Construction management software for project delivery.
4.1/5 (1195 reviews)Pros
How easily I am able to add, merge, and store models. Also, it is pretty easy to add members to a model along with understanding what the different membership levels allow.
Cons
The cutting planes can be really far from the navigation screen which makes it hard & confusing to use. It would useful to be able to alter the nearness & farness of the culling plane such as in Navisworks Manage. I understand that creating too large of an "area" to be viewed/understood by the program bogs down the model, which is trying to be avoided with GLUE in general. However, the near culling plane is sometimes just not cutting it (haha, I hope you enjoyed my pun). Also, people using GLUE specifically cannot create section planes or viewpoints in the iPad model, which makes the model hard for those using it out in the field that wish to save viewpoints or cut into a section of the building. Also in GLUE, it is nice to be able to lock measurements in the x, y, or z axis, but there is no shortcut to exit this mode and to go back to measuring in a 3-dimensional direction. The only way I have found it possible to get out of the dimension lock is by exiting the model & re-entering. GLUE is a great software honestly, but were pushing for the model to be a lot more user friendly & give trade engineers confidence to turn to the model to answer coordination questions easily. If the program becomes to hard to use or makes the model seem unreliable, then we have an issue. So far, a lot of people love the program, but going back and forth between Navisworks and GLUE, I notice some features in Navisworks Manage that the team would love to use.
It is great to track your punchlist and rolling completion issues. We did not use it for commissioning, but I would have liked to try it so we could link it to our 360 Glue Revit models. This looks like a very helpful option.
Pros
1). In the field, the iPad app is very easy to use, with the exceptions of a few small things.
2). It is especially easy for contractors to walk their Issues, take pictures, make comments, etc.
3). The print reports and schedule reports module is really helpful. There are many different report types and layout options, which is repeatedly useful.
4). It is easy to see any pertinent info in Issue list view, and print quickly from that page.
5). Customizing the different types of drop down Issue Filters for different users is very handy, and necessary. And it is very easy to sort and search for Issues using the filter module in Issue List view.
6). After I figured out how to contact tech support, it was certain that I would get a diligent response. I would say response time was always within 24 hours, unless I said it was urgent, and very through.
Cons
Here are common Problems our large team and I run into often:
1). The website commonly has a huge latency when loading new pages. And I mean typically 3-10 seconds, and occasionally 10-20 seconds to load a page.
2). More often than I would like, the Issue List column sorting feature at the top of each column on the website version just will not work.
3). Pinning an issue from the website version is not very intuitive, and takes you a completely different pathway to find the maps. This should be something that is easy to get to from the window of an open issue, just like the iPad app version.
4). Sometimes the syncing function has an error and you need to re-sync.
5). Not frequently, but few times more than I would have liked, the site would just not let people do things like change statuses, or on a couple of occasions even just open the site.
6). After walking in the field adding issues for a while, the iPad app will stop letting you load photos. You have to close and restart the app and you're good to go again.
Looking for better controls within the clash tools, better alignment with how Navisworks Manage handles clash tests. Tolerances, are not as good, as well the general navigation of clash results is slower than Navisworks.
I do like the product, in general try and implement on all my larger projects - it is a great tool for a VDC manager! However construction teams are using Navisworks instead of the Glue tools for clash detection coordination. It would be more collaborative if the clash tests were hosted\tracked on the 360 Glue site - at this time its much too time consuming to track and manege the clashing on Glue site. The cloud hosted models however do make it better even in Navisworks to ensure your using the latest modeling.
Another feature that I would really like to see is a managed folder structure (As administrator) I would like to have the capacity to create folders that only certain users could access (Like a client area only) this would allow me to publish modeling (Clash free) to my clients folder - they could then review the finished product.
Pros
Saves time in downloading and uploading - creates better collaboration by having a format all team members can review - without specialized software.
Cons
For construction trades to fully embrace the clash tools need to be more powerful, and "Navisworks Like".
More control for owner, or client access of finished product - it generally does not translate well in review of an ongoing clash coordination model (problems may be evident and misunderstood by some clients).
Experience is good with BIM360 if you use the total cycle of BIM360. Great workflow for design partners (A/C/MEP).
I'm a General Contractor and also have to deal with subcontractors, suppliers and partners. they deliver other formats such as IFC files. that's lacking in BIM360 and Navisworks right now. there is no good workflow to engage the partners to the platform.
Even so is Issue Management missing. in Design stage it is difficult to track an Issue.
then we miss the integration with planning/scheduling software there is no development on:
BIM360 Plan
BIM360 Schedule
the same with:
Quantity Take Off
BIM Model check on standards / BIM execution plan
Rule based checking in the model for example: clash on: swing of the door hits anything in his way.
integration with planning /scheduling to make 4D still images and animations.
there is one in Navisworks I know but it would be great to have that integration with:
Revit model + Partner Models -> Glue -> planning connection with geometrie -> make animations or images/bookwork for realisation stage.
Then data -> cross project data pull out for Quality / Safety advisors and board.
visualisation of that data
And the biggest miss is one single platform login. now its scatered all around single point solutions.
Still waiting for BIM360 Docs to be more mature. Our current document management system is still better than Docs so I can't start implementation of BIM360 Docs if there are some key functionality missing right now.
I'm sorry for the critical notes I made above but I think it's good to be critical and hopefully you can get the benefits of it.
And as you might know we love BIM360 and are heavily using it on our projects!
keep up the good work and great vision for the future of BIM360!
Greetings, Gert-Jan Ditsel - Dura Vermeer
Pros
Design stage integration and workflow
Revit -> Glue -> Navisworks (clash +Model Coordination) -> Field
Cons
no single sign on, no mature Document management
I've used BIM-360 as part of the BIM coordination process on 2 separate projects. The idea is that you store your CAD files in the cloud, and the BIM administrator for the project creates composite ("merged") models, combining all of the trade models. These merged models are stored in the cloud and are accessible from computers and ipads. The ability to view current and updated models on an ipad in the field is really the main benefit to using BIM 360, in my opinion.
Having said that, the only way that particular feature (and all of the others, for that matter) works properly, is if the project BIM manager does all of the necessary "housekeeping" so that you have good model hygiene - like using proper model origin and orientations, eliminating "space junk" from the model files. If you have any of those things, the default model view is zoomed way out, and makes it almost impossible to zoom into the model. Every time you hit the "top view" or "home view" buttons, it resets back to being zoomed way out. The BIM 360 model viewer actually works better on the ipad that it's PC application.
Other features that leave a bit to be desired are:
*Navigating the model (PC app). Saving and recalling viewpoints, and running clash detection. Navisworks Manage is far superior in all of those areas.
*If you use BIM 360 to view your model, as opposed to using Navisworks or Revit, you have to upload your CAD file every time you want to see a model update. The upload takes some time and becomes somewhat tedious. There is BIM 360 plugin for Navis Manage that allows you to log into the BIM 360 server through Navis, and view any of the merged models that have been created. So you're essentially using Navis to navigate, take viewpoints, make annotations, run clashes. But you still have to upload your own CAD file to the cloud if you want to see the changes take place in current Navis session. You can save a local copy of the model as an NWD file.
*Navigating the file/folder structure is tedious. When you download a file (another trade's CAD, for example) from Bim 360, it NEVER remembers the previous save location. Very annoying.
FINAL THOUGHTS: We scrapped BIM 360 and use only Navis and Dropbox for coordination currently. If our foremen could view an accurate and current model on an ipad in the field the product would be worth consideration. Proper BIM management makes all the difference. There are glitches, and a learning curve.
Pros
The ability for the field to call up the model on an ipad.
Cons
Everything else is inferior to currently existing market products.
Recently HB Construction in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is offering our design teams and owners new tools to help facilitate our commitment to providing quality buildings. Autodesk BIM 360 products, Glue and Field with Autodesk Building Ops are cloud based mobile platforms used for coordination, collaboration, QA/QC management, asset and finally preventative maintenance. Autodesk's BIM tools are transforming HB's handover experience to our owners and building operators giving them access on day one of operations to the information they need.
Gathering of building data starts in the early stages of pre-construction. HB creates construction models either from the design models or from 2D construction sets. Using Autodesk BIM 360 Glue, models are used to coordinate location of trade's elements virtually before placement in the field. We work with all our sub-contractors to sign-off on a fully coordinated model before field work begins.
While working on coordinating element locations in BIM 360 Glue, HB and its subs also use Autodesk BIM 360 Field to provide asset data important to the building elements warranty, preventative maintenance and operation management. BIM 360 Field also supports our field management allowing HB to track issues for quality assurance, safety, and commissioning.
As the project nears completion, Building Ops connects to BIM 360 Field allowing all the relevant documents, models, photographs and videos associated with the building components and asset data to be migrated and conveniently available in Building Ops. Using the available data and information in Building Ops the HB warranty team continually updates and manages asset information such as location, operation, maintenance, repairs and service requests for two years after substantial completion. Those in charge of operating and maintaining the building are invited and can use the mobile or web interface of the application also. In fact, we encourage this.
HB is proud to offer Autodesk BIM 360 Glue and Field and Autodesk Building Ops as added value services to our clients as they enable HB to save time, money and resources with a fully coordinated data-centric model used to manage field quality and safety during construction passing on to owners and operators, true real-time asset information reflective of the building design and construction that they may trust and access on day one of the handover experience.
Pros
The ability to access real data from the cloud. The ease at learning and getting started quickly with really world results. Ability to show subs the ease and capabilities so that they feel part of the team.
Cons
I do wish the BIM 360 products were more integrated. Each of the Autodesk BIM 360 tools offer such needed benefits that if they were able to interact with each other our teams would use them even more. When a team member on the site has to go to 3 or 4 different tools to access the same data it can get tiring.
Typically BIM Coordination occurs at the design level and involves long periods of methodical planning and QAQC activities. My experience is that, while important, it doesn't matter what A/E designs when subcontractors are given means & methods in their contract and have their own layouts to design, submit, fabricate, and install.
Using BIM 360 Glue for construction activities has been amazing. The ability my subs have to constantly update their models within BIM 360 has allowed us to run continuous clash reports on the merged coordination model. In the fast-paced construction phase, it has been crucial to ensure that all trades are coordinated before they send their parts to shop in order to facilitate a smooth installation with minimal field changes. Limiting field changes helps us save money and time; that being said, BIM 360 Glue has already paid for itself.
Overall Quality: 5 stars due to its reputation and integration with Autodesk's line of products (Revit/CAD on the design-side, and Navis/BIM 360 Field on the construction side).
Ease of Use: 4 stars due to Friendy GUI, and familiar functionality from desktop to iPad. However, it's annoying to have to manually run clashes every time the merged model is updated (which can be daily). This is VERY time-consuming if you have multiple clash sets between disciplines.
Features and Functionality: 4 stars due to clunky clash detection (it's easier and more helpful to run clash detection with Navisworks). Everybody in the field is in LOVE with the iPad app, though. The 3D walkthroughs of the model with accelerometer and gyroscope sensor input are amazing. It's great walking through a site-in-progress with the client, and pull up BIM360 Glue on the iPad, drop a pin on your location in the floor plan, and give them a live 3D view of what space will look like.
Customer support: 5 stars Autodesk forums are the best.
Value: 5 stars, we pay our license fee and can add as many subcontractor users as needed. The saving in reduced field changes/mistakes has paid for the license ten-fold.
Pros
-iPad functionality
-Ease of model updating
-Ability to share with the client in an easy-to-grasp way
Cons
-Clunky clash detection
-Slow performance on legacy hardware
-Inability to auto-run clash detection
We tried to use this program to keep track of inspections and open items on the jobsite. I think the user interface could be a lot more user friendly. I see this program's main use as creating issues and distributing those issues. This could easily be done with an excel spreadsheet.
As far as creating checklists, when you are done creating checklists they auto-populate into one main area. So say we create 1000 checklists, in order to find that one checklist I would have to sort through that pool of 1000. There should be different folders you can put them into or they should populate by trade (i.e. plumbing, electrical, etc.) or by title of the checklist.
This same problem applies to when an issue is created. Yes, you can sort by company, but I don't think punch list issues should be pooled together with field issues. They should be separated by category when you go into the issues tab.
I think there should be a separate interface for Owner's. Owner's should be able to still create field issues or punch list items for the GC, but I don't agree that they should be able to see all other issues created by the GC.
I also don't like the fact that there is an email notification sent for every issue created. Maybe I missed it in the settings, but there should be different settings for email notifications. I was getting sometimes up to 100 email notifications regarding punch list each day. It was a major turn off for me using this program.
Pros
I like that you can add consultants, architects, engineers, Owners, etc. I like the fact that you can add comments and pictures to issues. This makes it effective when using on an ipad in the field. I think the comments should come with a signature so we know who made the comment instead of having to type it manually and it should also be date and time stamped. This is effective in tracking open items and seeing when they are closed.
Cons
Uploading drawings and other documents is a nightmare. There has got to be an easier way than waiting minutes for the drawings to upload and jam up my computer.
The same applies to syncing. It shouldn't take several minutes to sync wirelessly. It was painful having to wait for the ipad app to sync. And if you don't sync you can lose everything if something happens to the ipad. This did happen to some of our team members, painful.
Great tools. Some are very usefull (BIM360Team) and in the perfekt pricing. Some should get more funktions to be helpfull (BIM360Docs) or only should learn from the other BIM Tools. So it's not possible to view Office-Files on BIM Docs and it allready works in BIM360Team. Allso I miss the upload and update funktion of complet folders. This was possible in the old version of Team. In BIMDocs there is only the oppotunity to upload files (no folder!). So it's hard to keep the lokal and cloud area on the same database.
To share files between different Cloud Tools isn't working. Therefore the BIM Docs area is made for. I know it, but at this time it's hard to handle it.
In the end I will thank you for all the help I get from support team. You do a great job.
Also, you should know, that I like the cloud-products. It's the only way to work in future and your products, with all of their mistakes, bugs and missing funktions, are the the top 5 in the world.
Thanks for your innovations!
Pros
Many, but the most importants are: View all Data online without download them, communication, easy to use
Cons
Still too much missing features!!!
Data lokal are not automaticly compare to the cloud and the pricing is not attraktiv for start working with the cloud. The first step should be cheap. When you place your data in the cloud, found out, that it's working fine, you mostly will not exit the system. But meanwhile you start use the system and try to invite some more, a high pricing will avoide to get the first step in the cloud. It will be helpfull that a small admin-team should be allowed to use it for free. Comercial users like worker, industrie, snd so on have to pay for it, after the admins arranged everything.
Collation of data at project completion was the major benefit of the FIELD software which was backed up by the ability to attach evidence at checklist creation.
Pros
The ease of collating records on completion of a project has been huge as has day to day monitoring of checks and issues. Supporting evidence attached immediately to a checklist has also been of great benefit reducing the risk of losing information. The availability of analyzing issues has improved the approach to recording of such information and encouraged the Health & Safety triangle approach to recording minor issues and the hope of decreasing the occurrence of more major Non-Conformances.
Cons
An ability to sign off particular queries within a checklist would be a great improvement allowing the monitoring of HOLD points within works which can only be done by splitting Checklists up under the current system.
Digital signatures through iPads are not accurate and become less so when pads are holding a lot of data. We cannot issue iPads to everyone within a project and thus cannot sign off through individual log-ins but a system to sign in as a signatory and have that recognized within the checklist history would be of great benefit.
Functionality on browsers for the desktop access varies and does not allow certain actions on certain browsers. Our client does not have the freedom to download browsers and are locked out by the network administration so a more uniform performance on these platforms would be beneficial.
I have been using the BIM 360 software on my large construction site (1+ B) for the last 9 months. We use it for our own punchlist tracking as well as tracking completion lists and punch lists created for us by others. We chose it over other options due to the ability to import out of other software programs directly into BIM 360 to add their reports into 1 location and then distribute to subcontractors and internally from there to fix deficiencies. It does the tracking, importing, markups of pictures and document viewing well and it suites our needs.
My biggest concern with the software is the interface needs improvement to be closer to a cell phone / icon based when using iPads in the field. The interface is not bad, but when working with skilled tradesmen who don't often utilize technology I find some of the software is confusing to some of them. A more icon-driven interface I believe would help that problem and allow some of these users to get more out of the software, and not be quite so intimidated. One of our biggest hurdles was simply getting them to use it as they were afraid they would "mess up the job". Once they understood where to go and how to use it they quickly became comfortable but I can understand that maybe not every company would spend the time. We ended up getting a class going for these users and writing a visual guide for the users to follow along with. After a few days, the guides were no longer needed.
Pros
Able to easily punch list and review all areas of our job site. Tracking and time stamping is fantastic for documenting the job site conditions and tracking days to close.
Cons
Software interface could use some work so that less tech savvy people can pick up the software faster and cut down on training time.
I have been using BIM360 for almost 4 years. It started on one of my companies largest projects to date. The use was for tracking and reporting of issues that came up as well as designation for items that were ready to ship. I think that the software works really well. You have the ability to attach all forms of documents, fill out and customize many different fields and most importantly, share the information real time with many different direct reports and other departments. This allows for a very high level of detail and documentation and enhance communication so that everyone knows what the status of every piece is. The output reports are pretty nice too, however, they can get rather long depending on the project you are working on. However, you have the ability to customize what gets reported and who it gets sent to on a daily basis. Customer service has done a decent job in working with my company. On occation, the speed at which issues get resolved can be frustrating, but the BIM team does a good job at working through issues. The one main complaint I have is the constant changes and updates. When i first started working with the software, it was awesome, then the first update happened and it all went downhill. It has slowly crept back up, but I don't think it has ever been as good as when I first used it. However, this is specifically speaking in the realm of what I am currently doing, as a whole, I think the software offers a valuable service.
Pros
Ability to attach all levels of documentation, customization, tracking ability, output reporting.
Cons
Picture viewing and editing, updates
I love the ease of sharing and accessing models using BIM 360 Glue, but the process of actually Gluing models from Revit is painful.
1) There's no option to batch select views to Glue. You have to *individually click* each view you want to upload. There should be a way to window-select or shift-select views to Glue.
2) To make it even more painful, once the views are Gluing, if you are updating a Glued view that you uploaded before, you're forced to *individually click* the "Update" button for every. single. one. Hundreds of views will be hundreds of clicks. There needs to be better functionality to batch-select, batch-review, and batch-update.
3) No suitable geometry warnings. Again, *individually click* each warning when a view is empty. Don't force me to click "OK" every single time. Just report it at the end of Gluing "These views contained no suitable geometry and were not Glued."
4) The Glue program in Windows is too narrow to use! It's probably 600 pixels wide as far as I can tell, and making it fullscreen does nothing!
I don't have much opinion on the other BIM360 products as we simply aren't using them much yet. BIM360 Team/Collaboration for Revit is great, though.
Pros
Ease of sharing content.
Cons
User-hostile interface.
No possibility of batch or automated functions.
BIM 360 is a much needed centralized information platform where you can share all the information regarding a Civil Engineering and Architecture project with all the team, or teams, that are participating in such project. I find this tool entirely useful for my projects, because I can share all the information about a project with my team, involving different disciplines such as Structural Engineering, Architecture, Plumbing Engineering, Interior Designers, and, most importantly, the Client Team.
The main difference about BIM 360 and other cloud services is that it allow us to review Autodesk files. Personally, in the projects I've participated, I've used it for reviewing, markups, and comment files from AutoCAD, Revit, and 3DS max. This is very useful because you don't have to install an app for using this service, all you have to do is access to the BIM 360 page from any smartphone, tablet, or pc, and you can view the model from that page.
Pros
1) Access to the Autodesk files for Reviewing.
2) Saving all the information regarding a Civil Engineering Project.
3) Access to the Autodesk files from any smartphone, tablet, or pc.
4) Interaction with the models without the need of an app, just by accessing from any browser.
5) Markups and comment sharing.
Cons
The only con that I can think about is that you cannot edit files in this software. But, since its purpose is just to share information, I don't think that is necessarily a con.
Pros:
Easy to use for those that don't use BIM Software everyday.
Cross Platform Use
Easy for upload/download across many machines/users (Vs regular cloud)
Can use many filetypes.
Same data is there across all platforms.
Cons:
UI for those of us that use Navis on the regular.
Won't let you glue out of AutoCAD always. Causes crashes.
Must have the AutoCAD file closed if you are trying to glue off the desktop app.
Navigation on iPads is a bit hard to learn at first for field staff.
iPad model updates are spotty. I field many phone calls from field staff in regards to models not being available.
Overall Great Product though! Has greatly improved our workflow over the past 2/3 years.
Pros
Cross Platform Use, Easy to use for non computer users. Same data across platforms. We use as a cloud storage for files across offices and detailers.
Cons
UI for those of us that use Navis on the regular.
Won't let you glue out of AutoCAD always. Causes crashes.
Must have the AutoCAD file closed if you are trying to glue off the desktop app.
Navigation on iPads is a bit hard to learn at first for field staff.
iPad model updates are spotty. I field many phone calls from field staff in regards to models not being available.
It allows me to be more active on the construction site to monitor and manage safety of all workers, while completing administration tasks effectively. It allows me to track the service records of plant on site and materials safety data sheets. It helps me to report information and access historical data quickly.
Pros
It allows management to be more active on site while achieving the administration tasks. It efficiently monitors the service verification of plant & equipment on site. Issues can be raised immediately with photographs & maps to clearly outline the problems for assigned SC's. The real time data allows to track progress and achieve targets.
Cons
There is limited storage space & battery life on the ipads. It takes a long time for the sync process to complete. Some information may not sync correctly during transistion from internal wifi hotspot to external mobile phone hotspot. If there barcodes on plant / defect areas are damaged the scanner will not detect the barcode to obtain the information. User error can lead to blurred images or incorrectly use of the different tasks / checklist / equipment. If you create a checklist first without being linked to a specific task or item equipment, this checklist cannot be later linked to that correct task or equipment.
Everyone can see it from anywhere. Issues can be closed from anywhere.
Pros
I like that you can take a picture with the iPad and it tracks through everything. The issues are closed across the board as they are closed in the field and it can allow great communication between the contractors and engineers
Cons
The software is clunky at best. Rediculously slow and unworkable at worst. The program is incredibly complicated and Autodesk offered little assistance unless we were willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money. That is not a viable business model, having followers with no idea how to use the program puts it at a disadvantage compared to CxAlloy which I find to be much more user friendly. There are too many options to wrap your head around, then frustrating nuances that nearly ruin the program (why can't you unselect a choice in a checklist?). B3F is rediculously powerful, but if no one knows how to properly use it we end up spending more time figuring it out and struggling to extract useful information than any amount of time saved. Countless hours have been spent trying to glean useful information from the checklists and there is no pretty way to export them from it. The lack of useful exporting is the final nail in the coffin
There are several general contractors in the area who seem to like the software, but they are not the ones doing the detailing. So maybe it works good for them to have a local site to post drawings and check collisions, but for us drafters, it is a real pain. When I first used 360 glue (several years ago), the functionality with Navis worked pretty good, but then after an update it didn't work the same. It used to be where I could append a BIM 360 glue model into a local navis nwf and it would regen glue files and local file and that was pretty good. After the update, 360 glue files no longer worked at all with the local files. We also like to be able to do modifications and review with collisions prior to posting a drawing for others. So, we are going to using our navis anyways. If we didn't, by the time I post and try to check it in 360 glue, some other trades may start adjust around me, but I might not be finished. So, we like to at least get to a good point prior to posting for others. Then there are the comparisons to Navis. Navis is way better for modeling and clash detection. The top notables for me is, that not only are the measure tools better, but they show coordinates as well for each point selected. The clash detective is way better and keeping certain items transparent or any other override is easier to maintain. It's also a pain when you are trying to get clashes set up and other people are trying to post at the same time. Posting files takes longer than other sites to finish uploading too. In all, BIM 360 Glue is not even close to being as productive as Navis for modeling purposes.
Pros
its always current, don't need to go download files to local drive.
Cons
lots.
good in aiding the recalling closed or in progress issues for resolution is very easy, especially compaired to trawling through paper docments
Pros
easy to recall checklists, issues (snags clean up notices etc.) and using barcodes for relating those issues and checklists to a specific area keeps everything a lot more relevant. We have over 7000 rooms on our project and using the QR codes has let us relate issues very accurately so that anyone can follow up on issues. Being able to compartmentalise the information by using the user profiles is also very useful as it means our subcontractors can focus on their own issues and it eally helps decltter the information that is presented to them while we can still keep track of the bigger picture.
Cons
the larger the project the setup seems to exponentially increase (allocating locations, equipment, checklists and qr codes) the use of the excel spreadsheets to import information definitely reduces this somewhat but adding locations for a larger construction project will take a lot of time (on the project I am working on there are over 7700 individual rooms) and then associating those locations with a piece of equipment in order to create a scannable QR code doubles the time with something that is largely replicated work but you have to do so in order to assign a relevant checksheet template to a location.
Frankly speaking I wasn't impressed back in 2015 when I was requested to run a project utilizing BIM 360 Glue. Ultimately we abandoned Glue and utilized Box.com as the hub. I guess to start more often than not when I tried to log in to Glue the server was unavailable. Setting up folder structures was difficult and time consuming since it had to be done one folder at a time, not like in windows explorer where you can setup one folder structure then copy and rename. Once I had the job setup on glue done it sort of functioned ok. Although if one person posted wrong content or naming it could not be removed (deleted) . Generally speaking detailers want a current model and they want to bring in their local drawing so they can see their changes before they post. This cannot be done with Glue. We began to experience so many problems with just getting people to be able to post that we abandoned Glue for Box. We made use of Box's C:Drive Sync which allowed everyone to have a current model that updated all by itself whenever new content was posted and had full abilities to append in other local content without affecting the main coordination Models.
Pros
Being able to post directly out of the software.
Cons
Server unavailability
Glue Time
Cant append local content
Setup is time intensive
Easy to use and to start a project. Great tool for the whole design phase in building construction or R&D projects. Also a very fast and on point support. Idea station listens great to their users. Would only like to see more integration with FormIt and other BIM 360 tools. Then it would be perfect.
Pros
That its a very cheap solution for building design collaboration. Which makes it a great option before winning a project. Also because of the easy to use viewer with sectioning and walk-through everyone can use w/o design skills.
Cons
Frequently buggy with C4R w/o fail save for the design team who are currently working. Account management isn't easy because you can't filter contributors and team members. Also you can't see who is in which project from the admin page.
And you can edit MS Office files directly from BIM 360 Team, but can't save them back instantly.
Both BIM Field and BIM Glue were selected by the construction manager to manage documents. BIM Glue was quirky but overall it did an okay job of updating versions so you could always find the latest. Unless the architect or CM decided to move things into new folders.
BIM Field is adequate. The "search" function doesn't always make logical sense. For example searching for "issues by my company" or "open issues" doesn't always result in a complete report of outstanding items. Their RFI system doesn't permit enough characters in the response. The best you can do is fit "see attached" if your response is of any length. And attachments on Field are too flexible. For both submittals and RFI there is too much opportunity for everyone to post file attachments with different names it becomes difficult to find the latest. A little more structure the files system wouldn't be bad.
Pros
The website always seems to work.
Cons
It is too flexible. Without some amount of structure it is difficult to reign in architects and contractor co-ops who give submittals ridiculous names. Once a sumbittal is rejected and resubmitted 2 or 3 times it becomes difficult to find anything. And asking the CM to produce a 16 month-old submittal on a large project becomes impossible as they cannot navigate their own naming conventions. If a CM or architect had a plan and stuck with it then Field would work better. But when they make up the organization as they go along it all becomes difficult to navigate on larger projects that go on for 3 or 4 years.
I have performed the construction administration phase using Glue and Field360 for multifunctional sports complex in Laval, Quebec.
I was introduced to Glue and Filed360 applications by our Firm and applied it on a construction site with the general contractor. Training was short and effective. Glue has allowed me to review the specific aspects of the project in a timely fashion. The interface is user friendly and intuitive. It has been very useful for shop drawing reviews. The visual and easy to handle features allowed me and my team to express concepts, ideas and resolve problems during construction.
I was in charge of the site supervision for the architect of record firm. I have used the Field360 application for the quality control aspects during site supervision. We were able to review and monitor the progress of the work in a real time manner, in a mostly paper-free environment. I have used the Field on site with an IPad during site visits. I was in the loop of all the communications between the contractor and the sub-trades from the creation of a pin to the acceptance of the corrective measures.
I enjoyed using the Glue and Field tools. Both applications are easy to learn, easy to use, adapted to our work and suitable for the speed of a construction site.
Pros
User friendly interfaces.
Cons
Some of the users in the team did not have access to the Field and needed old-fashion paper reports to review and witness construction progress. They needed assistance to handle their comments to suit the Field on line format.
Cuts down on site visit time
Pros
+Favorites List: You can input a list of favorite deficiencies into BIM 360 - this lets you select common items. I've had to punch over 300 apartments in a dorm - seeing the same installation deficiencies over and over. With BIM 360, documenting was as easy as a few clicks - saving time on the job.
+Dropping Pins - this feature lets you pin point the exact location where the deficiency is. Combined with the ability to take photos, the contractor has no excuse.
Cons
-Web-based software: We may live in a digital age but construction still requires documentation. After a day's work of punching a building I need a copy of my comments for the project file. To acquire a "field report" or PDF of comments from BIM 360, you literally have to check every deficiency item. When dealing with hundreds of items, it becomes tedious. There is no select all feature.
-No Microsoft Surface Pro app for BIM 360. My client required BIM 360 so my employer had to buy iPads to meet the client's requirements.
-When using the web based software it can be slow when selecting a filter i.e. an item generated by my company. The loading time is very slow.
If Autodesk addressed these issues, they would surpass their competitors in the construction management software.
Time and money.
Pros
The ability to post multiple models, document sets. It makes it streamlined how we communicate within our own and with other disciplines, as well as to clients by views, markups, diagrams, etc. It offers a very efficient and precise way to collaborate. Being direct and concise leads to less miscommunication and maximization of profits.
Cons
The missing feature of being able to sort file by file type. "Sorting by file type" is a built-in functionality in even the least sophisticated document management software packages. It is just a basic standard functionality which is provided across the board, something that design and construction professionals are used to. BIM 360 is advertised as "easily share plans, punchlists, submittals, take-offs, etc..." Those all come in different file format. The formats can be anything from .rvt's, .rfa's, .rte's, .dwg's, .dxf's, .xlsx's, .xlsm's, .docx's, .docm's, and the list goes on including different Adobe and Microsoft file formats. For large scale projects it is inevitable that all these file types get mixed up in a folder or folders. I think "sorting by file type" would be a valuable addition to this otherwise extremely helpful tool.
Being able to load and download different types of modeling content file types such as .dwg, .ifc, .nwd, and even .rvt. Merging models was extremely straight forward and useful as well.