Overview
Sync bridges the gap between Building Information Modeling (BIM) and real-time 3D visualization, enabling architects and designers to see their Revit models in Unity with live updates and full data preservation.
The plugin eliminates the traditional export-import cycle, maintaining a synchronized connection between Revit and Unity. Changes made in Revit automatically propagate to Unity, ensuring design decisions are always visualized with the latest data.
This bidirectional workflow accelerates design iteration, improves stakeholder communication, and enables interactive experiences impossible in traditional BIM viewers.
For complete documentation, video tutorials, and download information, visit the Unity Asset Store and Autodesk App Store product pages.
Getting Started
Download & Installation
Revit Plugin: Download Ambiens Sync for Revit from the Autodesk App Store. The installer will automatically install the plugin. To uninstall, simply rerun the installer and select "Uninstall" or use Windows Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
Unity Plugin: Download Ambiens Sync for Unity from the Unity Asset Store. Import the package into your Unity project through the Package Manager.
Requirements:
- Unity 3D (2021.3 LTS or newer recommended)
- Autodesk Revit (2020-2025 supported)
- Windows 10/11
- .NET Framework 4.8 or .NET 6+
Your First Sync - Step by Step
1. Export from Revit
- Open your Revit project
- Navigate to the Ambiens Sync tab in the Revit ribbon
- Click the "Export" button
- You'll see a list of available 3D Views
- Select the view you want to synchronize
- Click "Local Export" to start synchronization
- The project is saved in a temporary folder on your disk—no information is shared outside your computer
2. Import to Unity
- Open Unity and your target project
- Ensure Ambiens Sync plugin is installed
- Go to Tools > Ambiens > Ambiens Sync
- The Sync panel will open
- Select the Revit project you just exported from the list
- Click "Sync" to import the 3D View into your Unity scene
3. Real-time Update Workflow
- Make any changes to your Revit model
- Click "Sync" in the Ambiens Sync tab in Revit
- Your Unity scene automatically updates with the changes
- Only modified elements are refreshed, maintaining performance
Video Tutorials & Documentation
Complete installation guides, video tutorials, and detailed documentation are available on the Unity Asset Store and Autodesk App Store product pages.
Follow our quick installation guide and workflow tutorials on our YouTube Channel.
Try Before You Buy
A runtime tester is available to evaluate the plugin output before purchase. Download links and instructions are available on the store pages.
Note: The Ambiens Sync runtime version imports from Revit to Unity but doesn't include the full bidirectional synchronization features. Contact us for more information about the complete plugin capabilities.
Key Features
Real-time Synchronization
Automatic detection of changes in Revit models with selective update propagation to Unity. Only modified elements are refreshed, minimizing processing time and maintaining project performance.
Complete Data Preservation
All BIM data travels with the geometry. Element properties, parameters, families, and metadata remain accessible in Unity for data-driven visualizations and queries.
Optimized Geometry
Intelligent mesh conversion with automatic LOD generation. High-polygon Revit families are optimized for real-time rendering while preserving visual fidelity.
Material Mapping
Automatic material translation from Revit to Unity's rendering pipeline. Custom material libraries ensure consistent appearance between BIM and real-time environments.
Parametric Updates
When Revit parameters change, Unity objects update accordingly. Enable dynamic configurations, variant testing, and design exploration within interactive experiences.
Extensibility & Enterprise Integration
Ambiens Sync is more than an end-user tool—it's a foundation technology for building complex, enterprise-grade BIM pipelines and custom integrations.
The plugin's architecture allows deep customization and extension for specialized workflows, making it ideal for organizations that need to:
- Build custom validation and data processing pipelines
- Integrate with proprietary platforms and external systems
- Automate enterprise BIM workflows at scale
- Create white-label solutions for clients
- Develop specialized export formats and data schemas
- Connect BIM data to external databases and APIs
Proven in Production
eFM MySpot-BIM Built on Ambiens Sync technology, this custom Revit plugin standardizes Real Estate documentation for eFM's enterprise clients across Europe. Features include automated BIM validation, custom data schemas, real-time compliance checking, and Archibus Connection integration. This demonstrates how Sync can be extended for complex facility management workflows with 90% reduction in manual validation time.
Simplex3D Enabled one of the world's few 3D map providers to offer seamless Revit integration to their clients. Custom export pipeline, intelligent geolocation processing, automated mesh optimization, and platform API integration show how Sync adapts to specialized use cases. The solution resulted in a 10x increase in client model contributions with 95% success rate on first upload.
Custom Development Capabilities
The plugin provides comprehensive extension points:
- Custom Geometry Processors: Override default behaviors, add domain-specific optimizations
- Data Mapping Rules: Configure how Revit parameters translate to Unity properties
- Validation Frameworks: Build automated quality checks and compliance rules
- External API Integration: Connect to cloud platforms, databases, and web services
- White-label Solutions: Deploy customized versions with your branding
Need a custom BIM integration or specialized pipeline? We've built Ambiens Sync to serve as the foundation for complex, production-grade solutions. Our team can help you design, develop, and deploy custom workflows tailored to your specific requirements.
Contact us to discuss your enterprise integration needs.
Technical Architecture
Revit Add-in
Native C# add-in leveraging the Revit API for deep integration. Monitors document changes, extracts geometry and data, and manages communication with Unity.
Unity Integration
Custom Unity package with editor tools and runtime components. Handles incoming updates, manages scene hierarchy, and provides developer-friendly APIs.
Communication Protocol
Efficient binary protocol for data transfer. Minimizes bandwidth while ensuring complete data fidelity. Supports both local and network connections.
Change Detection
Smart diffing algorithm identifies only what changed. Avoids unnecessary processing and maintains stable GameObject references for existing elements.
Workflow Integration
Design Iteration
Architects work naturally in Revit while stakeholders review in real-time VR/AR. Design changes are immediately visible in immersive context, accelerating feedback cycles.
Client Presentations
Build interactive presentations that always reflect the current design. No more outdated exports—clients see exactly what's in the model today.
Construction Documentation
Link Unity visualizations to construction schedules. Animate construction sequences with actual BIM data, improve coordination, and communicate complex phasing.
Facilities Management
Connect live sensor data to BIM geometry in Unity. Visualize building performance, maintenance schedules, and space utilization in intuitive 3D interfaces.
Use Cases
Architectural Visualization
Transform static BIM models into interactive experiences. Walk through buildings, test lighting scenarios, explore material options, all while maintaining connection to source BIM data.
Real Estate Marketing
Create configurators allowing buyers to customize apartments, select finishes, and visualize spaces before construction—all driven by actual Revit data.
Construction Planning
Visualize construction sequences with 4D BIM simulation. Link Revit schedules to Unity animations for clear communication of complex construction logic.
Urban Planning
Aggregate multiple Revit projects into city-scale Unity scenes. Evaluate urban designs in context, assess views and shadows, engage stakeholders with interactive models.
Training & Education
Build educational experiences teaching architectural concepts, construction methods, or building systems using actual BIM models as learning materials.
Data Capabilities
Element Properties
Access all Revit parameters in Unity. Query elements by type, filter by properties, drive behaviors based on BIM data.
Spatial Relationships
Maintain Revit's spatial hierarchy. Rooms, levels, zones, and systems remain organized and queryable in Unity.
Metadata Export
Custom data schemas for specialized workflows. Export custom parameters, annotations, and domain-specific information.
External References
Handle linked Revit models, imported CAD, and point clouds. Complete project context transfers to Unity.
Performance Optimization
Selective Sync
Choose what to synchronize. Filter by category, level, workset, or custom criteria. Sync only what's needed for each use case.
Progressive Loading
Large projects load incrementally. Users can navigate while remaining content streams in background.
Instancing
Automatic detection of repeated elements. Identical families use Unity instancing for optimal performance.
Texture Optimization
Intelligent texture atlasing and compression. Maintains visual quality while minimizing memory footprint.
Developer Experience
API Access
Comprehensive C# API for extending functionality. Hook into sync events, add custom data processors, integrate with other systems.
Custom Processors
Write custom geometry processors for specialized needs. Override default behaviors, add custom optimizations, implement domain-specific logic.
Data Mapping
Configurable mapping rules between Revit and Unity. Define how parameters translate, how materials map, how hierarchies organize.
Debugging Tools
Visual debugging of sync operations. Inspect what changed, verify data mapping, diagnose issues with built-in tools.
Integration with Ambiens Ecosystem
Ambiens Sync is part of the Ambiens Toolset, a comprehensive suite of Unity plugins designed for architects, designers, and BIM professionals:
- AT+Explore: Create interactive XR experiences without coding—walk through your BIM models in VR/AR with built-in navigation and interaction
- AT+VideoClip: Generate professional marketing videos of your scenes in no time with automated camera paths and rendering
- AT+Materials: Access a curated library of CC0 PBR materials on demand, optimized for architectural visualization
- DualData: Web-based 3D BIM visualization with contextual queries and data-driven interfaces
All tools are designed to work together seamlessly, enabling complete workflows from BIM authoring to interactive presentation to marketing deliverables. Combine Sync with Explore for immersive walkthroughs, or with VideoClip for automated render production—all driven by live Revit data.
Industry Impact
Sync represents a fundamental shift in BIM-to-visualization workflow. By eliminating the export barrier, we enable truly iterative design processes where visualization isn't an end-of-project deliverable but an integral part of the design process.
Architects can now test design decisions in real-time 3D context, stakeholders can experience spaces during design development, and facility managers can prepare for operations while construction is still being documented. This compression of the traditional timeline unlocks new possibilities for collaboration and decision-making.
Case Studies
Simplex3D Integration
Enabled one of the world's few 3D map providers to offer seamless Revit integration for their architecture and urban planning clients. Custom export pipeline with geolocation processing resulted in 10x increase in model contributions with minimal support burden.
eFM MySpot
Standardized Real Estate documentation workflow for multiple enterprise clients with automated BIM validation and Archibus Connection integration. Achieved 90% reduction in manual validation time with near-zero integration failures.
Technical Requirements
Software Compatibility
- Revit: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Unity: 2021.3 LTS or newer (2022.3 LTS recommended)
- .NET: Framework 4.8 or .NET 6+
- Platform: Windows 10/11 (Unity runtime supports macOS and Linux)
System Requirements
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or equivalent (i7 recommended for large projects)
- Memory: 8GB RAM minimum (16GB+ recommended)
- Graphics: DirectX 11 compatible GPU with 2GB VRAM
- Storage: SSD recommended for optimal performance
Project Size Support
- Models up to 5GB supported
- Unlimited building complexity
- All Revit categories and families
- Linked models and external references
Licensing & Support
Ambiens Sync is available through:
- Unity Asset Store - Unity plugin with perpetual license
- Autodesk App Store - Revit plugin (free download, requires Unity plugin license)
Visit the store pages for current pricing, licensing options, volume discounts, and enterprise agreements for large deployments and custom development.
Updates & Support
Regular updates are released to support new Revit and Unity versions, typically synchronized with Autodesk's release schedule. All updates are free for licensed users.
Support Resources:
- Video tutorials and installation guides on store pages
- Community forums and discussion boards
- Documentation and API reference
- Email support for troubleshooting
- Enterprise support available for custom integrations
Sync eliminates the friction between BIM and real-time 3D, enabling workflows that were previously impossible. From simple visualization to complex enterprise pipelines, it serves as the foundation for the next generation of BIM-integrated experiences.