Salary Survey: My Announcement

 Some of you may have noticed that the AUGI Annual Salary Survey is currently underway. See the image below for a summary of current industry representation. 

I began running this survey in it's 3rd year (2004), and in every year since (plus the year I did 3 regional Salary Reports around the world), which makes this year my 25th Salary Survey report.

I figured that's a good year to go out on, so this will be my final salary survey. The board was notified a few weeks ago, so they can begin planning who will replace me, and hopefully bring a new vision to this unique resource.

Feel free to check out the AECO Salary Survey Archives to see past reports. 

Thank you everyone who has contributed to this survey over the years, and consistently made the September issue of AUGIWorld Magazine the single most popular issue (yes, even over the New Features issues) every time.

The survey will be open through July 13th, so please participate (and encourage your colleagues to do so as well. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026AUGISurvey

Also? If you're interested in how Owners are using BIM deliverables post-occupancy, please join myself and my boss for this webcast on July 15th. 

EDIT: On Demand Viewing available here: https://resources.imaginit.com/facilities-management/aligning-revit-deliverables-with-owner-expectations?utm_campaign=2607_Revit_Deliverables_Owners 

Digital Twin From the Owner's Perspective - AUGI Con 2024 Video

A few weeks ago, I was honored to be one of the few speakers chosen to present at the first ever AUGI Con 2024.

There were so many great questions and discussions from the attendees. 

The recording of that presentation is now live!

AUGI Con 2024 area - Digital Twin from the Owner's Perspective video 

(EDIT: Now also available on YouTube! Though you still need to go through the Community App to access the slide deck and handout.)

You do need to be registered as a member at AUGI.com first, and then the AUGI Community (available desktop and in an app) which will be checked against your AUGI membership (there is a free membership level available, so there is no cost involved). 

I was worried about going over on time and talked pretty fast, so it's probably only about a 30 minute presentation, with about 15 minutes of Q&A. (If this presentation sounds familiar outside of AUGI, I gave a very similar talk at AECTechCon here in St. Louis the following week.)

In addition to a video recording of the session, my slide deck, as well as a 10 page course handout that provides almost as much detail as the talk itself, are also available in the mighty AUGI Community. 

First it was "BIMwashing", now it is "TWINwashing".

Before we try to sell Digital Twin services to facility operators, let's discuss how owners are using your design data today. 

Understanding what an Integrated Workplace Management System, or Computerized Maintenance Management System, is will be vital to determining what your client actually needs from your construction documentation. 

Learning how few people will actually interact directly with your models can bring perspective of how facilities/operations curates technical documentation and makes updates throughout the lifecycle of their campus.

Who is the Owner

• Who are the stakeholders?
• How will they access your data?

IWMS

• What is an Integrated Workplace Management System?
• How does my data get ingested & updated over the lifecycle?

Project Closeout

• What handover mistakes are commonly seen from the AEC side?
• What mistakes are commonly seen from the Owner’s side?

How does Digital Twin fit in?

• What real world problem would a ‘Digital Twin’ solve?

In addition to giving definitions and background data, real world examples were also provided at each step, from my 20+ years of experience working in Facilities, networking with other Owners, and being a consultant who implements and supports facilities operations and management around the world.

Thank you to my team over at R.O.I. Consulting Group for highlighting my Digital Twin for FM session to our blog readers!

Proptech at Pratt - Hybrid Event

My company, R.O.I. Consulting Group, is partnering with the Pratt Institute once again, to produce a free educational and networking event for the Property Technology community (architecture, construction, facility management, and corporate real estate). 

Proptech at Pratt 2024

March 28th

Pratt Institute - Manhattan Campus

144 West 14th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011

2:00 - 6:00 pm Eastern Time

The schedule is packed with good content surrounding IWMS, Smart Buildings, Sustainability, Digital Twin, Costs and Carbon, Facilities Management, Virtual Construction, IoT & Sensors, Corporate Real Estate and more.

There is an option to attend virtually if you are not local to NY, which is how I will be participating. Each of these will be presented in 20 minute segments, so you can dial in for the sessions you want and work them in between your existing obligations.

If you do want to register to attend in person, please note that you'll want to scroll down on the registration page as the Happy Hour registration (afterwards, from 6-8pm) is a separate form.

And, even if you can't make the daytime sessions, you're still welcome to come to the networking portion in the evening, no worries!

Smart Museum - Digital Twin at The Wright Museum

Last year, my team at R.O.I. Consulting Group was fortunate enough to be able to work on a great project with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History as an IoT sensor partner (though I also like to think our experience with digital twin and facilities management issues and platforms came into play as well).

You may have heard about them from Autodesk University 2023, Operationalizing a Smart Museum: An Owner's Journey to Digital Twin. This talk was recorded and the slides and handout are available for download, and you get to learn about how they are creating the next generation Green museum.

We primarily worked with their Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Leslie Tom, and their Exhibit Designer, Korzell Coe. They have a lot of really interesting initiatives that their model and sensors will be the base for, and a big team behind them making the vision that they expressed become reality.

I have been meaning to share their AU presentation, and unfortunately had not gotten around to that yet... but what more perfect time than today? They've been working with Autodesk on a highlight video of their project and it just went live! 

Having worked in facilities for over 20 years, it is SO important for us to hear from the Owner / Operators of these campuses directly, what they are actually doing, the problems they are solving. Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Consulting firms should not be trying to push technologies that facility engineers and space planners and energy managers do not need. It is a waste of effort on both sides and can lead to a lot of dissatisfaction of unmet expectations. So, really understanding where these owners comes from allows you as a service provider to recommend and provide something useful and wanted that solves the problems the building owner has, and brings them back to you as a trusted adviser and partner.

READ AND WATCH on the Autodesk website

You can also Watch on LinkedIn. 

This video not only shows their beautiful facility, but explains their goals and some of the documentation issues they've had in the past, and how they moved past that and recreated record drawings for their facilities management and future planning needs, as well as to connect to sensors.

The video is only 4 minutes long, so please watch, BUT also I encourage you to carve out some time to read the article beneath it, as it delves into more of their drivers, the roi, sustainability, environmental and cultural awareness, historical artifact preservation, and much more!

Another article has been published about this project:

How the Wright Museum’s Digital Transformation is Leading the Way for Sustainability in Museums

Discover how the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is leveraging smart technology to become a model of cultural and sustainable preservation.

Reality of BIM in FM - Podcast

This summer, I sat down with Angela Simoes and Jonathan Girroir from TechSoft 3D to discuss Digital Twin, and how that actually plays out in the real world.

• Apple Podcast
• SoundCloud
• YouTube

While I am currently a consultant, and have been since 2016. Most of my career was on the owner / operator side of the AECO industry. I will never try to convince our clients to use a solution I would not use in their shoes. 

In fact, one of the services that we offer here at R.O.I. Consulting Group is evaluating IWMS and IoT solutions for clients and making an informed recommendation to them, based on our knowledge of the platforms and their needs. So, my leadership and coworkers are of the same mind as me in this regard.

On a high level, we discussed:

1. What does it look like when an ideal model-based handover occurs and is ingested into the operations management system?

vs

2. What does handover actually look like and where does it go wrong?

Topics that were touched upon: 

• In this discussion, I explain why owners need a single file format for deliverables, and how those (either DWG or RVT) work with our IWMS / CAFM / CPIP systems.
• How BIM requirements are laid out in materials specs/SOWs.
• We do not get the deliverables that we spec and pay for, sometimes intentionally, sometimes due to shifting priorities.
• Collaboration between teams during design and construction is far overstated.
• There can be multiple points of failure during closeout and handover that results in clients not receiving editable documentation or consistent documentation.
• Every design team should have at least one programmer who can automate changes across a project. Don't do this manually, come on.
• Don't make assumptions on Facility Engineering requirements, ask why that spec is there.
• The IWMS is the single source of truth and touchpoint for most users, not the model.
• How databases have longevity and portability, ensuring long term maintenance.
• The model MUST to be editable, for maintenance corrections and future renovations.
• Keeping models up to date saves vast amounts of money on future projects not requiring surveying and redrawing.
• The biggest improvement in our segment of the industry is actually SaaS IWMS hosting (regular included updated) vs internal or consultant hosted (years between updates, so many customizations that upgrades are long and expensive).
• The design team needs to speak to the owner, meaning the operator... not the project manager. If you are involving the occupant, you can involve the FM team, too, include it in that process.
• See Also: Who is the Owner and how do they use your deliverables? 
• The technology is there, but the processes and coordination still have a long way to go.
• Scanning existing conditions is getting easier as devices become cheaper.
• Monitoring devices, sensors are so much cheaper and easier, you can DIY. For example, the Disruptive sensors that are plug n play. 
• Consumer level devices such as these are easier to get past Finance / IT, etc. compared to traditional BAS/BMS and hand surveying which is more complex and expensive.

Recognition from Verdantix

When I worked on the Owner's side, I remember reading a few Verdantix reports in my day. So, it has been pretty exciting this year, being able to play a small part in my company being included with the impressive service providers listed in their "Green Quadrant: Workplace Systems Integrators 2023" report.

Press release: R.O.I. Consulting Group

Going to the source, I was happy to see the Green Building Quadrant I'm familiar with. Please click through and read for more insights and perspective from Verdantix.

https://www.verdantix.com/insights/blogs/verdantix-green-quadrant-reveals-leading-workplace-systems-integrators-in-a-growing-market-

Green Quadrant - Workplace Systems Integrators 2023: Verdantix

Congratulations to all of my colleagues at R.O.I.! They are an amazingly talented group of people, providing implementation and support services for multiple IWMS / CAFM / CMMS / CPIP platforms, as well as helping building owners evaluate and select what platform is right for them.

Among those platforms we actively support:

• MRI - Manhattan CenterStone
• Planon
• Serraview
• Tango
• Archibus
• Tandem

And we also partner with a few IoT easy-to-use sensor vendors, including: 

• Disruptive
• Freespace
• Vergesense

2022 More Results for the IFMA ITC's Digital Twin Survey

IFMA Survey Summary: Expectations and Reality

 

Last year, R.O.I. partnered with IFMA’s ITC and Autodesk to run our first annual survey on the state of electronic documentation for building owners and operators. Autodesk recently published a whitepaper revealing the highlights of that survey, demonstrating current state and desired future state. Please download this document and see what the industry has to say!

 

The 2023 IFMA ITC Annual Digital Twin Survey is running now. The IMFA survey has closed, please keep an eye out for results.

Please take a couple of minutes to chime in with information about your facility.

 

While you’re here, you might want to check out my prior article on the current state of electronic records and BIM requirements.

 

What Makes a Digital Twin?

 

Much like CAFM (Computer Aided Facility Management) and IWMS (Integrated Workplace Management System), what people believe a technology does or should contain is influenced by their respective needs. As a result of this survey, we see that the top component of a Digital Twin is a facility record model.

 

 Which Elements Are In Use Today?

 

The prior chart displays what facilities want from their technology adoption, as an end goal. They also shared what elements are already in use. We look forward to monitoring this during our annual surveys and seeing how the industry progresses.

 

Why Not Digital Twin?

 

For the respondents not yet utilizing a Digital Twin, a variety of obstacles were revealed. There are many replies citing a lack of resources (whether that be skills, funding, leadership support, or current large projects which would benefit), but nearly half of the negative replies indicate they cannot currently justify a business case.

 

Dominant Use Cases

 

For those who shared their expected business case, the most popular is supporting maintenance. Though, visualization for space and workplace management is not far behind. Commissioning a building and execution of jobs are fairly close in popularity as well. Some additional use cases were suggested, strategic portfolio planning, simulation, predictive design, and baseline comparisons.

 

 

Anticipated Business Benefits

 

When we asked, “Does your senior management see value in Digital Twin?”, a resounding 78% affirmed that they have support.

 

When queried, on a scale of 1 to 5, what are the most valuable benefits you expect from a Digital Twin initiative? All of the suggested benefits ranked strongly, indicating the importance for a wide range of functions. Receiving better deliverables and having an easier time keeping record documents up to date post-occupancy were valued most.

 

 

Please keep an eye out on notifications from R.O.I., Autodesk, and the IFMA Information Technology Community (ITC) announcing future results and surveys.

2022 Results for the IFMA ITC's Digital Twin Survey

IFMA Survey Summary: State of Digital Deliverables

Last year, R.O.I. partnered with IFMA’s ITC and Autodesk to run our first annual survey on the state of electronic documentation for building owners and operators. Autodesk recently published a whitepaper revealing the highlights of that survey, demonstrating current state and desired future state. Please download this document and see what the industry has to say!

The 2023 IFMA ITC Annual Digital Twin Survey is running now. Please take a couple of minutes to chime in with information about your facility. The IMFA survey has closed, please keep an eye out for results.

To prepare you for the next run of that survey, we would like to go over the first year’s questions and results more in-depth:

• What is your industry?
• How much of your records are available digitally?
• Do you require BIM for project deliverables?
• Why haven’t you adopted Digital Twin yet?
• What are the essential elements of a Digital Twin?
• What are the most important use cases you have for Digital Twin?
• What benefits are you expecting from your Digital Twin adoption?
• Where are you in the process of digitizing your portfolio and asset records?
• How are you planning to maintain your Digital Twin?
• Do you have support from Senior Leadership?
• Do you believe a single vendor can provide adequate features for your needs? 

Who Participated

The responses to this survey came from a variety of job roles across the industry, however, the majority came from Facilities Management and Corporate Real Estate Professionals. More than twice as many building systems (MEP/FP) AEC Professionals participated compared to Architectural.

To give you an idea of the type of work those roles specialize in, see the chart below.

Industry representation covers a wide variety of market specialties. Financial Services had the highest level of participation (16.8%), but Education (14.3%) and Commercial Real Estate (13.7%) were not far behind.

Current Electronic Records

Whatever goals we set for the future; it is important to assess where we are currently. The chart below illustrates what percentage of respondents reported having 50-100% of their documentation available electronically.

BIM Requirements

If applicable, do you require BIM deliverables for your new construction and/or renovation projects?

The answer is yes!

If you are wondering why BIM might be required on some projects, but not others, within the same facility, there can be a variety of reasons. Some might be budgetary, any projects over X amount will have room for documentation, but smaller ones may not. Renovations that only involve finishes but not MEP or structural components would also be a reasonable exception.

Long Term Digital Twin Management

When assessing whether or not a single software vendor was capable of providing a solution platform, 73% of respondents stated that they think it is possible.

Once a platform is selected, one needs to determine who will be responsible for maintaining their records over the long term. A majority (66%) of Owners intend to manage their Digital Twin in-house, whether than means utilizing an existing resource or expanding a team to hire specifically for those skills. Only 17% of respondents intend to outsource that work to a consultant at this point.

Please come back and read our next article on what facility owners and operators expect from a Digital Twin initiative, and where they currently stand with the various components of their smart buildings.

Digital Twin Webinar October 19th - IFMA

I was fortunate enough this year to be asked to help prepare a survey on Digital Twin with Autodesk and the IFMA Information Technology Community. This will be an annual survey, so please keep an eye on our social medias when we announce the survey run again next spring.

It is a panel discussion, which I will be moderating. We will hear from a variety of viewpoints, because digital twin (much like IWMS) is going to vary based on the needs of each use case and user.

During the Webinar, I'll briefly review some highlights of the 2022 IFMA Survey on Digital Twin, then we have some major topics we will cover. There will also be time at the end for Q&A from the attendees.

The whitepaper detailing the entirety of the survey and key takeaways will be published at a later time, I will share when it becomes available for download.

• Melanie Stone - Representing Facility Owners and Operators
• Mark Mergenschroer - Representing Design Software (but a past Owner himself)
• Erik Jaspers - Representing IWMS Software
• Chris Lorrain - Representing the Civil Industry and Laser Scanning
• Brett Spindler - Representing IT/OT (or IoT)

IT/OT convergence is the integration of information technology (IT) systems with operational technology (OT) systems. IT systems are used for data-centric computing; OT systems monitor events, processes and devices, and make adjustments in enterprise and industrial operations.

Register for the Webinar here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-smRy_GpSRaCC_GWZFUTIw

Thank you to IFMA ITC, Autodesk, and R.O.I. Consulting for sponsoring this survey and webinar!

Revit and Room Bounding for Cubicles and FM

A few weeks ago, I was tagged in a thread on Twitter. 

A designer, seeking to improve processes and workflow, was asking how to improve their client's method, because they felt it could be done more effectively. 

That's the type of seeking I LOVE to see. 

Except... the client was already doing what they had to do for their lifecycle and could not change it.

The question came down to cubicles, and storing data related to it. He felt that the addition of rooms/room bounding lines was labor and effort that was not necessary. But, I was able to confirm for him... 

Cubicles need to be rooms. 

Why? 

Glad you asked. 

When a Facility Owner / Operator connects their Revit Model to their IWMS [disambiguation], the room records in Revit will connect to the room records in the target database. 

Everything in asset management systems start with a room record.

The reason Facility Managers specify design output / handover / deliverables in .RVT or .DWG is that their CAFM has a plug-in that installs with either of those programs (and those programs only), which connects known entity types in Revit with specific tables in the IWMS.

Any data that are a part of those specific types of entities in Revit, will populate as metadata into the appropriate records (and all of their interconnected tables) in the database.

It was only through a mutual connection that I was randomly brought into this conversation to speak for the owner's side. So, please... ask your FMs WHY before you go assuming they are wrong in their approach and move forward with your ideas for improvement after that point, if they are still needed.

Your data has SO MUCH LIFE beyond the construction or renovation you are currently working on. And sometimes, a little more effort is necessary to fit with our myriad other systems, but it makes less effort in the long run throughout the lifecycle.

Also, do not ask the PMs on the client side about BIM standards, they have high turnover and don't know why the FMs do 99% of what they do. If you want an actual answer, find the SME in the receiving facility, working with the CAFM, they'll be able to tell you. 

Curious about the roles and responsibilities on the post-construction side? 

I explain PMs, FMs, SMEs and other related groups in this article. 

There was an Autodesk Discussion Group thread ages ago (intended to be working with FMDesktop but it still applies) to how we need cubicles to be Rooms in Revit today with ARCHIBUS or Maximo or Tririga or FM:Systems FMInteract et al. if you would like to verify what I have stated here.

Want to learn more?

You can listen to this podcast where I discuss document handover for facilities clients. 

For further information on who the owners are, and how they access and utilize your data throughout the lifecycle of the building, please see this video presentation.

Here are two back to back presentations on BIM in FM, the first speaker is from Penn State. We did not collaborate beforehand, but both of our presentations aligned. THESE are the issues important to FM.

Lastly, I'll point you to this podcast episode of BIMThoughts on how Facilities is more than just HVAC. Having multiple people involved in the discussion, it is a far more organic discourse and touches on a variety of facilities concerns.

Story time!

This specific (massive) renovation project was back before I mandated BIM in my facility, so we were only discussing AutoCAD deliverables, but serves as a perfect example of communication saving time, and lack of communication wasting time:

Contractor #1: Asked me why we needed layer standards and why we needed one plotted output sheet per dwg file.

A1: we need layer standards so we can quickly identify and merge content, or quickly locate specific items during an emergency (I worked in a hospital). 

He countered with, do you merge the sections and details into those plans? Do you search for layers in sections and details?

No. No we do not. Sections and details are searched for by their identifier and not merged. BAM, he saved his team a load of effort, because he could skip schedules and details and sections that did not matter to us (which I noted in later revisions of the standards). 

A2: We needed one plotted output sheet per file (example Sheet M1 is one file, Sheet M2 is another file), because we used a document management database. Any of the 200 people on the maintenance staff could filter through a dozen pieces of information and drill down to just the 'blueprint' that they needed. They click the link and that specific file comes up and they can access it through a DWG viewer quickly and easily, in case of emergency. 

No worries, he ran some type of script that duplicated his files and then removed all but one of the layout tabs, bam, one layout tab per file.

Contractor #2: Never spoke to us at all. Just told their PM who told our PM that the CAD standards were stupid and unattainable and would take over a year to complete, etc. 

That PM (I'm looking at you, Leslie Hoffman! <3 ) called a meeting with their designers, both PMs, and me to talk it out face to face.

A1: Layers are impossible to translate with any speed or accuracy. 

... they were renaming them by hand. 

Never used a layer translator or script or anything. I told them point blank that Contractor #1 had completed all of their revisions in less than 2 weeks, though their scope was larger. I delicately suggested they should hit Google or ask me for suggestions on how our other contractors are handling their compliance. (As an aside, EVERY design team, should have at least one person on staff who is capable of scripting changes on a large scale. That's why we have computers instead of drafting tables these days, for efficiency. I shouldn't be the one responsible for teaching my contractors this stuff, FMs have other things to do.)

A2: Cropping model space to meet the single layout requirement was impossible with any speed.

~blink blink~ 

They took (and I could see where they'd think this) our requirement for document management regarding a single layout to mean that not just layouts were being manipulated but what they showed in model space. Model space was not ever mentioned in my documents (I later added clarifying language that only Layouts applied, modelspace could remain the same without impacting us). 

BONUS ANSWER: They did not ask, but it was worth stating, our RFP included our specs for deliverable, it was part of a bid, and was available to them from before the project even started. Why were those standards not read until handover?

They could have started out using AIA layering and ensuring their pipe labels were done correctly, instead of going back to fix it later. Set up one template file up front that complies, and use that for everything dealing with our projects. Easy-peasy at the end.

What a Facility Owner wants you to know

    I cannot count how many times I have spoken to the AEC industry on a perspective from the Owner's side. It is so important to have our voice heard, for design teams to learn from us as we learn from them and we meet together to create a sustainable lifecycle for our buildings and data.

    But with the last team who approached me, I was not sure what to present on, and the organizer, Karen Kensak, suggested something like Digital Twins. I was like, UGH not another shiny technology, when people do not even deliver what they are contracted for most of the time. 

    So... that became the topic of my conversation. They do not record their presentations, so I decided to record my own and post it, because it is a really important discussion. 

    Behind every technical analysis I have responded with over the years, is a disappointment that most design teams are not consistently meeting contracted requirements. 

    Yes, I lay plenty of blame on the Owner's side, from the PMs not understanding or caring to Finance closing out books and sending out final payments before requirements have been met... but just because someone lets you get away with something, does not mean you should.

    If you do not care to watch an entire video, and prefer podcasts instead, I did touch on some of the same topics (although a little less forthrightly) on an episode of BIMThoughts last year. After hearing the playback of that interview, I felt I should make a presentation addressing how I always dance around the real issue for us owners, but did not get around to it... until today.

    We have such passion and energy in our industry, among those of us who share knowledge. But not everyone is like us. They do not understand or do not care or have too many time pressures, whatever the issue is, if we close the loop, it will benefit all of us.

if you do not see a video embedded here, try switching your browser to "View Web Version" or click directly on this YouTube link. 

    Not only will it make the next renovation easier, faster, and cheaper for all parties involved, it should help our economy as a whole. As I refer back to (yet again) the NIST study that shows that there are billions of dollars of lost information in our industry every year, most of which is borne by the capital facilities portion, aka, our clients.

    I also mentioned in my talk, the article I wrote about the 'alphabet soup' of acronyms for FM, so here is the link: TLA/FLAs for FIM/IWMS

Facilities Management Q&A forum: https://www.augi.com/forums/forumdisp... Salary Survey 2021 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021AUGIsurvey Are you looking for a new job? https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021JobSearch

What's new in ARCHIBUS v26.1

In the past, ARCHIBUS has been on a longer release schedule, but they are currently putting out new versions quarterly, for their clients who choose a SaaS model.

I was able to join in on the most recent new features webcast, which was focused on user experience (UX) and return to work (RTW RTO).

Topics: 

• Space Console: Query Search
• Space Console: UX
• Move Console: UX
• ARCHIBUS Workplace: Accessibility
• ARCHIBUS Workplace: Hoteling
• Reports Central
• Badging Connector and Report
• Framework Controls: UX

Space Console: Query Search

 

 

 

The main strength of CAFM/IWMS/EAM systems is the data being in one place, and normalized. So all improvements into finding, querying, reporting on data get me really excited.

In addition to spaces, you can also find employees with this function, whether they are permanently assigned to a space or hoteling.

 

Ying Qin ran a demo of Space Console Query Search so we could see it in action.

There are three switches for this query feature:

• Query
• Employee
• Quick Search

 

 

Query search is for a space manager who knows the data

Switch this dropdown to employee, to search for people (by employee ID or name)

Quick search is the 3rd option

 

 

Can use 'contains' in the searches

Drill down into results and set room highlight types

 

 

 

Space Console: UX

 

 

Space Console User Interface improvements now include the ability to:

• Can print blank floorplans with no highlights
• When selecting employees or rooms, zooms in on results
• Drag and Drop Employees (names and numbers)

 Move Console: UX

 

Improvements include these abilities:

• Can now create a move request from within the console
• Can filter moves based on their Division, Project Code, Move Name and Move Order

ARCHIBUS Workplace Accessibility

 

 

Improvements to the Workspace App are summed up by:

• Features for visual and hearing impairments
• WCAG (web content accessible guidelines) 2.1
• Level A compliant
• Level AA Compliant

 ARCHIBUS Workplace Hoteling

• Ability to limit the booking window (application parameter)
• Limit to all-day bookings (previous settings were morning / afternoon) (this application parameter is either/or, it cannot be utilized both ways)
• Enable a healthcheck, with configurable text, prompt before booking is finalized. If you don't check in, the reservation will be released
• Book near a colleague, because you can see who else has booked, during your search for a space

 ARCHIBUS Workplace UX

 

 

ARCHIBUS Workplace User Interface improvements make room selection less busy and easier to navigate

• Removed pins on floor during booking
• Removed room labels on the floorplan during booking

Reports Central

 

 

Octavian ran through a demonstration so that we could see the reporting improvements in action.

 

Reports Central

• Create simple reports, with charts
• Quickly modify by filtering and selecting fields
• Publish and share reports with others

 

This one excites me.

ARCHIBUS has always been my favorite CAFM platform, but it was a bit of a contrast when I began using FMInteract from FM:Systems because the reporting was so much easier to get going with. I literally had zero training and was able to get going with FMS / FMI reporting (to be fair, I had prior exposure to the slightly strange FMI database structure as an ARCHIBUS Solutions Architect performing data mapping for migrating clients, so that surely helped. It was very easy to get going with in reporting.).

These new changes look to be leveling the playing field a bit more with regard to the usability and lowers the barrier to entry in ARCHIBUS reporting.

 

 

 

They support 4 chart types currently, but will be adding more in future releases

 

• Bar Chart
• Column Chart
• Line Chart 
• Pie Chart

 

 

Then you can save your report, either privately or shared with your team. When you publish the report, you dictate the Application and Process or Role to store it as.

 

This reporting can be restricted or allowed by Role. The 'publish report' is not a PNAV (process navigator) item, it resides within the Reports Central Process, and published reports will only be visible to those with the assigned application/process/role dictated by the reports.

 

One limitation is that there is no support yet for math. No averages or sums are available, but they will be in a future release.

 

If you are a report designer, you can lock some of the filters, so the asset manager who receives the report cannot add a filter. Basically, there is control how much filtering the end user will have access to based on your target user role.

 

Since this is version 1 for this feature, ARCHIBUS would love to get user feedback on it to help inform future releases. If you do not know how to submit feedback, contact your ARCHIBUS Business Partner.

Access Monitoring: Badging Connector

 

 

 

Access Monitoring (Badging Connector), these features can help ensure social distancing compliance by monitoring the current capacity / occupancy of your space:

• Imports employee badge data
• Supports contract tracing by tracking entry to facilities
• Monitors space utilization and access

As an aside: I have heard that this company, DLR group, is doing a lot of exciting data-centric forward-thinking work in the AECO industry re: IoT and IAQ, including not using badging or grid scans of occupancy scanners or other similar data sources for occupancy counts, but also using thermo data to detect changes in air temperature, indicating occupancy increases to unsafe levels. Neat stuff. 

Framework Controls: UX

 

 

Framework Controls User Interface

• Updated drawing control toolbar icons
• Ability to drag and drop documents into the document field
• Highlights in the tree which item you have selected

 

These changes apply across the product.

New Features and FAQ

There was a future features / backlog / roadmap portion of the presentation, but I will not be discussing that today, as it will be made public by ARCHIBUS at the appropriate time.

Likewise, I will not be sharing my notes and screenshots on the FAQ portion of the call, as much of that was regarding items currently in development which have not yet been released. Disappointing, as I have SOOOO many comments regardings some of them.

I always love new features, but, as someone supporting IWMS software, most of which is still (an average) of 60% customized, it does make me nervous. ;)