Graphisoft BIMcloud
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| Graphisoft BIMcloud | |
|---|---|
| Name | Graphisoft BIMcloud |
| Developer | Graphisoft |
| Released | 2016 |
| Latest release | 2024 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS (clients) |
| Genre | Building information modeling, collaboration |
| License | Commercial proprietary |
Graphisoft BIMcloud Graphisoft BIMcloud is a proprietary collaboration platform for building information modeling used in architectural and construction workflows. It provides cloud-based and on-premises services that facilitate multi-user access to project data created in applications such as ARCHICAD, enabling distributed teams across firms, studios, and construction sites to coordinate on shared models. The platform targets stakeholders including architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and consultants involved with projects governed by standards and procurement frameworks such as International Organization for Standardization and BuildingSMART practices.
Overview
BIMcloud functions as a centralized collaboration server that orchestrates model sharing, change management, and project versioning for files originating in tools like ARCHICAD, Revit, and other industry software used by firms such as Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects, and Gensler. It competes with services offered by providers including Autodesk, Trimble, and Bentley Systems while integrating with enterprise platforms from vendors such as Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. Organizations adopt it alongside standards from bodies like ISO and initiatives such as buildingSMART International to meet procurement and delivery requirements exemplified by projects in jurisdictions influenced by the European Union or the United States General Services Administration.
Features and Components
Key components include a central server, caching and synchronization agents, and management tools that implement features similar to version control used in platforms like GitHub and Subversion. Functionalities encompass user and role management comparable to Active Directory integration, rights and permission controls akin to Role-based access control, and project archiving like enterprise content management systems such as OpenText. Collaboration features mirror those in offerings from Box, Dropbox, and Google Workspace for file sharing, while also addressing model-specific needs like element-level change tracking and live teamwork reminiscent of multi-user editing in Atlassian products.
Architecture and Deployment
BIMcloud supports several deployment models: on-premises servers in data centers run by institutions like Universities, private cloud instances hosted on infrastructures such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services, and hybrid topologies combining edge servers and central services similar to architectures used by VMware and Red Hat. Networking uses protocols and services comparable to VPN gateways, TLS encryption, and load balancing seen in Nginx or F5 Networks deployments. Scalability patterns reflect those in distributed systems designed by companies like Google and Facebook for high-availability services.
Integration and Compatibility
BIMcloud integrates with CAD and BIM suites including ARCHICAD, Autodesk Revit, and exchange formats promoted by buildingSMART such as Industry Foundation Classes and IFC. It interoperates with project information management platforms like Procore, enterprise resource planning systems like SAP, and model coordination tools such as Navisworks and Tekla Structures. Data exchange workflows can involve document management solutions from Aconex and collaboration protocols leveraged by firms using Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Asana.
Licensing and Pricing
Licensing follows Graphisoft’s commercial model similar to software publishers such as Autodesk and Bentley Systems, offering named-user subscriptions, floating licenses, and enterprise agreements comparable to deals struck by corporations like Siemens and Schneider Electric. Pricing tiers often depend on deployment type (cloud, on-premises, hybrid), support levels akin to Red Hat or Oracle support contracts, and additional services such as backup, training, or custom integrations provided by certified partners and resellers including regional firms in markets like Germany, United Kingdom, and United States.
Security and Data Management
Security practices mirror industry norms from vendors like Cisco and Palo Alto Networks with encryption at rest and in transit, access logging comparable to Splunk analytics, and identity federation via LDAP or SAML providers such as Okta and Active Directory Federation Services. Data management features include project backup and retention policies similar to enterprise backup solutions from Veeam and Commvault, version auditing used by firms that require compliance with regulatory regimes like those influenced by GDPR.
Adoption and Use Cases
Adopters include architectural practices, engineering consultancies, and construction contractors engaged on projects from cultural institutions like The Louvre renovations to infrastructure programs overseen by agencies such as Transport for London and municipal authorities in cities including New York City, Vienna, and Singapore. Use cases range from early design collaboration and competition entries involving studios such as Herzog & de Meuron to large-scale delivery on projects managed by firms like AECOM and Skanska, where coordination across disciplines, remote teams, and phased construction schedules is essential.
History and Development
Developed by Graphisoft, the platform evolved from earlier collaboration tools to a cloud-capable service introduced in the mid-2010s amid broader industry shifts driven by players such as Autodesk and standards bodies like buildingSMART International. Its development reflects influences from enterprise software trends set by companies like IBM and Microsoft and the rise of cloud computing popularized by Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform, with continuous updates responding to demands from global practices and regional regulations in markets including the European Union and the United States.