Autodesk is thrilled to announce that ACC Bridge and Autodesk Data Exchange have come together to take multidisciplinary collaboration to a whole new level!
What are Data Exchanges?
Today’s AEC projects are made extra challenging because important design data is trapped in massive model files – this slows and hinders collaboration. Autodesk Data Exchange directly addresses this pain point. Data Exchanges allow you to share subsets of your model data, such as the lighting fixtures in a model - instead of the entire file! That shared subset can be consumed within and beyond the Autodesk ecosystem (Revit, AutoCAD, Inventor, Rhino, Grasshopper, and more). Data Exchange is better than a PDF, or an IFC, or an RVT - because you don't have to share a static archive format, an entire file, or a copy of your IP! A data exchange unlocks many interoperability workflows by allowing data to pass across application boundaries – and now, organizational boundaries too.
What is Bridge?
Bridge aims to provide enduring data ownership [RP1] for companies who collaborate with one another. As hubs/ accounts most often map to specific companies, Bridge is a way to share data between hubs / accounts and allow each to maintain ownership for warranty and litigation after a scope of work is complete. Bridge also provides companies with autonomy – to set their own project, own permissions and own standards.
Without Bridge, companies that are using Autodesk as their file repository would all have to reside within a single ACC project to "share" with each other. You could have dozens of companies working from the same space, but ultimately only the Hub owner has true ownership of that data. This works well enough for a lot of customers but is a really big pain point for others.
Bridge has capabilities within the ACC Sheets tool[RP2] , ACC Files tool, Design Collaboration and [RP3] As-Builts (ACC and PlanGrid). In terms of ACC "products", you can use Bridge in Autodesk Docs, Build or Design Collaboration.
Share subsets between Apps, Hubs and Projects
Bridge now supports sharing Data Exchanges across Hubs and Projects in ACC. Users can create a data exchange in Autodesk Docs Viewer. Once the exchange is created, it can be bridged to another hub or project within ACC. Any published updates to the underlying Revit file will trigger an update in the exchange and automatically sync that update to the bridged hub and project!
This means that for the first time, users can share subsets of design data instead of entire design files beyond the ACC project it was created in. This is a significant step that we believe will simplify data sharing, improve data security and promote curated collaboration across ACC projects and ownership spaces.
At AU 2024 SSOE’s Luis Angel-Garcia will be presenting a class on the topic of Bridge, as an early tester of this new Data Exchange integration he had this to share with our team:
“The transformative power of data exchanges, combined with Bridge, is unlocking new possibilities in the AEC industry. These innovative tools are reshaping how teams securely share curated data in the cloud, enhancing control and privacy while optimizing data utilization, not just for design and coordination, but across every phase of a project’s lifecycle. As this potential unfolds, the industry is poised for more efficient workflows, stronger trust, and a new era of seamless collaboration.”
- Luis Angel-Garcia, VDC Technical Lead, SSOE
How does it work?
- Create a Data Exchange as part of any ACC project.
- First create an exchange in ACC from a published Revit file that has 3D views included in the Publish Set.
- As part of exchange creation, you will be asked to specify a folder in ACC where the exchange will be stored.
- Establish a Bridge between your project folder and another project or hub.
- Choose to Share the folder where the exchange is stored
- Choose to Share with Another project – then pick the destination where you want the exchange to be synchronized to.
- The Bridge must be set up at the folder level to ensure automatic sync. Setting up a Bridge at the file level will not sync any changes automatically.
- When an update occurs, the data is synced automatically
- When the source Revit file is updated, and the RVT is published to Docs again, then the data exchange will automatically up version as well.
- When the Data Exchange is done with its update, then it will also be updated in the bridged folder on the destination project or hub
What benefits does this new integration provide?
- Cross-project exchange workflows that protect intellectual property and enable granular data sharing instead of whole file sharing.
- Access to shared design data in downstream workflows for model quality checks in Power BI and model coordination workflows in Revit, Rhino, Inventor, Tekla, etc.
- Automated workflows that help make collaborative projects run more securely, efficiently and predictably.
More Information
Please visit this help page for step-by-step guide to utilizing Bridge with Autodesk Data Exchange. Please visit the learn page to get started with Data Exchange tutorials, or review Autodesk Data Exchange Help documents.
Check out the Autodesk Data Exchange information page to explore how Autodesk is solving the problem of data interoperability between multiple applications.
Bridge for Design Collaboration is available today at no additional cost to BIM Collaborate Pro and BIM Collaborate subscribers. If you are interested in exploring these product offerings click here for a free trial or a demo. For pricing and packaging information, contact Autodesk, 1-844-311-6864.
How can you get involved?
Interact with us on the Data Exchange Roadmap and keep an eye out for more updates, new capabilities, and improved features! For questions and support needs for this connector, contact us via Get Help page. For general information, questions and community-based support, head over to the Cloud API's, SDK's, and Data Exchange Connectors community.