What Is Parametric Data?
Parametric data represents geometry through mathematical formulas rather than simple shapes.
This means that objects like cylinders, spheres, and planes are stored as precise, continuous surfaces defined by parameters — not approximated by small polygons.
In contrast, tessellated data is made up of triangular meshes that only approximate the real geometry.
While tessellated models look similar to the original, they are not 100% accurate and can introduce small geometric deviations.
For example:
A parametric pipe is a mathematically perfect cylinder.
A tessellated pipe looks like a cylinder but is actually composed of thousands of tiny triangles.
Why Use Parametric Data?
The main advantage of using parametric data in Novorender is precision and performance.
With parametric geometry, you can:
Instantly measure areas and surfaces.
Perform manhole measurements with exact dimensions.
Calculate pipe slopes quickly and accurately.
How to Get Parametric Pipes
To ensure your pipes are recognized as parametric in Novorender, they must be exported in specific formats and structures.
Supported File Formats
DWG
Must be exported as solid geometry.
IFC
The following IFC entities are supported for parametric recognition:IfcExtrudedAreaSolid
sweptArea:
IfcCircleProfileDefsweptArea:
IfcCircleHollowProfileDef
IfcSweptDiskSolid
IfcFixedReferenceSweptAreaSolid
sweptArea:
IfcCircleProfileDefsweptArea:
IfcCircleHollowProfileDef
How DWG or IFC files are structured depends on the export settings and rules used in the design software.
Ensuring the files follow one of the supported formats above guarantees that Novorender can interpret the geometry as parametric.
Generating Parametric Data in Novorender
Novorender can attempt to generate parametric data from existing tessellated geometry.
This feature helps you get faster and more accurate measurements even when original files are not fully parametric.
How to Activate
Open Advanced Settings.
Go to Feature Settings → Beta.
Enable Generate Parametric Data.
Once activated, Novorender will automatically try to interpret tessellated geometry as parametric where possible, improving the precision of measurements and analysis.