As I write this article the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and as a geek my thoughts are not of spring and spring break instead, I’m looking into the latest and most exciting tools in the Autodesk Construction Cloud. There are some pretty cool new features in the Autodesk Construction Cloud. I have highlighted a few of them in this space.
The Account Administration Portal has a few new changes that will help workflow for the Account Administrators:
All fields can be sorted in either ascending or descending order allowing easier access to projects, members, templates, and the library. The library tools included with the Account Administration portal will allow you to create templates from scratch or allow you to import a PDF to create your form template. The ability to import document templates has been added to the library as a result setting up Cost templates in the library can now be done at the account level and can be used as a template for all new projects. Sorting and template creation now flows into the account administrator workflow.
Project administrators now have access to the Bridge tool. Previously you could only share sheets within the same account or projects within the same account. In today’s remote work environment, it is required to work across multiple accounts. In the Project Administration Portal, the Bridge tool has been added. This new tool allows the user to set share files and directly link projects to move and share data easier. The Bridge keeps track of Incoming files, outgoing files, automations, and bridged projects. The project administrators have greater control over data in the project as a result.
Project Management at the Mobile level has been greatly enhanced allowing members to have greater access on mobile devices. Members can now edit general meeting information, add location data to RFI’s, and add watchers while creating submittal items and the ability to add bulk watchers. Cover pages can be added to submittal attachments by adding a blank page. Members can either upload the preferred cover page build a cover page with all the relevant submittal information. Once created, members can annotate and add their own stamps. In addition to sorting and filtering, members can now enable reference field as a column when viewing schedules.
In addition to adding the Bridge to the Autodesk DOCS/Document Management Module there are several timesaving tools added to the module:
1.Members now have the option to migrate their “For the Field” folders under “Project Files”. From there, they can perform regular folder operations, such as rename the folders, move them within the folder tree, assign any permissions, and delete folders.
2.Members can also perform this migration on the folder structure for Project Templates. 2D minimaps are available while navigating any 3D model that have been aligned. The “Everyone” user group, which allows the assigning of a folder permission to everyone on the project, is now assignable to any folder and with any folder permission level. Previously, it could only be used by the “For the Field” folder with the permissioned actions of “View” and “View + Download”. Now, members have the option to allow everyone on the project to have permission to specified folders.
3.Members can undo and redo single markup interactions on a sheet (on all platforms) or document (on web). This update does not include feature markups. A new “Description” column has been added to the Transmittal detail page. The value within the “Description” column highlights key information at the time of transmitting but will remain empty for transmittals created before this release. Web and mobile members can see several enhancements within the Calibration and Measurement tools, such as Rearrangement of initial calibration window (i.e., units, set size, precision), Commas supported as decimal separator, point line calibration adjustments on mobile devices. On a multi-page PDF in Files, customers can view, sort, and filter a list of all the Markups in the document. This allows customers to quickly look for and be directed to a specific markup, avoiding any manual searching. When viewing an exported PDF with markups, members can view which markups have links and click into those links. This allows members the ability to access important information directly from the PDF rather than do an extensive search on web. Members can now search by ID across all Issues. After selecting a PDF file to export markups onto, members on web now see two options when choosing to export markups onto a PDF file: “Single selection” and “Standard markups and hyperlinks”.
The following document management releases are exclusive to Autodesk Build:
1.Similar to the web functionality, members on mobile can view a 2D map of their model while they navigate in 3D. This 2D minimap appears at the top of your phone screen. Members can also move the blue dot on the 2D model to adjust their viewing on the 3D model.
2.Members can leverage their mobile device’s built-in gyroscope to experience an immersive interaction with their models while in the field. Members can utilize the up and down arrows to easily navigate between levels within their model. While viewing a 3D model on mobile, members can see a list display that highlights the properties (constraints, dimensions, etc.) within the model. While viewing a 3D model on mobile, members can collapse the joystick via the toggle button on the console menu (right-hand side of mobile screen). This enhancement allows members to maximize their viewing experience.
3.Members on web can now see two new checkboxes, “Include hyperlinks” and “Include Auto-callouts” on the sheet export configuration panel. From there, exported PDFs highlight any linked markups to simplify the process of accessing needed information.
Further build enhancements are as follows:
1.Four additional tags for wiring, lighting, insulation and heavy equipment are automatically applied to existing project photos as well as new photos uploaded into the gallery.
2.When creating a markup on a sheet, members can directly link an asset to the markup.
3. Autodesk Build can now integrate with Viewpoint Vista through Morpheus Technology Group.
The Insight module has additional partner cards added. The following partner cards have been added to the Card Library: SignOnSite, Billd, AnchoRock, Touchplan, eMOD, what3words, Tenna, Document Crunch, and Tread.
The Model Coordination module has added the following features:
1.Revit Issues Add-In Overview Panel
2.Above, Below, and Between Clash Tolerance
3. Opt Models Out of Automatic Clash Detection.
The Cost Management module has added the following features:
1.An optional setting called Project Process is available. It configures which components in Cost Management display and configures permission options based on selections. More details:
a.Project administrators control this within general settings in Cost Management.
b.By using Project Process, teams can enable a collaborative potential change order workflow. See this topic to learn more.
c.Individual tab deactivation is no longer managed in the ‘Tab names and order’ section of general settings. Instead, tab deactivation is controlled by selections in Project Process.
2. An optional collaborative potential change order workflow for upstream and downstream change orders is available as part of the new Project Process setting. With this workflow you can:
a. Work with your downstream collaborators on the PCO for acceptance of the proposed price on potential changes. Your suppliers can generate PCOs and review, accept, or reject proposed changes.
b. Send a PCO out to request pricing for a change order instead of using an RFQ.
c. Work with your upstream collaborators on PCOs instead of CORs for budget change requests. Submitted values show up as Pending Owner Changes even if a COR is not used.More details:
d. The feature can’t be turned on for projects with existing change orders.
e. A subscription is required to participate in the workflow.
3. A new collaborate permission level for owners. Owners with this permission can:
a. View details related only to their signed contract within the Main Contract table and flyout panel.
b. Upload documents into the Attachment section in the flyout panel.
Displayed links and the details of individual SOV items are not accessible for owners with this permission.
4. Downloadable templates will be coming soon. Excel document templates are now supported for the following cost management components:
a. Main Contract, Contract, Budget payment, and Cost payment
b. PCO, RFQ, OCO, RCO, and SCO
5. A more detailed error message to help you fix issues now displays when document templates with incorrect variables are uploaded.
6. Optimized file path length for Desktop connector users who run into the Windows 260-character file path limitation.
The Budget tool has added the following features:
1. When exporting a PDF/Excel Budget report in edit mode the system will only export currently visible columns.
2. When creating a contract schedule of value (SOV) items, the SOV ID now displays formatted the same as budget segment settings.
3. New ‘total’ values are available for custom column formulas, enabling calculations such as a line items % of total.
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- Total Original Budget
- Total Approved Owner Changes
- Total Presubmitted Owner Changes
- Total Submitted Owner Changes
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4. The formulas for each column in the budget or contract report are now displayed in the export. This solution provides better understanding of the information.
5. When you manually add new budgets, the name of the new budget item is populated automatically, based on the previously prepared budget code segments. To learn more about budget code segments, see the Budget Settings topic.
6. Added the ability to export a PDF or Excel Change Order Request report with the current view.
7. Now all main contract variables can be used in COR or OCO document templates.
8. Added the use of a document generation variable to select a part of a code.
For example, if the SCO codes are as follows:
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- Contract#SC-7461-001-001
- Contract#SC-7461-001-002
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and you only want the last three digits in the document, you could use {sco.number | slice:’-3′} or {sco.number | split:’-‘ | last}. As the result, you will get “001” and “002” in your generated document.
9. Quantity changes due to SCOs are now detailed in supplier contracts, so both the budget and cost payment applications display correct data.
Takeoff Module has new and enhanced product features:
1. IFC files are now supported in Autodesk Takeoff for quantification workflows.
2. Create, Update, and Delete endpoints for Settings, Classifications, and Packages are now available through API.
3. Use the symbol detection tool during takeoff to easily identify and bulk count symbols, saving time and minimizing manual quantification work.
I think that covers some of the new features available and I should be able to get back to my spring day and general geekiness.
