Autodesk Docs represents the foundation of Autodesk’s powerful cloud platform. Docs is the primary module used to house and manage projects stored in the cloud. Using Docs, distributed teams can build directory structures, invite members, assign permissions, upload/download/review design files, assign work, designate review processes, create transmittals, and much more!
Docs is included with the AEC Collection, so if you have access to a Collection, you have access to Docs. In today’s installment, we’ll look at several workflows made possible with the Docs entitlement. Topics include Digital Design Review, Mobile Access, File Exchange and Collaboration. The video below can help you take advantage of Docs on your next civil project...
Did you know that Autodesk Docs can be used as a conduit for sharing Civil 3D surface models with Revit? Unlike older surface sharing workflows, the surfaces shared through Docs retain the triangulation found in Civil 3D. They are also much easier to update! In the event a shared surface is modified in Civil 3D, a new version can be published to Docs and then refreshed within the Revit environment.
In today’s installment, we’ll learn how to make the connection between the two platforms. Along the way, we’ll explore how the Shared Reference Point feature can be used to align the Civil 3D and Revit environments.
If you are interested, the video below will help you get started...
In our last installment, we talked about how BIM 360 Docs can help us collaborate by providing tools to address typical “face to face” interactions.
In today’s installment, we will open it up to several additional tools within the BIM 360 Platform. This includes BIM 360 Design and BIM 360 Build. We will also look at how the complete project model can be aggregated in Navisworks and BIM 360 issues created where any design problems may exist.
Now I know what you are thinking…. I heard those tools were for Architects and Contractors. How can they help on a Civil 3D project?
In short they can provide tremendous value!! For starters, you can work on a Civil 3D project in the cloud. You can automate existing manual tasks. You can enhance productivity. And you can get additional visibility and verification in your projects.
To demonstrate this I have put together a presentation that walks through a "workflow" overview of what this design collaboration could look like.
Historically, BIM 360 files could only be shared with the circle of members invited to a project. Today, BIM 360 provides a new "Share via. Public Link" feature that makes it possible to share project files with virtually anyone! In today's installment we’ll learn how to share a file using a public link.
The public link feature is actually a new service that can be enabled for each BIM 360 project. Note that a Project Admin designation is required to activate the service. Once activated, all project members having (at minimum) a View+Download folder permission will be able to share files using a public link. This means that ANYONE, (even non-project members) can be allowed to download files from a BIM 360 project.
If you are interested, I've created a quick video that walks through everything...
Historically, Civil 3D projects have been created and managed on a local server. This setup continues to work well for teams that are all working under one roof. If, however a project team includes stakeholders working in another office, or another state, or even from home, the local server restriction makes it challenging for these workers to access project files and ensure everyone on the team is working from the current design.
Today, using BIM 360, Civil 3D projects can be hosted in the cloud allowing distributed teams to easily access and edit live models. In addition, cloud based projects are managed virtually the same as traditional projects hosted on a local server making it easy for users to acclimate to the new system.
That being said, this is a brand-new collaboration method for Civil 3D with rapidly unfolding workflows and functionality. If you are interested, I’ve created a series of videos to help you evaluate the solution in its current form and identify the best way to leverage this technology on your projects.
I've broken the recordings into seven topics. Total time commitment for all videos is approx. 45 min.
Today’s installment is all about making new connections. Specifically, connecting the worlds of Vault Professional and BIM 360 Docs. This is a long-awaited tool and has been requested since the retirement of Buzzsaw.
Using this tool, organizations using Vault Professional can more easily exchange files and collaborate with external stake holders. Additionally, the sharing of files can be configured such that it is almost completely automatic.
Click on the video below to see it works!
In the video, I spoke of the Autodesk Desktop Connector and was working under the assumption that is had previously been installed. If you are interested in learning more about Desktop Connector, you can find that information here: Autodesk Desktop Connector
Important design and construction decisions are often made in the field. Fortunately, BIM 360 makes it easy to review a project’s plan sheets and supporting files from anywhere using a smartphone or tablet. In today’s installment, we’ll take our first look at the BIM 360 mobile app.
The BIM 360 mobile app (available for iOS and Android devices) represents a “one-stop-shop” for accessing all BIM 360 projects on a mobile device. It includes many of the same features found in the browser-based version of BIM 360, allowing stakeholders to easily collaborate on projects even when out of the office. Using the BIM 360 mobile app, you can carry the current plan sheets (and supporting files) for ALL of your projects in the palm of your hand!
If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through some of the workflows made possible using the BIM 360 mobile app…
Large projects often involve many stakeholders and the exchange of countless files. Historically, project files (DWG, DGN, FBX, SHP, PDF, DOC, XLS, PPT, JPG, TIF, etc.) have been shared via email, FTP site or an online service like Dropbox or OneDrive. When files are sent or received through multiple channels, it becomes difficult to ensure everyone is working from the latest version. Having incoming and outgoing project files stored in multiple locations also complicates your ability to trace the history of what was sent, and by whom.
Fortunately, BIM 360 Docs makes it easy for all stakeholders to share project related files. It represents a single, easy to use platform (having unlimited storage) that can accommodate all of your file exchange needs, while maintaining a comprehensive cloud-based history of every file and every transaction.
In today’s installment, we’ll explore some of the file sharing capabilities of BIM 360 Docs. If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through the workflows…
As a project evolves, it will likely undergo some changes. Fortunately, using BIM 360 Docs, project stakeholders always have access to the latest design revisions. In addition, Docs will retain a complete history of every file version. Having this archive allows project members to easily view, download (or revert back to) prior versions if necessary. In today’s installment we’ll learn how BIM 360 Docs handles file versioning.
File versioning within Docs is completely transparent to the user. When a newer version of a file is uploaded, Docs simply adds the file to the project and updates its version "tag". (V1, V2, V3 etc.) When multiple versions of a file are present, they can be compared as an overlay (much like a light table) or by using a side-by-side view. By leveraging the comparison tools, project members can quickly review current files and verify changes. If you are interested, I’ve created a quick recording that demonstrates some file versioning workflows by uploading revised plan sheets to a BIM 360 project and then reviewing the changes.
