By Michelle Rasmussen
I am a tactile learner. That is why, in all the training guides I write, I make sure the drawing/model files I used to create the images in the training guides are included with them in the data set files. I also ensure I make the practices as close to real-world projects as I can. I do this because I have noticed that the light bulb goes on faster when you get to experience a project rather than just talk about hypotheticals.
Last week I spent time in Dallas, TX at the Autodesk office running two BIM 360 Train-the-Trainer events (see image above). I took the idea of tactile learning to the extreme during these classes. Not only did I have them practice using BIM 360 with a prepared dataset, I also asked the trainers to choose a job from the list below. These job roles are applicable for those working with BIM 360 since it is built for anyone in the AEC project workflow including those in the construction field. Then they had to act as that person on the project team during the duration of the class. Each class had two to three teams and one project to work on. This gave a much more realistic view of the BIM 360 platform’s capabilities.
• Architect
• Construction Manager
• Contractor
• Designer
• Document Manager
• Engineer
• Estimator
• Executive
• Inspector
• IT
• Owner
• Project Engineer
• Project Manager
• Scheduler
• Subcontractor
• Superintendent
For those of you who are not familiar with BIM 360, BIM 360 is built on top of the Autodesk Forge development platform. It includes multiple modules that are grouped together into four core products according to job function. All four products are accessed through a single user interface making it easy to move between them. The four products and their included modules are shown in the image below.
The key reason I made everyone in the class pick a job is that different roles will have access to different modules within the BIM 360 platform. I wanted the trainers to experience exactly what their clients’ experience on real projects. They need to understand what each person on the team will see as they coordinate together on a project. Autodesk has created an easy to understand table listing all the roles and their default rights which is shown in the image below (you can also click the image to link to the original table on the Autodesk website).
You may be asking why some people have more rights than others. The simplest answer is not everyone needs access to everything. Knowing when in the construction process specific modules are used may help you to better understand this. The AEC project workflow diagram below shows when you should use each module.
Last October ASCENT released the BIM 360 Glue User Fundamentals learning guide for those using the classic version of the software. Autodesk recently started offering the BIM 360 (Next Gen) platform, so I am in the midst of writing some books for it. I will be releasing both a BIM 360 Glue User Fundamentals and a BIM 360 Build User Fundamentals guide. Be on the lookout for both of those! Until then, I hope you are working "Smarter, not Harder".
