Autodesk Build provides a toolset for managing, sharing, and accessing project documents that result in streamlined workflows between the office, trailer, and jobsite. You can track the quality and safety of the project with issues and forms. Use RFIs, submittals, and meetings to manage the flow of information in the project. You can even track progress as the project evolves.

Autodesk Build also connects to preconstruction workflows in Autodesk BIM 360, BIM Collaborate, BIM Collaborate Pro (Design Collaboration and Model Coordination), and Cost Management for collaborating on designs, coordinating models, and managing costs.

Interested in learning more? Here are Top Things to Know about Autodesk Build.

Issues in Autodesk Build

The Issues tools in Autodesk Build allow you to track work across the construction lifecycle and create references to photos, files, RFIs, assets, and more.

Once you configure the Issues tool, your team will be able to create issues quickly and easily from the field. This makes it simple to identify problems, prevent delays, and manage work on your project. With greater visibility and the ability to track progress, you’ll be able to deliver quality work on time.

How to Use Issues

The Issues tool provides a set of preconfigured categories and types under those categories to organize the issues on your project. You can get started right away or configure the categories and types to your project’s needs.

To configure, customize your issue settings. You can create custom types and categories. Issues have default attributes that you can fill out to provide details on the issue, but custom fields can be added. Adding a root cause can also help to understand how to prevent issues from recurring. You can also manage permissions to issues so that your team has access as needed.

You can create issues within the Issues tool or from markup in the Sheets and Files tools. Once issues have been created, they can be viewed in the Issues log, managed, and exported.

Forms in Autodesk  Build

The Forms tool in Autodesk® Build enables your team to fill out, review, and manage project forms. This provides a single secure point to coordinate data collection, photos, and follow-up documents.

How to Use Forms

Create templates for checklists, daily logs, or other forms for your team, and anyone can complete the forms on-site through our PlanGrid Build a mobile app or at the office on the web.

To help you get started right away, Autodesk® Build comes with a set of preconfigured form templates. However, you can also import templates or create a brand new template. Here is a basic workflow for using the Forms tool:

 

Roles within Forms

The Forms tool uses three roles for the forms on your project:

• Contributors
• Reviewers
• Managers

Each role can be assigned in the form templates, and the roles will apply to any form created from that template. See Setting Up Templates for more details.

• Contributors are anyone who needs to fill out and submit a form. Contributors edit a form in draft mode and then submit it to reviewers.

Contributors can fill out forms individually or in collaboration with others, depending on how the form template was configured.

• Reviewers are in charge of reviewing forms once they’ve been submitted by contributors. If chosen during the template configuration, reviewers can see forms in draft mode.
• Managers are able to edit template settings so that they apply to all forms created from that template.

Contributor Collaboration Mode

There are three contributor collaboration modes – single contributor, multiple contributors in sequence, and multiple contributors in parallel.

• Single Contributor: Use the single contributor model when you want each form to be created, filled out, and submitted by a single user.
• Multiple contributors in sequence: A form is assigned to multiple contributors. Only one contributor can edit the form at any time. The assigned contributor can fill it out, save, or submit it to reviewers.
• Multiple contributors in parallel: Multiple contributors can edit a form at any time. Any of the contributors can make changes, save, or submit it for review.Note: This mode is not available for PDF forms.

Form Email Notifications

You will receive an email notifying you with updates about relevant templates and forms in these instances:

1. You were added as a contributor to a new template.
2. You were assigned a form to complete or contribute to.
3. A form that you are a reviewer for was submitted.
4. A form report was exported and shared with you.

Submittals in Autodesk Build

Submittals are documents created for approval by the project’s stakeholders. They go through a formal reviewing process.

Submittals are usually: shop drawings, technical data, product specifications, or samples. Submittals group into:

• Items: Consist of a document or group of documents.
• Packages: Consist of items. Packages don’t require revision. They allow the bundling of related items to facilitate reviewing process.

For example, package items for electrical and mechanical components of one system. Submit the package for review. Packages allow reviewers to approve or reject individual items. Note: Only the Submittal Manager can add items to a package.

The PlanGrid Build app allows viewing the general information about submittals, including the Activity log. It’s impossible to modify submittals or view documents in-app.

Custom Review Workflow

Project Administrators and Submittal Managers can create and edit Custom Review Workflow for Submittal items. Custom Review Workflow allows:

• Adding multiple review steps
• Multiple reviewers per step
• Stepping back and reopening
• Closing or creating revisions at any time

To create Custom Review Workflow:

1. Create or open a Submittal item
2. Click  button under Workflow Table
3. Add steps, required and optional reviewers
4. Set review times
5. Click Done button

Workflow Builder

Custom Review Workflow will now be visible on the Workflow bar.

To edit Custom Review Workflow:

1. Click  button
2. Edit review workflow in Workflow builder
3. Click Done button

Project Administrators assign the Submittal Managers and create custom submittal responses for the project using the Settings menu. Use the blue action button in the workflow bar to progress a submittal to the next person or step back.

Important: Reviewers can edit their response within a review step using the  button in Workflow Table.

Custom Review Workflow templates

Project Administrators and Submittal Managers can create, edit, and delete Custom Review Workflow templates for projects. Custom Review Workflow templates facilitate smooth work with submittals.

To create Custom Review Workflow template:

1. Navigate to Submittals tool in {prodname}
2. Open  > Review templates
3. Click  to open Workflow Builder
   1. Add template name
   2. Add steps, required and optional reviewers
   3. Set review times
   4. Click Save button

To apply the template to the submittal item click  and select the template by name. Note: Templates can also be applied when creating submittal items.

The participant roles:

1. Responsible Contractor

The primary subcontractor is responsible for submitting the documents or materials for approval.

• Creating submittal items (if necessary)
• Adding submittal items for review

2.  Submittal Manager

The Submittal Manager (typically, General Contractor) is responsible for:

• Creating items and assigning them to the responsible contractor
• Creating packages
• Assigning items to the reviewer
• Defining review steps for every item / creating review workflow
• Sending the item to review
• Review on behalf of other reviewers (if needed)
• Set final response and select final response attachments when closing and distributing the item

To Close and distribute items:

1. Navigate to Workflow actions -> Close and distribute
2. Select Attachments, Final Response, Responsible contractor and Publish date

A closed item report can be saved to a folder in the Files tool. This allows for easy access and organization of reports for future reference. Important: When closing and distributing, Submittal Managers need to select attachments that are part of the final response and the final response.

The Final response and attachments appear at the top of the item page. Submittal Managers can be added through the  menu. Use members, companies, or roles to add members.

Required Reviewers: The reviewer (typically, the Architect) is responsible for reviewing and approving or rejecting the submittal. Important: Once all required reviewers respond in a given step submittal item moves to the next step.

Optional Reviewers: Engineers and consultants asked for review/feedback. Note: Required and Optional Reviewers can respond and add attachments.

Watchers: Various stakeholders receive notifications on status changes.

Cost Management in Autodesk Build

Cost Management in Autodesk Build is a robust set of capabilities purpose-built for construction teams, centralizing all cost activities in the cloud. Cost Management helps to improve cost control and streamline workflows. It also provides real-time visibility into cost-related risk, allows for more accurate forecasting, and brings more predictability to cash flow and profitability projections.

In this topic, you’ll learn about:

• Cost Management’s key functionalities
• Getting started with Cost Management
• Where to find additional resources

Key Functionalities

• Home – Use the home page to control your project with an aggregated view of important dates in a calendar.
• Budget – Create and manage budgets, main contracts, and payment applications to track incoming and outgoing cash for your project.
• Cost – Create and manage contracts, expenses, and payment applications to track incoming and outgoing cash for your project.
• Change Order – Work with cost items and follow the change order workflow.
• Forecast – Visually schedule time-based allowances, such as general conditions. It also helps you understand how your budget and time interact with each other.
• Settings – Cost Management is flexible and customizable. Configurable features allow teams to customize the software to suit their needs and preferences. Learn more about setting up Cost Management.

Interested in learning more? Here are Top Things to Know about Autodesk Build.

Model Coordination provides a coordination space to upload, review, and run a clash service on your latest set of project models. During a construction project, two designers may be working separately on architectural and electrical models. These two models need to be coordinated before any construction begins, to ensure they fit together.

Clashes

During a construction project, two designers may be working separately on architectural and electrical models. These two models need to be coordinated before any construction begins, to help ensure that they fit together. A clash may occur if, for example, a pipe carrying electrical cables overlaps with a wall. In this case, one of the models would need to be modified to remove the overlap, and therefore resolve the clash.

Detect clashes

When project administrators first sign into Model Coordination, they are asked to create a coordination space and select a folder in the Document Management module to configure it against. Team members with access to the folder can then upload models for review and clash coordination.

When 3D RVT, DWG, NWC, and IFC models are added to the coordination space, Model Coordination’s clash service automatically detects any clashes between the objects in those models.

Project members can then review the detected clashes and either mark clashes as ‘Not an issue’ if no action is required or create an issue for further investigation.

Project administrators can also manage clash settings after setting up a coordination space, opting models in and out of automatic clash detection as required.

Review models

In addition to clash detection, Model Coordination can be used to combine related subsets of your project data into groups, for example representing a specific level of a building. These unified Views can then be used to streamline clash and issue workflows.

You can also transform your models to ensure correct alignment before performing constructability and clash reviews.

This month we’re launching an Overview panel in the Revit Issues Add-In. These design coordination tools in Revit provide architects, MEP, or structural engineers the information they need to prevent issues, and design with construction in mind.

With the Overview panel, clash results are presented directly in the desktop, providing Revit users immediate feedback on model conflicts.

The Issues card displays the number of issues for each model, with a link to access all project issues in Autodesk Docs. The clash cards show clash data for the open model and for each model in the selected coordination space. They also provide a link to the clash grid in Model Coordination for further review.

Use this feature with Autodesk BIM Collaborate to unlock the contributions of the greater project team for faster coordination and fewer issues hitting the site.

Above, below, and between clash tolerance filters allow BIM managers and non-BIM experts alike to find and clear clashes.

For example, a customer can use the Below a value option to quickly identify non-issues, all the clashes with tolerances below a specified value. Easily select the clashes left after applying the filter and mark them all as Not an issue. This is useful for something like duct insolation, or any other known installation tolerance.

To focus in on the most serious clashes, use the default Above a value option to refine your results, by identifying and narrowing down problem areas. Or use the Within a range option to find commonality between clashes, identify unique room characteristics, or move through models one range at a time.

These enhancements, alongside clash grouping by property, and the new clash settings page, enable BIM managers and novice virtual designers to drill down to specific clashes, instead of building a test from the ground up. This lowers the barrier to entry, making coordination work move faster and producing better quality deliverables.

Focus clash efforts by turning off clash detection for container or background models in the coordination space. Keep background models in the coordination space for use in aggregated views, but remove them from automated clash, reducing unnecessary information.

In the Clashes > Settings page, administrators can search for and deselect models such as architectural models, or floors they’re not working on, and exclude them from clash detection. This focuses teams on addressing clashes that will make the biggest impact on site.

Once the settings are saved, the coordination space is reclashed and the clash grid only shows clashes between the selected models. Excluded models are still displayed in the clash grid but will be blank in each cell. ​​​​​​​This feature is especially helpful for companies that break their models into floors, buildings, or even phases.

For more information and help, see the Model Coordination from our Consulting Services.

• Autodesk Build
• BIM Collaborate
• BIM Collaborate Pro
• Autodesk Docs

Data syncs to the PlanGrid Build mobile app to ensure that members can complete tasks from anywhere on the job site with access to project data even when offline.

The following table details the mobile app capabilities for each offering:

The PlanGrid Build app is available to install on both android and iOS devices. That way you can use your preferred device, and still access your project information anywhere you go. To ensure best performance, you will want to make sure that your device is able to run the minimum version of the operating system that PlanGrid Build app supports.

PlanGrid Build app supports the following mobile operating system versions:

• Android: 7.0 or later.
• iPhone: iOS 15.0 or later.
• iPad: iPadOS 15.0 or later.
• iPod touch: iOS 15.0 or later.

Here are the steps to install the PlanGrid Build App:

1. Open up the App Store on your iOS device, or the Google Play Store on your Android device.
2. Search for plangrid (all one word).
3. Tap the PlanGrid Build App result.
4. To install:
   • iOS – Tap the cloud icon
   • Android – Tap Install

Once the PlanGrid Build app is installed you are ready to get started. This includes either creating an account (or signing in if you have an existing account), and switching the data center to access information in different locations.

When you first open the PlanGrid Build mobile app you have the following options:

• Create an account
• Sign in to an existing account
• Switch between the different data centers.

Create Account

If you don’t have an existing Autodesk Account, you can create an account using the app.

1. Tap Create account.
2. Enter your name, email address, and create a password.
3. Tap Create Account.
4. Verify your account using the verification email sent to your inbox.

   You are redirected to the app and signed in.

5. Fill in the required details about your company and job.

Sign In

If you already have an Autodesk Account, sign in to start using the app.

1. Tap Sign in.
2. Enter your email address and password.
3. Tap Sign in.
4. Optionally, set up 2-step verification to protect your account.

Switch Data Center

Projects on the ACC platform can be created in different data centers. You can switch between these data centers on the app, to access data stored in different locations.

1. Tap Switch data center at the bottom of the screen:

   

2. Use the menu to choose which data center you want to switch to:

   

   Note: The Australian data center is currently available for PlanGrid projects only.
3. Tap Done.
4. Sign in or Create an account to start using the app.