Discover the latest updates to Autodesk’s construction software

Our product team continues to pinpoint valuable ways to improve your favorite Autodesk products. I’m excited to share the launch of over 50 new feature releases and enhancements across Autodesk Construction Cloud products.

From creating higher quality designs to speeding up RFI workflows, the latest product updates within Autodesk Construction Cloud can be found below.

Jump to releases by product:

• • Autodesk Construction Cloud Unified Platform
  • Autodesk Build
  • Autodesk BIM Collaborate
  • Autodesk Takeoff
  • BuildingConnected
    • Bid Board Pro
  • BIM 360
  • Assemble

 

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Autodesk Construction Cloud Unified Platform

* = features on both Autodesk Construction Cloud unified platform & BIM 360

Dashboards | Additional Partner Cards

Both Autodesk Construction Cloud Unified Platform and BIM 360 users now see new partner cards for Aespada, DAQS.io, Embneusys, Geometrid, Oculo, Pronovos, Safe Site Check In, Structshare, Viact.ai, and WakeCap.

Dashboards | Send Dashboard as Reports*

Both Autodesk Construction Cloud unified platform and BIM 360 users can now share data from a dashboard within Insight as a PDF report to any external team members. A great example of this is if a general contractor wanted to share a dashboard view with an owner who did not have an account. This broadens visibility into project data and allows teams to create custom dashboards and easily share relevant views. Note: PDF reports of dashboards do not include partner cards in this initial release.

Dashboards | Unified Account Level UI Enhancements

From within the Executive Overview dashboards within Insight, both Autodesk Construction Cloud unified platform and BIM 360 users now see a consistent UI to help indicate that all projects shown on this overview list are pulled from projects across both BIM 360 and ACC. This ensures that executives see a holistic view of all projects, regardless of the product used, and help improve the migration experience.

Desktop Connector | Non-Conforming File Validation*

Autodesk Construction Cloud unified platform and BIM 360 users now have the ability to select specific files, and put them through the naming validation tool to rename them in order to meet the project’s naming standard in Docs.

Desktop Connector | Right-click to Rename Files*

For any file, a user be able to right click and rename a file from Desktop Connector without needing to navigate to Docs in the web browser.

Files | Import/Export of Naming Standard*

As a project admin setting up the naming standard on a project, the admin now have the option to export a .xlsx template. They can also make adjustments to the naming standard attributes in MS Excel for ease of use and import to a single project or multiple projects.

Files | Improvements to ISE File & Folder Operations*

Autodesk Construction Cloud unified platform and BIM 360 users can now take advantage of ISO naming standards validation when moving or copying files from enforced to enforced folders​ and when making a file “current”​. Additionally, users can now have their search results be a method to organize files for selection to move or copy to an enforced folder.

Files | Open and Edit DWG with AutoCAD (web app)

From within Files, users can now right click on a .dwg file type to open the drawing within the AutoCAD web app, exposing the use of native AutoCAD tools (viewing and editing). NOTE: Once the file is clicked, a new tab is opened, exposing the AutoCAD web interface.

Library | Search & Sort

There is a new search bar as well as the option to sort within the account level library in the Autodesk Construction Cloud unified platform. This makes it easier to find library components so that teams can use consistent practices and drive standardization across all projects.

Reports | Issue Summary & Issue Detail Filter by Custom Attribute

Autodesk Construction Cloud unified platform users can now filter both the Issue Summary and Issue Detail reports by any custom attribute. This allows teams to run more specific reports that are catered to the way individual companies track issues.

Reports | Logo Management

Project Admins can now customize the logo that shows up on reports by either selecting the account logo or adding in a net new logo. This allows teams to improve the branding of their reports and provide clarity of ownership when sharing reports externally.

Reviews | Add Custom Attributes to Workflows*

The project admin can now add custom attributes to a workflow so that each review initiated has the custom attribute columns for the approve to complete as needed. Note: For BIM 360 users, only projects created after Mar 23, 2021 will have this feature.

 

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Autodesk Build

** = features in both Autodesk Build & BIM 360
*** = features in both Autodesk Build & PlanGrid
**** = Autodesk Docs feature (available across all unified products)
***** = features in both Autodesk Build and Autodesk BIM Collaborate
Note: This list is alphabetical. Please see this blog post for Autodesk Build updates organized by workflow.

Assets | Bulk Edits on Web & Mobile

Within Autodesk Build or the PlanGrid Build mobile app, teams can now make bulk edits to a selected group of assets by simply scanning barcodes, QR codes, or NFC tags in sequence. This allows teams to better standardize information and make updates faster.

Assets | NFC Support

In addition to using barcode / QR code scanning within the Assets tool of Autodesk Build, users can now use Near Field Communication technology to pull up detailed asset information. This saves teams time since they can simply set a device within range of the asset, and all asset related information stored within the PlanGrid Build mobile app will instantly appear.

Assets | RFI References

Within the Assets tool flyout panel, teams now see an added reference option for RFI’s. This means that users can link a specific asset to an RFI, connecting information and making it more accessible throughout both the assets and RFI workflow. Note: Mobile functionality will come by the end of the month.

Assets | Schedule References

Within the Assets tool flyout panel, teams now see an added reference option for Schedule. This means that users can link a specific asset to schedule item which gives visibility into where an asset status is in relation to the broader project schedule. Having this level of visibility helps teams better plan and forecast dates. Note: Mobile functionality will come by the end of the month.

Bridge | Automatic Sheet Sharing

As a follow up to the ability to share sheets across accounts (released in July 2021), team members can now specify certain sheets that they are sharing to automatically update when a new version is published. This ensures teams, even if they are from different companies or using different accounts, are always looking at the most up to date sheet information. NOTE: We are currently working on building up the feature functionality of the Bridge tool. Please watch for more enhancements to Bridge in future releases.

Bridge | Import Functionality

Within the ‘Incoming’ tab of Bridge, Autodesk Build users see a new option to ‘Import’ and select sheets from other projects, in which they are also a member, to add to their current project. This improves cross-team and cross-project collaboration, and gives users the ability to surface relevant information to their teams. NOTE: We are currently working on building up the feature functionality of the Bridge tool. Please watch for more enhancements to Bridge in future releases.

Cost Management | Enhanced Document Review Functionality**

Autodesk Build and BIM 360 Cost Management users can open and edit Microsoft Word documents online directly from the document package section within the items details flyout panel, enhancing and accelerating the document review processes.

Cost Management | Expense Photo References

Autodesk Build Cost Management users can now add photo references (e.g., delivery tickets, receipts, etc.) to expenses, ensuring accounting has what they need to process payments.

Cost Management | Home Page**

Autodesk Build and BIM 360 Cost Management users now have access to a new Home Page within Cost Management, displaying an aggregated calendar view of important dates across the system for increased visibility.

Cost Management | Issue to Potential Change Order

Expanding on the ability to create a Potential Change Order (PCO) from an RFI or Submittal Item, Autodesk Build Cost Management users can generate a PCO directly from Issue. Continuing to help teams capture the origin of change orders.

Data Connector | Photos Data

Autodesk Build users can now extract Photos data using the Data Connector. This is especially important to teams tracking quality and safety and wanting to see details around things like how many photos have been captured.

Data Connector | Progress Tracking Data

Autodesk Build users can now extract Progress Tracking data using the Data Connector. This gives teams the ability to create custom dashboards around the use of Progress Tracking and further analyze installation progress of objects on a project using other BI tools.

Handover | Files & Issues in As Built Export

Autodesk Build users can now export Files and Issues data as a part of the As Built Export tool. This adds to the RFI, Submittals, and Sheets download that was currently available and further improves the handover process by saving time, enhancing documentation accuracy, and improving owner satisfaction. Note: Files data will not be available until the end of November.

Issues | Add reference to submittals, forms, PCOs

In addition to the existing ability to link photos, files, RFIs and assets, user can now also add a reference to submittals, forms and PCOs, directly from the issue. This way, teams ensure even more of the issue’s context gets captured.

Meetings | Upload Attachments Directly from Computer*****

Users can upload and remove attachments directly from their PC. Attachments can be added at a meeting or at an item level. This ensures up-to-date information is shared and reviewed during the meeting.

RFIs | Roles and Companies as Users

Within each RFI, all roles and companies can now be specified as a watcher or co-reviewer. This release improves ease of use when creating, editing, or assigning RFIs.

RFIs | Short RFI Creation on Mobile

Users have the option to create an RFI by simply filling out the information for three fields: RFI title, question, and photos. This feature allows users to save time on RFI creation in the field.

RFIs | Step Back From Manager to Subcontractor

This feature allows RFI managers to request additional information from subcontractors by sending the RFI back to the sub. This release helps to speed up the RFI workflow by making sure necessary changes are made in a timely manner.

Schedule | Add Cost reference

Users can reference cost items from the cost management tool to an activity in schedule.

Schedule | Enhanced iOS support

iOS users can filter schedule information by Activity codes/ Outline codes imported from the schedule authoring tools. Allowing teams to find the right information, faster.

Schedule | Suggestions [coming soon]

Users with the right permissions can now submit an update suggestion on an activity to the schedule manager, improving communication across stakeholders. The schedule managers can review, approve or reject the suggestions. The schedule manager must update the master schedule in the schedule authoring tool to ensure the latest schedule is imported into Autodesk Build.

Submittals | Import Enhancements

During the upload process, Autodesk Build users get a new processing loader which can be referred to as a progress bar. This release supports a friendlier and more transparent import process.

Submittals | Project Home Support on Mobile

Users can now view a submittals work status card on iOS & Android. This allows access to critical and actionable information faster from any device at any time.

Submittals | Report Enhancements

From the Submittal tool, users can generate both the detail and summary reports, and have the option to include specific submittal items when exporting the report. Report enhancements now also include a single item report that can be generated from the action menu. Users can also copy a public link to share the report from the panel once the report has been generated. These enhancements allow customers to have more flexibility when exporting submittal reports.

Submittals | Review & Annotate PDF Attachments

Autodesk Build users now can view and annotate submittals, such as adding an approval stamp (image stamp), text, arrow, cloud, highlighter and various shapes directly in Autodesk Build. This enables a faster and more efficient review process.

Submittals | Upload Attachments from Files or from Computer

Autodesk Build users can select up to 10 existing files from Autodesk Docs and attach it to the specific submittal item. Now, Document Management and Project Management workflows are even more connected.

Learn more about this month’s product releases specific to Autodesk Build in this blog post.

 

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Autodesk BIM Collaborate

****** = features in both Autodesk BIM Collaborate and BIM 360

Change Analysis | Easier navigation

Design changes are now more easily managed and analyzed with a new experience that allows users to select the models they want to compare and quickly apply filters by discipline, category or modification type (shape, property, transform). Teams now have more control over the changes they decide to focus on and how those changes affect them.

Change Analysis | Review of non-consecutive designs

Previously, architects and engineers who review design changes before consuming them could only review the differences between the new design and the last design. Now, any design from the past can be reviewed alongside the latest.

Go Online | Revit Issues Add-In******

Architects, engineers, and BIM managers using Revit can immediately access issues, clash information, and models from cloud applications like Autodesk BIM Collaborate or Autodesk Docs. When an issue gets resolved in Revit, designers can use this quick link to access related files or check their work against other models using the clash matrix—making it easier to create high quality designs.

Model Coordination | Advanced grouping******

Group clash results with a greater level of granularity with advanced grouping capabilities. Now, clashes can be grouped by any property of a clashing object. Choose standard properties or custom ones to group and organize clashes for faster clearing and resolution.

Model Coordination | IFC, NWC, and VUE File Support******

With the added support of NWC and VUE files and extended support for IFC files for automatic clash detection or model aggregation, Autodesk BIM Collaborate offers greater flexibility for BIM managers, design teams, and trade partners to engage in model coordination.

 

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Autodesk Takeoff

Snapshots

Autodesk Takeoff users can preserve critical information including sheets and/or models along with associated takeoffs and inventory within a project at a given point in time. Users can access saved snapshots to view prior versions of takeoffs and inventory for a specific milestone or other key events. These stored references provide estimators confidence in their work by citing key information critical to the takeoff detail.

Flexible Output for Takeoff Types

Users can assign a code from both primary and secondary classification system to any output (primary or unlimited “additional” outputs) when creating takeoff types. The classification field is now optional, allowing estimators to create takeoffs faster when needed. The outputs not classified are automatically grouped as “unassigned” to make it easier for users to track and reassign later if needed. Each output can be assigned up to 2 classification codes—one from each classification system uploaded.

Inventory Enhancement

Users can view information from both primary and secondary classifications at the same time in the inventory panel. Multiple outputs can be seen together, grouped by takeoff type, when appropriate. A new grouping has been created in the inventory for “unassigned” outputs. Location information is also surfaced in the inventory panel.

Locations Support

Users can assign takeoffs to specific locations created in the “Project Admin” tool so quantities can be assigned accordingly. Whether you are allocating quantities by Floors, Levels, Phases or Zones, locations are a great way to organize your takeoff inventory.

 

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BuildingConnected

Bid Board Pro

Opportunity Rules

Users can create opportunity rules (“if/then” statements) to help organize opportunities and filter out junk invites by either applying tags or removing followers. This helps to streamline the Bid Board experience and remove unwanted invites automatically.

 

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BIM 360

 

****** = features in both Autodesk BIM Collaborate and BIM 360

Daily Logs | XLS Report from Field Management******

BIM 360 users can now export the activity log of any daily log. The export includes timestamp, user, activity and before after status which makes it a full audit trail useful in case any disputes arise.

Dashboards | Permission Changes******

BIM 360 users can now control permission to view certain dashboards within BIM 360. This helps drive focus for team members and eliminate unnecessary dashboard views. Additionally, it gives more control to Project or Account Admins to filter only relevant information to team members. For more information view the FAQ on our Help Site.

 

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Assemble

Expanded Support for Special Characters

Assemble has expanded support for Unicode characters for property names and values. Assemble users can now publish model properties names and values with expanded characters from desktop tools as well as Revit models from BIM 360 and Autodesk Docs. Users are also able to sync property values with expanded characters back to Revit.

Model Publishing Improvements

Continuing to build upon the recent enhancement of publishing Revit models from BIM 360 and Autodesk Docs to Assemble without the need of the  Revit add-in, Assemble now supports importing Revit Cloud Workshare models as part of the cloud publishing workflow. By leveraging the common data environment, BIM/VDC Managers can ensure that everyone is working from the latest project documents.

 

Get the latest Autodesk Construction Cloud product updates

 

The post 50+ New Product Updates for Autodesk Construction Cloud appeared first on Digital Builder.

It’s both frustrating and costly for contractors when a construction project is postponed.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.clarkeconstructioncreations.com/?p=1356

In a perfect world, a contract should include a clear set of instructions that conveys well-defined expectations to all parties concerned. In reality, it’s often a monster document packed full of legalese that can be difficult to understand. This episode of Autodesk’s Digital Builder podcast addresses the most common challenges with contracts and how simple adjustments can ensure you fully understand what you’re signing. And of course, we cover steps to make sure you’re getting paid on time.

 

Listen to the episode now

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and anywhere else you get your podcasts.

 

On this podcast episode

Today’s guest, Karalynn Cromeens, Owner & Managing Partner at The Cromeens Law Firm, joins the show to share the steps everyone can take to make contracts more straightforward and less contentious.

We discuss:

• The current state of construction contracts
• The difference between secured and unsecured debts
• How to protect yourself when it comes to contracting and payment terms
• Best practices for handling change orders
• Construction technology and the future of contracting and payments

A contract should really be a tool to help everyone in the construction industry; it doesn’t have to be this monster document that you just hold your nose, sign, and hope for the best.” — Karalynn Cromeens

 

4 tips for navigating contracts and getting paid on time

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1. Understand the state of contracts and payment terms in construction

The current state of contracts and payment terms in construction leaves a lot to be desired, says Karalynn.

For starters, construction contracts have become increasingly complex, making it hard for all parties to get on the same page.

“The contract is supposed to be a clear set of instructions just like plans and specs, but it becomes this monster document that nobody understands and it’s not conveying expectations clearly.”

—Karalynn Cromeens, The Cromeens Law Firm

Karalynn also brought up the tendency of the industry to pass liability down the chain when drawing up contracts. Owners pass on certain risks (contractually) to general contractors, who may do the same thing when hiring specialty contractors.

These things are common in the AEC industry, particularly since construction professionals want to protect themselves when possible. However, these practices can create rifts in relationships and result in contentious situations.

For this reason, construction professionals must find better ways to craft and negotiate agreements. This starts with using contracts that people can easily comprehend.

“Let’s have a contract and ensure that everybody knows what it says,” says Karalynn.

She recalls her experience speaking with a fellow attorney who had to go through a 129-page subcontract that could have been cut down to ten pages.

“It’s all repetitive, it’s all legalese and there’s no reason for it. The contract should be a tool to help everyone in the construction industry understand the project’s requirements, deadlines, and terms. It doesn’t have to be this monster document that you just have to hold your nose and sign, then hope for the best.”

Karalynn also emphasizes the importance of negotiating who takes on certain risks and liabilities. “I’m not saying that the subs don’t take any liability or the general contractor doesn’t take any liability from the owner; I’m saying let’s negotiate. Let’s meet in the middle. Which is what it’s supposed to be.”

Taking these steps, states Karalynn, helps parties negotiate more equitable contracts and forge better relationships—something that’s crucial, especially since construction is such a relationship-centric industry.

 

2. Make sense of your contracts

The shifting of risk and liabilities is a very common practice when drafting contracts. After all, everyone is trying to protect themselves. That said, contracting can be done fairly so that relationships aren’t taken advantage of, and risk isn’t pushed downstream.

As the host of “Quit Getting Screwed,” a podcast that focuses on helping contractors build better businesses, Karalynn is well-versed in construction contracts and she offers valuable advice to help contractors understand the agreements that they’re signing.

Know the different types of contracts

There are different types of contracts drawn up between owners, general contractors, and specialty contractors. According to Karalynn, contractors must understand these various documents and how they relate to each party.

First, there’s the prime contract, which is the agreement that sets the terms between the owner and GC. The GC then hires contractors, which is where the subcontractor agreement comes into play.

This subcontractor agreement often “relegates the terms of the prime contract,” says Karalynn.

“What has happened and what has been happening as long as I’ve been reading subcontracts is on the first page of the subcontract, there’s a line that incorporates the terms of the prime contract. So these subcontractors, specialty contractors, or trade contractors are going to be held responsible and liable to the terms of the prime contract.”

The issue, she says, is that subcontractors often don’t see the prime contract so they don’t know what the document says and they’re unable to negotiate its terms.

Karalynn says it’s important for subcontractors to get ahold of the prime contract so they can understand exactly what they’re agreeing to.

Another common type of agreement is the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract.

“What this tries to do is shift the risk of material price increases to the general contractor, and then from the general to the subs.”

The GMP contract can cause challenges if it doesn’t allow contractors to increase what they’re charging when material costs rise. For this reason, contractors need to be careful with the GMP agreement and negotiate terms to protect themselves.

Be aware of the “pay when paid” clause

Karalynn recommends being mindful of the “pay when paid” clause, which essentially means subcontractors won’t get paid until the GC is paid by the owner.

“So if you’re a subcontractor and you do the best outstanding job in the whole world and the GC tells you what a great job you did… That by itself is not enough to get paid if you have a ‘pay when paid clause’. You are relying on something to happen that you have no control over.”

She continues, “the owners [have] to pay the general contractor before the general [contractors have] the obligation to pay you, the sub. So really, if you sign a subcontract with a ‘pay when paid’ clause and you don’t negotiate, you should really have enough cash on hand to float that whole contract amount just in case.”

In these instances, you should negotiate and try to split the risk, says Karalynn.

“You can say, ‘If the GC is not paid by the owner within 30 days and it’s not my fault, you’ll pay me 50% of the payout. At least I can pay for my guys and I can make it a little longer without getting paid.’”

—Karalynn Cromeens, The Cromeens Law Firm

 

3. Learn how credit works in construction

The construction industry runs on credit. Owners often take out loans to fund projects, and they are extended credit to be able to do that. A similar thing happens with subcontractors, especially those working with a “pay when paid” clause.

As Karalynn puts it, “subcontractors and material suppliers supply the labor, supply the material and wait to get paid. And that is credit. You are owed a debt. So, if you work and wait to get paid you have extended credit.”

To ensure that you get paid, you need to understand the difference between unsecured and secured credit. Unsecured credit means the debt is not tied to any collateral. You can collect on the debt by taking things to court, obtaining a judgment, and finding assets to collect the amount owed.

Secured credit, on the other hand, is backed by collateral. A home mortgage is a common example of secured debt. Mortgage companies let buyers obtain a loan to purchase a house, and they hold the property as collateral.

“A mechanic’s lien works the same way,” says Karalynn. “If you do it right in your state and you file it on a project, you are now a secured creditor. The amount that you’re owed for labor and materials is secured by the property that you supplied them to.”

She adds, “You still have your unsecured debt claim against the GC or whoever hired you, but now you have a security interest in the property to the extent that you’re owed money for labor and materials supplied.”

 

4. Ensure you’ll be paid on time

While laws vary from one state to the next, there are a number of universal tips that you can implement to negotiate contracts and ensure you get paid on time. Here are Karalynn’s top recommendations.

Don’t just sign a contract—make sure you understand it

Even if you don’t want to negotiate, Karalynn says it’s worth having an attorney or legal professional break down what the contract means. “That way, you know what you’re agreeing to and you know what’s expected.”

At the very least, you must “understand what you’re agreeing to, and then you can go from there,” says Karalynn.

She continues, “Please, don’t just sign the contract. From my experience, the subcontract that comes over is the first offer. It is like paying the sticker price for a car. No one does that. And I think part of why subcontracts are in the state that they are in now, is that attorneys draft things that are the best for their client thinking that there’s going to be a negotiation. But subs were so afraid of not getting the work that they just signed the contracts, and now there’s a standard out there that’s one-sided.”

Get your change order costs covered

Karalynn says subcontractors must understand the change order provision in their contract and then negotiate before signing.

“What I like to do in my contracts is, if we can’t agree on a price, we’ll do costs plus a percentage—e.g., 15%, 10%, or whatever is agreed upon. That way, we don’t have this long, drawn-out negotiation.”

—Karalynn Cromeens, The Cromeens Law Firm

“What I like to do in my contracts is, if we can’t agree on a price, we’ll do costs plus a percentage—e.g., 15%, 10%, or whatever is agreed upon. That way, we don’t have this long, drawn-out negotiation. We just build in, ‘Okay. I’m going to give you a price. If you don’t like it, here’s the alternative.’”

Another tip? Before doing the work, have the actual change order form drafted and ensure that the costs for the work are outlined clearly. You also need to assure that all parties have signed it before working on the changes.

“Where most people get into trouble is that they don’t get it signed or they submit it after they do the work. When that happens, you’re just in somebody’s good graces to sign it for you because you’re really not going to get paid for that extra work if it’s not on a written change order,” says Karalynn.

Account for market volatility

With material prices being so volatile right now, Karalynn says contractors and subcontractors need to account for increases in material and labor costs.

According to her, “you need to put on there that if the material prices escalate more than 2% or 3%, you’re going to be able to change your bid for that.”

“I also have guys that are putting shorter timelines on their bid—like 30 or 60 days—and if it’s not accepted by then, the bid is withdrawn. That’s just because the market is so volatile right now.”

Do an itemized bid

Always do an itemized bid, advises Karalynn. “You don’t want to just bid the whole scope and miss something and then you’re on the hook to do it. Because once you put a bid out there into the world, it is an offer that can be accepted. And once it’s accepted, you’re held liable to those terms.”

Another thing to keep in mind is that your bid can be different from the actual scope of the project. You need to remember that you’re not hired to do your bid, you’re hired to do the scope.

As Karalynn points out, “your bid no longer describes the work you were hired to do. The scope attached to the contract does. If those two things are different, you’re still held to the scope. So one of the things I tell my contractors is to read the scope as if it were a new project and make sure you get the same price.”

Utilize technology to save on attorney fees

Karalynn is all for using technology to help contractors put together contracts and make sure they get paid.

“There are so many great platforms out there that allow you to do everything electronically. A lot of times, you don’t get paid on time because not everything is in there or it’s not submitted correctly so that pushes you back another month. Technology helps eliminate all that. It has everything all in one place.”

Karalynn adds that technology not only helps attorneys do their jobs more efficiently, it could even lower your legal bills.

“I appreciate it so much as a lawyer that I don’t have to go through banker boxes looking for all the paper documents that go with a particular job. If I’m looking for something, I can search by keyword. It saves you so much in attorneys fees too, because I don’t have to spend time searching.”

 

Final words on contracts and timely payments

Navigating the realm of construction contracts, costs, and risks can be tricky, but understanding these things is key to getting paid on time. Before entering into an agreement, be sure to read and fully understand the terms of the contract, so you can negotiate accordingly.

Doing that is no easy task, which is why Karalynn says it’s extremely helpful to have “an attorney that’s a phone call away.”

“I don’t think people realize how much legal crosses over into the construction world. And often, you need somebody that’s going to answer the phone right away. You can’t wait two days, you can’t wait a week to get an answer. I think an attorney on call that is familiar with construction is a priceless tool in your toolbox.”

 

New podcast episode every two weeks

Autodesk’s Digital Builder podcast is hosted by me, Eric Thomas. New episodes go live every two weeks.

If you need to learn additional contracting and negotiation tactics, catch the full podcast episode of Digital Builder to hear more from Karalynn.

Listen to the Digital Builder Podcast on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher
• Google Podcasts
• or wherever you listen to podcasts

The post Digital Builder Podcast Ep 22: How Specialty Contractors Can Navigate Contracts & Get Paid On Time appeared first on Digital Builder.

In case you missed our 2021 EMEA Summit, here are some highlights; and you can still watch the sessions on-demand!

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.clarkeconstructioncreations.com/?p=1331

A look at some of the top stories in construction in October, including labor, material and supply chain challenges and companies rewarding workers

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.clarkeconstructioncreations.com/?p=1310

The name behind countless successful electrical and mechanical infrastructure designs of building projects in Turkey and across the globe, Anel Group stands out with its expertise in BIM (Building Information Modeling). The organisation uses Autodesk Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) collection including the Autodesk’s Construction Cloud platform. These include an integrated BIM toolkit, BIM 360 Field and Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro cloud services, with the aim to support Anel achieving their global goals that require high efficiency, remote collaboration and coordination capabilities.

 

Passion for implementing complex projects with an environmental approach

Anel Group’s journey began with the establishment of Anel Elektrik in 1986 by Electrical Engineer Rıdvan Çelikel. Established 35 years ago, the company is transforming into a 2,000 people strong group of companies that operates in the fields of panel production, electrical and electronic systems of ships, renewable energy, recycling and operational maintenance, as well as electrical and mechanical contracting.

Since its inception, the company has successfully delivered more than 200 projects spanning a total area of over 13 million square meters in 14 countries across three continents. In addition to its ongoing MEP operations in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), the UK, the Netherlands, Turkey and Azerbaijan, the company is also engaged in operational maintenance services, low voltage panel production, electric and electronic systems of ships (defence industry) and recycling.

Anel Group Tender and Procurement Director K. Serkan Kılıç, who is also an Electrical Engineer, said, “We are a team striving to deliver solutions for the world we dream of” and added: “A single structure has the power to make a big difference in the world: A bridge connecting two continents, an airport that makes the world feel a lot smaller than it is, a hospital that saves lives… We can list a myriad of examples from world history.”

Emphasising that the success of a building project depends on the ability of combining engineering skills from different disciplines in harmony, Kılıç said, “We leverage our engineering skills in designing the electrical and mechanical aspects of a building. We are passionate about realizing large-scale and complex projects in different regions of the world. With a view to contributing to an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable world, we combine our engineering and technology capabilities with our strategic skills and take innovative initiatives.”

“We leverage our engineering power to create solutions and aim to use cutting-edge technologies that we could benefit from the most. Especially in a two-year retrospect, Autodesk AEC Collection and Autodesk Construction Cloud’s solutions have helped us immensely as we seized opportunities around the globe.” —Serkan Kılıç, Tender and Purchasing Director, Anel Group

 

Engineering strength powered by technology

Autodesk’s AEC Collection as well as their Construction Cloud forms the technology backbone that supports Anel Group’s engineering strength and strategic capabilities. This solution package, which includes an integrated BIM toolkit and is designed for the building industry, has also played a pivotal role in Anel Group’s international expansion efforts since 2016.

Anel Group BIM Manager and Mechanical Engineer Ümit Balaban has led the establishment of the BIM infrastructure and the introduction of BIM processes across Anel Group. He said, “The BIM processes need continuous improving to keep up with the ever-evolving technologies and engineering industry.” He is responsible for managing the compliance of the projects undertaken by the company with the BIM processes and provides support to all BIM managers assigned to the projects. He is also the founder of the BIMgenius Community, a not-for-profit made up of professionals who have come together to collaborate to support the digitalization of the architecture, engineering and construction industries.

The Anel Group team can manage electrical and mechanical projects via the AEC Collection in alignment with BIM processes, starting from the tender phase, all the way to the design implementation and delivery phases via the Autodesk Construction Cloud. Anel Group, which started using BIM 360 Field, BIM 360 Docs and made it its primary application following the increasing need for working remotely due to the pandemic, leverages the advantages of savings and efficiency of cloud services in field monitoring and management, documentation management, remote collaboration and coordination activities.

 

Anel Group’s BIM Journey: Qatar Metro Red Line South Project

Pointing out that Anel Group had reached a significantly high level in terms of technology in the last five years, BIM Manager Ümit Balaban said, “The company’s progress in its ERP infrastructure, communication infrastructure and BIM infrastructure sets an example for digitalisation in its area of operation.”

Driven by global goals, Anel Group operates as an electrical and mechanical contracting company undertaking complex projects. Undertaking a BIM-managed metro project in Qatar in 2016, the company took action to create a structure that could support all projects under a BIM umbrella in the future. Senior management was aware of the importance of digitizing and implementing BIM processes in line with their goals.

“The approach we embraced to address this issue is a pioneering one within our area of operation,” said Ümit Balaban. “Our initial move was to create a BIM Commission that would include representatives from all departments. Thus, we were able to promote an awareness on BIM processes across the entire organization. At periodic meetings, we determined what we could improve in BIM processes and set our standards.”

“70% of the projects we take part in are managed with the BIM infrastructure and all of them are ongoing projects abroad. It was the efficiency boost and savings opportunities of Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro and BIM 360 Docs that has enabled us to achieve this rate in the last two years.” —Ümit Balaban, BIM Manager/Mechanical Engineer, Anel Group

 

Ongoing progress with continuous improvements

The team responsible for the metro project in Qatar had BIM managers on board. Their feedback helped the commission further improve the processes.

Ümit Balaban said, “During the course of this project, we have developed solutions addressing several questions such as how to make cost estimates and measurements, how to transform existing legacy standards within models, how to align operation and maintenance activities with this new structure.”

In addition to the company that manages electrical and mechanical projects, Anel Doğa and Anel Marin are also Anel Group companies. Active since 2003, Anel Doğa was established as the first and only electronic waste recycling plant in Turkey. Anel Marin, on the other hand, has been providing a wide range of services to the shipbuilding industry, including concept and configuration design, equipment, project management and consultancy, manufacture of panels and control consoles, design and manufacture of special military systems, system testing and commissioning, maintenance-repair activities, since 2005. “The know-how and experience of these two companies enable us to broaden our horizon as well as improving our BIM processes,” added Ümit Balaban.

 

Piloting Autodesk BIM 360 Glue and BIM 360 Field for the metro project in Qatar

In addition to the numerous BIM-aligned projects that Anel Group has completed abroad, its ongoing projects include Amsterdam Schiphol Airport New Pier in the Netherlands, the University College London Hospital Proton Therapy Center in the UK, Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminal Building and Dubai – I (Bluewaters) Terminal Building in the UAE, Semaisma Road and Infrastructure Work in Qatar, Lusail Katara Hotel and Lusail Plaza Towers projects.

BIM managers supervise each project and receive support from the head office in Istanbul. Ümit Balaban stated, “During the pandemic, when we could not visit the project locations, we started to transform our head office in Istanbul into a main design office. We started using Autodesk Construction Cloud’s BIM 360 Docs solution in 2019, and it has become our primary platform following the pandemic.”

The metro project launched in Qatar was considered a pilot. First, two tablet computers were purchased. They tested ways through which they could communicate with the field via BIM 360 Field & Glue mobile apps using tablets, monitor man/hour, and devise quality control lists from a small office located at one of the emergency exits on the metro line. Balaban also added, “With a very modest investment, we accumulated valuable know-how and experience even during the pilot phase.” 

 

Know-how and experience shift from being individual assets to being corporate value

“Our BIM approach and the use of Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro enabled us to transform know-how and experience from being individual-centric to being corporate assets,” noted Balaban.

Now, it is possible to easily access to and align our activities with all BIM processes and standards thanks to the document management features on Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro. Even if any BIM manager leaves a project, the successors are quickly onboarded to continue working with the same standards. The BIM platform offers a structure that allows corporate memory creation as well as know-how and experience retention.

 

Contribution of BIM expertise to global business opportunities

As a publicly traded company, Anel Group differentiates itself from its competitors with its transparent structure. BIM processes can help companies with transparent management to achieve significantly successful results. The fact that coding and drawing standards serving global efficiency, such as equipment order codes, have been established within Anel Group, can be cited among the outcomes of transitioning to BIM processes.

Ümit Balaban said, “This is a perpetual process that is an absolute necessity for development. If a project necessitates BIM by design and you do not have your own corporate structure to accommodate it, you can only achieve partial success and will have to deal with low efficiency. Our expertise in this field positions us well to be commissioned by major Turkish and foreign contractors that have a good command of BIM processes.

70% of the projects we take part in are managed with the BIM infrastructure and all of them are ongoing projects abroad. It was the efficiency boost and savings opportunities of Autodesk’s BIM Collaborate that has enabled us to achieve this rate in the last two years.”

 

Autodesk’s BIM Collaborate Pro for the future

Ümit Balaban said, “Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro, which we have used since 2019, is our main application. Firstly, we used BIM 360 Build to track the progress of the field, then utilized the quality checklists. Afterwards, we switched to BIM Collaborate Pro to rid ourselves of the labor and cost burden of installing a Revit Server on-site. This move provided us with a great advantage in design budgets.”

Balaban also added, “This approach delivered significant benefits during the University College London Hospital Proton Therapy Centerproject in the UK. We ensured that the project was delivered with an asset model created,” and noted that the deliveries of the ongoing construction projects in Qatar would also be made with asset models.

Balaban said, “Thanks to the coding standards we introduced with BIM, we integrated this model, which was often overlooked by employers, leading to a costly outcome, into our processes. Seeing the cause-and-effect relationship in these projects first hand, we have achieved a highly significant level of company-wide adoption of the BIM processes.”

 

Productivity boost driven by collaboration and coordination

The document management features of Autodesk BIM 360 Docs further consolidates collaboration and coordination capabilities while also ensuring efficient use of teams.

Ümit Balaban said, “We used the Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro approach in nearly all the stages of our airport project in the Netherlands. We use the Review Process feature of Autodesk BIM 360 Docs very effectively. With the Review & Approval feature, you can track all the steps and tasks of a project on an individual basis. It ensures transparency in every step. Engineers, who used to only look at the survey of the sheets, have to look more carefully at the label within the sheets and the dimensions of the channels and really focus. User experience is really evolving. It is safe to say that this a true evolutionary process for the construction industry.”

With the integration of Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro into the business intelligence platform PowerBI, it is also possible to turn the results into charts and present them to the top management.

 

Saving time, paper and labour costs

Anel Group ensured that sheet revision notes were recorded on Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro. Draftspeople began to read those notes through Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro and apply them. With the possibility to track the steps, which could not be monitored with the previous method, unnecessary repetitive work, unmeasurable loss of time, and the need for sheet printouts have been eliminated.

The field management features of BIM 360 Build have also delivered significant benefits. Ümit Balaban describes them with an example: “Depending on project locations, some construction projects may be halted due to weather conditions or the employer may ask us to proceed regardless of the conditions. In such cases, you or your subcontractor may need to charge a fee for extra costs. “

Since everything is recorded on BIM 360 Build, you can easily monitor whether the employer received a revised quote and whether the extra cost has actually been incurred. The result can be reached by looking at the number of workers in the field, weather conditions and other data. Being able to record the process in its entirety ensures transparency.”

This structure also allows for an accurate evaluation of the subcontractors. The company name, number of workers, total time and progress are all recorded with the document management feature of BIM 360 Field. With the integration of BIM 360 Field Management into the business intelligence platform PowerBI, it is also possible to turn the results into charts and present them to the top management. These charts also show which subcontractor would be the best to work with in the next stage.

 

Labour savings in the Quality Control process

Using BIM 360 Field Management also offers benefits for the quality control process. With the legacy methods, it would take 80-100 minutes to prepare an average quality checklist. BIM 360 Field Management saved us close to 50 minutes in each checklist. We owe this time saved to the fact that BIM 360 Field Management allows you to instantly add the relevant document while devising the checklist as the documents are also on the same platform. Similarly, it is possible to link the list to documents or to put dots on it and link them to the equipment.

Ümit Balaban said, “Considering that a project is completed with 2,000 to 5,000 checklists, we can achieve a significant level of man/hour savings. One of our current projects was completed with 3000 checklists, saving us a total of 800 man/hours. This is just the tip of the iceberg as it has only been a few months since we started using the checklist function of BIM 360 Field Management. Once we start using the material approval checklists, we expect to see a further increase in our savings. Especially when you have operations abroad like we do, it is possible to get the return on your initial investment within a very reasonable time and manage more projects with the same teams.”

 

Accelerated improvement process with Forge and Dynamo

Ümit Balaban pointed out that there were many experts both within Anel Group and among Autodesk users who coded using Dynamo and that they were always on the lookout for codes that could be useful for them.

He said, “For instance, one of our BIM managers in Qatar wrote a code on Dynamo that allowed for the scaffolding system of a 40-meter tunnel to be automatically placed according to the data received. It was a code that helped us to significantly reduce the man/hours and to streamline our work.”

Stating that they also had an application which was written on Dynamo and which they used for cost estimation and quantity surveying, Balaban said, “In line with the volumes indicated in the planning, we wrote a code for the location of the objects that corresponded to those volumes, and we determined the costs and quantities based on this code. We have also started using Autodesk’s cloud-based development platform Forge. We are using Forge to ensure that the data extracted from BIM 360 Docs is well integrated into the applications on our platform called ‘Digital Anel’ and smoothly communicates with PowerBI.”

Anel Group Tender and Purchasing Director K. Serkan Kılıç said, “We leverage our engineering power to create solutions and aim to use cutting-edge technologies that we could benefit from the most. Autodesk has always been a trusted companion. Especially in a two-year retrospect, Autodesk AEC Collection, BIM 360 Docs, BIM 360 Field and Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro cloud solutions have helped us immensely as we seized opportunities around the globe. These technologies provided us with the agility to quickly adapt to remote working conditions, enabling us to use our teams in the most effective way possible, boost our operational efficiency and drive our costs down.”

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