Logistics/status tracking with barcodes

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I've been trying to link logistical information to the status of equipment in Field but haven't found how to do it yet. So instead of loosing a lot of test/search time I decided to just post my problem/issue here in the hope that someone can tell me if it is even possible or not.

I love the BIM Field feature that allows to change the status of equipment since it allows you to do a lot of stuff with this information. From tracking installed tonnages of steel to checking if everything is being installed in time, ... But I also very much like the fact that you can combine it with the appearance profiler in Navisworks to visualize progress or the status of objects.

Since Field already has some predefined statuses, I started thinking that you could also add statuses like 'Shipped' or 'In Customs' (for international projects) which would let you track also the logistical chain of equipment going to site. In general you could state that for most projects, parts and equipment will arrive in packages/containers/bulk on a truck/... so for very one of these you could add a code number to the package/container/... which can also be visualized with bar-codes. If then every part in your model has a property that contains this packing information number (bar-code) or if you add this package number property with 'data-tools' your model in Navisworks based on shipping lists, ... you could very effectively track everything that is coming to the site and visualize it so that the models shows you in what areas work can already start or in what areas it can't since some pieces of steel structure are for instance still in a container that's in customs at the harbor or still on the way by truck.

So basically I would like to know Field allows you to scan a bar-code of a package/container/... then shows you a list of all pieces of Field equipment that have a mapped parameter 'shipping bar-code or container number or ...' that was added to the model as a property and will then allow you to bulk edit this list of equipment with the same 'shipping bar-code or container number or ...' (since all of that equipment is in the same package/container/...) and change the status of all this equipment that has the same shipping number. This will then allow you to plan ahead and see what is already possible on site. It will also allow you to update your model every time a new package/container comes in just by scanning it with the field app.

Please let me know if you have any experience with this topic or if there is a way to do this. If you don't understand what I'm trying to explain, please contact me as well for clarification.

Thanks for your reply,

Regards,

Emanuel

[don_simpson]

Hello emanueldp,

Thank you for contacting Autodesk.

From your post, I see that you have both Navisworks and Field. Do you also have access to BIM 360 Glue?

If you have access to Glue and there is data for equipment records that existing already within the Navisworks records, the ability exists to share the model from Field into Glue, use sets created in either Navisworks or Glue, and ultimately create equipment records in Field through set mappings. Within the set mappings, you can chose values from the model and the Field properties to which they can be stored or push properties created in Field back into the model. This class from Autodesk University 2017 may also help to give you a bit more background in regards to Field-Glue model integration referenced above: CS123123: Lifecycle BIM: Integrating Navisworks, Revit, BIM 360 Field, and BIM 360 Glue, and FM Soft....

Barcodes could be added into the equipment record and when scanned using the barcode scanner within the iPad application, bring up a set of values associated with that record.

You can also mass create or edit equipment records by using an Excel spreadsheet. This video may be helpful BIM 360 Field Batch Equipment Management. FYI: If you were editing records that were originally created via set mappings, there are some additional properties that should be visible to retain the association back to the model.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions regarding the topics referenced above. I would invite you to check out the Autodesk Knowledge Network, past Autodesk University Classes, the BIM 360 Community Hub, and even You Tube videos for additional reference.

Regards,

Don

[anil_mistry]

Hi @Anonymous,

I'm just checking in to see if you need more help with this. Did the suggestion that @don_simpson 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.

[Anonymous]

Hello,

Well most of the things Mr. Simpson said I already knew, but still it was helpful. Yet I was wondering if if there is a possibility to have a video-chat or just a phone call with someone at Autodesk to discuss this topic since the answer I got didn't really get into the detail on the part that I really needed. By now I'm guessing that what I actually want to achieve will not be possible ... but I really want to be sure of it since it seems to me that this could/should be part of BIM software.

Please let me know what the possibilities are?!

Thanks in advance,

Emanuel

[Anonymous]

Hello Emanuel,

Yes, we can touch base direct on any remaining questions that you have. Please reply to the direct message that I will send momentarily.

Regards,

Don

[don_simpson · Accepted solution]

Hello emanueldp,

I wanted to close the loop within the forum.

We had spoken directly outside of the forum post for some remaining questions that you had working with barcodes. Specifically, you wanted to know if there was a way within the iPad application to change the status of equipment records that are associated to another equipment record. The equipment you mentioned was a container from which a larger number of records would be associated and linked to the same barcode. While there is not a way to do this from the iPad, I mentioned a couple of ways that this could be easily done from the web application.

1. Select the equipment records to be updated from the equipment grid using filter logic and edit using the bulk edit features.
2. Update records via an Excel spreadsheet.
   1. Care should be taken to both prevent duplicate records from being created and to keep the association back to the model added from Glue.
   2. Make sure that the B3F ID, Model, Set, and BIM Object IS properties are all present on the spreadsheet used for the import.

I also mentioned reaching out to the BIM 360 API forum to see if it was possible to edit records in the manner described above or to link library documents more easily to equipment records.

As you agreed that we could consider this issue resolved, I will click the "Accept as Solution" button. If you have additional questions, please feel free to post to this forum thread.

Regards,

Don

[corickland]

Thanks for your answer! It was useful for me too!

[info]

If you are looking for a practical way to track steel parts during fabrication and erection, there is a really interesting approach using QR codes linked to the 3D model.

One solution that works well is Fabbim, which is designed specifically for structural steel workflows.

The principle is quite simple:

1. Export the model (for example from Tekla) as an IFC.
2. Generate QR code labels for each assembly or steel part.
3. Print the labels using a small industrial printer such as a Zebra printer.
4. Scan the QR codes during fabrication, galvanizing, transport and site erection.

Each scan updates the status of the part, so you always know:

• where the piece is
• whether it has been fabricated
• if it has been galvanized
• if it has been shipped
• if it has been installed on site

It works well for companies that want full traceability of steel structures, especially when parts move between fabrication shops, galvanizers and construction sites.

There is a short explanation of the scanning workflow here:

www.fabbim.com/docs/en/scan-steel-part.html

In practice you only need:

• an IFC model
• QR code labels
• a small Zebra printer
• a smartphone or scanner

From there you can start tracking the entire lifecycle of steel pieces from fabrication to final assembly.