BIM 360 Field - Equipment Locations and Associated Pins

[Kathryn.C]

Looking for a bit of help or advice.

Currently trying to simplify the system as much as possible for on site use, and we keep encountering a problem with the link between equipment locations, locations within a pdf and issue pins.

We can of course link locations to the pdf, however there is no means to bound specifics (e.g room 1, room 2 etc) on the pdf, we can simply just select the locations that are associated as a general reference.

When raising an issue we can drill this down a bit by selecting the Location and then dropping a pin in a specific area.  We can also alter the bounding box on the pdf at the same time, however this requires an issue to be raised.

What I am looking at, is the possibility to set location bounding boxes up within a GA pdf plan, where this can then be linked to the equipment and subsequently any checklist and issues raised through the equipment.  It would be much easier to scan a barcode to highlight the equipment (or room) that you are in.  Where an issue is raised, this will automatically open the location bounding box within the pdf to show both users the plan of the room, but enable them to drop a pin in a specific area.  Having locations noted as a bounding box on a pdf could link to the piece of equipment as an automatic attachment. 

It is very difficult when any location is linked to the entire ground floor pdf rather than the specific room.

I would appreciate if others could describe how they are currently managing this, as we find the only way is to alter the bounding box when an issue is raised is through the iPad.

[fpensa]

Here our experience: in a condo project, we create the equipment category "condo", in which each condo is an equipment. Then, you can associate a location to each equipment, so for example, equipment condo #101 will be associated with location condo #101. The location is associated with a specific plan (usually the architectural plan of the floor) and with the bounding box focusing exactly on the condo. A barcode is associated with the equipment. Now, when a user scan the barcode (normally shown on the entry door of the condo), the condo equipment open up: any checklist, issue or task created in this context will be associated with the equivalent location and his bounding box on a plan.

Does this answer your needs?

[Kathryn.C]

@fpensa

This is what we have tried, but when you are working on an education facility, it is much more difficult to create this when you are trying to associate a room location on a ground floor plan, which shows hundreds of different rooms.

I can see where it would work with a room data sheet, or a plan specific to that building, but where there are multiple rooms on a floor its impossible.

[fpensa]

Can't you create an equipment for each room? That's was we were planning to do with a school project we're on to...

[Kathryn.C]

Yes we have created each room as a piece of equipment, but the problem is you can only create a bounding box on a library pdf (ground floor plan) when you associate an issue with it.

There is no way to create a bounding box on the pdf within the library function using the web version.  Bounding boxes need to be set using the iPad, and this is where we are needing the process to be simplified, at project setup.

Even associating a pdf within the equipment attachments and bounding a box to the exact room, doesn't enable pins to be dropped into that specific attachment - or moreover the bounding box.  The only way to create the bounding box is through raising an issue associating the location, the pdf with the linked locations is then opened, and users can then alter the bounding box.

It seems a very unmanageable process where we would ideally set this all up prior to starting on site.

[fpensa]

You would need to associate the correspondant location to the equipment when you create them

equipment Class #101 associated with location Class #101

You can define bounding box on pdf library document through the IPad, just set the location in the issue tab, switch to pin, select the proper document, enable edit mode and you have the option on the down right corner

[Kathryn.C]

That's why I am looking for alternative methods, or a software improvement, as setting part of this up using the web browser and completing the bounding boxes using the iPad is neither good management nor an easy setup method.

Any changes to how the software functions to simplify this is the development that is required.

[fpensa]

Something like this 

[Kathryn.C]

Thanks @fpensa

Unfortunately the information driven from the Revit model is uploaded to our separate CDE.  We try to minimise the information we pull from one into Field, so have on a number of projects, uploaded general arrangement plans only.  This allows pins to be dropped and users to refer to issues raised.  Unfortunately, we still have the above process of bounding location boxes using the iPad instead of the web browser.

[anil_mistry]

Hi @Kathryn.C,

I'm just checking in to see if you need more help with this. Did the suggestion that @fpensa provided work for you?

If so, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

[anil_mistry]

Hi @Kathryn.C,

I am checking back to see if one of the great posts in this thread helped you with your question. If so, please take a moment to reward the poster or posters with a Kudos and select the Accept as Solution button on those posts that helped.

Thank you and have a great day!

[Kathryn.C]

@anil_mistry

Anil,  I don't feel that the matter has been resolved, as there is still no simplified method.

Maybe this should be forwarded to the development team?

[anil_mistry]

Hi @Kathryn.C,

Thank you for your reply. Please, log support ticket for this request and one of our team members should be able to assiste you further. 

Thank you and have a great day! 

[anil_mistry]

Hi @Kathryn.C,

I was wondering if you had an opportunity to log support case for this behavior?

Thank you and have a great day!

[Kathryn.C]

I raised it as a development idea - would it be better to raise it as a support case?

[Anonymous]

Just a suggestion. 

When I'm setting the locations on documents for a client I typically do it like this:

1) Upload documents into folder structure as needed

2) Link locations to pdfs in web interface (here i link every single room to a single page, so room 101 - 179 are all on A101, excluding any enlarged plan rooms like mechanical rooms or electrical rooms)

3) Set scope boxes for all the rooms from the iPad (it's much faster than the web browser, still not super fast, but faster)

3a) open issue tab

3b) set the location to a specific room at top of screen

3c) press the pins button

3d) toggle on the edit button (looks like a pencil in the upper right)

3e) set scope box for specific room, specific area, etc.

3f) toggle off edit mode

4) change location to next room and repeat all the #3 steps

When the user wants a specific room tied to a specific room in the plans this is what I do for set up. The workflow is insanely repetitive but it's much faster than using the web interface.

Now when i'm walking the site, I use the filter button to set my location (ie room 101). It would be great if i could scan a QR code on my way into a room and have the equipment list adjust for my location in the building.

Anyway I hope this is helpful.

[anil_mistry]

Hi @Kathryn.C,

Did you submit this to BIM 360 IdeaStation?

Also, I'm just checking in to see the suggestion that @Anonymous provided work for you?

If so, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

[Kathryn.C]

@Anonymous Thank you for your detailed explanation, this is the current process we follow, however have found it is still very time consuming.  We were looking for a simpler method for setup - if this either exists or could be developed.

@anil_mistry I have noted this subject in the IdeaStation and hope it will be considered for future development.

[anil_mistry · Accepted solution]

Hi @Kathryn.C,

Thank you for submitting your feedback to BIM 360 IdeaStation. Please, let us know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Thank you and have a great day!

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.