4 Ways Assemble Software Supercharges BIM in Construction

As the usage of software for BIM in construction grows, so do the ways project data can be harnessed to improve project outcomes. However, to be fully utilized, BIM data must be processed in a way to make it directly useful to different stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle, tailored in the ways they uniquely need.

This is where Assemble, an Autodesk company, comes in. Assemble is a web-based solution that lets you extract BIM data, add intelligence, and collaborate in real-time to make better decisions and deliver projects on-time and in-budget. Assemble’s solution allows project teams to access, analyze, and share model-based building information to transform construction processes and improve project predictability. 

What does Assemble do, how does it relate to BIM, and how can construction professionals benefit? Let’s take a look at 4 ways that contractors can benefit from Assemble today and the 10 key features they can use to achieve those outcomes.   

_{Assemble’s solution allows project teams to access, analyze, and share model-based building information}

4 Ways Assemble Can Help You With BIM in Construction Projects Today

1. Win more work with expanded BIM services 

It only takes a few hours to set up Assemble, learn the basics and start marketing your BIM and collaborative services. To stay competitive and differentiate your business you need software and services that extend the value in the project lifecycle. Partner with Assemble now to win more work with expanded BIM and VDC services. 

2. Centralize your BIM projects 

Publish all your BIM projects to Assemble immediately to have a centralized location for accessing and viewing all BIM projects in the office or the field, regardless of your BIM expertise. Stored in the cloud and delivered to your computer via a web browser, Assemble provides more transparency and access to your BIM work, for greater accuracy and project predictability. 

3. Quick and easy deployment 

You don’t have to wait to extract value from BIM and Assemble. A simple, easy-to-use interface enables your team to access and use model information immediately. Our software-as-a-service model means we can have your team up and running in a matter of hours, not days or weeks. Use Assemble to quickly identify scope gaps, understand design intent, track changes, quantify building components or condition the model information to be more useful. Assemble helps your entire team leverage BIM for greater insight. 

4. Do more work 

Assemble helps accelerates AEC functions by providing a number of preconstruction and VDC workflows within our robust data management tools. Easily organize model information for syncing parameters to models and extract quantities for estimates or for data exchange with other estimating and scheduling workflows. Maintain data quality and persistence across model versions with accuracy and speed. 

_{Assemble helps accelerates AEC functions by providing a number of preconstruction and VDC workflows}

10 Key Features of Assemble

By extracting an entire model inventory in minutes, Assemble provides project teams quick access to comprehensive model inventories that offer greater efficiencies to a number of project tasks. Here are 10 key features project teams can use to harness BIM in construction data and improve project processes. 

1. Rapid data extraction for quick model takeoffs. 

Publish your models within minutes for a complete inventory of the project. Have insight into every model parameter, whether custom, shared, or project-based.

2. Visual variance reporting to manage change.

With each new model published to Assemble, run a variance report to pinpoint adds and deducts in the model. Variance reports track all model objects and can report on any cost changes and other critical parameters in your project.

3. Conceptual estimating to track design iterations.

Based on your unit cost database, ‘Automated Estimating’ in Assemble supports early budgeting while the project is still in the design phases. Combined with variance reporting, your conceptual estimate can track project trends as quickly as you can publish out a new model.

4. Properties Manager for model conditioning.

To leverage your BIM investment throughout the project lifecycle, the ‘Properties Manager’ facilitates populating model information quickly and accurately, outside of the model. Your team can add more information without having to use Revit to do it.

5. Color coding for organizing inventories. 

Whether you use color to manage activity breakdowns, estimates or schedules, Assemble allows you to see the color in the model view, the grid view or your Excel export to communicate the information to the team members that need it.

6. Level of Development tracking for team coordination.

Use ‘Level of Development’ tracking to coordinate model development with the design team. Communication and coordination improves significantly when all team members understand the expectations for how model elements should be used at project milestones.

7. Upload unique work breakdown structures. 

Use an Excel spreadsheet to upload your unique work breakdown structure or your ‘Model Development Specification.’ Uniformat, CSI Masterformat and Omniclass are all supported. Using your own ‘Assembly Code’ scheme allows you to organize model information for your workflow.

8. Sync data back to the model.

Whether you are modifying type names, adding descriptive data at the instance level, such as manufacturer names or comments for team members, sync the information back to the Revit model to reduce redundancy and build out a robust deliverable.

9. Create and share views.

Communication and collaboration is improved and simplified when the project team is sharing the same information. Use views to organize information in the way you and your team need to see it. 

10. Work in Place Tracking

Easily track, visualize, and report on the status of work in progress by leveraging the coordinated model in Assemble and inputting installation status in the field via Assemble Mobile app.