AEC Connection

Introducing the BIM 360 Mobile App

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…

-Jeff

 

Sharing Project Files using BIM 360 Docs

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…

-Jeff

Maintaining and Comparing File Versions using BIM 360 Docs

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.

-Jeff

Creating Markups using BIM 360 Docs

Sometimes, project issues require more detail than you can convey using a push pin and a description.  At times like this, BIM 360 Docs provides a way to create “graphical” descriptions.  I’m speaking of the markup feature.  Leveraging markups, we can easily illustrate ideas that would be challenging to describe by other means.

In today’s installment, we’ll use the markup feature (in conjunction with an issue) to dispatch a survey crew to collect additional topography adjacent to a project site.  If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through the workflow…

-Jeff

Creating and Managing Issues using BIM 360 Docs

As projects and designs evolve, they will no doubt require changes.  Fortunately, BIM 360 Docs makes it easy to assign those changes to the appropriate members of a project team.  It will also ensure that no work item goes unfinished, by tracking each issue through completion.  In today’s installment, we’ll learn how to use BIM 360 Docs to create and manage issues.

Generally speaking, issue creation is as easy as pressing “push pins” into a plan sheet where changes are needed.  Each pin contains a description of the change, the person it’s assigned to, and a due date.  As a courtesy, when an issue (or pin) is created, an email notification is sent automatically to the responsible party.  Changing an issue’s status will also change the pin color (and send additional notifications) ensuring that issues can be tracked “at a glance” and resolved as quickly as possible.

If you are interested, I’ve created a quick video below that walks through some sample workflows using issues…

-Jeff

Controlling Access to BIM 360 Docs

BIM 360 Docs makes it easy to prepare a project for collaboration.  Its intuitive controls for members and permissions ensures the right people have access to the right content at all times.  The collaborative process starts by sending “invitations” to all stakeholders who will actively participate in the project.  Once a new member is activated, the Project Admin grants access (and assigns permissions) to designated project folders.

In today’s installment, we’ll explore the process of adding members to a BIM 360 project.  We’ll also learn how to assign (and demonstrate the effect of) folder permissions.  If you are interested, I’ve created a pair of videos below that walk through everything…

#1 - Adding Members to a BIM 360 Project

#2 - Assigning BIM 360 Docs Folder Permissions

-Jeff

 

Getting Started Using BIM 360 Docs

Historically, project plan sheets have been printed as paper documents.  As projects grow, so does the volume of paper used to print them.  With each revision, (and stakeholder) the number of printed sheets needed for everyone to stay current becomes a significant challenge.  Some of the worst setbacks to projects have been caused by stakeholders designing (or worse yet building) from an outdated set of plans. 

Fortunately, BIM 360 Docs represents a cloud-based repository for project plan sheets and supporting files.  By making digital PDF plan sets available via. the cloud, BIM 360 Docs represents a “single source of truth”, ensuring all stakeholders are working from a current set of plans.  In addition, BIM 360 Docs eliminates the need to transport rolls of paper between the office and job site.  Just imagine being able to access (or review) any current plan set for any project using a mobile phone or tablet!

This is just one of the productivity gains you can expect from BIM 360 Docs.  If you would like to take Docs for a test drive, please take a look at my new “Getting up to speed with BIM 360 Docs” video series to help get you started.  I’ve included a link to the initial playlist below…  There’s more to come!

-Jeff