Collaborate with other disciplines using a common data environment

Learn how centralized, cloud-based storage ensures that everyone works with the latest project data, streamlining workflows and reducing errors. Explore Forma Data Management at a high level, to better understand how a common data environment can be used by the project team. 

After completing this video, you’ll be able to:

• Explain the role of the CDE in facilitating collaboration.
• Describe the benefits of centralized cloud storage in preventing miscommunication and reducing errors.
• Explain how and why permissions settings are used.

Video demonstration of Autodesk Forma for Construction and Forma Data Management.

This video focuses on organizing a common data environment (CDE) to maximize efficiency, collaboration, and compliance with BIM standards, such as ISO 19650. You’ll learn how to create a structured folder hierarchy for various project teams, ensuring seamless collaboration and proper file progression through key stages: WIP, Shared, Published, and Archive. Discover how Forma Data Management streamlines folder creation and management, empowering teams to stay aligned and organized throughout the project lifecycle.

After completing this video, you’ll be able to:

• Create dedicated team workspaces in a CDE.
• Create team folders to organize models, drawings, and documents.
• Explain the importance of a well-organized CDE for collaboration.
• Describe the purpose of folders in managing file progression and collaboration.
• Explain how a structured CDE minimizes delays, avoids duplication, and supports efficient project delivery.

Video demonstration of Forma Data Management: Project member level access; with edit permission level of own folder.

Assigning permissions in a common data environment (CDE) is a critical process that ensures team members access only the information relevant to their roles. This lesson explores how to manage folder permissions in Forma Data Management to enhance collaboration, maintain data security, and streamline project workflows. Learn how to assign tailored permissions to individuals, roles, or entire companies, and understand how these permissions protect project integrity while enabling efficient teamwork.

After completing this video, you’ll be able to:

• Explain permission levels in a common data environment.
• Demonstrate role-based access management.
• Apply access controls for specific stakeholders.
• Implement permission settings in Forma Data Management.

Video demonstration of Forma Data Management: Project administrator level access; with default permissions.

In Forma Data Management, file attributes allow you to label files with useful information without modifying the file name or version. All files have default system attributes such as name and description, but you can add custom attributes the allow you capture information with a more meaningful purpose. This can be useful for setting up your BIM projects with adherence to standards. 

Note that project members with edit or manage permissions can manage attributes at a folder level. Project administrators can also manage attributes at a project-level.

After completing this video, you’ll be able to:

• Explain the importance of BIM standards such as file naming.
• Explain how metadata communicates file purpose or status in a project cycle.
• Assign metadata and other attributes to files.

Video demonstration of Forma Data Management: Project administrator level access; with default permissions.

Learn how to establish effective naming standards in a common data environment (CDE). This lesson covers the creation and application of attributes and standardized naming conventions aligned with international standards, ensuring consistency, clarity, and compliance across project files. Explore how to create attributes like status codes and classifications, edit fields to match project requirements, and apply naming standards to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and prevent confusion.

After completing this video, you’ll be able to:

• Explain how files are named in a BIM project.
• Create a naming standard in a CDE.
• Assign a naming standard to folders and files within a CDE.

Video demonstration of Forma Data Management: Project administrator level access; with default permissions.

Discover how teams collaborate effectively using a common data environment (CDE) to manage and share workshared models. This lesson explains the differences between collaboration within your network and collaboration in the cloud, as well as the roles of central and local models in collaborative workflows. Learn how teams within the same discipline coordinate their work to ensure alignment and consistency in BIM projects. By understanding these concepts, you’ll gain insights into how the CDE supports streamlined communication and collaboration.

After completing this video, you’ll be able to:

• Collaborate a Revit project model to the CDE.
• Adhere to naming conventions and standards.
• Open a workshared central model in Revit.
• Synchronize local changes back to the central model on the CDE.
• Check for and download changes made by other project team members.

Video demonstration of Forma Data Management: Project member level access; with edit permission level of own folder.

Learn how to set up a Design Collaboration space within a common data environment (CDE) to streamline workflows, enhance team coordination, and optimize design collaboration. This video demonstrates the purpose and practical application of design collaboration spaces, explaining how discipline-specific WIP folders enable teams to develop, test, and refine their models before sharing them with the wider project team. Discover how tools like Design Collaboration and Model Coordination support multi-discipline collaboration, automated clash detection, and seamless design refinement for better project outcomes.

After completing this video, you’ll be able to:

• Explain the purpose of a design collaboration space.
• Set up and manage design collaboration spaces in a CDE.
• Demonstrate model coordination and issue tracking.

Video demonstration of Forma Data Management, Design Collaboration, and Model Coordination: Project member level access; with edit permission level of own folder.

Learn how model coordination enhances collaboration and quality in BIM workflows. This lesson covers the purpose and benefits of model coordination, focusing on the integration of discipline-specific models within a common data environment (CDE). Explore how automated clash detection identifies design conflicts and facilitates resolution. Understand how issues are assigned, tracked, and managed, and discover the role of coordination reports in communicating progress and ensuring alignment across teams.

After completing this video, you’ll be able to:

• Set up a shared multidiscipline coordination space in the CDE.
• Perform multidiscipline clash detection.
• Report and assign coordination issues to the relevant stakeholders.

Video demonstration of Forma Data Management and Model Coordination: Project member level access; with edit permission level of own folder and a shared folder.

Learn how to share a package with a multidisciplinary team. This video covers the step-by-step process of packaging models and sharing them within a common data environment (CDE). Discover how shared packages enable seamless collaboration among discipline-specific teams, providing them with the latest coordinated models. Explore how this facilitates issue tracking, and ensures that all stakeholders have access to accurate and up-to-date information to drive project alignment and efficiency.

After completing this video, you’ll be able to:

• Describe how teams collaborate their designs with other disciplines.
• Create a package of a Revit project model.
• Share a package with the wider team in a BIM project.

Video demonstration of Forma Data Management and Design Collaboration: Project member level access; with edit permission level of own folder and a shared folder.

Learn how to consume a package in Design Collaboration. This video guides you through the process of accessing and integrating shared packages from multidisciplinary teams within a common data environment (CDE). Understand how consuming a package ensures that your team is working with the latest coordinated models, streamlining workflows and reducing errors. Explore how this process facilitates real-time collaboration, enhances decision-making, and supports seamless integration across project disciplines.

After completing this video, you’ll be able to:

• Consume a shared package form another discipline.
• Federate multidiscipline models in Revit.
• Explain how to use another discipline’s model to influence design.

Video demonstration of Forma Data Management and Design Collaboration: Project member level access; with edit permission level of own folder and a shared folder.