At last year’s virtual Autodesk University, Autodesk announced a trio of new products: Build, Takeoff, & BIM Collaborate. Build, the platform that combines the features of PlanGrid and BIM 360, is officially available on a global scale as of today.
What is Autodesk Build?
Combining the strong documentation abilities of BIM 360 and the field accessibility of PlanGrid, Autodesk Build is being offered as a complete solution for construction project management, quality control, safety reporting, project cost, and closeout. While Build does combine these two platforms, Autodesk does not have current plans to stop supporting either existing program or to force those users onto the new platform.
"Our teams need the right technology to achieve outstanding results,” says Barton Malow Holdings Senior VDC Manager Ted Jennings, in a press release. “By bringing together the best of BIM 360 and PlanGrid and adding even more project management firepower, Autodesk Build is both a simple and robust solution. Connecting our teams and data across projects allows us to supercharge our work with more streamlined document, safety and cost management, and deliver on our quality standards.”
Project Management
Teams have the ability to manage and access important information for any construction project, including RFIs, submittals, meeting minutes, and daily reports. Autodesk Docs is also included in the subscription, which is a common data environment (CDE) for the system, creating a single source of truth across all data collected on the project.
Users can also control documents, track versions of drawings, and manage approval capabilities on 2D sheets and 3D models.
Collaboration
Projects can be managed wherever you have access, whether it’s a desktop, laptop, or mobile device. For field collaboration, Build includes the new PlanGrid Build app, which is based on the stand-alone and industry favorite, PlanGrid. Within the app, users can create and manage punchlists, quality, issues, training, observations, and inspections.
PlanGrid Build also includes compatibility with 3D models.
Cost Management
Build allows users to manage budgets from start to finish, beginning with the creation and contract administration, to change orders, cost forecasts, and payment applications, all in a real-time view format.
Insights
To help mitigate risk on projects, Build also includes Insights, which is an artificial intelligence that helps interpret and export project data, alerting you of potential problems on the project.
More Information
For more information about build, you can check out a demo on their website or sign up for a free 30-day trial.
Shane is the creator of Construction Junkie and an active construction project manager. In his career, he has managed interior remodel projects, site development, construction safety, governmental project compliance, and facility maintenance. He has a strong passion for construction technology and safety, as well as sharing the knowledge or insights he has gained throughout his career.