Just like we learned we can save 1/5 of the construction cost on a project by doing 3D modeling and clash detection. I suspect the ability to coordinate the execution of plans on the cloud is going to have a similar effect on the day-to-day operations of a construction company.

Gantt charts play an important role in the building industry. Whether you are creating a timeline and swim lane around project milestones, ISO 11650 information activities or any other activity within the production of a building, you will most probably have tasks that need to be mapped against time and that have interdependencies. Autodesk Build can import schedules from Microsoft projects.

We quickly investigated whether Navisworks can export into Build, but that is not possible because of how dates are interpreted. After we create the Gantt Chart in Microsoft projects it is a static object within Build.

Once the Gantt chart exists within Build you can update it at a later stage. The tasks on the Gantt chart can then be mapped onto plans you can create. These plans consist of activities which are represented in a visual displayed by a box that can be linked onto other activities with a wire connection.

These tasks can be assigned to individuals, roles and companies and can also be listed under workbooks and location. These assignations allow one to view the plans in logical distributions. In addition to these assignations and time-lining of tasks within plans you can also attach references which include items across the information spectrum like files, RFI’s, equipment and communication.

Basically, any data that you might have gathered during the creation of the project is available for you as resources to complete your tasks within a plan so that you may achieve success in the delivery of your project.

Access to the plans is managed which means that you don’t have to act as a General – alone – when setting up your plans but can instead complete them as a team. The concept of using Build as a switchboard from which your plans can be coordinated is an interesting concept that could be of great use if everybody that participates in a Build license. If I were running a project, I might very well consider this method of information correlation and assigning tasks during my project.

Micrographics already have some clients that are investigating this capability and even using it. Are you missing out by not using this capability on your Build license? Can you add value to your Build license and extract value from by running schedules and plans on the cloud? Perhaps it is time to consider Autodesk Build to execute your plans successfully.

If you need help adopting the AEC Collection or the Autodesk Construction Cloud in your practice or if you are looking to invest in hardware, please contact Micrographics so that we may be of assistance.