Boulder, Colo.-based Vico Software recently announced a new release of Vico Office Suite, believed to be the first purpose-built construction software that allows users to "plug in" the building information modeling (BIM) authoring application of their choice and then perform a constructability analysis, quantity takeoff, model-based schedule, model-based estimate and on-site production control, all in an integrated workflow.
The Vico Office platform is designed to help general contractors, architects and owners work together to understand a project from clash to quantities to scheduling and estimating.
There are several enhancements included in this software release, but three main objectives of Vico were as follows, according to the company:
- Extending the choices of BIM-authoring systems.
- New Importers - In addition to publishing ArchiCAD, Revit and Tekla BIMs into Vico Office, users can now import IFC and CAD-Duct files.
- Creating a BIM-based cost-estimating system.
- Excel Import - Users can convert any estimating database to the company's model-based system within a day. This is expected to help its customers leverage their historical estimating data.
- Compare and Update - The "compare and update utility" analyzes project data sets, giving the user "a complete overview of changes and differences on a number of key metrics." Quantities, unit prices, system costs and take-off item names can be compared between projects, or from two different points in time within a project, to give the user a "quick report" on where differences exist."
- Adding coordination and integration to RFI tracking to the 5D Virtual Construction process.
- Constructability Manager - This new module allows users to combine and compare models, perform automatic and manual clash detection, identify constructability issues and escalate serious issues to RFIs.
