3D software developer at Creoox AG

Lindsay Kay

opensource.construction Standup #4, Nov 13, 2025

Introducing

xeokit SDK

the

https://slides.com/xeolabs/xeokit-sdk

for

AEC

Visualization

Hi, I’m Lindsay Kay

xeokit.io

  • Graphics Software Engineer, Creoox AG

  • Originally from Christchurch New Zealand

  • Lived in Berlin, Germany since 2010

  • Background: browser-based 3D graphics

  • ~15 years working on open source medical + engineering visualization for the Web

Origins of xeokit

xeokit.io

  • Started ~5–6 years ago

  • Grew from 15 years of WebGL projects (SceneJS, xeogl)

  • Libraries, medical and IFC viewers

xeokit + Creoox

  • Joined Creoox in 2020

  • Now a team effort

  • Mix of software + civil engineering expertise

Challenges in Browser-based BIM

  • Loading models quickly over the Web
  • Control of tools and data
  • Fitting them in browser memory
  • Drawing them interactively
  • Accurately viewing double-precision geometry on single-precision HW

Viewing BIM in the browser is tricky!

What is xeokit?

xeokit.io

  • JavaScript SDK for AEC model viewers

  • Supports IFC, glTF, OBJ, STL, 3DXML, XKT

  • Minimal setup — a few lines of code

const viewer = new Viewer({ canvasId: "myCanvas" });
const xktLoader = new XKTLoaderPlugin(viewer);

xktLoader.load({
  src: "myModel.xkt",
  metaModelSrc: "myModel.json"
});

Example - Load a Model

How xeokit Delivers Performance

  1. Fast loading – XKT format
  2. Efficient memory – GPU storage
  3. Many objects – batching + instancing
  4. Accurate rendering – RTC tiling (no jitter)
  5. Smooth navigation – adaptive camera navigation

xeokit.io

2025: xeokit Differentiators (1)

xeokit

Others (AutoDesk etc)

  • View real-world coordinates without rounding error ("jitter")

Real world 3D coordinate system

2025: xeokit Differentiators (2)

XKT: native compressed binary format

  • CLI IFC->XKT model conversion tools 
  • Compress geometry
  • Split models = smoother loading
  • Quantized, tiled  RTC vertex positions & oct-encoded normals
  • 48 bits per position, 16 bits per normal

2025: xeokit Differentiators (3)

Cursor snap-to-primitive

  • Devised by Toni Marti at Triba AG
  • Makes accurate measurements possible / viable

2025: xeokit Differentiators (4)

Integrated semantic data model

  • Loads IFC semantics into Viewer
  • Classifies objects, useful for building explorer trees

2025: xeokit Differentiators (5)

View federated models

  • Load multiple models
  • Merge models into same explorer tree
  • Merge split models

xeokit in Action

  • xeoVision.com

  • Our AECO model viewer and collaboration platform, built on xeokit

  • https://xeo.vision/

Open Source Philosophy

  • AGPL 3 license – always open

  • Full source on GitHub

  • Community feedback + contributions drive improvements

Looking Ahead

  • Streaming / progressive loading

  • Plug-in support + extensibility

  • Advanced analysis + measurement tools

  • Deeper collaboration workflows

Wrap Up

  • High-performance, open-source SDK

  • Built for AEC visualization in the browser

  • Tackles challenges of scale, precision, and interactivity

  • Evolving with community + Creoox team

xeokit.io

Thank You 🙏

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