TOP: Revu 10 allows users to cre- ate windows of 3-D content within PDFs, making it easy to explain and share 3-D content down- stream. LEFT: Studio projects provides users with a simple docu- ment management system in the cloud for storing, accessing and sharing project PDFs and other Windows fi les. RIGHT: Spaces al- low users to defi ne areas or rooms on PDFs for automatic markup tracking, ideal for workfl ows like punch and estimates.
Going Digital
Bluebeam Revu 10 helps turn digital projects into reality
By Patrick Keller
In recent years, technology has transformed the way architects and their project team members share and communicate design data. Design reviews, bids, submittals, RFIs, punchlists and back checks—processes that used to be paper- intensive and time consuming, are now being digitized by fi rms leveraging the latest solutions for digital project management, communication and collaboration.
One of the leading technologies being used by
architecture fi rms today is Pasadena, Calif.-based Bluebeam Software Inc.’s Revu 10, a complete digi- tal documentation and workfl ow management solu- tion suitable for use on any project from start to fi n- ish. With features and functionality designed to not only streamline the creation and sharing of original project documents, but also provide effi cient com- munication tools, Revu 10 provides a complete proj- ect management solution to keep the entire team on the same page. Revu is used project wide, from the building architect to the sub-contractors on the jobsite responsible for correcting the fi nal punch list items before turning the building over.
Sharing Project Data and Feedback Throughout the project, architects can redline PDFs with their comments using industry-standard markups and measurements, which can be saved in the Tool Chest for easy reuse. Superseded pages can be slipsheeted with Revu’s page editing tools, without losing existing markups or hyperlinks. Complex BIM data can also be shared and collaborated on downstream by leveraging the PDF format and Revu’s powerful redlining tools. Revu’s CAD and eXtreme editions enable architects to cre- ate 3-D PDFs from Revit and Navisworks Manage to share complex BIM data, and all editions of Revu
All project documents, including PDFs and any other Windows fi le, can be uploaded to an online Bluebeam Studio project, where fi les stored in the cloud can be shared with project partners by invitation only and with permissions-based access for need-to-know control. Multiple team members can simultaneously review documents on the fl y by adding PDFs to Studio sessions, and even non- Revu users—including owners, consultants, engi- neers, general contractors and subs—can markup PDFs in real-time collaboration sessions with Blue- beam’s new free PDF viewer, Bluebeam Vu. The useful links feature enables users to
embed hyperlinks to virtually any project data, including design or product specs, materials lists and other pertinent information. For example, sheet metal product data sheets or specifi cations can be hyperlinked from the relevant area of the drawing, for one-click access by estimators and purchasing staff. As changes are made or pages in drawing sets are deleted or replaced, links are automatically updated throughout the project documents.
allow users to add markups to 3-D PDF views. Combined, these features give architects, contrac- tors and all other project partners complete digital visibility of the entire scope and scale of the project without the need to purchase expensive design software.
Punchlists and Closeout To prepare for the punch walks, architects can use the Spaces feature to defi ne specifi c rooms and areas on the drawing to track the punch items and notes. In the fi eld, architects can use a tablet PC to markup PDFs in Revu; markups made during the walk-through are automatically tracked, desig- nated to the specifi c area in which they exist and can be assigned to the appropriate contractor or personnel through the Markups list. From there, punchlists can be quickly generated by summariz- ing the Markups list to a PDF, CSV or XML fi le, which can then be provided to the responsible party for resolution. Using Revu’s Markups list, items on the punchlist can be marked resolved or pending with additional detail as needed, keeping everyone informed about the status. With integrated cloud storage, real-time collaboration, mobile technology integration and advanced 3-D PDF-based document tools, Revu 10 delivers on the promise of paperless projects with a comprehensive, effi cient solution to start, man- age and complete virtually any project. Driven by an intuitive interface and superior ease-of-use, Revu 10 proves there are no limits to how architects and their project teams can work digitally.
Patrick Keller is a product manager at Bluebeam Software Inc., Pasadena, Calif. To learn more, visit www.bluebeam.com.