How is BIM 360 different from Dropbox or OneDrive? Can I use BIM 360 without Revit?
What is BIM 360?
BIM 360 is Autodesk's cloud based common data environment. Even midsized projects have model sharing needs. With the work from home model now standard across many industries, we're all used to storing our files on cloud drives like OneDrive or Dropbox.
Storing Revit models in these services present two problems. One, we can't collaborate through a central model workflow like we can on a local network. Two, we can't access the information in the model in the cloud. BIM 360 solves both of these core problems with a growing feature set.
BIM 360 is purpose built for the building delivery in the Autodesk ecosystem. Revit and design modeling is at its center, but platform features are expanding both ways. Two exciting areas that expand the read of BIM is coordination and field management.
BIM 360 is a growing and changing platform, as of this writing it's divided into four modules.
BIM 360 Docs
- cloud drive for documents
- document management
- document viewing and markup sharing
BIM 360 Design
- Revit collaboration in the cloud
- version control and iterative collaboration
BIM 360 Coordinate
- model coordination
- clash detection
BIM 360 Build
- field management
- project management
User management is platform wide and works across all modules. If you are already heavily invested in the Autodesk ecosystem, BIM 360 should be a no brainer. For those who manage complex design-build operations but are facing management struggles, a BIM 360 enabled workflow may be what is needed.