AEC TECH NEWS: Autodesk expands availability of cloud-based collaboration service for Revit

San Rafael, Calif. — Autodesk announced the expanded distribution of A360 Collaboration for Revit, a service that works with Revit software to connect project teams with centralized access to BIM project data in the cloud. Released and available in North America only since December 7, 2014, Collaboration for Revit will be available for commercial global use as of January 7, 2016. 

Collaboration for Revit helps project teams conquer the barriers of corporate firewalls and physical location by enabling centralized access to Revit models.  Team members in all disciplines from multiple firms or sites world-wide can access and work in models hosted in the cloud. This virtual colocation is an improvement over costly and inefficient work-arounds for sharing models such as use of FTP sites, sharing software, or email, and adds up to significant benefits that are amplified for global building project teams.

Centralized access to project data contributes to more efficient and easily-managed collaboration whether within a firm or for projects involving remote participants. “Collaboration for Revit provides us greater flexibility,” says Leo Gonzales, BIM Manager at Newman Architects. “If they’re on the road, at a job site, or just working from home, our users can access their Revit projects as if they’re sitting in one of our offices.” 

A360 Collaboration for Revit opens doors to participate in joint ventures and multi-location projects.  “Seamless information sharing between joint ventures and project partners is the future of doing business,” says Gonzales. “And Collaboration for Revit gives us that future… today.”

The reduced need for in-person meetings or co-location of teams translates to lower travel expenses and better work-life balance for project team members.  Physical distribution of teams enabled by Collaboration for Revit can relieve the requirement for office space for all project team members.  Finally, with location not a limiting factor, project leaders have more options for accessing people with the right skill set for a project, resulting in better allocation of team resources.

With the Communicator for Revit chat tool that comes with Collaboration for Revit, project team members can communicate directly with each other, in real-time, within the project models.  A designer in any location can chat with other team members and attach files, images, or Revit screen captures. Teams may not be sitting together, but they're connected better than ever before.  Using real-time chat within project models helps designers not only to stay in touch but to know instantaneously who is working in the model and what they are doing. 

“Communicator makes it easy for our designers to collaborate and communicate with each other, and without leaving their design environment,” says Kal Houhou, Director of Technology at Martinez + Johnson Architecture. “They don’t have to open their email or pick up the phone. They can stay engaged in their design environment and the design process.”

Collaboration for Revit is tightly integrated with Autodesk A360, providing Revit design and engineering teams a centralized cloud-based workspace in which to work together more efficiently on projects and make more effective decisions. External team members and project contributors who do not use or have access to Revit software can view, search, and socially interact on models, discuss challenges and successes, and stay current with project activities.  This is ideal for building owners or others who want to have visibility to the project status, but don’t need full access. 

Jeff Cap, Director of IT at Newman Architects agrees, “Collaboration for Revit is amazing. Our partners and consultants can access Revit projects as if they’re sitting in our office, but without the security risk of accessing our internal network and without the cost of additional hardware or Revit software licenses.” 

Timely feedback and input from an extended team speeds communication timelines and can help ensure project understanding and buy-in.  A360 Collaboration for Revit revolutionizes project collaboration by connecting team members within the Revit models where they work.

Availability and more information

A360 Collaboration for Revit is a cloud service subscription licensed per user and includes a subscription to A360 Team.  A360 Collaboration for Revit is available globally in English starting January 7, 2016, with support for all Revit software languages expected to be available later this month.  Multiple Subscription options are available [annual via the Autodesk Online Store or Autodesk Authorized Resellers; quarterly via Autodesk Authorized Resellers; and monthly via the Autodesk Online Store].