Category: Future

BIM, SaaS and mobile driving Newforma developments

Newforma-to-Newforma (photo courtesy of Tuomas Holma at Cadfaster)

Once scathing of the attractions of Software-as-a-Service, Newforma is now actively embracing the cloud, SaaS, BIM and mobile, and eyeing potential social media ideas for future product development. Last week I learned more about Newforma, developer of the enterprise-based Newforma Project Center application and now a recent entrant to the Software-as-a-Service collaboration space with its …

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Permanent link to this article: http://extranetevolution.com/2012/10/bim-saas-and-mobile-driving-newforma-developments/

ProjectCentre acquired by RIB Software

RIB software logo

Sydney, Australia-based SaaS construction software developer ProjectCentre has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by the German technical ERP and BIM software business RIB Software AG. The announcement was made on Sunday 30 September, and is RIB’s second acquisition in under a month. RIB expanding through M&A On 11 September RIB announced the purchase (also for an …

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Permanent link to this article: http://extranetevolution.com/2012/10/projectcentre-acquired-by-rib-software/

NBS Contracts survey mute on contract tools

Opportunity missed, I think, sums up my view of the findings from the the NBS National Construction Contracts and Law Survey 2012, at least so far as construction collaboration technologies are concerned. I was hoping that, following recent years’ growth in the use of web-based platforms to support project team communications – and contract administration …

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Permanent link to this article: http://extranetevolution.com/2012/09/nbs-contracts-survey-mute-on-contract-tools/

Xpin offers new interface ideas

Last week I met Matthew Jennings, business development director, and online director Richard Hulbert of London-based digital agency Code Vanilla, which has developed a cloud-based collaboration platform called Xpin (described here). Following an introduction via Su Butcher, Matthew had asked for feedback on the Beta release of Xpin and whether it might be of interest to architects. Explaining Xpin …

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Permanent link to this article: http://extranetevolution.com/2012/08/xpin-offers-new-interface-ideas/

EADOC links to scheduling tools

I had an update this week from EADOC Software‘s Founder and CEO Eric Law regarding the California-based collaboration technology vendor’s latest Software-as-a-Service release and its trading performance. We set up the call after Eric emailed me regarding new integration between the EADOC platform and planning and scheduling tools MS Project and Oracle Primavera P6. Of …

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Permanent link to this article: http://extranetevolution.com/2012/07/eadoc-links-to-scheduling-tools/

#MobiBIM 2012

One of the best events I attended last year was a conference on building information modelling (BIM) and mobile IT, organised by COMIT (Construction Opportunities for Mobile IT). I applauded the combination of the two topics when it was announced last year, and I am pleased that COMIT is running the event again – this year on …

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Permanent link to this article: http://extranetevolution.com/2012/07/mobibim-2012/

Aconex acquires partner Grazer

Melbourne, Australia-based SaaS construction collaboration specialist Aconex today announced that it had acquired Adelaide-based Grazer, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition – Aconex’s first – was from mid-2011 an Aconex software partner (post), providing digitised operation and maintenance manuals. I spoke to Aconex CEO and co-founder Lee Jasper and to Chris Dobbyn (general manager, corporate development) …

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Permanent link to this article: http://extranetevolution.com/2012/06/aconex-acquires-partner-grazer/

From email to BIM

In the past couple of weeks, I have delivered two presentations on BIM (building information modelling). The first was an overview of BIM to the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Construction Industry Group (CIMCIG) at the Building Centre in London on  25 April. The second was yesterday to the Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Constructing Excellence Club at …

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Permanent link to this article: http://extranetevolution.com/2012/05/from-email-to-bim/

A longer look at TrackerPlus

In January, I wrote about London-based environmental consultancy SouthFacing and its TrackerPlus online Software-as-a-Service solution to help BRE-licensed BREEAM assessors manage their workload. This week, I visited the company’s Islington offices and met Ben Cartmell to find out more about the application and its potential future direction. TrackerPlus is the latest design tool created by a …

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Permanent link to this article: http://extranetevolution.com/2012/05/a-longer-look-at-trackerplus/

SketchUp acquisition extends Trimble’s BIM reach

Discussion about building information modelling software has tended to focus on designers’ needs, but the more I have thought about the announcement of Trimble’s acquisition of Google’s SketchUp last week, the more I see it as boosting its BIM capabilities from a contractor and a manufacturer or supplier’s point of view. For a start, Trimble’s existing strengths, …

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Permanent link to this article: http://extranetevolution.com/2012/04/sketchup-acquisition-extends-bim-reach/

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