Autodesk, Vela Join to Integrate Field BIM with Navisworks

Using Vela Systems software --including bar-coding and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tracking technology--builders on-site can access a data-rich Autodesk Navisworks project model during the construction phase. Instead of leaving the Autodesk Navisworks model and its data behind in the office or job trailer, jobsite users can work with Vela Systems software on mobile tablet computers to access the intelligent model on-site. This makes it possible to track material production and installation, manage commissioning, conduct quality assurance/quality control inspections, do punch lists and create electronic owner-handover documentation. Autodesk Navisworks users may designate which information will be managed in Vela Systems and, as a result, the Vela Systems software enables this data to be properly managed and used in the field. The integration between the products is bi-directional and automated. The result is that the information from the field connects the "should be" state-of-design to the "as-is" state-of-construction.

New Solution Applied to Autodesk AEC Headquarters in Waltham, MA.

During the construction of Autodesk's new AEC headquarters on Trapelo Road in Waltham, Mass., Tocci Building Corporation utilized Vela Systems Materials Tracker and Issues and Punchlists software products. By combining Vela Systems software with Autodesk Navisworks, all parties were able to monitor and track office workstations at the new Autodesk facility. Vela Systems Materials Tracker pulled objects from the Autodesk Navisworks model through an automated integration, and then captured their status information (for example, delivered, ready-to-install, installed or damaged) from the field. This field gathered data was then deposited into the Autodesk Navisworks model. Tocci and subcontractor Creative Office Pavilion were then able to visualize and monitor the installation and quality status of workstations in real-time, making it possible to plan for shortages or discrepancies accordingly.

The benefits of extending BIM to the field on the Autodesk headquarters project were threefold. First, upon delivery, the inventory of available workstations was confirmed against the model - this revealed that all necessary components were on-site ahead of the actual delivery manifests so the next phase of work could begin sooner. Then, the staging, assembly and installation processes for workstations were tracked from Vela Systems back into the Autodesk Navisworks model through color coding of model elements. This enabled the team to visualize available inventory and coordinate installation processes more efficiently. Last, the quality control processes of final inspection and owner punch lists were automated in the field with Vela Systems and linked back to the Autodesk Navisworks model, improving team communication and project delivery.

"Tying together field data with the model creates new opportunities for construction delivery methods and oversight," said Tocci Building Corporation general superintendent, Bob Tierney. "By using the integrated Autodesk and Vela Systems solution on this project, we demonstrated how we can connect the 'virtually built' building to the 'physically built' one. The model gives us better oversight because everyone can instantly visualize problem areas as 'hot spots' with live data from the field. It is the obvious next step for contractors looking to maximize the value of BIM."

"The combination of using 3D modeling tools and practicing BIM is helping to transform the building industry," said Tim Douglas, Autodesk industry solutions manager, construction. "The integration of Vela Systems Field BIM solution into Autodesk Navisworks software provides our customers with better accuracy and efficiency for the duration of the project--beginning in the design phase and continuing through field implementation and handover."

"By integrating Vela Systems and Autodesk Navisworks, our joint customers can leverage the transformative power of BIM beyond design into the construction process," said Tim Curran, CEO, Vela Systems. "By leveraging the model in the field, contractors benefit from greater efficiencies and owners get a better end product."

BIM is an integrated process that allows architects, engineers and builders to explore a project digitally before it's built. Coordinated, reliable information is used throughout the process to design innovative projects, accurately visualize appearance for better communication, and simulate real-world performance for better understanding of important characteristics such as cost, scheduling and environmental impact.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design and engineering software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

----------

If news like this is important to you, sign up for TenLinks Daily, our free newsletter.

----------

See Also

Autodesk Website

AutoCAD Reading Room - news, tutorials, reviews, more

Additional News

Jan 8 - Autodesk to Speak at Needham Growth Stock Conference
Jan 05 - Autodesk Acquires 3AM Solutions for Dynamite Products
Dec 17 - AutoCAD Exchange Online Community Hits 300,000 Visitors
Dec 14 - Greenleaf 3D to Sell Autodesk Ecotect Analysis Products
Dec 11 - Autodesk Creates RetroFit Online Game for Green Buildings
Dec 11 - Over 25,000 Attend Autodesk University 2009
Dec 3 - Autodesk Seek Expands to Add Building Product Manufacturers
Dec 1 - Autodesk Education Community Hits 1M Members Milestone
Dec 1 - Autodesk to Present at Investor Conferences
Nov 18 - Autodesk Q3 Revenue Down 31% to $417M with $30M Profit
Nov 17 - Autodesk SketchBook Mobile Passes 1M Downloads on App Store
Nov 12 - Autodesk Updates Sustainable Design Online Guide for AEC
Nov 12 - Autodesk, ICF Study to Achieve Buildings' Carbon Reductions
Nov 11 - Autodesk Waltham Office Gets LEED-CI Platinum Certification
Nov 11 - Autodesk to Embed Intergraph ISOGEN in AutoCAD Plant 3D
Nov 10 - Autodesk Green Building Studio Adds 1.6M Weather Locations
Nov 9 - Autodesk Develops C-FACT to Reduce Corporate Greenhouse Gas
Nov 2 - Autodesk Q3 Conference Call on Nov 17, 2PM PT
Oct 30 - Autodesk Announces Design Contest Winners at WorldSkills
Oct 28 - Autodesk Ships Constructware 2010 for Construction Projects
Oct 28 - Sustainable Minds R1 Imports BOM Data from Inventor
Oct 23 - Autodesk Announces Support for Windows 7
Oct 22 - Autodesk Releases Subscription Advantage Packs 2010
Oct 23 - Autodesk University 2009 Virtual Passes Available
Oct 7 - Autodesk to Host KETIV Manufacturing Academy Event
Sep 24 - Autodesk Apps to Run on Mac Via Parallels Desktop
Sep 21 - 3ds Max Design Certification Available for North America
Sep 10 - Autodesk Increases Support for Schools
Sep 9 - Autodesk Ships AutoCAD Plant 3D 2010
Sep 1 - Autodesk to Present at Investor Conferences
Aug 31 - Autodesk to Launch LandXplorer at AGI in Northern Europe
Aug 26 - Autodesk Acquires BOSS Int'l Water Analysis Apps
Aug 14 - Autodesk Q2 Revenue Down 33% to $415M with $10.5M Profit
Aug 5 - Autodesk, Vela Join to Integrate Field BIM with Navisworks
Aug 3 - Autodesk Q2 Conference Call on Aug 13, 5PM ET
Jul 27 - Autodesk Offers '2010 Certification' Program for Designers
Jul 23 - Autodesk to Convert BMW Design Data into Virtual Models
Jul 22 - Autodesk Debuts $15M Software Grant for Clean Tech Startups
Jul 13 - Autodesk Launches Russian, Spanish, Brazilian Users Sites
Jul 9 - Autodesk Plant Network Counts Over 50 Partners
Jun 24 - Autodesk Introduces Moldflow 2010
Jun 24 - Autodesk Offers Inventor Fusion as Free 'Tech Preview'
Jun 23 - Autodesk Ships Navisworks 2010
Jun 16 - Autodesk Claims Over 1,000 Aerospace Customers
Jun 10 - Autodesk Adds Products, Enhancements to Assistance Program
Jun 5 - AutoCAD Civil 2009 Update 3 Available
Jun 4 - Autodesk to Webcast Annual Meeting of Stockholders
June 02 - Autodesk Sr VP to Present at UBS Technology Conference
May 22 - Autodesk Q1 Revenue Down 29% to $426M, Losses $32.1M
May 21 - Autodesk San Francisco Gallery Certified LEED Platinum
May 19 - Autodesk Joins CCI 'Project Two Degrees' Initiative
May 14 - ALGOR v23.1 Released for FEA
May 5 - Autodesk Offers Industry Design Suites v2010 for Students
May 5 - Autodesk Q1 Conference Call on May 21, 5PM ET
May 1 - Autodesk Ships Ecotect Analysis 2010 for AEC
Apr 23 - HNTB Federal Gets Autodesk BIM Experience Award
Apr 16 - Autodesk Imagine Tour in Minneapolis, April 23
Apr 15 - Autodesk Student Community to Get AutoCAD 2010 for Free
Apr 14 - Autodesk Developer Network Supports 2010 Product Portfolio
Apr 13 - Discovery Channel To Use Inventor for 'Doing DaVinci' Show
Apr 13 - Autodesk Grants $17M in Software to FIRST Robotic Contest
Apr 13 - Autodesk Launches Online Partner Portal
Apr 9 - Autodesk Seeks Entries in 3D Design Contest
Apr 6 - Autodesk Launches Assistance Program for Unemployed
Apr 6 - Autodesk, Citrix 2009 Gets ASAP Alliance Excellence Award
Apr 2 - Autodesk to Cut Up to $150M Of Operating Cost
Apr 2 - Autodesk Appoints Mark Hawkins as CFO
Mar 24 - Autodesk Introduces 3ds Max 2010
Mar 24 - Autodesk 2010 Product Line Available
Mar 19 - Autodesk to Hold Investor Day on April 2
Mar 18 - Autodesk Names Vancouver 3rd in Digital Cities Initiative
Mar 18 - Autodesk Sponsor PlanetSolar Sailboat Project
Mar 13 - Torsten Moses to Pay Autodesk Damages, Stop LT Extender
Mar 10 - Autodesk Adds 30 VARs, VADs to Platinum Club
Mar 9 - Autodesk Honors 4 VAR on 25th Anniversary
Mar 9 - Autodesk Names ADEPT Airmotive as Inventor of the Year 2008
Feb 27 - Autodesk Q4 Revenue Down 18% to $490M
Feb 26 - Sustainability Concerns Engineers - Autodesk/ASME Survey
Feb 10 - Autodesk Unveils 2010 Products for Mechanical Design
Feb 10 - Autodesk Announces Infrastructure Modeling Software
Feb 6 - Autodesk Unveils AutoCAD 2010 for 3D Design, Documentation
Feb 5 - Autodesk Unveils Inventor Fusion Technology
Feb 4 - 3ds Max Lighting Called 'Gold Standard'
Feb 2 - Autodesk Q4 Conference Call on February 26, 2PM PT
Jan 29 - Autodesk Announces Revit BIM Award to Dunham Associates
Jan 21 - Autodesk 2008 Inventor of the Year Award Voting Opens
Jan 21 - Autodesk Completes Algor Acquisition
Jan 15 -  Autodesk Restructuring Includes 10% Workforce Reduction
Feb 4 - 3ds Max Lighting Called 'Gold Standard'
Jan 7 - Autodesk Releases Toxik, Mudbox, Stitcher for Mac
Dec 22 - Autodesk Completes iLogic Acquisition
Dec 22 - Autodesk Completes BIMWorld Acquisition
Dec 17 - Autodesk to Acquire ALGOR for $34M
Dec 16 - Autodesk/RIBA Announces 2008 Green Index Survey Results
Dec 15 - Autodesk Offers Robot Structural Analysis 2009 for AEC
Dec 15 - Autodesk Offers Robot Structural Analysis 2009 for AEC
Dec 10 - Autodesk Launches 3D Design Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark
Dec 8 - Fano, Barbieri, Goeke Win AU Design Slam Contest
Dec 2 - Autodesk to Acquire iLogic for Digital Prototyping
Dec 2 - Autodesk Releases AutoCAD 2009 Subscription Bonus Packs
Nov 24 - Autodesk Releases AutoSketch 10 for 2D Drafting
Nov 21 - Autodesk Q3 Revenue Up 13% to $607M with $104M Profit
Nov 20 - Architects Say 47% of Clients Adopting Some Green Building
Nov 18 - Autodesk to Open AEC Office in Waltham
Nov 11 - Iraq's HEESCO to Use Autodesk, CDW-G Products
Nov 5 - Autodesk Q3 Revenue to Drop to About $600M
Oct 28 - Autodesk Launches Free Formula Car Design Curriculum
Oct 23 - Autodesk Launches AutoCAD Resource Center
Oct 21 - Autodesk Launches Certification Program in Northern Europe
Oct 16 - Autodesk Completes Germany's ECS Acquisition
Oct 8 - Autodesk To Retire Mechanical Desktop
Oct 8 - Autodesk Names IMAGINiT as Reseller of Quarter
Sep 29 - Autodesk Redesigns Student Community, Passes 350K Milestone
Sep 17 - Florida Department of Transportation Picks AutoCAD Civil 3D
Aug 28 - Autodesk to Present at Investor Conferences
Aug 20 - Autodesk Adopts 'Flexible Software Delivery' for AutoCAD
Aug 20 - Autodesk to Acquire Germany's Mensch und Maschine ECS
Aug 15 - Autodesk Q2 Revenue Up 18% to $620M with $90M Profit
Aug 14 - Autodesk Labs Offers Inventor Plastic Features Tech Preview
Aug 14 - Autodesk Releases NavisWorks 2009.1 Portfolio
Aug 12 - Autodesk Unveils Stitcher Unlimited, ImageModeler 2009
Jul 31 - Autodesk Sponsors 2008 Young Architect Awards
Jul 30 - Autodesk Passes 800,000 Milestone for Inventor
Jul 29 - Autodesk VP Finance, Sue Pirri to Present at Crest Forum
Jul 22 - Autodesk Announces Utility Design and Topobase for GIS
Jul 17 - Autodesk Announces 'Build Something' Contest Winners
Jul 14 - Autodesk Names CADD Microsystems as Reseller of Quarter
Alias Design Press Releases
Buzzsaw News
Inventor
Revit News
ALGOR Press Releases

Source: Material used in press releases is often supplied by external sources and used as is.