Ichi Features

Ichi analyzes typical architectural drawing sets, specifications, and construction documents to catch missing information, scope gaps, cross-sheet and cross-document discrepancies, and internal conflicts. The aim is for architects to use tools like Ichi—which benefits from AI models—to find all such issues before they are eventually discovered in the field at the construction site, where their cost impact can be detrimental to project success.

Architects are already using AI tools, including Bluebeam’s new Bluebeam Max suite, to analyze and pore over architects’ drawings to identify discrepancies, scope gaps, and missing information. Clients that feature paid consultants functioning as construction managers (CMs), a type of watchdog role in the construction industry, are especially interested in such new AI tools because this kind of tool is precisely what they have never had at their disposal.

Ichi is a leading new AI-QA/QC and CA tool for the AEC industry.

Ichi therefore helps architects discover issues before documents are released to clients and their consultants, forming a tighter set of documentation and a more highly resolved technical design.

Ichi uses AI to analyze drawing sets against a massive library of ICC-licensed building codes (including IBC, IECC, and ADA) along with local regional amendments. Ichi says its AI models are not like generic AI models (eg: ChatGPT) but instead operate collaboratively within a “walled garden” workspace. Using AI tools to rapidly check for code compliance was the hot new focus at AIA26 this year, as we have noted several times on Architosh. However, AI isn’t just great at code and zoning.

The CA Phase

Ichi also speeds up the construction administration phase. And it can capture and distribute firm knowledge from these interactions so staff architects gain future insights and benefits in the next or current projects. And Ichie isn’t just built for architects or engineers, but also for jurisdictions and professional reviewers.

But back to CA. Ichi analyzes submittals, RFIs, and construction documents and surfaces the information at scale to determine that things are conforming, identify what is missing, and highlight what needs attention.

Ichi can also pull submittals from Procore to work on. For RFI analysis, Ichi automates the context-gathering phase of addressing RFIs, including the history of responses to previous RFIs.

Ichi begins by having users upload all of their documents or link to these documents in Procore. Once complete, Ichi can run deep analyses of all documents—from construction drawing sets to specifications to project manuals and other industry or office standards.

Closing Comments

I like that all such AI QA/QC tools don’t remove the professional obligations of licensed architects and engineers. The tool accelerates those workflows via AI automation and helps professionals become not just faster but possibly more thorough. To learn more, visit them here.

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

AI tools that operate on uploaded PDF documents are in a separate class from tools that perform QA/QC directly within design and documentation authoring systems, such as BIM programs and CAD tools. Within this different class of QA/QC tools, the possible selections are fewer. We have already written about Kestrel Labs and its award-winning (see: Architosh, “AIA26: Architosh 12th ‘BEST of SHOW’ honors for digital technologies at AIA San Diego,” 22 Jun 2026) plugin for Revit and future integration with Trimble solutions. We are also aware of VitruAI and its plugin for QA/QC and general compliance workflows in Revit, which we mentioned here (see: Architosh, “AIA26: Expo Show Floor Report 7—Layer, Arcol, Egnite, and more.” 13 Aug 2026). 

These two solutions function differently from Ichi and its kind. They do, or have the capacity to do, this QA/QC work directly within Revit. At the same time, one must acknowledge that not all AEC professionals use Revit. Thousands of firms and professionals work with competitor tools from Bentley, Trimble, and Nemetschek. Moreover, jurisdictions, consultants, CMs, and the like don’t know Revit and will prefer solutions that work with uploaded PDF drawing sets. So there is a need in the industry for both in-app hosted QA/QC solutions and external QA/QC solutions like Ichi. 

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More AI Software

ArchiBoost AI

ArchiBoost AI is another AI-powered QA/QC compliance software, but also a tool that functions as a knowledge hub for your firm. As their website says, “Every project depends on two types of intelligence: what your firm already knows — and what this project uniquely requires.”

ArchiBoost AI works to bind these two together, linking the first knowledge layer (Firm Intelligence) to the second layer (Project Intelligence). That first layer is about what you reuse, including BIM execution plans, documentation standards, QA/QC checklists, internal best practices, specifications, and master spec templates, etc.

The second layer is about what the project demands uniquely across standard data and documents.

As we noted in reports twice now, using AI software for scanning and reviewing plans and models was the hot big thing at AIA26 this year in San Diego. Suddenly, QA/QC (quality assurance and quality control) is all the rage. And while many new firms were showcasing such technology, other important leaders in this segment were not at AIA26, like VitruAI, which has truly ambitious plans for agentic AI in AEC.

ArchiBoost AI image showing its knowledge hub structure. A firm’s best details shouldn’t disappear into archival folders. ArchiBoost extracts metadata from a firm’s past projects and builds a living, searchable library that evolves with your firm.

There is an interesting differentiator between these new AI-powered QA/QC software systems. Some work with the PDF output only, while others work with the actual BIM models. In the case of Architosh AIA26 BEST of SHOW winner Kestrel Labs, their solution works inside of Revit via a plugin. It also works in a web browser as a general code compliance system to help architects understand requirements on a project before they even have BIM models. Kestral Labs’ system is designed for the duration of the project from inception to post-occupancy. And Kestrel Labs is aiming to work not just on Revit but also soon on SketchUp models. That part has us excited because we believe that is quite challenging to do.

MORE: AIA26: Kestrel Labs — Native BIM Compliance Platform

At the same time, VitruAI, like Kestrel Labs, works inside Revit as a plugin. But VitruAI is an agentic AI production system, not just a QA/QC platform. Their plans are grander and more ambitious. They are starting with codes, compliance regulations, office standards, and project requirements, but they have AI agents planned for much more within their VitruAI Labs, including AI agents for structural sizing, MEP routing, and a document-parsing AI agent. And their roadmap for agentic AI is even larger. Plus, they are looking at integrations between VitruAI and Solibri, SketchUp, Rhino and Grasshopper, and IFC. We bring this up about VitruAI to point out that developers are looking at the entire architectural process as being served by AI agents at every step, across more tools than just Revit.

Arcol

Arcol won the AIA Architosh BEST of SHOW award for the BIM category two years in a row this year. The well-funded BIM 2.0 industry darling has won over numerous top architecture firms and since last year added marquee US large construction firms to its client roster.

Arcol is showing its new integration of spreadsheets that can be bi-directionally synced with Excel files.

This momentum is driven by continuous innovative development, adding useful features to its easy-to-use UI and UX. The latest is the bidirectional bridge between Rhino 3D geometry and Arcol. As senior associate editor Architosh Pete Evans, AIA, remarks:

Arcol had already added Boards to its BIM 2.0 program in the summer of 2025, but recently they added sophisticated table linking so that Arcol model data can be linked into other table applications or worksheets such as those for pricing data.

Arcol firmly believes that agentic AI will power Arcol along with human architects in the near future.

While agentic AI is being plumbed into Arcol today, a distinguishing feature of Arcol is its Figma-style multiplayer engine that allows multiple architects, owners, builders, and others to click a link and enter the same model (file) and simultaneously edit geometry in real time without file locking, manual syncing, or lag. As you work, you can see your teammates’ cursors moving around the user interface. In the near future, instead of seeing your human teammates’ cursors in the UI, human architects will also see the cursors of AI agents working in the model as well. That is the vision of the future!

Egnyte

Egnyte is a leading platform for secure file sharing, content management, and governance. Unlike enterprise cloud storage offerings from Dropbox, Box, Microsoft and others, Egnyte is specifically tailored for industries with heavy data loads, complex file types, and strict compliance needs—such as AEC, life sciences, and legal.

Egnyte is a hybrid cloud architecture platform and virtual appliances that run on a local office server or a network-attached storage (NAS) computer and mirror the Egnyte cloud data. Dropbox and similar offerings, instead, are direct-to-cloud syncing platforms. Clients individually link to the cloud and sync directly to files whose masters are stored on the Dropbox cloud.

One powerful advantage of Egnyte is performance and data file protection. Since the appliance server syncs to the Egnyte cloud rather than to an architect’s own computer while sitting in the office, the architect can work swiftly, opening a 2 GB AutoCAD, Revit, or Archicad file and working at local gigabit network speeds (near instantaneous). Egnyte quietly syncs changes slowly in the background (the work happens between the Egnyte appliance and the cloud)

The other advantage is true file locking. Folks who use Dropbox and similar cloud services know that if two people try to open the same file at the same time, it is possible, and users only get soft warnings. But they can also get, in some cases, “conflicted copies,” which create a mess for IT and BIM managers, not to mention end users.

With Egnyte, you can use the platform as a cloud service, or you can deploy a NAS or appliance on your network in your offices (yes, offices as in plural). Egnyte can sync multiple appliances across offices worldwide. Having the hybrid architecture helps with large-file access and write speeds on local LANs within offices, particularly for very large files.

A newer feature in Egnyte is secure AI (artificial intelligence). You can turn files within an organization into “firm-wide knowledge” to power both collaboration and governance. Using Anthropic’s MCP technology, users working across a myriad of applications can use Egnyte’s AI chat box to ask questions about projects and teams, and the AI accesses data from email and other applications.

Egnyte AI MCP connectors today include Gmail, Jira, Confluence, Procore, Slack, and others, plus a growing library of other apps. The AI can draft responses, like for email, and then send the draft back to Gmail as a draft after you approve it. This essentially turns Egnyte into a central intelligence hub.

In addition to the performance and data security benefits, Egnyte has specific AEC-only features, including XREF and path preservation (for DWG/AutoCAD files), smart cache SMB collaboration for single-site Revit Co-Editing, and integrations with Autodesk Forma Cloud, Procore, and Bluebeam Studio.

Layer

In 2019, the innovative mobile-cloud-first application Layer won Architosh AIA BEST of SHOW in the Mobile + Cloud category. Since then, the application has continued to evolve. Layer was not shown in a booth at AIA that year but was a major feature in a large, well-attended educational session that Architosh attended.

Layer 4 is the current version of this innovative app that refers to itself as a “workflow platform for buildings.” Being mobile-cloud-first, Layer is very strong in the field capture of data and photos and the management of the same in the field on your mobile device.

Layer 4 is the latest version of this award-winning app for architects. The modern platform helps architects work smarter with data records, getting data away from inefficient spreadsheets and into Layer. Layer has a flexible UI/UX and can be configured in infinite ways. It is ideal for collecting survey data of existing buildings, FF&E management, field reports, Room Data Sheets, CMMS, and more.

For those of you old enough to recall the FileMaker Pro solutions built for the architecture industry back in the 1990s, Layer shares one common aspect with that legendary relationship database tool—the ability to easily customize the data fields in the UI/UX and the reports the application can spit out. On some level, Layer is the heir apparent to FileMaker Pro in AEC since that application and the company behind it (Apple, of all things) have largely turned their backs on AEC.

Layer 4 is designed to reduce your firm’s use of spreadsheets like Excel or Google Sheets. It’s not that spreadsheets are evil, but that spreadsheets are horrible to work with in the field on mobile devices. And they are also horrible to work with as a way to store data records of things like furniture, equipment, appliances, and all manner of objects that are placed in buildings.

These are just a sampling of the pre-build templates for managing this kind of data inside Layer 4.

Layer 4 works with Revit so you can link Revit to your Layer data fields. Layer has captured the attention of leading architecture firms, including POPULOUS, AECOM, DMA, Leo A Daly, SmithGroup, and others.

Bimbeats

BIMbeats is an analytics platform for architecture firms. The firm says, “We automate data collection and visualization so you can understand how your team really works, what’s helping, what’s slowing you down, and where to focus next.”

BIMbeats is software that helps practices right-size computing equipment and software. From this perspective alone, the software can more than pay for itself by helping to find performance bottlenecks and underutilization of powerful equipment.

What BIMbeats does is integrate with leading industry tools like Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam Revu, Tally, Rhino, Grasshopper, Adobe, Navis, Enscape, and many others. It gathers data about these tools and their utilization by staff, the sizes of files, and how the hardware in your firm is running these applications. From this data it can surface patterns and provide insight about them, like file size warnings on projects, in-place Revit Families, total sheets, views, etc.

BIMbeats showing the hardware monitoring charts in its interface.

Hardware monitoring is useful so firms can better plan for future hardware based on their equipment is actually used. This can help firms reduce over-spec’ing computer equipment when users actually don’t fully push such equipment to the max or are not using apps that require that level of power. It can also show the opposite and reveal bottlenecks.

Other Show Reports

AIA26: Expo Show Report 1 — Autodesk

AIA26: Expo Show Report 2 — Nemetschek Group

AIA26: Expo Show Report 3 — Trimble and SketchUp

AIA26: Expo Show Report 4 — Chaos 

AIA26: Expo Show Report 5 — neoBIM, and other AI apps

AIA26: Expo Show Report 6 — xFigura, CODii, others

AIA26: Expo Show Report 7 — Layer, Arcol, Egnyte and more…

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The company was founded recently in 2020 and is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As a six-year-old AEC software firm, the company has grown from a niche startup to a venture-backed software platform after early pilots with over 100 leading architecture firms. In terms of their funding, prominent VC firms Graphite Ventures and the 519 Growth Fund helped PART 3 secure a major USD 2.8 million seed round.

A screenshot of PART 3 from their website showing part of their interface. PART 3 can hold all construction drawings, specs, and manuals as your single source of truth and can handle automatic sheet number numbering, ordering, and linking. It also does versioning.

The company has three co-founders: Jack Sadler, Jessica Luczycki, and Corey Stanford. Each of them has a different background, but Jessica’s background has involved years of working in construction administration.

PART 3 Is Different

What is immediately important to say about PART 3 is that the software platform has been developed for architects or whoever is the prime consultant on a construction job. It is the prime consultant who acquires and pays for the PART 3 platform, while all other stakeholders (general and subcontractors, clerk of the works, owner’s reps, the owner, and MEP and structural engineers) work as “collaborators” in the system for free.

Key Takeways

• PART 3 has been developed for architects because they deserve better tools for the CA phase of projects. 
• Only the prime consultant (usually the architect) pays for PART 3, while project “collaborators,” including engineers, contractors, owners, and reps, are free members of the system.
• PART 3 fully integrates with Procore so that if the general contractor uses Procore as their common data environment (CDE), the two systems work well together across various construction-stage workflows. 

PART 3 has a full suite of CA phase workflows and tools—from addressing the RFI and Submittals processes to managing and addressing Tasks and Assignments and Field Reports.

It also addresses project files like the construction drawings, so there is a single source of truth (SSoT) for the entire project team. The system can also handle version control, and users can also upload project manuals and specifications. To help organize things, there is a flexible folder structure in PART 3’s system.

View of PART 3’s UI when looking at the Overview screen. 

The ProjectFiles system also allows markup tools for drawings, submittals, RFI packages, and product cut sheets. PART 3 also notes that the reason why architects should want to manage their drawings inside of PART 3 rather than Procore when working on a Procore project is for complete control and visibility of the single source of truth.

On Procore integrated projects, RFIs and Submittals are automatically imported into PART 3, and you prepare your responses to both in PART 3, and those get sent to Procore.

Mobile and AI

PART 3 doesn’t have dedicated mobile apps that you download from the Apple or Google Store; instead, it operates as a Progressive Web App (PWA). Users load their browser on the mobile smartphone and go to app.part3.ca and tap the three dots in the top right and select Install App or Add to Home Screen. PART 3 is designed specifically for architectural site visits and fieldwork, and there is an offline mode so you can continue working. You can drop pins for issue locations, take field notes, log observations, and snap photos to go with. And you can distribute firm-branded PDF field reports directly from the smartphone app right from the job site.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is embedded in PART 3, where it powers the Submittal Assistant, surfacing issues before you begin your review.

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

One of the most critical things about AE professionals using the general contractor’s CDE solutions for project and CA phase management is the “disconnection factor” that typically comes down the line. At some point, the architect loses access to Procore or some other rival platform CDE. So PART 3 is fundamentally addressing that by delivering a CA platform for the architect first and foremost. All the critical work, like RFIs and submittals, happens in PART 3, and all that data remains there, even though copies are pushed to Procore. 

In a quick review of the product walk-through online, we also like PART 3’s simplified user interface and UX. This system seems very approachable, and for architects, especially those in the high-end residential market, who may not be managing all aspects of the CA phase, the critical elements they always must address—RFIs and Submittals and a single source of truth for construction drawings—appear to be managed extremely well in this system. 

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The multi-year commitment encompasses a complete overhaul of Newforma’s technology stack—spanning its flagship Newforma Project Center and native SaaS Newforma Konekt platforms—while laying the compliance groundwork for FedRAMP readiness to serve highly regulated public-sector clients.

AI Roadmap & Key

To execute the technical transformation, Newforma has partnered with zeb, an AWS Premier Tier Partner specializing in AI and cloud engineering. The collaboration focuses on four pivotal operational areas:

• Generative AI via Amazon Bedrock: Development of intelligent, automated tools for compliance tracking, contract administration, and complex document review.
• Platform Modernization: Upgrading legacy and on-premises cloud bridges in Newforma Project Center while continuing the cloud-native evolution of Newforma Konekt.
• FedRAMP Compliance: Preparing Newforma’s cloud infrastructure to meet strict federal security standards, enabling broader enterprise adoption among defense and infrastructure contractors.
• Enterprise Scalability: Improving speed, uptime, and cross-platform performance across complex architectural and engineering datasets.

“This collaboration marks an important milestone for Newforma and our customers,” said Peter Cannone, Chief Executive Officer of Newforma. “We’ve spent years helping AECO firms embrace digital transformation through both on-prem and cloud solutions that improve collaboration and project delivery. By deepening our relationship with AWS, we’re investing in the next generation of our platform, giving customers greater flexibility, stronger security, faster innovation, and a foundation for the AI-powered workflows that shape the future of our industry.”

Mal Vivek, CEO of zeb, stated:

“Newforma’s work with AWS will unlock powerful AI capabilities for AECO firms, from generative AI through Amazon Bedrock to scalable cloud infrastructure built for their most demanding workloads,” said Rich Geraffo, Vice President & Managing Director, AWS North America. “We’re proud to help the industry that builds our world shape its digital future.”

Newforma Preparedness

“This is much more than an infrastructure initiative,” said Ben Bazso, Chief Technology Officer of Newforma. “We’re strengthening the technology platform that powers Newforma today while creating the flexibility to deliver new AI capabilities, deeper integrations, and continuous innovation for years to come. Working alongside AWS and zeb allows us to further optimize our cloud platforms and accelerate our AI roadmap, providing customers with greater performance, resilience, and choice as their technology needs continue to evolve.”

Architosh Analysis & Commentary

Newforma is committed to moving beyond its on-premise heritage. For two decades, Newforma Project Center has served as the backbone of document control, email indexing, and administrative tracking for leading architecture and engineering firms. However, its historical reliance on local server infrastructure often presented modern hybrid firms with deployment challenges.

This seven-year commitment with AWS signals Newforma’s definitive shift toward a unified, cloud-first ecosystem—pairing the deep submittal/RFI search powers of Project Center with the modern web-based issue tracking of Newforma Konekt.

By choosing Amazon Bedrock as its generative AI engine, Newforma gains access to leading foundation models without exposing proprietary firm data or project records. In an industry where unstructured data—specifically decades of email correspondence, spec books, and drawing sets—causes significant administrative friction, applying AI to automate document review and compliance could save AECO project managers hundreds of hours per year.

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Newforma Konekt Teams

Their cloud-based Newforma Konekt platform now includes a Microsoft Teams Connector. This addition enables Teams conversations to be integrated directly into the Konekt project record, allowing firms to retain important communications without altering their existing collaboration workflows.

As more and more AEC organizations use Microsoft Teams as their default workspace for fast-moving project coordination, important decisions, clarifications, and issue resolution increasingly take place in this application channel.

Newforma Konekt gains new Microsoft Teams Connector integration.

The Konekt Teams Connector addresses this reality by automatically syncing public and shared Teams channels with their corresponding projects in Newforma Konekt. Messages, replies, reactions, and files are captured as part of the project record, giving firms a more complete, searchable, and durable history of project communication.

“Project teams should be able to work in the tools that help them move quickly without sacrificing the integrity of the project record,” said Carl Veillette, CPO at Newforma. “With the Microsoft Teams connector for Newforma Konekt, firms can capture the conversations where decisions happen while strengthening documentation, reducing risk and improving project continuity. Because when a question comes up later, it’s not enough to say a decision was made; you need to prove it. This integration captures what was decided in Teams, who was involved, when it happened.”

Beyond Teams Alone

One of the key advantages of the Teams Connector solution is its ability to preserve the Teams communication history beyond what is typically available in Microsoft Teams. Once a channel is connected, Newforma Konekt preserves the current version and previous versions with timestamps.

When a message is deleted in Teams, the deleted message remains in the Newforma Konekt record and is clearly identified as deleted. The integration also preserves thread structures, replies, reactions, and attached files, creating a more complete audit trail for firms managing compliance and contractual obligations and requirements, including project closeout and potential disputes.

“Construction communication is becoming increasingly fragmented,” added Peter Cannone, CEO of Newforma. “Instead of forcing every stakeholder into one tool, firms need to connect the tools teams already use and automatically bring the right information into a complete, reliable project record. That is core to what Newforma does: connecting people to the information they need, regardless of where it lives.”

For more info, go here.

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Bluebeam Max

First shown at Bluebeam Unbound 2025 in Washington, DC, last fall, Bluebeam Max ushers in powerful new AI-powered workflows, including deep Revu and Anthropic Claude integration, automatic stitching, magic markups, and intelligent overlay and review technologies.

Key Takeaways

• Bluebeam Max has a tight integration with Claude from Anthropic via MCP (model context protocol), thus giving Bluebeam Revu users a natural language path to prompt Revu into automating numerous regular and repeating Bluebeam Revu workflows.
• Smart Overlay and Smart Review are new AI-powered features that quickly enable teams to identify design changes and discrepancies across entire drawing sets and disciplines, as well as provide clear, actionable insights. 

Max brings smart automation so that Bluebeam Revu customers can accelerate their workflows by automating away tedious and time-consuming tasks.

This image shows Bluebeam Max with Revu and Claude integration. Click the image to read the AI prompt workflow and the output that can be generated.

Usman Shuja, CEO of Bluebeam, stated:

Bluebeam Max delivers these specific functionalities that are either entirely new or substantially automated from regular Bluebeam Revu prior, including:

• Revu + Anthropic Claude via MCP — enabling natural language prompts to automate repetitive tasks and transform markup data into actionable insights.
• Stitching — automatically combines multiple drawing sheets into a single, navigable, to-scale view for large and linear infrastructure projects.
• Magic Markups — to automate repetitive markup and reduce manual clicks, making takeoffs faster and more accurate.
• Smart Overlay — allowing teams to quickly identify design changes and discrepancies across entire drawing sets and disciplines.
• Smart Review — provides clear, actionable insights into design discrepancies, scope gaps, and missing information to catch issues early and prevent costly setbacks.
• Connected Studio Sessions with Revit, linking Bluebeam markups directly to the correct location in Revit drawing and model views to collaborate effectively across PDF and BIM.

The results from over 2,000 beta program users reported that productivity gains from Bluebeam Max were substantial, calling it a “game-changer” for design and planning workflows.

Client Success Stories

Martin-Harris Construction 

Martin-Harris was a Max beta tester firm. They benefited from Bluebeam Max with multiple Revu workflows, including utilizing Max’s Smart Overlay and Smart Review features to compare revisions for pricing and impact analysis during both design and construction.

The Bluebeam Max supports a deeper integration between Bluebeam Revu and Autodesk Revit.

“Bluebeam is already the backbone of how we review and collaborate on projects, but Bluebeam Max takes that to another level,” said James Miranda, Director of Preconstruction at Martin-Harris Construction.  “Features like Smart Overlay help us instantly see what’s changed and where to focus, which is critical when you’re managing complex projects at scale. As the full AI capabilities continue to evolve, this has the potential to significantly reduce manual effort and free up our teams to focus on higher-value coordination and decision-making.”

KPFF Consulting Engineers – Los Angeles Office

KPFF also found notable gains with Bluebeam Max, where its LA-based civil and structural engineers benefit from Bluebeam Revu in their day-to-day work.

“Even small improvements can have a big impact on our workflows,” said Dillon Wilke, Associate and Bluebeam Max early adopter at KPFF LA Civil Office. “Features like offset are reducing the need to go back into CAD for certain tasks, especially when working with parallel utilities or curved geometry. What used to take multiple manual steps can now be done much more efficiently in one place.”

Bluebeam Max is available now, and readers interested in learning more can do so by following this link and reading more in our analysis and commentary section below.

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

Last year, Bluebeam announced it was acquiring AEC AI startup Firmus-AI. That technology included the foundations for Smart Compare and Smart Review, based on Firmus-AI’s. Bluebeam already innovated the industry’s first “compare” features, but Firmus-AI took it to another level, and now that technology is inside Bluebeam Max. 

Firmus-AI’s solutions were cloud applications, and we can see that the newly integrated AI-powered capabilities in Smart Compare and Smart Review are also cloud-based. Notice the browser window. But notice the dashboard summary.

The Smart Review AI technology is equally impactful, if not more so. AEC design professionals struggle to maintain consistency and catch conflicts and omissions in their drawings due to the sheer volume and time pressures to get projects out the door. Now Bluebeam Max has the tools to help solve that glaring issue in the AEC. This AI technology can read AEC industry drawings and identify scope gaps, contradictions, errors, and omissions. Running Smart Review and Smart Compare can help architects and engineers increase accuracy and consistency in their documentation before it heads out to the construction site, helping prevent construction issues and embarrassing conflicts that cost owners money and increase liability for design and engineering professionals. 

Another impact-building new feature is the stronger tie-in to Revit so that comment markups link back into the right locations in Revit, where architects, engineers, and designers live to take action on these issues. 

And last but not least, the Anthropic Claude integration enables Revu users to leverage AI to compare two documents (document 1 and document 2) and highlight the differences in the Bluebeam issues markup list. A perfect example would be different versions of a section in the building code. See how the building code or any kind of document has changed. 

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Importantly, Newforma announced a simplified, modular user-based software licensing model, which will help firms better align purchases with role-specific needs.

Newforma and AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) was front and center at Newforma World 2026, the company’s annual user conference. So was updating and modernizing the company’s product offerings.

Newforma announces its broad strategic visions for the AEC/O global industry.

Key new announcements include:

• Newforma Vojo — the company’s new AI assistant, built on an agent-driven framework that lets users search project information, analyze content, and complete tasks more efficiently. Initial capabilities include natural-language search across project data, AI-driven analysis of BIM models and documents, and AI-assisted submittal review workflows.
• Hybrid Modernization — continued investment in hybrid modernization with Newforma Project Center, a reflection of its strategic vision, helping with a seamless transition to the cloud, cloud-connected environments, and more.
• Newforma FedRAMP Moderate — new initiative to address ongoing work toward advanced compliance requirements.

At Newforma World 2026, the message was about flexibility towards the cloud, combining Newforma’s AI-driven automation and support of open integrations, and reinforced a “cloud-first, not cloud-forced” approach that supports customers wherever they are in their modernization journey.

Customers choose when and how they modernize. We decided not to be cloud-only, and it’s by design,” said Carl Veillette, Chief Product Officer at Newforma. “Everything we build must either lower risk, save time, or unlock scale.”

MORE: Newforma accelerates AI innovation and AWS expansion

The AI agent Vojo is embedding intelligence directly into project workflows, such as Smart Email Filing, an AI-powered capability that automatically associates emails with projects and recommends filing locations for RFIs, submittals, and action items, which aids firms in maintaining a more defensible project record.

These capabilities are supported by the company’s collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), providing secure and scalable infrastructure for advanced AI innovation.

“AI is only as powerful as the data it’s built on,” said Ben Schreiner, Head of AI and Modern Data Strategy Business Development at Amazon Web Services. “Newforma’s approach combines secure, scalable AWS infrastructure with an agent-driven AI framework to help AECO teams surface insights, reduce manual effort, and make more confident decisions, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with Newforma.”

To learn more about Newforma’s latest announcements, go here.

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Benefits for AEC/O Clients

For firms in architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AEC/O), Graitec’s new status provides tangible advantages, including deep expertise and technical product know-how. Additionally:

• • Expert Guidance: Access to one of the industry’s most highly trained Bluebeam teams 
  • Operational Efficiency: Proven onboarding frameworks for faster implementation and tailored workflow optimization 
  • Strategic Support: Priority support and strategic consulting to maximize ROI on software investments 
  • Future-Proofing: Early visibility into product innovation roadmaps and upcoming updates 

As a Sapphire-level partner, Graitec staff receive advanced training, next-level support, and early access to the latest software advances by the California-based software company. All of this ensures that AEC/O clients of Graitec’s receive top-level services on all their Bluebeam software deployment needs.

Graitec’s team received the award for Bluebeam Sapphire Partnership.

“Being named a Bluebeam Sapphire Partner is a tremendous achievement for our organization,” said Scott McMaster, Chief Revenue Officer of Graitec Group. “It reflects the strength of our strategic partnership with Bluebeam, investments we are making in our go-to-market teams, including the expanded expertise brought through Microsol Resources joining the Graitec Group. This recognition reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional service, deep technical knowledge, and measurable value to our clients across North America.”

“We are proud to recognize Graitec as a Bluebeam Sapphire Partner,” said Curt Bramel, VP of Global Channel Sales of Bluebeam. “Their team consistently demonstrates a high level of expertise and a strong commitment to customer success. As the industry continues to evolve, partners like Graitec play a critical role in helping firms leverage Bluebeam to improve collaboration, productivity, and project outcomes.”

To learn more about Graitec, visit them online here.

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However, new research from Bluebeam recently reveals encouraging signs of recovery momentum.

Recovery Efforts

Bluebeam, a leading developer of solutions and services for AEC professionals worldwide, reports that more than three-quarters of respondents (76%) have begun rebuilding, while a third say they remain dissatisfied with the pace of progress. This sentiment reflects not just new construction, but also the necessary new permitting initiatives put in place. Here are some details:

Hurdles For Homeowners:

• Nearly one-third (29%) remain uncertain whether their home can be fully rebuilt, underscoring the complexity of current requirements.
• Costs and financing challenges (43%), insurance issues (34%), and labor shortages (29%) are the most frequently cited obstacles.

Positive Momentum:

The reports show that delays in permitting persist as a significant frustration and point of uncertainty for homeowners navigating the rebuilding process:

• 27% of impacted residents cite permitting timelines as a key barrier to rebuild efforts.

• 88% of those homeowners who have applied for a permit in the wake of the wildfires have experienced delays.

• Only 4% of those surveyed said they were able to obtain a permit in under a month, and only 25% within two months, with most approval timelines far exceeding 30- to 60-day targets.

Despite this mix of signals, new initiatives pave hopeful paths forward.

Standard Plan Pilot Program

Based on the research, two-thirds (66%) of impacted homeowners are rather positive about the city of LA’s Standard Plan Pilot Program, which aids owners by offering a library of pre-approved, code-compliant home designs.

The use of standardized plans simplifies processes in meeting new requirements. One example is Bluebeam partner The Foothill Catalog Foundation (TFCF), a non-profit formed in response to the wildfires. TFCF offers pre-approved home designs in compliance with new permitting programs, helping residents rebuild more quickly. The organization has preapproved over 40 new unique designs to date, designs that help preserve the community identity as well.

Resilience for the Future

California ranks first in the nation for the number of homes at risk of extreme wildfire exposure (1.2 million), and homeowners are prioritizing long-term safety and resilience as they rebuild. Based on Bluebeam’s research:

• 83% of impacted residents plan to incorporate wildfire-resistant materials or design features into rebuild plans. Many are considering upgrades such as fire-resistant roofing, ember-resistant vents, defensible space planning, and use of non-combustible materials.

• 65% say they feel more confident in their preparedness for future wildfires because of these upgrades.

“With our global headquarters in Pasadena, the recovery from the 2025 wildfires is deeply personal to our team,” said Don Jacobs, Chief Innovation Officer at Bluebeam and local Los Angeles resident. “As homeowners rebuild, we’re seeing a meaningful shift toward resilient design that prioritizes long-term safety and durability. This research also highlights the opportunity to simplify and connect the systems behind rebuilding – particularly permitting – to remove delays and uncertainty. By streamlining permitting pathways, embracing resilient design, and fostering collaboration across all parties involved in the rebuild effort, we can help families return home faster and build communities that are stronger, safer, and better prepared for future wildfires.”

About the Survey

The survey was conducted in February and March 2026 with more than 500 Los Angeles County homeowners whose homes were damaged by the 2025 wildfires. The report provides insights into rebuilding progress, key challenges faced, and plans for future preparedness.

To learn more about the state of rebuilding efforts, visit: https://blog.bluebeam.com/from-cleanup-to-rebuild-project-mindset-wildfire-recovery/.

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AI and Risk

Document Crunch’s tools use artificial intelligence to address critical pain points that impact a general contractor’s profitability.

Key Takeaways

• AI tech in Document Crunch identifies risks in contracts, specifications, RFIs, and other types of construction industry documents so that teams can address issues and prevent misalignment between stakeholders and partners early, before problems arise.
• CrunchAI is the company’s purpose-built AI engine for the AEC/O industry that general AI tools like OpenAI ChatGPT and Google Gemini can’t match.

These pain points include risk provisions, payment disputes, specification non-compliance, and notification failures. Adding Document Crunch to Trimble’s construction industry solutions bolsters the company’s ability to continue to serve high-value business problems within the industries it serves, such as infrastructure and building construction.

CrunchAI is a construction-industry-focused, purpose-built AI engine driving Document Crunch and delivers capabilities that general AI tools can’t match.

“Success in construction relies on the ability of every stakeholder to understand and mitigate risk in real-time,” said Mark Schwartz, senior vice president of AECO software at Trimble. “Document Crunch will provide a ‘contractual rule set’ to serve as the intelligent DNA for the entire Trimble Construction One (TC1) suite, automatically pushing critical obligations, compliance requirements, and payment terms into Trimble’s robust project delivery ecosystem.”

The Details

Document Crunch’s base of users, deployed across over 10,000 projects, is largely general contractors and subcontractors. The company reports there is also a growing base of designers, owners, insurance carriers, and others with an active interest in reducing risk in construction.

MORE: AIA Announces Strategic Sponsorship with Trimble

The acquisition will bring industry leadership and a seasoned AI engineering team directly into Trimble to drive immediate ROI for customers by:

• Preventing Costly Errors: Catching invoice payment term mismatches as well as broader contract, compliance, and scope risks before they escalate into disputes.
• Reducing Administrative Burden: Streamlining the review and generation of critical documentation, such as risk reviews, project playbooks, and delay notifications.
• Infusing Intelligence: Providing a contractual rule set that can push obligations and compliance requirements directly into project management and ERP workflows.

“The construction industry is at a tipping point for AI adoption, and our focus on risk reduction and automated compliance has positioned us to lead this next phase for the industry,” said Josh Levy, co-founder and CEO of Document Crunch. “We’re excited to build upon the strategic foundation of Trimble to help customers unlock new dimensions of value from data that resides across the construction lifecycle. Joining Trimble allows us to scale our vision and evolve to a core component of a widely comprehensive construction platform.”

Trimble AEC Segment

Document Crunch will be reported as part of Trimble’s AEC/O segment, which includes major AEC industry brands like SketchUp, Tekla, and Trimble ProjectSight. In fact, the software is already a Trimble Marketplace partner and integrates with ProjectSight today. The acquisition is expected to close in Q2, 2026.

To learn more about Document Crunch, go here.

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Infrastructure Focus

Founded in 1986, HCSS is a leading provider of software for the infrastructure and heavy civil sectors of the North American construction market. The company supports more than 4,000 construction companies with a total employee headcount of 550 professionals.

Key Takaways

• HCSS acquisition strengthens the Nemetschek Group’s position in valuable North American infrastructure construction market and aligns well with other Build & Construct segment brands plus Allplan
• HCSS generates well over USD 200 million in revenue, marking a new substantial revenue generator for the Group
• Thoma Bravo partnership means Nemetschek SE shares exchange hands but helps Group maintain a flexible balance sheet and sharp posture for future M&A deals

As part of the terms of the agreement, HCSS will become part of the Nemetschek Group’s Build & Construct segment, aligning with industry-leading brands like Bluebeam and GoCanvas, two brands with very strong North American market share. Nemetschek states that the Build & Construct segment and HCSS have comparable and unique growth and profitability profiles. In 2025, HCSS generated plus or minus USD 215 million in revenue, an ARR growth of ± 21%, and an EBITDA margin of ± 40%.

The Nemetschek Group is set to acquire US-based Heavy Construction Systems Specialists, LLC (“HCSS”). The Texas-headquartered company is a major software provider for infrastructure and heavy-civil construction companies.

These financials are not just strong but align with the Group’s Build & Construct segment’s historical performance. More critically, the Group says that HCSS enables the Group to expand into the heavy civil construction sectors where structural growth drivers include aging assets, large-scale government investments (eg, Biden era Infrastructure Bill), ongoing energy transition in the age of AI and datacenter expansion, as well as continued urbanization. This will strengthen Nemetschek’s position in the total market opportunity estimated at USD 12 billion by 2028.

Thoma Bravo Partnership

In an effort to preserve the Nemetschek Group’s balance sheet flexibility, the transaction is tailored such that Thoma Bravo will receive shares in the Nemetschek Group’s Build & Construct segment.

Nemetschek SE will hold approximately 72% of the shares in the Build & Construct segment, and Thoma Bravo will hold approximately 28% as a minority shareholder. As part of the terms, the Group will refinance all existing HCSS financial debt and liabilities, resulting in an impact of approximately EUR 450 million on the Nemetschek Group net debt position.

While this arrangement sounds as if the Build & Construct segment could be spun out of the Group, Nemetschek SE says that the Build & Construct segment will continue to function as an integral part of the Group.

Maintaining balance sheet flexibility enables the Group to support future growth ambitions through targeted M&A. The transaction has no impact on the shareholder structure of Nemetschek SE.

Yves Padrines, CEO of the Nemetschek Group stated:

“This acquisition significantly expands our size and our total market opportunity, deepens our footprint in North America, and perfectly complements our existing portfolio of leading solutions in the Build & Construct segment”, continues Padrines. “It will give us an even greater ability to innovate and expand our reach using our strong AI innovation abilities. We welcome Thoma Bravo as a partner and minority shareholder in the Build & Construct segment. We look forward to working with them and the HCSS team to unlock new growth opportunities in our Build & Construct segment and deliver even greater value to our customers and shareholders.” 

“The Nemetschek Group has built one of the world’s most incredible customer- and product-centric company cultures,” said A.J. Rohde, a Senior Partner at Thoma Bravo. “The opportunity to merge HCSS with Nemetschek’s leading Build & Construct segment is a truly defining moment and we look forward to supporting the growth of the combined business. We have barely scratched the surface on the scale and speed of innovation that we can provide to customers of both companies, and we will work tirelessly together to fulfill the potential that the market deserves.”

“HCSS is a perfect fit for our Build & Construct segment,” said Usman Shuja, Chief Division Officer of the Nemetschek Group’s Build & Construct Segment. “Together, we can offer a best-in-class, end-to-end portfolio that enables customers to manage complex building and infrastructure projects with greater efficiency and confidence. By combining our complementary strengths, we will expand our global reach, accelerate AI-based innovation, and continue to deliver the trusted solutions our customers rely on in their daily work.”

The acquisition is expected to close in H2 2026 and is subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions. J.P. Morgan is serving as exclusive financial advisor, Latham & Watkins and Hoffmann & de Vries are serving legal advisors to the Nemetschek Group.

To learn more visit here. 

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Autodesk Forma

This new consolidation will help unify disparate brands into a clearer identity model, while also introducing functional changes and updates to various tools in Autodesk’s AEC/O industry offerings.

Autodesk unifies design and construction cloud solutions under the Autodesk Forma brand with product renaming throughout the existing toolchain.

For example, the new Autodesk AutoCAD 2027 release offers new Forma connections and feature updates. But before we get into details, let’s quickly look at the new identity changes. Here’s what’s new:

• Autodesk Docs — changes to Forma Data Management: This is the most significant conceptual shift in brand names as it finally takes Autodesk’s industry cloud brand (Forma) and applies it to arguably the heart of the cloud system, the “common data environment” or CDE of Forma. Interestingly, Forma Data Management is seen as a “data management” layer intended to connect planning through operations, which is a bigger role than the most active perception and use of Autodesk Docs as a common data file repository in the cloud used for construction.
• BIM Collaborate Pro — changes to Forma Design Collaboration: This essentially aids in the desire to bridge the gap between design teams and construction teams.
• Autodesk Build / Takeoff / Estimate — become Forma Build / Takeoff / Estimate: These are core jobsite tools that now take on the “Forma” brand name rather than the company name

While the new brand and product identity names have changed, for users, they should realize that this is an evolution, not a migration. All existing project data and settings remain unchanged. And there is no immediate change to seat counts and licensing terms. Existing ACC licenses automatically roll into the new Forma-branded equivalents.

Unification Aids Dis-Fragmentation

“Organizations across AECO are recognizing that fragmented data and disconnected workflows limit productivity and decision-making,” said Jeffrey Hojlo, research vice president at IDC. “A platform approach that unifies project data and processes across the lifecycle is essential, and the evolution of Autodesk Forma reflects how the industry is moving toward more connected environments for planning, design, and construction.”

The strategic shift is more than just changing up names. It signals that Autodesk’s cloud-based tools and unified industry Forma cloud are aiming to move beyond just “file-based collaboration” or simply storing PDFs and DWGs and preparing for a near future of sharing “granular, cloud-native” project data.

This naturally orients toward AI and connectivity workflows. In other words, Autodesk Forma’s foundation for new AI-native workflows and the ability for data to move across one phase to another, and for decision support workflows leveraging data to be assisted by AI models that operate via cloud APIs.

New Essential Forma Offerings

While Autodesk Forma is the overall arching AEC/O industry cloud and brand for the building industry, the word “Essentials” looks to be utilized for smaller offerings.

For example, beginning on the 25th of March 2026, Autodesk Forma Build Essentials expands access to the Forma cloud to contractor teams. Forma Build Essentials brings together core jobsite tools that contractors need and rely on daily, all into one singularly-focused workspace.

A screenshot of Autodesk Forma Build Essentials on the Apple iPad. Most Autodesk cloud tools have dedicated mobile app versions, with the iPad being a particularly strong platform in North American construction markets.

And Autodesk Forma Data Management Essentials expands access to the CDE (common data environment) to a wider range of users. (see our Architosh Analysis section below for new interesting details). The Essentials version of CDE integrates directly into standalone desktop subscriptions of the latest versions of AutoCAD, Revit, and Civil 3D, as well as the Product Design & Manufacturing Collection.

Essentials will provide cloud-based DWG storage, version history, markup capabilities, and crucially, issue tracking directly within the desktop apps just mentioned.

Meanwhile, Build Essentials will enable teams to capture punch list items and issues, complete with photos and locations, plus view the latest files and BIM models, and enable drawing markup. Build Essentials will also support daily log reporting on the web or mobile versions of Forma. Forma Build Essentials is designed for mid-sized to small construction teams and helps crews stay aligned with work as projects advance through construction to occupancy.

To learn more about Autodesk Forma, Forma Data Management, and Essentials, plus Forma Build Essentials, visit the links on some of those terms.

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

This rebranding is more than just marketing; it actually helps simply a collection of disparate brands and product names. This should also aid in clarifying to the market the specific AEC industry product offerings, of which Autodesk has quite a few. However, what is really key about this latest update is the foundational aspects for a near future where AI is at the core of the Forma cloud. Additionally, there are new connections from stalwart AEC apps like AutoCAD to the rebranded cloud offerings, which are discussed in a separate upcoming report on the new AutoCAD 2027. 

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Over three days, Newforma’s user conference promises plenty of learning, certifications, networking, and fun. But there is more!

A New Wave Begins

Newforma World 2026 will showcase the next generation of innovation and collaboration tools shaping the future of AEC project delivery. Attendees will uncover the latest technological advancements from Newforma, deepen their expertise with practical sessions, and connect with a wide industry of peers and experts.

Erik Qualman will be the keynote speaker. He is the best-selling author of The New Wave and a global authority on digital leadership.

“Newforma World is where the future of connected AECO work takes shape,” said Peter Cannone, chief executive officer at Newforma. “The New Wave theme reflects how Newforma and our community are embracing innovation, enhancing collaboration and elevating performance across projects of every size and complexity.”

On Tap at Newforma World 2026:

• Keynote by Erik Qualman – Qualman, a bestselling author and global authority on digital leadership, will deliver a high-energy keynote on leading through change and navigating The New Wave, transforming the AECO industry.

• Inspiring & Informative Sessions – Hear from industry pioneers and Newforma experts on trends, strategies, and breakthroughs in AECO technology.

• Interactive Workshops & Certifications – Participate in hands-on sessions, including Newforma Konekt and Newforma Project Center certification tracks to take skills to the next level.

• Networking & Connections – Build meaningful relationships at premier networking events, including the May the 4^th Welcome Reception, Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, and Newforma World Birthday Bash.

• One-on-One Expert Access – Engage directly with Newforma leadership, developers and product specialists to share feedback and learn industry best practices.

The conference is ideal for AEC industry executives, project managers, CIOs and digital design directors, IT professionals, and project team members seeking to improve workflows across project portfolios.

Registration and Pricing

Early registration is now open with special pricing available through March 13, 2026.

Visit www.newformaworld.com for complete details on registration, agenda, speakers and travel planning.

About Newforma

Boston-based Newforma sets the standard for project and information management across the global AECO industry. By centralizing communication, documents, workflows, and decision records in one connected platform, Newforma empowers teams to work smarter, collaborate better, and deliver higher-quality projects.  Discover how your firm can achieve more with Newforma at www.newforma.com.

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GoCanvas

Working with all sizes of organizations in AEC, including large engineering and construction firms, IMAGINiT Technologies also provides detailed technical consulting for AEC and manufacturing sector firms, including infrastructure organizations. Recently, the firm has been focusing on teaching such firms about the benefits of digitizing field-based workflows that have long been the domain of paper-based methodology.

IMAGINiT Technologies can help AEC contractors digitize old paper-based workflows with GoCanvas.

To accomplish that, IMAGINiT Technologies provides full services and software support for GoCanvas, a leading field industry software solution that is now a part of the Nemetschek Group through its acquisition and merger with Bluebeam. IMAGINiT Technologies is showcasing how contractors and concrete professionals can move beyond fragmented tools by connecting office and field workflows, improving productivity, and reducing risks across the construction lifecycle. IMAGINiT Technologies showcased such capabilities at World of Concrete 2026.

GoCanvas In Action

In general construction or in infrastructure, the industry needs to keep track of processes and progress in the field, and this generally means site walk-throughs and inspections. GoCanvas can transform these field procedures where engineers, architects, contractors, and specialists conduct field operations and record progress, review process, and procedures. Generally, these methods have been done by hand through paper-based forms. GoCanvas enables its users to rapidly and easily create custom field forms for data collection in the field directly on a field worker’s smartphone or tablet and then deliver that data to the office via the web. This keeps field or job site teams in synch with office teams.

GoCanvas can help contractors and facilities professionals automate safety checklists, incident reporting, and compliance documentation, all enhancing safety through compliance with regulations and company standards.

IMAGINiT Technologies can help AEC contractors digitize old paper-based workflows with GoCanvas.

GoCanvas can also be used beyond daily or specialized inspection reports; it can be used to complete timesheets and create RFIs and punch lists. Trusted by leading large general contractors like Gilbane, Helm, Keeley Construction and others, GoCanvas can form a critical piece of a project management software company ecosystem with support for offline access, GPS tracking for real-time location updates, dispatch and scheduling, multi-person workflows, image and video capture and integration, auto-fill for tedious data entry and auto-calculations, plus barcoding and IF/THEN logic to only display the next relevant contect based on field input.

With the ability to use standard templates for forms across industries and workflows, and to fully customize your own from scratch, GoCanvas is a natural choice for connecting field data to numerous software applications. These include over 1,000 software tools from Salesforce, SAP, Jira, Autodesk, NetSuite, Google Sheets, Dropbox, and Google Drive, among many others.

To learn more about GoCanvas and find a partner like IMAGINiT Technologies that can fully demonstrate its benefits and support your company’s adoption and integration, click here.

Or visit GoCanvas directly to see more.

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Revizto for Infrastructure

This new purpose-built solution brings Revizto’s powerful BIM technology to the civil infrastructure markets and introduces a new feature called Linear Navigation, a breakthrough capability that allows teams to coordinate seamlessly across miles of terrain. When projects run for miles, even small misalignments can trigger major rework and costly delays.

Revizto for Infrastructure features innovative new Linear Navigation feature.

“Revizto for Infrastructure is the next step in our mission to simplify complexity across the AECO industry,” said Arman Gukasyan, Founder and CEO of Revizto. “By combining everything teams already trust in Revizto with new tools made specifically for large-scale, linear projects, we’re giving them the ability to plan, build, and maintain critical assets efficiently. These initiatives are more than just construction – they’re driving economic growth and serving communities. This move is transformative for infrastructure delivery and extends our success helping global clients bring their most ambitious projects to life.”

Revizto for Infrastructure enables all the same unique visual 2D/3D benefits as Revizto itself, including 2D overlay of 3D model views and side-by-side 2D-3D windows like this one here.

Governments globally are investing billions into new infrastructure projects from modernizing transportation networks to new energy networks supporting burgeoning electricity demand. To help address the nees of the large linear infrastructure market, this new product delivers tools specifically aimed at that, including:

• Linear Navigation — pinpoint any location no matter the scale and resolve issues quickly
• Unified 2D/3D environment — Dual mode 2D  and 3D side-by-side window features typical of Revizto’s unique UI
• Revizto Collaboration Hub — provides every stakeholder with real-time insight to make informed decisions
• Local Preview — securely and privately view WIP Revit models for quick clash checks
• 2D Overlay — overlay 2D drawings and point clouds on 3D models to verify alignment, catch inconsistencies and improve design accuracy
• AR & VR mode — overlay models onto real-world job sites and conduct virtual walks
• Collaborative Clash Detection — Full clash detection, clearance issues and missing and duplicate elements checking

“Revizto’s Linear Navigation is to be game-changing,” says Jasen Cronje, Onsite Technology Lead at KiwiRail. “Instead of spending hours manually creating viewports across kilometers of track, we’ll be able to explore sections instantly. With driver views and signal sighting, we’ll gain accuracy and efficiency like never before.”

Check at the video below and learn more here.

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Trimble Agentic AI Platform

Central to these recent initiatives is Trimble’s newly introduced agentic AI platform. This comprehensive platform integrates core services, robust security frameworks, and specialized tools that Trimble is using internally to build and deploy safe, scalable, and secure agentic AI systems. Trimble teams are leveraging this foundational infrastructure to create AI agents specifically designed to solve tangible, real-world problems for their customers.

A key aspect of Trimble’s strategy is the open and extensible nature of its platform. The company aims to unlock industry-scale innovation by enabling partners and customers to develop and deploy their own AI agents and sophisticated multi-agent workflows across Trimble’s broad suite of construction solutions, all while adhering to Trimble’s AI principles.

Trimble launches major AI initiatives focused on ROI for its AEC users.

In service of this vision, Trimble announced the pilot program for the platform’s public-facing interface, Trimble Agent Studio, which is currently being tested with select customers.

Impact and Value

“As agentic AI use cases multiply, there is a growing need for common infrastructure that allows creators to rapidly and responsibly develop, deploy, monitor, and maintain high-value AI agents at scale,” said Mark Schwartz, senior vice president of AECO software at Trimble. “We see the platform as the engine that will help Trimble, its partners, and its customers extract more value from both our solutions and their data.”

The impact of this strategy is already evident in current solutions that are delivering customer value through several key applications. These range from helping users learn and navigate complex Trimble software for faster onboarding to eliminating manual steps in the design process by enabling users to generate 3D objects simply by describing what they want to model. In-field applications also benefit, with capabilities that convert voice memos into formal documentation, capturing crucial status updates, and reducing time spent on administrative tasks back at the office.

Rob Painter, Trimble CEO, highlighted how the new AI push ties directly into the company’s broader business goals. “Our Connect and Scale strategy has brought us to this point,” Painter noted. “We are building an industry ecosystem aimed at breaking down data silos and empowering our customers to make smarter decisions, collaborate effectively and work faster. By embedding AI into our solutions and enabling improved data flow, we’re taking the next steps towards unlocking the power of connected data.”

AI Features and Trimble Labs

Trimble is making many of these new capabilities accessible through its Trimble Labs (Labs) program, a pre-release environment for early engagement and feedback. Noteworthy features being demonstrated include”

• The Viewpoint Finance Assistant and Accubid Assistant are being demonstrated at Dimensions 2025. Both agents are expected to be in Labs in early 2026.
• The Trimble ProjectSight Help Agent, Auto-Submittals, and the AI Title Block Extraction capability are available now in North America and select regions. The ProjectSight Daily Reports agent is now available for select customers, as a Labs feature, in ProjectSight Mobile.
• The AI Render capability in Trimble SketchUp is now available. SketchUp Assistant and Generate Object are expected to be available in Q4 2025.
• The Tekla Structures User Assistant, Developer Assistant, and AI Cloud Fabrication Drawings capabilities are now available. The Tekla Model Assistant is expected to be available in Labs in Q4 2025.
• The Trimble Connect Help Assistant is expected to be available in Labs in Q1 2026.
  Trimble Unity AI is now available as a Labs feature for all Trimble Unity Maintain and Permit customers
• Trimble Agent Studio is coming soon to Labs for select customers.

For more information about Trimble’s AI advancements, visit the official website at trimble.com.

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The Hammers

“It is truly an honor to receive four of the ‘Hammers’ awards for the Nemetschek Group,” said Yves Padrines, CEO of the Nemetschek Group. “Our brands remain dedicated to putting our customers’ needs first in every product we create. My sincere congratulations and thanks go out to the teams of all our nominated brands – and especially to this year’s winners, ALLPLAN, Graphisoft, and Vectorworks. Together, we are pushing the construction industry forward, addressing today’s complex challenges through digital innovation, and empowering our customers to help shape the world.”

ALLPLAN, Archicad and Vectorworks Architect win big at The Hammers.

Traditionally, both Archicad and Vectorworks—two leading BIM players in the AEC industry—do very well in The Hammers each year. This year, ALLPLAN also won, earning the “Cloud-Based Technology of the Year 2025” award for its ALLPLAN for BIMPLUS platform. The German ALLPLAN was also runner-up in the “Structural Engineering Application of the Year 2025” awards, as well as for ALLPLAN for SCIA.

Graphisoft won its 15th consecutive award for BIM Product of the Year for Archicad. Moreover, the Hungarian-based BIM leader also won, in conjunction with Anotherkind Ardchitects, the “Digital Construction Project of 2025” for the Sherwood Observatory project.

Finally, Vectorworks Architect once again captured the Hammer award for “Architectural Design Software of the Year 2025,” with Archicad being the runner-up.

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Strategic Partnership

The MoU sets the tone for a strategic partnership aimed at co-developing and piloting AI-assisted, cloud-based, open digital platforms that stream and enhance collaborative workflows across AEC sectors like planning, design, construction, and operations.

The MoU sets a framework for joint innovation, the exchange of best practices, secure data sharing, and feedback-driven validation cycles.

From left to right: Mr Tetsuo Harada (Executive Managing Officer, Takenaka Corporation), Mr Daniel Csillag (CEO, Graphisoft), Mr Susumu Matsuo (General Manager, Digital Division Head Office, Takenaka Corporation). (Image: Nemetschek Group)

“This partnership with Takenaka, a true leader with deep expertise in the construction industry, is a pivotal step. By combining their extensive, practical know-how with our advanced digital and AI capabilities, we are co-creating a more efficient, sustainable, and data-driven future for the entire AEC/O industry,” said Marc Nezet, Chief Strategy Officer at the Nemetschek Group. “We believe in empowering our partners and customers to combine human-centric AI innovations with sustainability across the building lifecycle.”

Enabling Industry-Wide Impact

The two AEC giants, in joining forces, promise to make critical steps in reshaping how the building industry leverages digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) to support people and processes. The two promise to help AEC firms accelerate the adoption of open, cloud-based platforms with AI-infused workflows.

Key areas outlined in the MoU agreement include:

• Best Practice Exchange: Regular knowledge-sharing sessions, methodologies, and operational insights.
• Joint AI and Digital Platform Innovation: Identification, prioritization, and collaboration in the development of Cloud-based cutting-edge digital and AI solutions for the AEC/O sector.
• Secure Data Sharing and Validation: Governance models and technical safeguards for enabling data-driven transformation.
• Commitment to Data Protection and Compliance: Adherence to privacy, security, and intellectual property standards, aligning with global best practices.

Daniel Csillag, CEO of Graphisoft, commented: “This partnership embodies the forward-thinking spirit of our industry. By partnering with Takenaka Corporation, we are laying the groundwork for truly collaborative, open, and data-driven workflows that benefit architects, engineers, and contractors worldwide. We are proud to contribute our expertise and technology towards this transformative journey, also building on an existing Enterprise Licensing and Service Agreement between Graphisoft and Takenaka Corporation.”

The Nemetschek and Takenaka MoU resulted from intensive cross-company engagement, with a particular special acknowledgement of the team led by Momchil Marinov, VP Cloud Engineering at the Nemetschek Group, whose expertise and dedication were key in driving the collaboration to achieve the MoU milestone. In fact, it serves as a model for future joint project-specific agreements.

The MoU agreement takes effect immediately and will remain in place for a period of five years, reflecting a mutual commitment to long-term innovation and progress.

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AI Adoption ROI

The report highlights how digital technologies are becoming critical to the everyday workforce in the building industry. Yet, despite this, there are still significant barriers and skill gaps amongst AEC industry firms, with nearly one fifth (19%) citing a lack of digital skills among their work colleagues.

Bluebeam’s annual report shows strong ROI in AI technology adoption, yet less than one-third of AEC firms have deployed AI tools.

The Bluebeam global report reveals the following interesting findings:

• AI Adoption — Only 27% of AEC firms use artificial intelligence (AI) for any kind of automation, problem-solving, or decision-making. These firms cite risk, cost, and technology integration challenges to creating higher adoption.
• AI Early Adopters See High ROI — Despite such small adoption, those adopting AI see strong return on investment (ROI). 68% of early adopters say they have saved at least USD 50,000, and nearly half (46%) have saved 500-1000 hours using AI tools.
• AI Growth Accelerating – 94% of AEC companies currently using AI plan to further increase investment and use AI in the next year, moving from pilots to workflow integration.

“AI in construction is still emerging, yet the momentum among early adopters is accelerating rapidly delivering tangible gains in cost, time, and collaboration,” said Usman Shuja, CEO of Bluebeam. “The question now isn’t whether AI works – it’s how to integrate it effectively. Our customers are thriving when AI fits the way they work. 95% of early adopters in our survey use AI frequently across the building lifecycle, and nearly half reclaimed 500–1,000 hours on critical tasks like scheduling, planning and document analysis. When AI stops being hype and starts solving real problems, that’s when we see true impact, and that’s where the AEC industry is headed.”

AI Integration and Barriers

Despite such proven ROI, firms remain cautious due to ongoing challenges that underscore the need for stronger data governance and compliance frameworks. These challenges indicate that:

• Data sharing security (42%) alongside cost and complexity (33%) were the top integration challenges reported by respondents.
• 69% also say concerns about potential AI regulations have impacted their AI efforts.

The report also shows how digital technologies are critical to workforce strategy in AEC companies, including how such technologies deliver a competitive advantage, both for firms and for recruitment and retention of the workforce.

• 56% of respondents say AI helps offset skilled labor shortages.
• Nearly half (44%) cite advanced digital tools as key to attracting and retaining top talent, alongside culture and compensation.

Still technology investments continue to accelerate even while AEC firms face uneven adoption in advanced technologies like AI. In addition to AI tech, the Bluebeam report paints a picture of an industry still in the midst of its digital transformation.

• 84% of firms plan to increase overall technology investment in 2026.
• 67% of AEC leaders say digital tools are already improving productivity.
• Only 11% are fully digital; most still rely on paper and legacy tools for key workflows.
• 52% still use paper during the design phase and 49% during planning, and 43% stilly rely on physical signatures and approvals.

Dealing with Silos

While the industry moves forward with its digital transformation, collaboration across various stakeholders remains a huge challenge. Nearly 40% of firms report difficulty in this respect, with data siloed between design, construction and operations.

Bluebeam CEO Usman Shuja notes:

“Success requires not just tools but training [on those tools] and an integrated approach that connects the dots across teams, project phases, and workflows,” he explains. “Winning in this new era will take what I refer to as ‘dual athletes’–teams that bring construction expertise and digital fluency together to create competitive advantage.”

Breaking down barriers in construction workflows takes commitment to learning new tools and processes and without that commitment from the top of organizations such change doesn’t really happen or doesn’t happen effectively.

The Building the Future: Bluebeam AEC Technology Outlook 2026 report offers detailed insights into AI adoption, digital maturity, and technology’s impact on project and workforce performance. It also includes regional trend data for North America, Europe, and Australia.

Readers can download the full report here by visiting: Building the Future: Bluebeam AEC Technology Outlook 2026.

About the Survey

Over 1,000 technology decision-makers (manager or above) within architecture, engineering, and construction firms across the US, UK, France, Germany, and Australia were surveyed online in July 2025.

To learn more about Bluebeam visit them online here.

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Additionally, there are new professional 2D conceptual drafting tools in LayOut and much more, as we describe below.

SketchUp Advancements

As part of SketchUp for Desktop, there are now all-new sharing and real-time viewing capabilities. Architects and designers can securely share models with stakeholders, controlling who can view and comment on the model shared. The built-in commenting functionality allows those with whom the model is shared to add comments and attach them specifically to 3D geometry, ensuring conversations are linked to the relevant part of the model.

The latest SketchUp launches with in-app collaboration and real-time multi-party participation.

All collaborators see instant updates to the model, creating a shared space for real-time design conversations. Moreover, cursor and camera tracking features allow clients and stakeholders to follow along during presentations, making sure nobody gets lost and everyone is on the same page.

“Great designs are shaped by conversation, iteration, and shared insight,” said Sandra Winstead, senior director of product management, architecture, and design at Trimble. “Rather than jumping between email threads or third-party tools to hold conversations, collaborate, and make design decisions, we’ve built collaboration directly into SketchUp. Now, designers can have a two-way dialogue with clients and project stakeholders in the SketchUp model for quicker iterations and better alignment throughout the design process. Collectively, from collaboration to documentation, context and visualization, these advancements impact critical design workflows, helping designers move from concept to reality with greater speed, clarity, and confidence.”

Improved Documentation

SketchUp comes with LayOut, its paper-space-oriented application for setting up drawing sheets with basic drafting capabilities. There are now new 2D drafting tools that are more intuitive and precise for drawing common documentation tasks. There is also a new set of scrapbooks for quick access to standard architectural graphics, such as doors and windows for scaled, 2D composition in LayOut.

Real-time collaboration will be a benefit for Construction Industry professionals as they utilize SketchUp as a construction BIM platform.

Additionally, this latest version of SketchUp features enhanced DWG export and preserves SketchUp geometry and tags, and rework is minimized when moving from 3D in SketchUp to 2D in other CAD and BIM tools.

Improved Site Context

Upgrades to Scan Essentials streamline the process of adding real-world conditions from point clouds into designs and create a seamless workflow when working with a shared coordinate system. New tools, Textured Projection, Surface Mesh, and scene management capabilities open up more efficient and improved ways of working with point clouds for visual outputs. Users have new import options in Add Location to easily add existing buildings into the terrain as pre-built 3D geometry.

Visualization

The visual qualities of SketchUp have also been enhanced. Users gain more precision in stylistic control and a wider range of options, from Color Ambient Occlusion, Ambient Occlusion Scale Multiplier, and Invert Roughness. An upgraded Diffusion Labs offers higher-fidelity AI visualization, enabling greater control over the scene.

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

These latest updates to SketchUp are transformative, turning the popular AEC 3D modeler into a real-time collaboration platform. With the features we discussed during the AIA25 BEST of SHOW award honors, we see Trimble slowly turning SketchUp into a different kind of BIM platform—one focused on “design” as opposed to “documentation” with the key BIM 2.0 characteristic of real-time, multi-party collaboration at its center. While SketchUp continues to gain more advanced features, it manages to keep its overall ethos centered on its class-leading ease-of-use.

This focus on ease-of-use may explain why SketchUp has, up to this moment, refused to address long-term demands by some of its users for more advanced (Rhino-like) modeling features built into the program as opposed to third-party add-ons filling that need. Indeed, its ease-of-use factor enables the flattest onramp to learning 3D software in the AEC industry and thereby wider stakeholder participation, which is why it remains popular with construction professionals as much as with architects, landscape architects, and interior designers.

Instead of challenging Rhino for the hearts of young architecture students, Trimble is focusing on SketchUp for seasoned AEC professionals, layering in BIM 2.0 features and slowly turning SketchUp into a new kind of BIM 3D collaboration platform anyone can use. 

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