Design and construction teams benefit from more effective collaboration using AutoCAD with PlanGrid

Autodesk Construction Cloud combines next-generation technology, a robust network of professionals and firms, and powerful predictive analytics to help businesses thrive across all phases of construction.

And for almost 40 years Autodesk’s AutoCAD product has been the design software of choice for architects, engineers and construction teams building precise 2D and 3D drawings.

One of the challenges with AutoCAD is that collaboration between design and build teams can be cumbersome. Amendments to drawings may have to be emailed on marked up PDFs or delivered with handwritten notations on printed out sheets of paper.

Now PlanGrid, Autodesk’s mobile first digital collaboration platform, is making real-time effective collaboration both fast and simple for AutoCAD users - providing a single source of truth for everyone on a project.

Whether you’re an AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT user, you can easily link to PlanGrid. Design and build teams can collaborate more easily and can achieve improved results. The goal of better communication and collaboration is saving time. This in turn has the positive knock on effect of reducing costs as teams can closeout projects more quickly and move onto the next one.

Using PlanGrid to link with AutoCAD means there’s no need for project teams to worry about drawings and version control. Changes can be communicated simply and in real time. Teams can work with confidence, safe in the knowledge that they are working from a single source of truth. Users can:

  • View real-time project information from wherever they are, on any device. From plans and specifications to snag lists, documents and photos.
  • Instantly upload and distribute digital drawings and documents that are automatically hyperlinked, versioned in order, and easily searchable with full drawing search.
  • Annotate drawings with changes, tagging and notifying design reviewers of their tasks. Once uploaded, the new design becomes the current version, eliminating the risk of using outdated plans.

Companies across the construction life cycle are already benefited from the power and ease of use of PlanGrid, from small refurbishment and rebuild projects to huge infrastructure projects.

One example of how PlanGrid is used in capital development projects is Voyage Care, who used the application to improve project team communication and coordination.

Voyage Care offers supported living, care homes, respite services, day services and brain injury rehabilitation. The company collaborates with a wide selection of partners and suppliers to deliver essential services to clients on a daily basis.

Development schemes are designed and managed in-house and the Voyage Care team works on a number of projects per year across a wide geographic spread. These includes a mix of new build and refurbishment with schedules running from 12 weeks to 1 year. This high level of activity requires close collaboration across department teams, designers and external providers. Furthermore, accurate sharing of information – especially plans and drawings – is critical.

Prior to selecting PlanGrid, the company was working off paper drawings, which resulted in problems with version control and issues communicating revised plans to the site team.

Phil Chawner, Project Manager with Voyage Care says “When I have a revision from the designer, I can upload that revision to the drawing and push it out to the entire project team. Now everybody on the project receives a notification that a new revision is available, which results in fewer version control issues and enhances efficiency.”

As well as the time and cost saving benefits of using PlanGrid there is also the important aspect of sustainable design and build practice. No longer are design teams printing off and then binning version after version of drawings after marking them up. All collaboration can be done simply, on the platform and wherever you are. Irish Architecture firm O’Mahony Pike have been designing and delivering residential and commercial projects for over 25 years. In 2016 they began using PlanGrid to support their Ancillary, Design and Assigned Certifier services. Since then they have run over 100 projects, uploaded more than 6000 drawings and recorded over 100 thousand photos all using the PlanGrid platform.

Richard Burke Architectural Technologist at O’Mahony Pike says that “On the occasions when I’ve had to use other digital tools, it’s been a reminder of why PlanGrid is our preferred choice of inspection tool – and that’s a testament to just how accurate and easy it is to use.”

With PlanGrid, design and build teams can now work together to deliver truly connected construction and measurable cost savings, which are more important than ever before. To find out more about how PlanGrid and AutoCAD can streamline communication, eliminate errors and create a more productive dynamic between design and build teams get in touch with us today.

For further information on PlanGrid or to sign up for a 21-day free trial please email
ranjit.simpson@autodesk.com or call 07880 440908.
Website: https://www.plangrid.com/gb/