Sketchup - Construction Program Sequence Animation (4D BIM)

SketchUp Pro
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As a construction planning professional, I’ve relied extensively on SketchUp Scenes for build sequencing, which works well from a modeling perspective. However, there remains a significant gap in functionality: the ability to integrate scheduling tools directly into the platform. Despite SketchUp’s flexibility, it still lacks an option to bind scenes and objects to project deliverables using a scheduling system or program-driven animation. Many of us in the field would greatly benefit from the ability to integrate with commonly used tools like MS Project or even basic Excel task lists, without having to switch to an entirely different platform.

While I’ve managed to create a simplified version of 4D animation in SketchUp using Scenes and layers, it’s not a true 4D simulation. The process is manual, requiring me to animate scenes individually. In contrast, platforms like Synchro and Navisworks can automatically generate animations based on the project schedule, pulling directly from scheduling software. This capability significantly enhances workflow efficiency by linking time-based tasks to model components, something that SketchUp currently lacks.

Other tools like Navisworks, Synchro, and Trimble’s Vico Office have dominated the market for schedule integration and 4D simulations, but they come at a high cost. For example, Synchro alone is priced at over $4,000 NZD, which is prohibitive for many project managers who don’t need the full range of features these platforms offer. Most of us don’t have the time or specialized skills to master these advanced tools, and we simply need a streamlined solution to link scheduling tasks to build sequences and animations within SketchUp. Features like growth animations and program-driven simulations should be built into SketchUp by now.

Creativity has advanced in this space, especially with the interoperability between Navisworks and Revit with real-time rendering engines like Twinmotion. Not only can project sequences be animated, but they can also be rendered in a game engine, offering more immersive and visually compelling presentations. This is an area where SketchUp should have been competitive a long time ago, given its wide user base in the construction and design industry.

Additionally, it would be incredibly useful if SketchUp offered a tool that converts scenes into a tabulated interface, allowing users to dynamically switch layers and objects on and off. This would enable the repositioning of assets such as cranes and trucks without needing to duplicate models, reducing performance degradation. Such a feature would greatly enhance workflow efficiency and eliminate the need for cumbersome workarounds, like copying large models, which significantly impacts performance.

I hope this gap is something the SketchUp team is aware of and is considering addressing in future updates. The ability to directly integrate scheduling data and improve scene management would significantly increase SketchUp’s value for construction professionals.

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If SketchUp intergrate the function as you wish, it will become a high cost sofware, too. Are you ready for this? Nor do I, because I don’t need it and I believe many many users aren’t, too.

Why don’t use extension, no one else must pay for things they don’t use? There are some extensions already have that function. For example:

Phases 4D:

4D Virtual Builder
https://www.4dvirtualbuilder.com/

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I understand you perfectly. That’s why I coded this extension SketchUp Extension Warehouse
What I don’t know is if it will work in your version of ScketchUp

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As a construction planning professional, I’m ready to pay more for the right solution. I’ve even tried third-party extensions like the one from John Brock, which is brilliantly designed, but the issue is that it comes from outside of Trimble. I would want to invest in extensions from Sketchup/Trimble itself because that provides the assurance that the plugin will evolve alongside the platform. I’m frustrated with having to search random corners of the internet, hit subscription walls, and rely on developers whose updates might not align with SketchUp’s development. All of this just to access plugins that perform basic functions that programs like 3DS Max or Blender can handle natively.

It’s frustrating because SketchUp has had immense potential in this space, particularly for construction planning, build sequencing, and showcasing tender methodology. Many planners were using SketchUp for these tasks in the earlier days, and for good reason:

  1. SketchUp was intuitive and accessible—building professionals and tradespeople could quickly grasp and use it, without needing specialized software skills.
  2. The 3D Warehouse was a goldmine for construction models, especially construction plant models, which were more abundant than in other platforms.
  3. It was straightforward to sequence work using scenes and layers, making it a go-to tool for tender sequences and project staging.

However, the missed opportunity to fully leverage these strengths has become increasingly clear. SketchUp’s simplicity, combined with its rich model library, made it a powerful tool for early-stage project planning, site layout, and construction methodology visualization. Yet, the absence of a built-in scheduling integration or an official extension from Trimble to support these functions has left many of us in the industry searching for alternatives or struggling with cumbersome workarounds.

Instead of relying on third-party plugins, many of which have uncertain long-term compatibility with SketchUp’s evolving platform, there’s a need for a robust, Trimble-backed extension similar to scan essentials that reinforces SketchUp’s use for construction planning. Such an extension would:

  • Seamlessly integrate scheduling tools like MS Project or Excel with scenes, creating a more effective 4D simulation experience.

  • Streamline project site layouts and staging directly within SketchUp, reinforcing its original strength as a simple, accessible platform for construction professionals.

  • Enhance confidence in the platform’s future ensuring that users don’t need to switch to costly alternatives like Synchro, Fuzor or Navisworks for basic sequencing and schedule integration.

Given that so many construction planners and professionals still use SketchUp to model site layouts and work sequences, this is a market that SketchUp could easily reclaim and dominate by delivering the right tools directly through the Trimble ecosystem. I strongly believe this is an area where SketchUp should step up, and I hope the development team recognizes the potential here to reinforce the platform’s value for construction professionals.