How cloud-based solutions are evolving construction

This blog was first published in the August issue of PBC Today magazine.

The way we store and process information is constantly evolving. Information has become a form of currency in our digital age, so every industry has utilised multiple digital platforms, where stakeholders can exchange and consume information, as well as collaborate based on shared data and tools.

In the architecture, engineering and construction industry, we have come a long way from sending out drawings in the post for review and waiting a long time for comments to be returned. The move to digital and 3D modelling has enabled users to collaborate on models to reduce siloed workflows and highlight construction issues long before work begins. This evolution in workflow reduces duplicated work and eliminates costly and time-consuming errors in the construction phase of a project.

These files are typically stored locally on physical servers based in the individual offices and then collaboration is done by sharing the digital files. While these methods work, expanding and upgrading servers can call for substantial upfront investments in hardware, especially as the amount of data we produce is constantly expanding.

Within the last 10 years, all industries have begun exploring cloud-based solutions as infrastructure and connectivity speeds have drastically improved. Within the Autodesk AEC space, the initial cloud-based solutions were the BIM360 suite of products. This suite of products allows construction professionals to work across the whole lifecycle of a project from design, planning and building through to operation.

The Covid pandemic dramatically changed the way we collaborate, with everyone working from home trying to access data stored in physical office locations. This has pushed companies to explore cloud-based solutions on all projects, breaking down geographical barriers and enabling seamless teamwork among project stakeholders.

The Autodesk AEC offering has evolved from BIM360 to the Autodesk Construction Cloud. Cloud-based collaboration platforms allow architects, engineers, contractors and clients to access, review and mark up project models and documents in real-time. These platforms facilitate concurrent work, streamline communication and eliminate version control issues commonly associated with traditional file-based systems. The cloud empowers teams to collaborate, improve decision-making, reduce errors and accelerate project delivery.

The Autodesk offerings are broken down into Docs, BIM Collaborate/BIM Collaborate Pro, Takeoff and Build. Depending on where you are involved in the project lifecycle will determine what product you are most likely to interact with. Docs is the cloud-based document management and common data environment and is the foundation of the Construction Cloud – the platform from which the other tools work.