Worksets

Worksets are a feature used in collaborative building information modeling (BIM) workflows to subdivide a project model into named subsets. They enable multiple team members to work on different parts of a model simultaneously while maintaining a single source of truth. The concept is most closely associated with Autodesk Revit’s worksharing capabilities, though the general idea appears in other BIM platforms as well.

In a worksharing environment, elements such as walls, doors, and furniture are assigned to a specific workset. A central model acts as the authoritative file, while each participant works on a local copy. Users load and unload worksets to manage memory usage and coordination needs. Elements reside in their assigned worksets, and editors require that the relevant worksets are loaded to modify those elements. When multiple users edit the same element, the project’s synchronization workflow handles conflicts to preserve data integrity.

Benefits of using worksets include the ability to perform parallel editing, improved performance by loading only necessary portions of the model, and clearer organization of project data. Worksets also support visibility control, allowing teams to focus on specific disciplines or collaboration scenarios and to share information with external consultants more efficiently.

Best practices emphasize planning the workset structure early, keeping the number of worksets manageable, and using consistent naming and ownership conventions. Assign clear owners for each workset, regularly synchronize with the central model, and use disciplined loading strategies to minimize conflicts. Periodic review of the structure helps accommodate project changes without excessive restructuring.

Limitations include potential complexity in governance, the risk of conflicts if the structure is poorly planned, and increased overhead in managing load states across contributors. Proper training and a documented workflow are important for effective use.

See also: Worksharing, Central model, Revit.