh preparation workflow

1. Crop and clean the model. Remove unwanted background geometry, scanning artifacts, and parts that will not be used.

2. Join related mesh objects where appropriate. Combining surfaces that belong together can help Arkio simplify them consistently. Keep objects separate when you need to move or manage them independently. Joining objects does not automatically weld their vertices.

3. Weld vertices that should connect. Some scans contain disconnected triangles along surfaces that should be continuous. These fragments can disappear as model detail is reduced. Use a small merge distance and inspect the result so you do not collapse nearby details or join separate surfaces.

4. Reduce the triangle count. In Blender, add a Decimate modifier and lower its ratio gradually. Check the silhouette, openings, thin elements, and textured surfaces as you simplify. See the Blender Decimate documentation for its controls.

5. Export an optimized copy. Apply the intended modifiers or ensure they are included in the export, then export as GLB. Check that the exported file retains its materials, textures, scale, and orientation.

6. Test it in Arkio. Inspect the model up close and from farther away on the devices you plan to use. If important parts disappear or performance is still slow, adjust the mesh and export again.

Large scans may take time to open and process in a mesh editor. Work on smaller sections if needed. Avoid reducing everything equally: preserve important edges and shapes while simplifying dense areas that contribute little to the design.

Troubleshoot a model that does not load

1. Check the exported file. Open it in a compatible desktop viewer or mesh editor. If it also fails there, inspect the source model and export settings before importing it again.

2. Check supporting files. For glTF or OBJ exports, include the required companion files and textures and preserve their folder structure. A missing dependency may cause incomplete geometry or materials.

3. Try a smaller export. Hide most objects or narrow the section box. Add parts back gradually until you find the object or area causing the failure.

4. Review local import files. If a failed import keeps being processed, follow Access and manage user files to locate the relevant files and temporary resources. Keep your original models and saved scenes before clearing anything.

5. Contact support if the problem persists. Email support@arkio.is with your Arkio version, device, source application, file format and size, and the error message or a screenshot. A small example file that reproduces the issue can help us investigate.

For guidance on handling larger projects, see Importing large 3D models.