In collaborative live sessions, Users who joined the same Space can collaborate in real time.
A session starts automatically as soon as two or more users are present in the same space at the same time (given they have Auto-Join Live Sessions activated). The initial connection is peer-to-peer, enabling direct collaboration. If at least one participant has a commercial license, a dedicated server is launched to host the session, providing a more stable and reliable connection. For users without a commercial license, the session remains peer-to-peer.
Within the shared space, users can interact with the same Content, including data such as surface meshes and boreholes, as well as with Block elements such as annotations and tools. Each user is represented by an avatar corresponding to the device they are using. Each user also has a User Pointer. All changes and actions occur in real-time, though minor delays may occur due to network latency. While in an active session, users can talk to each other using Voice Chat.
The number of users that can simultaneously join one collaborative session is currently restricted to 50. However, we currently do not recommend for more than eight users to work in one session simultaneously, as technical limitations may cause errors. Furthermore, a high number of users may negatively affect the user experience due to overcrowding.
Live sessions are initialized automatically as long as this is enabled in Settings: Collab.
Other users in the Live Session of the Space appear in the Connected Users list.
Here is a short step-by-step guide on how to initiate a real-time collaboration session in LiquidEarth:
Open LiquidEarth App: Start by launching the LiquidEarth application on a device of your choice.
Choose a Space: Navigate to the desired Space you want to collaborate within. This could be a space you've created yourself or one that has been shared with you.
Invite Collaborators: To invite others, use the in-app function to Share a Space, or share a Public Sharing Link link with the desired participants. Please note that you can only share a space if you are the Owner or an admin.
Manage Permissions: Invited users are assigned Guest permissions by default, which only allow them to view the space. If you want your collaborators to have additional capabilities—such as creating annotations, importing data, or sharing the space themselves—you can adjust their roles using the Permissions System (Shared Spaces).
Manage Settings: Access the collaboration controls panel to make sure Auto-Join Live Sessions is activated. Here, you can also adjust audio and microphone settings for voice chat.
Load the Space: Load the space into your 3D Workspace.
Initialize a Live Session: A collaborative Live Session starts automatically when two or more users are present in the same space.
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Note: On first initialization of a live session, there might be a moment in which users disconnect and reconnect again. This is due to a dedicated server starting up.
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Start Collaborating: Begin exploring, manipulating, annotating, and discussing data and models within the shared space. Remember, changes are instantly synchronized and visible to all participating users.
Communicate: Utilize the built-in Voice Chat for live communication. Adjust audio settings as needed via the collaboration controls panel. Use your User Pointer to highlight specific points for others in the space.
End Session: To leave the live session, you can turn it off via the collaboration controls panel or simply unload the space.