BIM 360 Now Analyzes RFIs with Machine Learning

Increase Efficiency and Reduce Costs Associated with RFIs with Construction IQ

The amount of RFIs on a project can be overwhelming, time-consuming, and costly. According to a Navigant Construction Forum survey of 1,362 projects, there is an average of 9.9 requests for information for each $1 million of construction worldwide.

However, when analyzing the RFI behaviors of teams across five different software systems, Autodesk data experts found that it’s not about the number of RFIs closed on a project. In fact, they found that projects that prioritized closing more critical RFIs faster were more successful. The data team also examined the common root causes of RFIs, finding that unsuccessful projects (in terms of profits) had 50% more RFIs with a root cause of coordination problems than successful ones.

Recognizing that construction project teams could improve productivity and reduce costs related to RFIs if empowered with the right data, we're thrilled to announce the release of RFI Risk Factor cards for BIM 360.

New RFI Risk Factor Cards Leveraging Construction IQ

Teams often struggle in prioritizing which RFIs to focus on, often leading to additional rework, schedule delays, and cost overruns. Furthermore, design and construction information are often disconnected, increasing the total number of RFIs in general.

Found in the Insight module, the RFI Risk Factor Card is a new addition to the previously available Quality, Safety, and Design Risk Factor Cards. Harnessing the machine learning capabilities of Construction IQ, the new RFI Risk Factor card in BIM 360 analyzes and identifies high-risk RFIs and classifies root cause. The RFI Risk Factor card breaks down and surfaces RFIs by the following categories:

• High-risk RFIs: Visualize the RFIs that pose the greatest risks to costs or schedule based on analysis of the content and root cause.
• MEP and Structural RFIs: Prioritize RFIs related to MEP or Structural work, which need to be addressed promptly to avoid downstream rework.
• RFIs with a root cause in Design Coordination: Identify RFIs related to design coordination earlier, helping to avoid high costs down the road.
• RFIs with a root cause in Documentation Errors: Surface RFIs concerning documentation errors sooner to improve quality and reduce potential rework.
• RFIs with a root cause in Code Compliance: Catch RFIs related to code compliance, helping to reduce safety issues and permit hurdles down the road.

Prioritize the Right RFIs 

The RFI Risk Factor Card helps teams identify the RFIs the pose the greatest risk to project cost and schedule. By identifying the high-risk RFIs on a project, teams can now prioritize which RFIs need action, leading to more efficient management of RFIs. In turn, project teams can reduce the overall schedule and cost implications of RFIs.

Catch Design Issues Earlier 

Timing is everything in construction. The new RFI Risk Factor Card applies machine learning technology to identify RFIs with a root cause of Design Coordination. By catching critical design issues earlier on in the process, teams can improve handover from design to construction and avoid the exponential cost increase caused by design issues not caught early on.

Identify Risks Earlier 

One of the biggest impacts of this new visibility into risk can be found when leveraging RFI Risk Factor Cards across projects. When visualizing risk trends across multiple projects, teams can make decisions proactively and lower the number of RFIs on future projects, avoiding schedule delays, decreasing costs, and reducing rework.

Additional Enhancements from Autodesk Construction Cloud

This month we have 25 product enhancements and updates across Autodesk Construction Cloud products. Here are some of our latest releases for BIM 360:

• Navisworks Issues Integration 

You can learn more about updates across BIM 360, BuildingConnected, and PlanGrid, here.