We are thrilled to announce a significant step forward in our journey with our customers. Today, Autodesk, a Fortune 500 global leader in software for designers, builders, engineers, manufacturers, 3D artists, and production teams, announced its acquisition of UNIFI, the building industry’s essential cloud software solution for organizing, accessing, and managing content in Revit, Civil 3D, Plant 3D and other digital design tools.
Since being founded in2010by industry veterans Dwayne Miller P.E., RCDD and Ken Gardner P.E, UNIFI sought out to build a better now and enable a better future for the AECO industry throughcloud-based content management and project analytics.
In joining forces with Autodesk,UNIFI maintainsits originalmission, current products, and industry-leading customer supportwhile enhancingarchitecture, engineering, and construction professionals’ability to quickly and easily access, manage, and share digital assets throughout the design and construction process.
“We’re thrilled to be joining Autodesk and look forward to working closely to deepen integration for a smoother customer journey in day-to-day execution while setting the stage to help deliver on the broader content and data vision for the project and building lifecycles,” said Dwayne Miller, P.E, RCDD, Co-Founder and CEO at UNIFI. ” We are excited for the value this will unlock for our customers, our employees and for the industry we collectively serve!”
UNIFI will expand Autodesk’s capabilities in digital content management and enable customers across the globe to get more value out of their BIM data, making it easier for AECO professionals to access, manage, and share digital assets throughout the design and construction process. With UNIFI’s cloud-based platform, users can quickly and easily find, organize, and use high-quality BIM content, enabling more efficient and accurate project workflows.
Welook forward to progressing toward our ultimate goal of transforming the way our customers work by connecting building lifecycle stakeholders and their data to deliver the insights they need at every phase of the project lifecycle.
We are heading into the third week of our four-week International Women’s Month series that features just a few of the many amazing women in the BIM industry. This week we are featuring Lisa Metzger who is based in Denver, Colorado and is a Project Manager and Senior Associate from Galloway.
We asked Lisa, what was her initial attraction to the AECO industry. She replied enthusiastically, “Initially, I loved the idea of architecture as the perfect marriage of design and science. I loved both, and there are very few jobs that combine them so seamlessly.” Lisa has continued to thrive in the industry, gaining over 10 years of experience.
Moving up in the BIM World
Lisa has put over ten years of work into the BIM industry and, more specifically, almost five years of that time was at Galloway. So, it was a no-brainer that when asked about which professional achievement makes her proud, she said, “becoming Senior Associate at Galloway.” This was when she “really started to see and feel [her] impact on such a great organization and all the people within it.” This proves to everyone, not just one woman if you put in the effort, you will get the results you want.
Ask for What you Deserve
A piece of advice that Lisa tells women in the industry is,
“Women generally have such a hard time asking for raises, asking for promotions, braggingabout your work, drawing attention to your accomplishments, etc. We are not taught to do these things growing up like men are. No one does this for you. So don’t be afraid to ask for what you deserve and draw attention to everything you do!”
Ask the Right Questions!
When asked about how to find the right fit with a company in the BIM industry, Lisa gave us great advice:
“I ask important but tough questions during an interview. For example, I look at the leadership of the company. If predominately or overwhelmingly male, I will ask if there is room for females at the top of the company and what they have in place to get more female presence. You need to identify the companies that will support you.”
This is a fantastic strategy for making sure that you are aligning with a company that encourages the professional growth of its female employees.
Do Your Research
When asked if she experienced inequality in the workplace, she said, “I have hit some points in my career where this was an issue and I ended up leaving that company for one with a better culture.” We asked if she had any advice for women who face inequality in the BIM industry. She said, “If issues arise, find an advocate at your office or a mentor in the industry and talk it through.” Her advice is perfect for handling the situation if it ever occurs, as a recent survey even stated that only 57% of women get offered promotions of the 75% of men.
Conclusion
Lisa’s advice can help women in the AECO industry have the drive and confidence they need to succeed in the industry. Are you a woman in the BIM field too? How has your experience been similar or different to Lisa’s? Please let us know in the comments.
Last week we kicked off our four-part series for International Women’s Month, which features a few of the many amazing women in the BIM industry. This week, we feature Belinda Thompson, a BIM Lead from GHD, based in Australia.
When we started the interview, Belinda, who has over ten years of industry experience, talked about why she loves the AECO industry and what initially attracted her to it. She stated that an interest in architecture and technology drove her to the industry and has kept her passionate throughout the years.
The Women in BIM Global Executive Leadership Team
Belinda does more than just work in the industry; she goes the extra mile to help women in the BIM industry. She is a part of the Women in BIM Global Executive Leadership Team. The Founder and Global Chair, Rebecca De Cicco, is an inspiration of hers due to “her energy and passion for supporting women.” The whole Women in BIM team is comprised of digital-built environment experts with specialties in BIM and emerging technology worldwide. They make it their mission to empower women across the globe to make game-changing contributions to the digital development of the built environment. To this day, she considers this one of her highest accomplishments and is very proud of herself for it.
Belinda’s Advice
A piece of advice she tells every woman entering the BIM industry is to “accept every challenge” since in an industry that is dominantly male, you must show that you can do whatever they can. She talks about the job hunt as a woman in the industry and how she “utilizes her connected network to evaluate a company’s culture” to ensure it is the right opportunity for her.
A Culture That is Dedicated to Diversity and Inclusion
This brought her to the topic of her current company GHD and how they have a culture dedicated to diversity and inclusion. That they are “committed to creating a culture of belonging at GHD through focused and sustained actions, a readiness to listen and value the experience of others, ongoing education, applying an inclusion and diversity lens to how their business and talent processes operate, and most importantly, by fostering accountability.” Their commitment to a culture full of diversity and inclusion has kept Belinda at GHD for over eight years.
Conclusion
Belinda’s advice can help women in the AECO industry to have the drive and insight they need to have success in the industry. UNIFI thanks her for contributing to the Women in BIM blog series.
Are you a woman in the BIM field too? How has your experience been similar or different to Belinda’s? Please let us know in the comments.
Although the number of women in the AECO industry is significantly lower than that of men (over 1 million women vs over 10 million men*), there is still no question that the industry benefits from the contribution of women. Women bring a valuable diversity of insight when they join AECO teams, and diversity is a crucial ingredient in innovation, problem-solving, and creativity.
The AECO industry is attractive to women and men since it is a continuously growing, and reasonably new specialty. In our interview with Megan Brooks, Associate Design Tech Leader of DIALOG she goes over why she loves the industry, “that she has always been attracted to it, and it provides the ideal platform for her. Its unique combination of creativity and technical expertise keeps Megan on her feet and gets her excited about the opportunities to collaborate with diverse professionals.”
When we asked Megan what she would say to other women starting in the AECO industry, she told us.
Believe in Yourself and Your Abilities
Megan emphasized how important it is that women in the AECO industry believe in themselves. She said, “Starting out can be daunting, especially in a male-dominated field, but it is important to remember that you have valuable skills, perspectives, and experiences to offer.” This is a crucial piece of advice in any field of work when you are first starting.
Don’t Be Afraid
Another piece of advice that Megan offered was not to be afraid. She stated, “Don’t be afraid to take on new challenges, ask questions, and make mistakes.” There is never a stupid question to ask; most likely, someone else is thinking of the same one.
Embrace Your Uniqueness
Megan was keen on this piece of advice. Stating, “Embrace your uniqueness and use it to your advantage.” There is only one of you in this world, and no one can replace you.
Surround Yourself with Supportive People and Mentors
Finding the right people in the industry to have around is vital; as Megan said, “Surround yourself with supportive people who will encourage and inspire you and seek out mentors who can help guide you on your professional journey.” Having positive support is always a plus.
Remember Why You Started in the First Place
Megan found this piece of advice to be the most important, stating, “most importantly, never lose sight of your passion and why you chose this field in the first place. With hard work, perseverance, and self-confidence, you can accomplish anything you want.”
Job Hunt Tips
When it came to talking about finding jobs and finding the right company for you, Megan went on to talk about her process, talking about how she evaluated companies and their inclusion when on the job hunt—talking about how she took a multi-faceted approach to assess its culture. And then went on to figure out if it would be an inclusive workspace by looking at the company’s mission and values, policies, current employees, and then on to the company’s leadership.
Gender Inequality Strategy
Megan then went on to talk about the key points of her gender inequality strategy. “My strategy for calling out gender inequality at work is to approach the issue with a combination of assertiveness and diplomacy; by approaching these issues with a positive and constructive attitude, I hope to not only bring about positive change but also foster a culture of respect, equality, and collaboration within my organization.” This is excellent advice for someone who is in a position of gender inequality and doesn’t know how to act upon it.
Conclusion
Megan’s advice can help women in the AECO industry to have the confidence and insight they need to have success in the industry. UNIFI thanks her for contributing to the Women in BIM blog series.
Are you a woman in the technology field too? How has your experience been similar or different?
With UNIFI Labs being the industry leader for their content management platform and their marketing content and webinars, it was no surprise that when they posted their annual survey, they got over 200 responses—giving UNIFI the data they need to improve their product and knowledge and to educate the industry.
On February 23rd, UNIFI had its most recent webinar, “The Big 2023 BIM Trends Reveal,” with its marketing team hosting it. The webinar revealed the 2023 BIM Trends survey results and announced the giveaway winner that went along with the survey.
During the webinar, the following survey questions with results were discussed:
Which technologies benefited your organization the most throughout 2022?
In terms of BIM/VDC, what improvements does your organization need to make?
Rank the following challenges in adopting new technology for your team.
Which technologies are your organization focused on implementing for 2023?
Conclusion
Webinar attendees walked away with new knowledge about the industry and trends already happening in 2023. We want to thank all who attended and helped make it a success! If you missed out, you could access the recording by or download our exclusive e-book with the survey results by filling out the form below:
You’ve likely heard of the standard 5 Love Languages (Quality Time, Gifts, Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch), but have you heard of the 5 Love Languages of BIM Managers?
Yep, it’s a thing. At least it is as of today.
Check out the 5 Love Language of BIM Managers below. We’d love to hear which one you are!
Time-Saving Technology
If your love language is Time-Saving Technology, this means that you seek out tools that streamline your workflows and processes.
Our tip for you: It’s fun to find a tool that could potentially do the work for you. But sometimes you can add too many tools, implementing ones that are unnecessary or a waste of time.
UNIFI is one tool that does the work of many (for example: storing/inserting content, approving content, requesting content, user permissions, project analytics, and more). This provides you with a single source of truth for all your content-related workflows.
Purposeful Processes
If your love language is having Purposeful Processes, then this means that you like to have a clear workflow for you and your team members.
Our tip for you:A good workflow that is efficient does wonders for a team, but if it’s not needed, it’s downright destructive. Consider implementing processes that are purposeful, such as naming conventions, a content approval process, and an efficient workflow for handling content requests.
Intuitive Implementation
If your love language is Intuitive Implementation, then you want the right thing to be easy for your team to do. You understand that a team can have great processes and technology, but if it’s still easier for them to do the wrong thing, then all those processes and tools are for naught.
Our tip for you: Utilize a content management platform such as UNIFI to make it easy for you and your team members to find what you need when you need it through its robust search feature that includes tags, saved searches, and more.
Data-Driven Decisions
If your love language is Data-Driven Decisions, then you appreciate it when you have data to back up the calls that you make. There is a lot that a BIM Manager needs to know in order to make decisions, and this knowledge often comes only with experience. However, if you can see what’s happening with the data to back up your intuition, then you can make decisions with confidence and get the buy-in to boot.
Our tip for you: We recommend using a BIM management platform that provides you with data on how your projects are performing. For example, UNIFI provides users with model health scores, Revit version checks, and content audits.
Chaos-Free Collaboration
If your love language is Chaos-Free Collaboration, then you value collaborating with others, especially when it happens without the headaches. As a pro collaborator, you know that bringing people together can create meaningful work–but you also understand that sometimes collaboration can come with its difficulties.
Our tip for you: Seek out resources that simplify the collaboration process. For example, you could utilize UNIFI’s shared libraries and user permissions to limit access to content. We also have a fantastic guide that shows you the different ways that you could share content with both UNIFI users and non-UNIFI users.
Conclusion
So, which one are you? We’d love to hear! Comment below with your BIM Management Love Language.
Improperly managed BIM projects can often feel like a house booby trapped by Kevin McCallister. You might recall the Home Alone burglars were faced with burning doorknobs, paint can pendulums, slippery stairs, and (the one that makes me cringe) a blowtorch to the head.
Sure, they deserved it, but you don’t.
You might find yourself in a project with a problem at every turn. In your case, rather than a blowtorch to the head, you face model crashes, seemingly lost content, or inconsistent drawings.
In this article, our goal is to help you lay out a plan to prevent the mishaps and manage your BIM content more effectively.
Mishap #1: Unclear Company Standards
A team without clear company standards is like a traveler without a map (or GPS). No one knows the plan. Everyone is making their best guess. This leads to inconsistency in your projects, frustrated team members, and clunky collaboration.
We’ve found that how-to guides and requirements manuals are imperative for the success of the team. Additionally, support teams should surround the company standards to not only assist the project teams with general questions, but also to enforce the guidelines. A BIM Manager cannot do it alone.
Mishap #2: Lack of Naming Standards
When teams lack clear naming standards, they often face duplicate content, confusing project navigation, and inconsistent drawing information that can lead to major on-site issues.
Consider establishing clear naming standards for the following:
– Content
– Templates
– Common Views
– Sheets
Mishap #3: Making Content Difficult to Find
When content is difficult to find, team members waste a significant amount of time and feel frustrated trying to find what they need. Many teams do not utilize a content management system, which often results in content that is scattered across personal and network drives.
You could cut content-seeking down even more by utilizing a content management platform with robust search features.
For example, UNIFI can help users find content quickly by creating a saved search. This allows team members to quickly access a search that holds the specific filters needed to get to the precise piece of content that they want. That way, they don’t have to constantly remember exactly how to get to that content.
Mishap #4: Ignoring Factors that Could Slow Down Revit
Ignoring factors that could slow down Revit leads to slower performance, frustrated users, and issues that become greater problems than if they were addressed right away.
To avoid this mishap, consider implementing a system such as UNIFI’s Project Analytics, which notifies you of issues important to the health of your projects before they become major setbacks.
Mishap #5: Sharing Insecure Content
One major problem you can encounter with BIM Content Management is sharing content without permission. For example, you could share content that you purchased that may then be reused without licensed permission. You could also share private project information, which could result in a lack of trust in your firm.
To increase security on projects, we recommend that you limit user permission by utilizing tools such as BIM 360, which offers granular permissions for viewing, downloading, and editing content and project files.
To increase security on content, we recommend using a content management platform such as UNIFI, which allows you to customize user access and protect libraries. For more guidance on sharing content, we recommend that you check out our article on sharing BIM content with other firms.
Mishap #6: Lack of Proper Training
A lack of proper training either in the main applications your firm uses or in proper design methods can lead to a lack of transparency, protection, and efficiency for your team. When left unaddressed, this can lead to model crashes, missed deadlines, on-site issues, and even lawsuits.
To prevent this from happening, we recommend that you have a clear onboarding guide that: (a) trains users on each software used and (b) covers important company standards (such as naming conventions).
Mishap #7 – Lack of Meaningful (Integrated) Workflows
It is easy to have a process, but if the process isn’t designed well, it can slow down work, reduce the quality of work, and ultimately frustrate the people it was made for. Quite often a one size fits all approach doesn’t fit at all.
Instead of a one size fits all approach, we recommend that you look specifically at your company’s BIM goals. You may also look to specific market sectors or practice disciplines to identify key resources that you would need to face your unique issues. You’ll also want to consider how flexible your workflows are with the ever-changing BIM industry.
Conclusion
Resolving each of these possible mishaps can boost the overall efficiency and performance of your team. Once you implement the strategies we covered in this article, you’ll find that your frustration over project setbacks will be replaced with the confidence of Kevin McCallister.
If you haven’t heard, ChatGPT is taking the world by storm. It hit an estimated 100 million monthly active users within two months of launch, making it the fastest growing web app in history. Well, I decided to see what the fuss was about and gave it a shot.
Although ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chat bot geared towards processing conversational messages, one of the topics that I’ve heard ChatGPT is exceptionally skilled at is writing and debugging code. This piqued my interest! Naturally, I decided to test the AI’s “intelligence” by asking it to write code based on documentation that it most likely had not seen before: the UNIFI API.
What is the UNIFI API? The UNIFI API enables programmatic access to the UNIFI cloud which unlocks automation for Revit family management and access to Revit project data. Learn more about the UNIFI API by reading the docs or reach out to the UNIFI team.
Using AI to Generate Code using the UNIFI API
My prompt to ChatGPT:
Write a python script that searches for a file by it's name using the Unifi API which is documented at https://apidocs.unifilabs.com/
After less than a minute, ChatGPT presented the following Python script:
import requests
# Define the Unifi API endpoint URL
base_url = "https://api.unifilabs.com/v1/"
# Define the file name to search for
file_name = "example.txt"
# Define the API endpoint for file search
endpoint = "files/search"
# Define the API headers
headers = {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
"Authorization": "Bearer <API_KEY>"
}
# Define the search parameters
params = {
"q": file_name
}
# Execute the API request
response = requests.get(base_url + endpoint, headers=headers, params=params)
# Check if the request was successful
if response.status_code == 200:
# Parse the JSON response data
data = response.json()
# Get the list of files matching the search criteria
files = data["files"]
# Iterate through the list of files
for file in files:
# Print the file name and ID
print("Name: " + file["name"] + ", ID: " + file["id"])
else:
# Print the error message
print("Request failed with status code: " + str(response.status_code))
Impressive, but not quite right.
Initially, the output impressed me. ChatGPT was able to read the UNIFI API documentation and generate a Python script based on what it learned from the docs much faster than a human would. The UNIFI API is fairly simple, but I would guesstimate that this could still save a developer (more or less) an hour of time reading the docs and writing the code. This in itself is a testament to the capabilities of AI.
However, the code produced by ChatGPT didn’t actually implement the UNIFI API properly. Although the code is valid and I was able to execute the script without errors or warnings, it resulted in a 403 response code due to incorrect implementation of the UNIFI API.
Debugging ChatGPT’s Code
Let’s look at what I had to do to get the ChatGPT’s script to work with the UNIFI API. As you read through this list of errors, consider if the AI actually understood the UNIFI API documentation which would help us determine how smart it truly is.
The Base URL was incorrect. The documentation clearly calls out the base URL, so I’m confused as to why the AI thought to add v1 to the path.
base_url = "https://api.unifilabs.com/v1/"
Fixed base URL:
base_url = "https://api.unifilabs.com/"
The API endpoint incorrect. Similar to the base URL, ChatGPT added a string to the search endpoint. Perhaps it’s confused with another API that it learned.
endpoint = "files/search"
Fixed API endpoint:
endpoint = "search"
The Authorization header was incorrect. The UNIFI API documentation did not call out using the term Bearer with the API key, yet the AI included that in it’s script.
"Authorization": "Bearer <API_KEY>"
Fixed authorization header:
Authorization”: "<API_KEY>"
The search parameters were keyed incorrectly. ChatGPT decided to pass the q parameter as the search query instead of terms.
params = {
"q": file_name
}
Fixed search parameters:
params = {
"terms": file_name
}
The request function was incorrectly called as a get method. I can see why an AI would assume that searching is a get method rather than a post method, but the API docs clearly call it out as such.
The instantiation of the list of files was incorrect as it attempted to access a nonexistent dictionary key. I’m curious as to why the AI assumed it would receive a response with a list of files. I don’t see anything in the API documentation that alludes to that.
files = data["files"]
Fixed list of files by deleting the line:
files = data["files"]
The for loop was looping through a list that didn’t exist (see above).
for file in files:
Fixed for loop by looping through the data variable directly:
for file in data:
The key for filename and ID was incorrect. This is yet another example that makes me doubt that the AI is actually “reading” the documentation.
Below is the final code with the corrected lines. Note that I also changed the file_name variable name and value to make it more applicable to how the UNIFI API would be used in an actual application.
import requests
# Define the Unifi API endpoint URL
base_url = "https://api.unifilabs.com/"
# Define the file name to search for
query = "air handling unit"
# Define the API endpoint for file search
endpoint = "search"
# Define the API headers
headers = {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
"Authorization": "<API_KEY>"
}
# Define the search parameters
params = {
"terms": query
}
# Execute the API request
response = requests.post(base_url + endpoint, headers=headers, params=params)
# Check if the request was successful
if response.status_code == 200:
# Parse the JSON response data
data = response.json()
# Iterate through the list of files
for file in data:
# Print the file name and ID
print("Name: " + file["Filename"] + ", ID: " + file["ActiveRevisionId"])
else:
# Print the error message
print("Request failed with status code: " + str(response.status_code))
Conclusion
ChatGPT didn’t produce code that actually satisfied my request, but it did get me part of the way there. However, one should note that almost every correction to it’s code that I listed above had to do with the specifics of the UNIFI API, which begs the question, “how much did the AI actually learn from reading the API docs?” If a human made these errors, how would you rate them as a developer?
In conclusion, I would say that in a real-world application it would be much more valuable for a developer to write this simple script from scratch. The UNIFI API is relatively simple to learn, so reading the documentation and generating the code the old-fashioned way would have been easier than debugging code that someone (or something) else wrote. I don’t doubt that someday, ChatGPT will be able to produce functioning code on command, but it’s just not there yet.
Are you interested in learning more about the UNIFI API? Read the docs and reach out to our team to learn how you can start automating your BIM content management workflows.
Most of the time, sure, that is likely the case. But when it comes to a BIM project, BIM managers could make mistakes that turn that collaboration to chaos. In this article, we are sharing seven major mistakes you could make when collaborating on a project. But don’t worry, we aren’t all doom and gloom; we also share our favorite tips to avoid those pitfalls and make collaboration a success.
Mistake #1: Lack of Clarity on Company Standards
When collaborating with others, you want to make sure that they have a clear understanding of your company’s workflow and content standards. Otherwise, they may unintentionally disrupt your company workflow and wreak havoc on your content organization.
Solution
To fix this, make sure that outsiders understand how your company handles content requests and content uploads. You’ll also want them to know and follow company standards. In addition to any training documents you may provide, you can also equip them with a BIM Execution Plan to help them understand content standards such as wall types and best practices when it comes to understanding file size and file performance.
Mistake #2: Sharing Outdated Content
One of the most painful mistakes you can make when collaborating on a project is sharing outdated content. This could happen when you share initial content at the beginning of the project, but as the project progresses, the content is updated multiple times or even replaced. Collaborators need to know that the piece of content that they are using is the correct and most up to date one for their project.
Solution
To prevent collaborators from using outdated content, you could share a project-specific library through a content management platform. This is particularly helpful for Owners and Clients, as this results in the Owner’s content being used in the project with the Architect of Record rather than the AOR’s standard.
UNIFI simplifies the shared library process by allowing you to set a pinned library in Project Analytics. This feature lets users search certain libraries connected with a project when that project is open in Revit. This ensures that the owner’s standard is used.
Mistake #3: Not Ensuring Project Security
Another major mistake that BIM managers could make when collaborating is not ensuring project security. For example, you could share content that you purchased, but someone could reuse that content without licensed permission. Without proper security on a project, private information could be released without permission. This leads to a lack of trust and confidence in your firm.
Solution
To ensure project security, you could utilize a tool such as BIM 360, which offers granular permissions when it comes to viewing, downloading, and editing content and project files.
Mistake #4: Not Customizing the Level of Access Outsiders Can Have
In sharing secure content, it’s helpful to be able to customize user access to your materials, or you could end up with undesirable content changes. For example, if you are an owner sharing content with multiple Architects of Record (AOR’s) and they can make changes to the content that other AOR’s are accessing, then suddenly you may have multiple projects with updates. This can cause some serious problems.
Here’s another example: if you are working collaboratively on a project and all users are iterating the same content, then the project could end up with different versions of the same piece of content if collaborators don’thave permission to make updates.
Solution
When customizing access to content, you’ll want to consider whether you want collaborators to have admin capabilities (approve/reject uploaded content, submit content requests, etc.) or if you simply want them to be able to access content from a protected library that requires Company Admin approval for any updated content. Using a cloud-based BIM management platform that allows you to customize user access is vital to protecting your content.
Mistake #5: Making It Difficult for Collaborators to Find Content
You never want your collaborators to feel like you dropped them in the middle of a maze with no map to guide them out. And that is exactly how they’d feel if your content is not structured intuitively and is not searchable. Instead, you want the content to be easy for users to find. This reduces miscommunication, saves time, and increases the overall quality of your project since team members can find exactly what they are looking for.
Solution
If you are using a content management platform, such as UNIFI, you could create saved searches, tag content specific to a project, or even create a library or private channel that includes only content that collaborators would need.
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Mistake #6: Not Having an Easy Way to View Revision History
Whenever you are collaborating with others on a project, you want to make sure that you have a simple method for viewing project history. This comes in handy in circumstances when you might have to troubleshoot. For example, if a project is running slow, you need to be able to identify who may have made a significant revision that spiked the file size. This can be difficult to do if you have a large team of collaborators.
Solution
UNIFI’s Project Analytics can help you find this information quickly by allowing you to view file size and specific changes that have been made. As an Admin, you’d be able to quickly identify who did which revisions and make any necessary adjustments.
UNIFI’s Content Request system is another way to provide a clear revision history. Revision notes are automatically generated when content is updated with this system in UNIFI. It’s also a fantastic way to encourage feedback on content that may not be built appropriately.
Mistake #7: Allowing Duplicate Content to Be Added to Your Content Management Platform
If users can add duplicate content to your content management platform, it can cause chaos. Soon multiple pieces of the same content are floating around, and no one knows which one to use.
Solution
To avoid BIM content chaos during collaboration, it is vital that users be unable to upload duplicate versions of content. We recommend that you use a BIM Content Management platform that automatically updates previous content to the newly updated piece of content but that also allows you to access previous versions, as well as future-proof content and legacy content.
Conclusion
Don’t worry, we still believe in working together. But it’s vital that BIM managers avoid these common mistakes so that a project runs smoothly. UNIFI’s secure platform simplifies this management process, allowing managers to customize permissions, manage revisions, and more.
Are you trying to work more efficiently as a BIM manager? Perhaps you’ve found yourself frustrated with lagging Revit models or maddening project delays.
We’ve put together the biggest time wasters that every BIM manager should avoid, and we provide you with helpful tips to avoid them.
Time Waster #1: Revit-Slowing Content
One of the biggest time wasters a BIM Manager faces is when Revit is running slow. All that time waiting for content and projects to load adds up. To fix this, make sure that you keep an eye on the following:
– Team members using different versions of Revit
– Overuse of in-place families
– CAD imports
– Improper import of images
– Plan regions not created as dependent views
– Minor Revit version corruption
You can read more about why these cause issues and how to fix them in our article, What Happened and Who-dun-it.
Time Waster #2: Content That Is Difficult to Find
When team members can’t find content easily, then they can waste significant time searching for it. Ensure that you implement a BIM content management system that allows you to filter your search criteria, save searches, and tag content.
Time Waster #3: Inefficient Content Request Workflow
An inefficient system for handling content requests is another time suck for BIM managers. You want to make sure that team members can easily submit their requested content and indicate which project they need it for, the due date, priority, the library it needs to be added to, file type, name, and any additional instructions they may want to add.
UNIFI streamlines this process through its content notification feature. Users can drag and drop design documents and receive notifications on the status of their requests.
Time Waster #4: Not Limiting User Access
If you lack a system for managing who has access to what content, you could waste significant time for your firm. Users without proper authority could add content to incorrect locations. You and your team members may have to wade through content and content requests that aren’t relevant to you. Or perhaps your team may not be able to include the BIM guru or team specialist to help create or manage a subset for content associated with special workflows.
To prevent these setbacks, you’ll want to utilize a content management platform that allows you to manage users both individually and by groups. You’ll want to be able to assign both company admins (who can manage all libraries in a company) and library admins (who can only manage a specific library).
Time Waster #5: Not Keeping Close Tabs on the Health of Projects
Several problems could come up that impact a project. If you let these issues go, they could eventually become big problems. The key is to nip them in the bud. If you tend to them early on, the fix can be relatively easy and save you a significant amount of time.
UNIFI’s Project Analytics shows you the overall health of a project and notifies you when certain issues come up. You can customize these according to what is important to you and your firm. These health indicators notify you of items that need attention before they become major problems.
Time Waster #6: Answering the Same Question Over and Over Again
If you find yourself answering the same question repeatedly, this probably means that you don’t have easy-to-access onboarding videos and documents to get people started. It could also mean that there are workflows and technical issues that may need more exploration.
Having an easy-to-access BIM guide and technical workflow materials allows you to answer questions with consistency and increase the efficiency of your entire team.
Time Waster #7: Long Sync Times
Long sync times quickly zap the efficiency (and patience) of a firm. However, with the right tool, it’s a relatively simple fix. Quite often it means that a particular user needs a better internet connection or computer.
UNIFI’s Project Analytics can help you pinpoint the specific user causing the spike in sync time so that you can contact them and notify them of the needed fix.
Once you identify and fix these lagging sync times, your company should see a considerable improvement in efficiency.
Conclusion
Your time is precious. Once you trim out these time wasters, you should experience a great sense of efficiency in your BIM management plan. Are there other time wasters you have found? Please comment below and let us know.
