Cloud Services for Next Generation BIM

Autodesk BIM 360 has been presented as the next generation of Building Information Modelling (BIM). It includes a set of cloud services that will provide anytime, anywhere access to BIM project information throughout the project lifecycle. Autodesk BIM 360 will work with BIM solutions for design, construction and operations including the Autodesk Building Design Suite and Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite.

BIM is an intelligent 3D model–based process that provides insight for creating and managing building and civil infrastructure projects faster, more economically, and with less environmental impact.

"Cloud-connected workflows are giving our customers worldwide a better way to work with colleagues across their organisations and with business partners, clients and stakeholders," said Amar Hanspal, Autodesk senior vice president, information modeling products.

Autodesk recently announced the acquisition of Vela Systems, a provider of cloud and mobile field management software for the construction industry. The combination of the Vela technology with Autodesk BIM 360 will bring the BIM process to the project site, helping contractors to automate field processes such as quality, safety and commissioning checklists and distribution of plans and drawings. Autodesk BIM 360 can also help improve project outcomes by moving computational intensive tasks to the cloud, allowing rapid visualisation with rendering services and the ability to simulate early and often with energy and structural analysis services. Autodesk BIM 360 will also help support the project handover and lifecycle by providing intelligent information to building and infrastructure owners for operations and maintenance.

The launch of Autodesk BIM 360 marks an important expansion of Autodesk 360, a cloud-based platform that enables customers to harness the vast computing power available in the cloud to transform the way they design, visualise and simulate their ideas and share their work. Earlier this year, the company launched Autodesk PLM 360 lifecycle management software, a cloud service that enables manufacturers to better access and manage product information to help continuously improve the products they design and manufacture, followed by a range of new Autodesk 360 services for Autodesk Design and Creation Suite customers. Since launching Autodesk 360 in September 2011, nearly nine million users have accessed the services.