Cal Poly Introduces Future Project Managers to Bluebeam

In his courses on construction management at Cal Poly College of Architecture and Environmental Design in San Luis Obispo, CA, Andrew Kline includes instruction on Bluebeam Revu. As the future project managers learn about building information modeling (BIM), virtual design and construction (VDC), jobsite management, and fundamentals of construction, one of the lessons includes how to do takeoffs for the very first time with pencil and paper. After they learn those basics, Kline introduces the students to Bluebeam Revu. With Revu, students learn how to use markup and takeoff tools, and that’s when they also discover the clarity and accuracy an estimate created in Revu can have.

In the Bluebeam StrXur article “Bluebeam Office Hours,” Kline related, “It’s just amazing how quick they can pick up a concept of a takeoff using Bluebeam rather than a plan set. They’ve already got this technology background. We’re just pointing them to the tool and how they can use it on a jobsite or in the office.”

In Kline’s BIM class, students are exposed to advanced detail about document control through the use of Bluebeam Studio and Sessions. The instruction covers tools that are required on a jobsite for markups, document management, document processing, and request for information (RFI) submittals. Document management using Bluebeam tools has proven to result in quality construction, accountability on the job and a single source of truth for project teams to collaborate on and work from.

Are you interested in using Bluebeam Revu to gain a competitive advantage? Check out “Secrets and Shortcuts: 8 Tips for Better Use of Bluebeam,” and “Collaborating on the Go with Bluebeam.” You’ll discover ways to streamline your workflow and improve your productivity.

In the May, 2020 StrXur question and answer session, Kline explained that Revu can relate directly to an Excel takeoff and into Autodesk Revit with 3D PDFs. It’s not all technology instruction for the students, however. They are also taught the fundamental “old ways” of doing things, like reading a plan set and developing estimates. Fortunately the busy work of stamping drawings and posting RFIs on documents can be automated by using Revu these days.

Kline also said he emphasizes the importance of quality communication, not simply with texts or emails but also on the phone or in-person. He teaches his students that it’s important to understand what’s happening on a project and clearly communicate any onsite issues or problems with the architect or engineers, not just “push documents forward.”

You can try Bluebeam Revu eXtreme for yourself with a full working version on a 30-day free trial. If you find that eXtreme has too much horsepower for your team, you can test drive Revu Standard or Revu CAD. Take the opportunity to see firsthand how Revu enables increased collaboration and will help you get more done in less time. When it’s time to convert that 30-day trial to a subscription or perpetual license, contact Applied Software and talk to a Bluebeam expert about your firm’s specific needs.