App-Alchemy Recipe #2 (Assemble and Kahua)

At the AGC IT Forum Conference this past summer the teams from Assemble Systems and Kahua presented a concept for completing a punch list through a BIM model hosted in the cloud. This idea intrigued me when I heard about it. How interesting would it be to have a visual punch model? This collaboration would take my concept for App Alchemy to a new level by connecting two platform through open API.

I later contacted both companies to offer my services in beta testing this concept. Over the past few months I have been working with Assemble and Kahua to set up a “test” project to try out their concept. One of my project teams is now “field testing” this App-Alchemy experiment using a Surface Pro 3 tablet. The following details how the punch list collaboration works between the two platforms.

Direct Platform Integration

“To use the integrated platform to do punch list for our test project, I first created the views (by floors) in the Assemble program by utilizing the filtering process.  These floors contain the rooms that were created in the Revit model.  It was just to make the process easier. Then I would choose a room from the list, which highlights in the model and produces and description of the space.

Meanwhile, I am managing the detailed punch list that I share with my subs in Kahua.  From Kahua I can click Pin It and it launches Assemble.  From there I can select the object and land the Pin. At anytime while in Assemble I can also select from the menu the Punch list log and from there I can see real time the entire Punchlist log.  By selecting any item in the log, it will then immediately jump to the object.

Project photos can also be hyperlinked to the model.  In addition, Assemble and Kahua integrate with Bluebeam, if I need to add comments and bubbles for clarification.

Assemble is working on some filtering functions, such as different colors for trades. They are also trying to see if the BIM model section views can be created in the software, meaning to show a specific view of an area.  Bluebeam allows the user to create the views needed to address problem areas.

At the present time, the integration works on Windows based platform, i.e. desktops and laptops and tablets, to have access to the workflow. By using a SurfacePro3 tablet with a keyboard in the field, I can not only pin Punch list items, but also do this with RFIs, Field Observations, Submittals and more for others to view in the model from Assemble, based on their administrative permissions. Hopefully, the IOS version will be available soon to expand the platform to more users.”

This information was prepared by Anthony Strong, BIM Coordinator at J.M. Wilkerson Construction

App Alchemy Future

This new concept of a visual punch model will be a game changer. It takes my concept of App Alchemy one step further with a direct integration through open API. This collaboration  tools will enable teams to get projects completed more effectively and efficiently in real time. I will be curious to see what other work flows these teams can work on next.

To learn more about this collaboration attend the upcoming ENR Future Tech Event on December 11th, 2015.

To learn more about Assemble Systems click here.

To learn more about Kahua click here.