AEC Connection

Managing Civil 3D Projects in the Cloud - Pt 1 - Project Creation

Join us for our 30-minute workout webinars on managing Civil 3D projects in the cloud! Last week's session began our multipart series, where we introduced Autodesk's Construction Cloud platform. We covered creating new projects, uploading and viewing files, and accessing cloud content using a web browser or mobile device.
(Session recording below.)

In our upcoming session (Oct 12th), we'll learn how to control access to cloud projects by inviting members and assigning permissions. We'll also explore some initial collaborative workflows made possible by the cloud. If you are interested in attending the live sessions, please REGISTER HERE. We hope to see you there!

-Jeff

 

How Civil Projects Can Benefit from the Autodesk Docs Entitlement

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... 

-Jeff

 

Taking Advantage of Autodesk Docs on Your Next Civil Infrastructure Project

Register Here

Autodesk Docs represents a powerful cloud-based tool for managing design review.  Docs makes it possible to collaborate on plan sets with any stakeholder regardless of their location!  Easily create redline markups and assign tasks that are trackable to completion.  Automatically retain a copy of every document, transferred file, markup, issue, etc. to ensure the entire history of a project is maintained.  When in the field, use the provided mobile app to quickly access and review current plan sheets for ANY project.

Docs also allows Civil 3D surfaces to be shared with Revit while maintaining full fidelity and the ability to update as changes occur.  The best part about Docs is that it’s included with the AEC Collection so if you own an AEC Collection you HAVE Docs!  In our upcoming webinar, we will demonstrate several ways to take advantage of Docs on your next civil infrastructure project.

Register Here - to attend live on March 22 at 11 am PT/2 pm ET.
All who register will get access to the recording!

-Jeff

Sharing Civil 3D Surfaces with Revit using Autodesk Docs

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...

-Jeff

 

Using the BIM 360 Platform on a Civil 3D project

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.

Click on the video below to see how it works!

-Jerry

Share BIM 360 Files using a Public Link!

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...

-Jeff

 

Getting Started with Civil 3D Cloud Collaboration

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.

If you'd rather jump directly to a playlist, you can find it here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0okNBpTH7Qc&list=PLjsw5HrA4MXlwKmjikbVy32y5kh4-0NCY

-Jeff

 

Tool for Tuesday: Connecting Vault Pro & BIM 360

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

-Jerry

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