Thank you to everyone who attended our May 14, 2025 webinar, with Leejo Johney from the University of Exeter. If you've been looking into asset data in your authoring model to enhance occupant experience, this is the webinar to watch.
If you missed the webinar, or just want a rewatch, catch the recording here.
Questions & Answers
API
- How integrated in Tandem is the infrastructure world rather than the building structures world?
Currently, we would not recommend long linear infrastructure, e.g., road and rail. However, we have quite a few customers with Water Treatment facilities, Train stations, and even Airports managed in Autodesk Tandem.
- What API or data pipeline do you use to send the data from Tandem to ArcGIS?
Depending on what you are looking to do, there are multiple paths using Tandem Connect or developing your own integration leveraging our APIs. If you have a specific use case, we can clarify the ideal path more.
- How does UofE acquire usage data? Do they require departments to constantly track space utilization, or do Facilities gather that data themselves?
They capture that data through integration with a room booking system, occupancy sensors, and other IoT integrations.
- Is Tandem intended only for facility managers, or could it also serve end-users, for example, by displaying dashboards with occupancy or environmental data (like temperature and air quality) to office workers? If so, what recommendations would you have for designing user-friendly, occupant-focused displays in Autodesk Tandem?
This is a great question, and something we've done a little bit of research on but intend to do more in the future. Occupants have not been the target user, but we do have some thoughts on a kiosk-style mode that could serve this type of user
Asset Data
- Is there a Facility Management Standard for Asset Data for the US?
Unfortunately, there is not a single standard. There are several common ontologies, but to date, we've not seen a single one take the lead or cover all use cases. - Standardized Space Data—Would you consider it a "Lab" or a "Classroom" in your case?
We began with brainstorming sessions. Initially, spaces and assets weren’t connected. We have developed standard information sets for spaces based on operational needs and external reporting requirements.
We treat spaces as an asset because:- Assets live within spaces.
- Spaces are part of floors, floors of buildings, and buildings of campuses.
We used a combination of internal structure and tools like Tandem to define this structure.
- How are you getting the data in the first place? How do we know which particular desk is occupied or not?
We connect via APIs to our booking system. It provides booking trends and availability. Tandem helps by storing geometry and area information.
Our data team combines:- Desk booking data
- Tandem’s spatial data
...to calculate desk and space utilization. Tandem Connect also supports calculations on top of this data model. To clarify, a point solution identifies whether a desk is occupied. Tandem consumes that stream of data. For example, Autodesk uses Robin (a booking system). Other similar tools can be integrated too.
- Can you elaborate on the workflow from Docs, where I give trades permissions to Tandem? Where can I find some functionality charts on this idea?
Permission to Tandem is managed within the Tandem interface, and this leverages the unified Autodesk login ID. So, if the individual you invite to Tandem has access to multiple Docs projects (and accounts), they can bring in models or documents to the Tandem facility. Visit our Team management page, which covers this specific workflow.
- How many new data parameters could be included? Like temperature, humidity, % of room occupied during class, etc. and what are the limits of such expansion?
There are no limits. These are defined in a Facility Template and those templates are versioned. So, you can add them over time.
Modeling Processes
- That's incredible modelling progress that was made in one year, curious as to how many full-time modelers you have on your team to accomplish this?
We have two full-time modelers.
- How long did it take you to pull together your AIR, standardize/define your spaces, develop the 3d the assets, populate/connect all the relevant information in the CDE, and then educate the FM team on tandem / start seeing the benefits?
Defining asset data and EIR (Exchange Information Requirements) from start to end took about 6 to 8 months. Asset and space data requirements require extensive consultation.
Yes, it often takes longer the first time you're going through requirements development. But the goal is repeatability, which is especially useful for portfolio or campus-level projects. You set the foundation once and reuse it across buildings.
- Do you have any size limitations for the 3D model?
We have customers with over 200 Revit models loaded into a single facility. Tandem allows for creating saved views, which are dynamic queries against the data, so you can slice large models by space and/or attribute filters. This allows us to load and interact with very large models.
- Your import shows a single Revit model. Do you have any links in the Revit model? If so, does that linked model data also show up in tandem? Do we need to have the links as attachments in Revit, or will overlay links also be imported to Tandem?
You can either load multiple models OR a single model with linked models. We generally recommend the former, but both approaches will work.
- Does this only support the Revit model? Does Tandem support NWDs or such?
Revit and IFC today, and we have support for NWD. NWC/DWG are in beta. You can sign up for the beta in the usual place: https://feedback.autodesk.com/
- Do you know if LiDAR point clouds or meshes are usable in Tandem or is it purely CAD/BIM files?
Today it's purely CAD/BIM, but Autodesk Recap supports point cloud to mesh that is possible to bring into Tandem. This is limited support for now, but I suspect we will work with the Recap team to do more in the future.
- Does the Revit model need to have the exact same materials of the elements as we would have on the construction site or building?
Generally, no, but it depends on your use cases
Other
- How would a subcontractor utilize this? Who is the end user for Tandem?
Subcontractors have an opportunity to contribute to the Digital Twin especially during construction. One specific area is that as assets are installed, they can help validate what specific asset was installed, along with any informational collateral that goes with the asset. The end user for Tandem is typically the Facilities teams, capital planners or others who have a vested interest in the operation of the facility.
- I assume Docs would be the base for Tandem?
Yes, maintaining versions of models and documents works best when using Docs. However, you can directly upload them from your local machine as well, so Docs is not a requirement.
- Can this be shared with subtrades so that they can add data related to their assets?
Yes, you can share. One note, though, is that we do not currently have permission management at the object level. So, if you give a trade access to directly edit their assets, they would have access to edit any assets. This is something we'll provide better control on in the future.
- Could FlexSim be used with Tandem as the virtual side of the Digital Twin? I.e., for monitoring a system's existing behavior and doing predictive analytics, what-if simulation, etc., in the manufacturing domain. FlexSim is the Discrete Event Simulation package recently acquired by Autodesk.
Tandem and FlexSim are not integrated today. However, we are having internal discussions about how to integrate the solutions for use in this scenario.
- Can you show and describe the scanning process?
This customer is modeling their facilities with Revit, so this webinar is not focused on scan-to-BIM-to-twin. We've done a webinar on that in the past and may do so again in the future. Apologies if that is what you were hoping to learn here today.
- Elephant in the room. Revit has now been in use for more years than AutoCAD. Being that RVT is the feedstock for Tandem, is the ecosystem future-proof?
Currently, Tandem ingests both IFC and Revit file types. We also have a beta for Navisworks and 3D DWG file types. If there is a specific need you’re looking to integrate into Tandem, we would love to hear your feedback.
- Is this project hosted by the Owner and the ACC information from the construction team linked to it?
It depends on how the contract is drawn up. Most often we have seen owners host the Digital Twin and invite the design and construction teams into the facility while the twin is being built. However, we have also seen instances of the Design team hosting during design and construction with the transfer of the twin to the owner at handover.
Pricing
- Is Tandem is part of AEC collection?
Yes. Please visit our pricing page to learn more. > https://intandem.autodesk.com/pricing/
Tandem Connect
- Did you utilize IT Developers to code in Tandem Connect?
To learn more about what is involved with Tandem Connect, i'd visit our webpage that details more info. https://intandem.autodesk.com/integrations-tandem-connect/
If after reviewing that site, click the Contact Us button, or post to our forum space. https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/tandem-forum/bd-p/tandem
- Is your Tandem integrated with a CMMS system? Are you analyzing/mapping maintenance, temperature, and environmental variables?
Using Tandem Connect, you can integrate with other tools using a low-code, drag-and-drop, node-based environment. This tool isn’t strictly for integrating CMMS systems; you can also connect BMS, IoT, Robin, and more. You can find more information here: https://intandem.autodesk.com/integrations-tandem-connect/
