Keeping up with Autodesk Construction Cloud

Autodesk is regularly updating Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC). The tools in ACC connect data and workflows, as well as teams in the office and the field throughout the entire building lifecycle – design, operations, construction, handover. Some ACC features were added as recently as the latter part of January 2022. In the Applied Software webinar “What’s New in Autodesk Construction Cloud,” Mark Petrucci and Blake Douglas gave an overview of the products in ACC and how they are continually improving.

ACC Update

ProEst – Acquired by Autodesk in December 2021, ProEst will provide a full-blown cloud-based estimating process, including creation of estimates, digital takeoffs, reports, proposals, and bid opening details.

Building Connected – Enables companies to manage the bid process, create bid forms, review and compare proposals, choose the best bidder, and maintain vendor information.  

Pype – Uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to process data from project plans and specs. It extracts submittals, schedules and contract compliance information from construction drawings.

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Learn more about Autodesk Construction Cloud in the free Applied Software eBook: The Importance of a Common Data Environment.

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Docs

This common data environment houses the majority of the project’s documentation. It provides a single, connected document platform – the foundation of all the other products – so all team members can have access to information they need for their portion of the job. All the tools described below sit on the Docs foundation, and they all connect seamlessly. Docs provides:

• Document control – Lets you control the flow of information with access and permission tools.
• Document viewing and versioning – You can customize the options for sharing information. Document versioning automatically assigns version numbers to documents and manages them. You can distribute the latest version of documents and drawings, view previous versions and compare sheets or versions with color coding to determine what changed.
• Document approvals – You can customize workflows for a structured approval process. From initiator to reviewers to the next group or person in line. At the end of the line, the document can be accepted or rejected.

Docs Update

Hypermodel viewing – Enables the user to overlay 2D sheets on a 3D model.

BIM Collaborate and BIM Collaborate Pro

Autodesk BIM Collaborate (ABC) is used in design and preconstruction. The Pro version has additional features for working with Revit, Plant 3D and Civil 3D.

• Design collaboration – Teams can have their own folders and create “packages” – bundles of models, views, sheet sets, and supporting documentation – to share with other teams.
• Revit Cloud Worksharing – The model is in the cloud, and multiple people can log in and collaborate on it, edit it and get an overall picture of the project. 
• Automated clash detection – Once identified, you can view the clashes in your Revit model and create issues around them. You can use Navisworks in the cloud to accomplish this, no need to download and work locally. Clash issues can be managed and tracked from Revit, Navisworks or ABC.
• Aggregated model coordination – No need for linking everyone’s model into your model program. When all teams model in the cloud, models can easily be combined.

BIM Collaborate Update

Revit issues add-in – Simplifies design and constructability evaluations across the whole project team by visualizing issues created in the Autodesk Construction Cloud directly in Revit. Use the add-in to interface directly with the Revit model to view and address issues.

Navisworks coordination (issues) add-in – Issues can be created in either the Autodesk Construction Cloud or Navisworks and are viewable and handled in both environments, bringing the best of both to your next project.

Watch models/groups – You can create a list of categories or items you want to monitor in case they are changed by another team. You can then use “compare” to color code changes and view what changed.

Takeoff

Takeoff is a new cloud-based service from Autodesk that conducts 2D and 3D quantification using the Autodesk common data environment. This quantification (not estimating) program allows estimators to access PDF files and models directly. An estimator does not have to know how to use Revit to use Takeoff.

• 2D takeoffs
• 3D takeoffs
• Scope analysis

Build

Most useful to general contractors and subcontractors, Build is a project management and field execution solution. It resulted from the merger of PlanGrid with BIM 360 Build. With Build you can manage RFIs and submittals, track issues and fill out forms. Tools include:

• Project management – A new progress tracking tool enables you to create a visual record of what portion of the job has been completed. You can import schedules and chart progress.  
• Quality management 
• Safety management 
• Cost management 
• PlanGrid Build mobile app – Used for both Build projects and PlanGrid projects to view documents in the field.

Build Update

Anything within the folder called “Project Files” can now be viewed in the field on a mobile device.

Configurable as-built export function – Create a completely customized as-built zip file containing folders with PDFs. From sheets and RFI submittals to files and issues, references among items will be preserved.

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Learn more about Autodesk Construction Cloud in the free Applied Software eBook: The Importance of a Common Data Environment.