Introduction
Overview
Model Coordination with Autodesk Construction Cloud
Delivering high quality construction content through model coordination is a critical component project success! More and more, project teams are finding the value in upfront clash detection and issue resolution, to mitigate time consuming and costly rework downstream. With the entire project team, from BIM experts to designers and trades, working together in a common data environment, coordination efforts are amplified to achieve high quality construction content on-time and under budget. Through simple automations and upfront communications, teams aren’t just managing downstream issues, they’re preventing them.
The following guide introduces the Autodesk BIM Collaborate suggested coordination workflows and gives context to the different capabilities built into the product, including step-by-step starter guides.
Autodesk BIM Collaborate
Autodesk® BIM Collaborate gives project teams the tools they need facilitate design review and model coordination by managing end-to-end workflows with simple automations, better communication, and built-in accountability to reduce rework and speed up project delivery.
Learn more about Model Coordination in Autodesk BIM Collaborate
Suggested Workflows
Model Coordination
Simplify clash detection and view aggregated models using an automated workflow. The graphic below outlines the suggested model coordination workflow using Autodesk BIM Collaborate.
Why follow this workflow?
- Automate clash detections
- Easily sort and filter clashes
- View the most relevant clashes
- Engage multiple disciplines in clash detection
- Identify and resolve issues in one ecosystem
Autodesk BIM Collaborate capabilities used
- Coordination spaces
- Automatic clash detection
- Clash tolerance filter
- RVT, NWC, DWG, IFC, VUE file support for clash and aggregation
- Connected issues in cloud and desktop applications
Issues
Identify, detail, and assign issues from the cloud, Revit, or Navisworks, and use the Autodesk Construction Cloud’s integrated issue management ecosystem to quickly resolve issues directly in the authoring tools. By connecting design, coordination, and field issues together in one common data environment, teams communicate better throughout the construction lifecycle for better designs and better project outcomes.
Why follow this workflow?
- Better cross-team communication
- Resolve issues faster
- One issues tool for all your workflows
AUTODESK BIM COLLABORATE capabilities used:
- Issue management
- Design Review
- Model Aggregation
- Authoring
- Clash Detection
- Meetings
Coordination Capabilities
Model Aggregation
Coordination Space
Built on a common data platform, the Model Coordination module enables multiple trade teams to review and analyze their models in the context of a unified project model. By defining a coordination space in Settings, teams can create dynamic 3D views combining multi-trade models and review automatic clash detection results. With simple navigation tools, 3D model access gives the whole team visibility into coordination decisions and impacts.
Create coordination spaces
- To utilize the appropriate revisions of design and coordination models, the Model Coordination module must be configured by a project admin, to work with content in a relevant folder in Docs. This requires the creation of “coordination spaces.”
- Coordination spaces are created in Settings. Select “create” and enter a name for the coordination space and then navigate to a folder, in the Docs, that you want to use for coordination.
- Models in the selected folder and any subfolders are included in the coordination space. All the models are listed alphabetically in a single, flat repository structure.
Upload Models for Coordination
PRO TIP: Teams in Design Collaboration can set up “coordination spaces” in their WIP or shared folders to allow for individual teams to have ‘private’ spaces as well as ‘shared’ spaces.
- Once the project admin sets up the coordination space(s), any 3D models uploaded to the specific coordination space folder within Document Management will be instantly available for viewing in the Model Coordination module.
- When models are uploaded to the folder they’re coordinated and supported file types will be automatically checked for clashes.
See supported files in the link below.
Viewing Models
- Within the Model Coordination module use the drop-down on the far right to select the coordination space you want to view. A list of the models within that space will appear, click a single or multiple models to open and view.
- Use the search feature, or the filters in the right-hand panel, to refine the model list. You can filter to see only your models, clashes with your models, or by the contributor, company, or date last updated.
- The right-hand column on the Models tab shows the number of objects within each model that clash with the other listed models or show if that file type is clash enabled. Select the number and the multi-model view will load, displaying the associated clashes for review.
PRO TIP: Filter the Models tab to limit the models you want to review, and the clash number will auto-adjust to that context.
PRO TIP: When you organize models, best practice is to structure data by floor and then by discipline. For very large models, it is useful to structure more granularly, such as by wing or project phase, providing greater flexibility when creating aggregate views.
- Multi-select models by checking individual models then click the “View” button to open an aggregated 3D view.
- When viewing you can turn models on and off using the left panel, orbit/pan/zoom/walk, cut sections and measure and view element properties.
- Click “add/remove models” to easily adjust the models displayed in the viewer.
- Click the X in the top-right corner to exit the viewer and return to the model list.
Saved Views
PRO TIP: Use the icons on the left side panel to switch between a list of the selected models, and the clash groups for each of the models. You can also view any issues associated with the selected models by clicking the issues icon.
Model Coordination makes it easier to focus coordination activities on a project subset. Saved Views act as a shortcut to a group of models, typically aligning with a project location, which can be shared across project members to aid in multi-disciplinary coordination activities.
- Select the models you wish to view. In the viewing window select “save view” to save the views as a subset.
- Add a title, description and select the privacy settings (published provides access to all project members in the coordination space). Select “save view.”
- You can reference all saved views in the views tab. Select the view title to open the view or click the row to access the details box.
Additional File Support
PRO TIP: Saved views can be modified and saved again when you open them.
IFC file support
- Model Coordination supports the use of Industry Foundation Class (IFC) files as an industry standard file format.
- Any IFC file can be imported and viewed in an aggregated model
- IFC files exported from AutoCAD architecture, MEP, and Civil 3D 2018 and onwards, ARCHICAD, Revit, MagiCAD for Revit, and Tekla Structures, are currently supported for coordination and automatic clash detection.
NWC file support
- Model Coordination supports the use of NWC files
- Any NWC file can be uploaded and coordinated
- NWC files exported from Revit or any AutoCAD-based application, including third-party apps, can also be used in automatic clash detection
Automatic Clash Detection
Clash detection runs automatically against model changes, providing ongoing visibility into constructability issues before they become bigger problems in the field. Model Coordination enables proactive engagement from multi-disciplinary teams through simple automation, improving model quality and reducing rework and waste during construction. With the ability to search and filter model views, drill down into specific clash interferences, set clash tolerances, and automatically group clashes, architects, engineers, and BIM managers can collaborate throughout the week to clear clashes, assign issues, solve small problems, and prioritize larger problems for the weekly coordination meeting.
Review clash matrix
- In Model Coordination, click the Clashes tab to view the clash results across all models uploaded into your selected coordination space.
- The clash matrix displays the number of clashing objects between models. The primary models are listed in the vertical column and the secondary model are the horizontal rows. The number in each cell is the number of clashes between the two models.
- The color intensity of the matrix cells signifies where the most clashes exist.
- Clash groups are the number of objects in the primary model that clash with all other models in the grid.
Group & filter clashes
- Use the left-hand drop-down list to refine the models shown on the clash matrix, or use the search functionality to find a specific model.
- Click on a cell number to open the intersecting model pair and review those associated clash groups.
- Click on a model in the left-hand column to open all models visible in the matrix (respecting any filters applied) and review those associated clash groups.
- Once selected the clash viewer will open. Clash groups are listed in the left-hand panel, and are prioritized by number of clashes within each group (highest number of clashes at the top).
- Group clashes by model objects, object property, system name, or type name
- Apply a clash tolerance that filters out clashes with an acceptable amount of overlap (in mm or inches)
- Set the tolerance filter above, below, or between values to mark known installation tolerances as “not an issue” or focus on high impact clashes.
- Expand any of the clash groups to see the individual clashing objects.
- View details of any individual clashing object by clicking the “Properties” button in the toolbar and selecting each object in the viewer.
Issue Management
Issue Management
Issues are used by teams to identify and communicate areas of concern or improvement with project documents or models. The AUTODESK BIM COLLABORATE Issues workflow is accessible through the Model Coordination or Design Collaboration modules and connected to Navisworks and Revit with a free add-in. This allows users to view issues in a multi-model context and resolve directly in Revit.
Creating an issue from a clash
- When you have viewed the project models and their clashes and determined that a clash or clash group requires further attention, you can create an issue from the clash.
- Click a highlighted clash in the model or click a checkbox next to a clash group in the left-hand panel to select it. If necessary, expand a clash group to select individual clashes.
- When the clash is selected an “Issue” button will appear, select it. Click to place the issue push pin.
- The title and description fields will automatically fill in but can be edited. Select the assignee using the drop-down list, and optionally choose a due date. Click “create.”
Clash Avoidance and Issues Blog
PRO TIP: Custom Attributes can be added to issue types or subtypes to have entries in issues beyond the default entries such as priority.
Issue assignee view & respond to issues in Model Coordination
- Issues created from clashes within Model Coordination move to the “Assigned” sub-tab, and an email notification is sent to the assignee.
- Open the email notification and click Issue or view in the Assigned sub-tab. Sort the columns by issue status, ID, title, assignee, company, and due date.
- Click the link in the Linked Models column to see an aggregated view of the clashing models in the viewer.
- With the viewer open use the toolbar to take measurements and inspect model properties to help you understand the issue and how to resolve it.
- In the Issues panel view the issue details including the model names, ID numbers of the clashing objects, the due date, and location.
- When you have decided what action is required to resolve the clashes, you can make changes to the affected models and upload updated versions to the coordination folder (use the Revit Issues Add-In to quickly resolve issues in a multi-model context).
- Use the Attachments tab to attach documents or images to demonstrate the changes made or required.
- Use the Activity tab to add comments or @ to tag another project member and ask a question or prompt them to take action. They will receive an email notification.
- When the clashes have been resolved, use the Status drop-down list to change the issue status to Closed.
Issues owner view & respond to issues in Model Coordination
- Locate issues of interest in the Assigned sub-tab. If further action is required, you can change the status of the issue back to Open, Pending, or In-Review.
- Use the Details tab of the issue panel to change the assignee, use the Attachments tab to attach documents or images, use the Activity tab to add comments or @ to tag another project member.
- When you are satisfied that the required changes have been made and there is no longer a clash, change the issue status to Closed.
PRO TIP: Only the issue owner, or project members with Full Control, can close or void issues.
When a clash isn’t a clash
- Since clashes are automatically generated, some may not need to be addressed. If this is the case use the ‘Not an issue’ workflow.
- With the clash, or group of clashes selected click the “Not an issue” button.
- Add a title, select the reason, and include comments for further explanation before clicking “Ok.”
- All clashes identified as ‘Not an Issue” move to the “Closed” sub-tab and will not reappear as further model iterations are published.
Addressing Issues with the Navisworks® Coordination Issues Add-In
- Navisworks users can download the free add-in from the Autodesk App Store.
- All cloud issues and models associated with a project are accessible in Navisworks using the free add-in.
- Select an issue to investigate, add additional details or a proposed solution, re-assign, and change the status between Open, Pending, In-Review, or Closed
- Clash highlighting generated in Autodesk BIM Collaborate will appear in the viewer of Navisworks.
- Clashes can be grouped by properties and filtered by issue status
Addressing Issues with the Revit Issues Add-In
- Revit users can download the free add-in from the Autodesk Desktop App.
- All cloud issues associated with a project are accessible in Revit using the free add-in.
- Revit users can view issue pin, details, status, clash highlight thumbnail, and due date to better resolve the issue.
- Use the Go Online feature as a direct connection to clashes or issues in a multi-model context on the web
- Once a Revit user resolves the issue, they can change the status to in-review or closed
- Revised model will be updated on the following publish date or with an manual upload.
Creating model-based issues in Document Management
- In the Document Management module, open a 2D document or 3D model and select the Issue icon on the left sidebar.
- In the Issue panel, select “Create Issue” and click where you want to place the issue. An issue push-pin will appear.
- Enter a title and complete all desired fields including Issue Type, Sub-type, Location, and Root Cause. Select “Create” to save.
PRO TIP: Custom Attributes can be added to issue types or subtypes to have entries in issues beyond the default entries such as priority. Read to find out how.
Review & respond to issues in Document Management
- If you’re the assignee, open the email notification and select “View the Issue.”
- Or within the Document Management module, select the Issues tab and search for the issue.
- Once in the issues panel, select “Activity” and respond to the issue using the comment box.
- For document- or model-based issues, click the link under “Document” to view the associated documents.
PRO TIP: Only the issue creator or project admin can set the issue as closed.
Filter/sort/export issues
In Model Coordination module:
- The Assigned sub-tab displays a list of clashes that have been marked as an issue. Sort by clicking the column header. Sort the columns by issue status, ID, title, assignee, company, and due date.
- Select the linked model to open a clash and click the three-dot icon to export the issue as a pdf. The exported issue will be sent to the requestors email.
In Document Management module:
- Select the Issues tab to display a list of all project issues.
- To filter select the filter icon and one or more criteria using the drop-down lists such as type > coordination or clash.
- To sort, click the column headers.
- To export, select the “Export” drop-down lists.
- Use the “Search” bar to do a keyword search.
- On your mobile device, you can filter document-based issues by status, assignee, or due date.
PRO TIP: You can filter, sort, and export directly from a 2D document or 3D model via the Issues panel.
Additional Capabilities
Project Admin
Ensuring all aspects of the project are running smoothly is a key component of making sure projects stay on time and on budget. When technology is set up in a way that simplifies daily activity, teams can collaborate and get things done more efficiently. With the project admin features in the Autodesk Construction Cloud unified platform, admins can easily create new projects, add and manage project members and ensure all settings or project locations are being used correctly.
- Enter in all the relevant details, including project name, project number, address, start and end dates, as well as the option to use a project template.
- NOTE: If a template was used to create the project, the members associated with the template will be prepopulated here. However, admins can also remove any members through their member settings panel.
- Additionally, users can add locations or sublocations of a project (including levels or rooms) that can be referenced in other workflows throughout the product.
- To view a list of all shared or received sheets or files navigate to Bridge from the left side panel.
- From here you will see a tab for Incoming or Outgoing shares, a list of sheets that have automations set up, as well as a “Bridged Projects” tab where you can directly link one project to another to make sharing even easier.
Account Admin & Standardization
Setting up account-level features and standards is critical to ensuring teams are being set up for success. Whether it is creating project templates or ensuring the right team members have the right access to different features, the account admin functions help everyone get up and running quickly. Taking that a step further, by setting up standards that are used across the organization, teams are able to maximize the data being collected and better leverage information downstream to improve decision-making.
1. Setting Up Templates
- Users with Account Admin settings can navigate to Account Admin using the product picker or by selecting “All Projects” under the project picker and clicking “Account Administration” on the top left.
- Select “Templates” from the left side panel.
- From here, users can see a list of all active or archived templates.
- Click on an active template to edit any details, or click the blue “Create project template” button to see two options to create a new template:
- Create a new template – This allows users to start a template from scratch.
- Create a template from an existing project – This allows users to copy over certain aspects of a project into a template.
- Once a template has been created, users can add, edit, or remove members from the template and assign permissions or product access
PRO TIP: Check out the help site to view which aspects of a product can be carried over into a template.
2. Creating a Project
- Users with “Account Admin” settings can navigate to the Account Admin tool and select “Projects” from the left side panel.
- From here, select the blue “Create project” button.
- Enter all the relevant details, including project name, project number, address, start and end dates, as well as the option to use a project template.
- Here, admins can add members and assign them access levels, associate roles or companies, as well as manage their individual member subscriptions.
PRO TIP: Account Admins will see how many subscription licensees are available.
4. Library
- The Account Admin Library serves as a centralized library of objects or “components.” From the library, users can configure a component, and simultaneously add them to multiple existing projects.
- Click on the ‘Forms’ tab to create a new form template
- Choose to build a new form or upload an existing PDF form
- Once saved, the new form template can then be added to new or existing projects
- Account Administrators can also edit any template and all updates will be pushed to any projects in which this template was added to
Design Insights
Design issues that are not initially addressed become time-consuming RFIs, costly change orders, and even larger litigation issues that cause schedule delays and cost overruns— two major areas of construction project risk. Autodesk takes design and constructability reviews to a new level, helping teams track issues, manage the review process, and unleash the power of Construction IQ to help predict critical design problems and prevent them from being overlooked.
1. Design Review Risk Factor
- The Design Review Risk Factor card is powered by Construction IQ.
- Users can add this card to any dashboard through the card library .
- Five factors are visualized through this card:
- Code Compliance – Surfaces code compliance design issues.
- Critical Components – Identifies design issues that involve critical building components.
- Documentation Incomplete – Highlights documentation errors and omissions.
- Overdue Issues – View, filter, and review past due design “issues.”
- Overdue Reviews – Gain insight into the status of reviews and drive accountability.
- Users can open each factor tab and click into various issues to drill down and find more information.
2. Design Dashboards
- Within both project level and executive overview dashboards, there is a preset dashboard for Design.
- Project Level – This dashboard houses cards such as “Design Issue Status” or “Project Design Issues,” which help teams quickly resolve design issues and take immediate action. All cards can be moved around or removed, and users can also add new cards.
- Executive Level – This dashboard houses cross-project data with cards like “Design Issues Status by Project” or “Approval Reviews by Project” and can show filtered results by business unit or project type. The “Design Heatmap” card shows projects that have several issue types that typically lead to higher-risk design issues like incomplete documentation or constructability issues. All cards can be moved around or removed, and users can also add new cards.