Getting a building information modeling (BIM) project ready for construction is a long process involving a good deal of revisions. One of the easiest ways to shorten the process is to put documents into a collaborative platform, but even then those files will need tools for editing and markup.
Bluebeam’s Revu software is a handy tool for creating and reviewing PDF files for BIM projects and as part of its 2016 release, it has a slew of new tweaks and features for users.
So What’s New in Bluebeam Revu 2016?
Markups Legend is a dynamic tool introduced to keep track of changes in materials on a project. It’s presented in a table format, can be resized once it’s placed onto a file and automatically updates itself based on any changes made to the file.
This feature is compatible with the tool chest feature that was already present in Revu. Legends can be adjusted for better visibility using various fill and outline tools and can be saved for future use on other documents.
Batch Markup Summary is a new reporting functionality that gives the user control over markup data using extensive sorting options. Users will be able to report on and manipulate data on multiple PDFs using single or multiple summaries.
This feature can also generate multiple reports for each subject by sorting through documents for pertinent information. Disciplines like architecture, electrical and mechanical can be sorted into individual reports to be sent out.
These reports can be saved as a batch to save the time required to recreate them.
Revit Plugins have also seen an improvement in this version of Revu. This update includes enhanced performance for 2D and 3D PDFs and the ability to refer to linked models in Revit.
The Revit Rooms to Spaces feature is designed to convert dimensions into a 2D format, including an automatically generated room name and number. This feature can also export its information between PDF and Microsoft Word formats for project teams.
3D PDF tools allow the user to pull sections of models and export them to 3D PDF for situations where a team member only needs to see a small piece of the whole. Metadata gets pulled into these 3D PDFs as well, which can then be viewed using the model tree tool.
These 3D PDFs can be generated from Revit files and from IFC or U3D files as well.
Tags are a new feature for Revu 2016 as well. As with most tagging functions, it’s meant to help navigate, sort and filter information in a document set. It can be done sheet by sheet or as a batch function.
Users will be able to select sheets and identify titles, numbers, revision dates and issue dates. This information will then be generated into a tag spreadsheet, which will be applied automatically to existing documents. Revisions will require the user to create new tags.
This feature ties into the software’s versioning function—tags will identify when a sheet appears twice and will update revision numbers accordingly.
Drawing Logs help to keep track of moving information in a project. This log will draw its information from tags automatically and can even be scheduled to do so on a regular basis—autonomously. These logs will also contain hyperlinks to referenced sheets, which will be handy for those not working on desktops.
General enhancements to Revu 2016 also include a set of new shortcuts, including snap-to-grid, content and markup as well as a side-by-side install capability so that a single machine can run both Revu 2016 and Vu 2016 simultaneously.
Revu 2016 is currently available for Windows OS in Standard, CAD and Extreme editions. It will be available for Mac OS on April 12.
For more information, check out the Bluebeam Revu website.