PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 01

PLAN TO
PERFORM
The Key to Successful
Construction Projects
The Autodesk guide to preconstruction
solutions for project and business
development leaders.
PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 02

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONSTRUCTABILITY
Construction modeling
Site planning
Construction sequencing

3. CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Visualizing change & detailing
Document management

4. QUANTIFICATION

5. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

6. LEARN MORE
PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 03

INTRODUCTION

Construction projects are This eBook examines the four

extraordinarily complex. Project prime preconstruction challenges:
success relies heavily on decisions constructability, change management,
made at the initial phases of planning quantification, and business
and during preconstruction. development.

Autodesk construction solutions See how Autodesk tools put data at

connect information from design to the center of every project, perfecting
the planning phase and on to site preconstruction workflows that
execution, reducing information loss at empower builders to improve project
hand-offs and improving predictability. outcomes and make profitable
Using connected workflows for business decisions.
preconstruction can help you to plan
and deliver complex building projects
and delight even the most demanding
clients.

Now, prior to breaking ground,

contractors can:
• Validate project constructability
• Improve cost reliability
• Better manage change and improve
communication
• Gain a competitive edge that helps
win new work and drive repeat
business.
PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
CONSTRUCTABILITY
How feasible is it to turn a proposed
building project into reality?
That question is at the heart of
“constructability.” It’s answered
through 3 essential workflows: detailed
construction modeling, accurate site
planning, and realistic construction
sequencing. Collectively, these 3
workflows help builders achieve more
predictable project outcomes that not
only satisfy current clients, but also
help them win new work.
Construction Modeling
Construction professionals often
receive 2D/3D design intent models
that are meant to communicate design
intent and lack the detail needed for
construction. This can create a lot of
guesswork and make the optimization
process more time-consuming and
costly.
Autodesk Revit + Navisworks are
industry standard building information
modeling solutions that help eliminate
guesswork by streamlining the flow
of data. These tools allow builders
to easily move between design
and constructability workflows,
while coordinating model files from
multiple disciplines and catching
constructability issues before they
impact budgets and schedules.
04
Now collaboration with designers
and construction professionals can
happen early in the design process
to streamline construction execution.
Access to integrated multidiscipline
design and construction tools can help
stakeholders contribute construction
knowledge to the design process,
for better project management and
understanding of means, methods, and
materials, and how they unite to realize
a project’s design.
For Project Executives (Project Leaders
and Managers) construction modeling
enables tighter coordination of
information flowing between design
and preconstruction stakeholders,
promoting better collaboration and
ensuring project success. Watch a short video to learn more about Construction Modeling.
For Preconstruction Managers
overseeing project costs and
scheduling, construction modeling is
an invaluable workflow for ensuring
that projected costs and schedules
are based on the most feasibly
constructible designs, minimizing time
consuming and potentially costly RFIs
and change orders.
PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 05

CONSTRUCTABILITY

Site Planning These tools also work to connect

Site planning moves the project out construction schedules to site
of the pure design environment and logistics plans, allowing teams to
places it within the context of the real better communicate site plans to
world where it will actually be built. stakeholders and mitigate delays.

Autodesk Navisworks, InfraWorks, For Project Executives, site planning

and Civil 3D are powerful solutions is an essential workflow for ensuring
for implementing an effective and that a project meets schedule and cost
accurate site planning workflow. These estimates.
tools enable builders to achieve better,
more accurate, logistical planning
through the visualization of site plans
before groundbreaking.

Watch a short video to learn more about Site Planning.

PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 06

CONSTRUCTABILITY

Construction Sequencing For Project Executives and

The coordination and execution of
complex building projects is a difficult
and time-consuming process. Small
setbacks in construction sequencing
can have the potential to create
significant delays in project delivery,
drive up costs, and create client
dissatisfaction. That’s why a flexible
and accurate construction sequencing
workflow is essential to the overall
preconstruction process.
Preconstruction Managers, the
construction sequencing workflow
provides powerful visualization and
communication tools that give teams
a better understanding of project
milestones. Problems are identified
well in advance of construction
activities, making them easier and
more cost effective to resolve.

Autodesk Navisworks allows

construction teams to import schedule
and cost information on top of the
model data to view construction
sequencing in both 4D & 5D formats.
By tying the model into the schedule
Watch a short video to learn more about Construction Sequencing.
and cost, teams see more accurate
simulations and get a clearer picture of
what needs to get done by whom and
by when, plus any cost implications.
PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Whether it’s adjustments to design
documents or scope modifications,
change is inevitable and happens
throughout the entire construction
process. Ensuring a smooth change
management process is an essential
workflow within preconstruction
activities.
This workflow encompasses means
for visualizing changes, managing
those changes so everyone
affected understands their impact,
and streamlining the transfer of
information from one authoring
tool to another. Effective document
management is also an indispensable
element of this workflow.
Autodesk offers several powerful
change management tools including
interconnectivity between design
authoring tools like Revit and AutoCAD,
as well as document management
tools like BIM 360 Docs. Used
separately or in unison, these tools
help solve the biggest challenge in
managing change: making sure that
the right people receive the right
information at the right time.
07
Visualizing Change and Detailing
Now it’s possible to share 3D models
produced in Revit with subcontractors
who only use 2D drawings. Since 2D
drawings are outputs from 3D models,
all changes made in one view are
automatically updated in the other. File
sharing across multiple disciplines with
different file types is straightforward
and simple. By leveraging the power of
cloud connectivity with BIM 360 Docs,
teams can not only view multiple file
types and keep all project documents
in a centralized location, but they can
also quickly see changes made from
one version to the next.
For Project Executives and
Preconstruction Managers, Autodesk
Watch a short video to learn more about Visualizing Change and Detailing.
enables a change to visualization and
detailing workflow that makes change
management simple, effective, and
readily accessible to all stakeholders.
PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 08

CHANGE MANAGEMENT

Document Management For Project Executives and

Changes bring document revisions, and
without effect document management
it’s easy to drown in a sea of obsolete
versions and inaccurate data. But
when project teams have the right
information at the right time, work
happens faster.
Preconstruction Managers, Autodesk
provides the tools to efficiently
manage documents, and subsequently
manage multiple projects
simultaneously.

Autodesk BIM 360 Docs makes

document management easy by always
making the latest versions accessible
to every stakeholder, whether in
the office or at the construction
site. Now everyone can work with
the latest document version, which
aids collaboration across multiple
disciplines and trades, including
designers and subcontractors.
Watch a short video to learn more about Document Management.
PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 09

QUANTIFICATION

Construction costs will always be and reliable cost forecasts on schedule,

of prime concern to builders. As a to improve cost predictability, reduce
construction project moves through budget increase and change orders,
its inevitable design modifications, and mitigate budgetary impact by
cost estimators must rapidly generate staying current with design changes.
material takeoffs to maintain accurate
project budgets and better evaluate For Preconstruction Managers
design alternative costs. Failure to do (estimators and others), the Autodesk
so risks reduced profits on projects powered quantification workflow
that exceed budgets. means consistently reliable cost
forecasting for construction projects
Autodesk Revit+ Navisworks provide under tight deadlines.
unique insight into and manageability
of construction budgets, allowing the
estimator to quickly generate material
takeoffs that accurately quantify every
distinct element of the design. This
quantification workflow yields accurate

Watch a short video to learn more about Quantification.

PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 10

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Business development and winning By harnessing the power of the

work in today’s competitive Autodesk digital workflow, firms
construction industry is seldom based gain the competitive edge that
strictly on the price or schedule of demonstrates to clients a thorough
the proposed work. Instead, work understanding of the work to be
is won by firms that inspire clients completed and the challenges to be
with impressive visualizations overcome.
and meticulous detail planning
that conveys, in memorable ways, For Business Development Leaders
their company’s vision and project (CEOs, CXOs, VPs, Directors) the
commitment. Autodesk business development
workflow opens the door to growing
Autodesk provides the tools: 3DS business while delighting existing
Max, Navisworks, InfraWorks, and customers.
Recap, that satisfy the expectations
put forward by clients. 3DS Max and
Navisworks can differentiate a firm’s
proposals with near photo-realistic
visualizations and animations that
bring 2D designs to life and showcase Watch a short video to learn more about Business Development.
information in incredibly compelling
ways. InfraWorks and Recap help
builders easily communicate with
owners throughout the project, thus
ensuring client satisfaction.
PLAN TO PERFORM THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 11

LEARN MORE

Autodesk Construction software empowers

builders to succeed by enabling them to:

• Virtually explore project constructability via 3D

building information modeling and simulation

• Improve cost reliability through more accurate

estimation using detailed spatial and materials
quantities from building information modeling

• Better predict and communicate project

outcomes

• Gain a competitive edge

There’s much more to Autodesk solutions for the

preconstruction phase than we’ve presented in
this eBook. To explore more, visit AEC Collection
for Construction or contact your regional Autodesk
sales representative.