TAVCO Construction Technology Blog

Construction documents are full of data, today more than ever. Often contractors or other project partners need to quickly search a set of plans to identify specific, important information.

Unfortunately, manually reviewing a set of printed plans is laborious, tedious, and invites mistakes. Luckily, there is a faster and more accurate way - the Search Tool in Blubeam Revu. For those who use it, Bluebeam's Search Tool is a game-changer for working with construction plans.

When it comes to marking up and annotating PDF files, there are certainly a wide range of options to consider. Adobe is an obvious choice, but the platform that has skyrocketed in popularity is none other than Bluebeam Revu.

In fact, Bluebeam Revu is the go to software for many Architects, Engineers, Government, and Construction professionals. One of the reasons for this is the incredibly easy to use interface.

It's incredibly intuitive, but learning a few keyboard shortcuts can help speed up your work so that you can crush that looming deadline without breaking a sweat. 

Chances are if you work in construction, you have probably heard of Bluebeam® Revu®. Although it is now a construction industry standard, there are plenty of people who just don’t know what it is or what it does.

Bluebeam Revu is a software application that allows users to markup, takeoff, organize, and collaborate with PDF files like never before. Here's how. 

Due to the significant impact of the novel COVID-19 Coronavirus, businesses around the globe have essentially shut-down overnight. Many people are now facing the prospect of working from home as the only way to stay productive.

The latest version of Bluebeam® Revu®, version 2019 has been released and AEC users have a lot to smile about. On the surface, you may not think much has changed, but under the hood, Revu 2019 is completely rebuilt.

The result is the fastest and most convenience version of Bluebeam ever. Check out the improvements.

As technology in the construction industry advances, access to digital files, both in the office and the field, is becoming paramount. After all, this type of functionality promotes better communication across all partner channels. Keeping everyone on the same page makes jobs run more smoothly and earns companies more money.

Be sure to update to the latest version of Bluebeam Revu. v.2018.6. 

See below for release notes. 

When construction projects approach completion, a Punch List is one of the final activities that must be conducted.

Essentially, this is a list of repairs and incomplete work items remaining at the end of a project that must be finished by specialty contractors to address and fix, before the project is completed, plan submittals are completed, and the project is handed over to the building owner.

According to the Business Directory, this is the definition of a Punch List:

A listing of items requiring immediate attention before finalizing a construction project. It is a document listing work that does not conform to contract specifications, usually attached to the certificate of substantial completion. The contractor must correct the punch list work before receiving payment.

The topics of a punch list can be wide-ranging. For example, door adjustments, flooring issues, electrical problems, and damaged wood trim are all potential items in a punch list.

For decades, this has happened via a manual paper/pen process that is slow, tedious, and marred with potential communication problems.

Luckily, now, software applications, like Bluebeam Revu, provide a way to quickly and easily complete a punch list and keep every stakeholder up to speed, in real time.

Lately, a recurring question has come up with my construction clients regarding the comparison of Bluebeam Revu and PlanGrid.

Since many companies are looking for ways to become more paperless, both of these applications have become quite popular as digital workflow choices with Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC).

But, which one is better? If a company is looking to take their wide-format workflow digital, which one should they choose?

Honestly, this question has a lot of moving parts, so the answer can be a bit dynamic. But, let’s dig in and take a look at the comparison of PlanGrid vs Bluebeam Revu. 

Recently users of Bluebeam Revu Version 2018 have experienced some problems with the application rendering images on screen. This has manifested as showing blank pages, scrolling issues, etc.

Despite the adage, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, people aren’t dogs. Humans are resilient creatures who are capable of constantly learning and changing.

This is evident today in the construction industry. It is a profession that is changing at lightning speed, but many “seasoned” professionals still make up the ranks.

Technology-wise, construction has changed more in the past few years than in the previous fifty. Given the influx of new talent, digital workflows have become both more accepted and commonplace.

Older baby boomers need to keep pace with change and embrace it. And, one of the tools that help them easily transcend paper to digital is Bluebeam Revu. Check out the three things that Baby Boomers love the most about Bluebeam software.

Before diving in to the three specific functions that older users find valuable, let’s go over what Bluebeam is exactly.

The PDF file format is now an industry standard for large-size floor plans. The reasons for this are pretty obvious. PDFs are commonly used, they are familiar, they can include embedded meta data, and they can be protected by robust security properties.

These dynamics have made PDF files universally used throughout the construction industry. But, when it comes to dealing with a multipage set of plans, organizing the pages to quickly get to the specific information you need, can be challenging at times.

No worries, Bluebeam Revu software is a perfect cure for your multipage PDF blues.

Blubeam’s annual Extreme Conference, now called XCON 2018, was recently hosted in the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin, TX, and it was a resounding success. This event is presented every year to bring together Bluebeam users and partners alike to take part in educational sessions to better utilize the software, and discover what to expect in the future. Needless to say, XCON absolutely did not disappoint - in fact, it was awesome!

When it comes to dealing with construction plan revisions, speed is certainly a factor. Given the current construction labor shortage, more key people are expected to do more work, make less errors, and still finish projects on time.

So, whenever a speed hack is discovered, it doesn’t take long for others to jump on board. This is why Bluebeam Revu software might just be the best kept secret for companies that utilize it for the purpose of comparing documents.

See why Revu could be one of your most powerful weapons in your arsenal when it comes to finding changes in document revisions quickly.

The following recorded webinar takes you through an overview of new features in Bluebeam Revu 2018 software. This presentation starts with the the layout of the new interface. A lot has changed, but you’ll see just how intuitive the software is, even for inexperienced users. Learn about the new panels layout, see how profiles have changed, and much more.