Welcome to STAGES — your collaborative construction management platform built on top of Matterport digital twins. If you’re new to the platform, this tutorial will walk you through the essential first steps to set up your environment, organize your team, and start managing your projects effectively.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Begin by signing up for a SIMLAB STAGES account through the web platform at sim-stages.com. After registration, log in to access the main dashboard where all your tools and projects will be centralized.
Step 2: Set Up an Organization
An Organization serves as the top-level workspace in STAGES. This is where you'll group related projects, invite team members, and manage access permissions. Give your organization a name that reflects your company or project group, and customize settings to match your workflow.
Step 3: Create a New Project
Within your Organization, you can now create your first project. Projects are the core units where you’ll manage all building data, track progress, and collaborate with stakeholders. Add basic details like the project name, description, and location. Then upload your first Matterport scan or connect it through your Matterport account.
Step 4: Add Team Members
Collaborate more efficiently by inviting your team to the project. Assign roles (e.g., admin, viewer, contributor) based on their responsibility level. Each member will get access tailored to their role, allowing for secure and streamlined teamwork.
Step 5: Synchronize Scans and Set Up the Timeline
SIMLAB STAGES allows you to compare building progress over time. Upload additional scans taken during different phases of construction and align them using the built-in synchronization tools. This enables timeline navigation, letting users switch between different points in the construction lifecycle with a single slider.
Step 6: Add Notes, Issues, and Annotations
Use the powerful annotation toolkit to document issues, leave comments, or provide visual feedback directly on the 3D model. Whether it's a construction defect, a design suggestion, or a clarification, every note is time-stamped and linked to a specific location in the model.
Step 7: Share and Collaborate
Once your project is structured, easily share it with stakeholders via secure links or direct access. Use the built-in communication tools to keep all discussions in one place, tied directly to visual references in the digital twin.
Step 8: Explore Advanced Features
As you grow more familiar with the platform, explore advanced options like split-screen comparisons between BIM and Matterport models, generating PDF reports, or integrating external documents and voice notes into your project.
This tutorial is designed to give new users a strong foundation to confidently begin using STAGES for construction documentation, facility management, or renovation projects.