Design/Build Firm | Construction Software Review

Construction firms that first design projects and then build them can have very particular software needs -- and choosing the right construction software can be a confusing and frustrating task. Learn about the features available in the construction software tools made specifically for design/build firms.

Rhino by McNeel North America

McNeel’s Rhino 3-D software lets users analyze and fix complex 3-D design problems. The software allows for free-form 3-D modeling as well as 2-D drafting, annotation and illustration; it supports polygon meshes and point clouds as well. Users can create, edit, analyze, document, render, animate and translate NURBS curves, surfaces and solids, the vendor said. Rhino allows support for IGES, ACIS, Parasolid, DXF and DWG, so users can exchange drawings with their own CAD software.

Features of the best document imaging software

There are several characteristics shared by the best document imaging software. Here we point out what they are. (For a refresher, our previous section shared the expected benefits of using a document imaging software system.)

The advantages of document imaging software systems

What can you expect from a document imaging software system? First of all, the things you do every day -- tracking employee time to jobs, assessing job progress through reports and checklists, understanding how materials are being used, and responding to partner needs such as change orders and payments on invoices -- should move more quickly, and have a level of accuracy greater, than what you previously experienced.

When to buy document imaging software for your business

This section of our buyers guide provides considerations for analyzing existing paperwork processes before buying document imaging software for your construction business. (For a refresher, the previous section of our buyers guide explored what document imaging software offers to the AEC industries.)

An introduction to document imaging management software

The first section of our four-part buyers guide to document imaging management systems identifies the problems and business processes that these products aim to address.

Document Imaging Software Buyers Guide

The use of document imaging software can help architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms get a grip on the thousands of pages of papers generated and disseminated during the construction process. Our Document Imaging Software Buyers Guide describes how these systems work and how they can benefit AEC firms.

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CMiC Project Controls by CMiC

The control center of the CMiC system, CMiC Project Controls arms executives with quantifiable data to execute business decisions. They can manage subcontractors, perform change management and create accurate, reliable forecasts to gain a clear picture of a project, the vendor said.

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CMiC Financials by CMiC

CMiC Financials helps decision-makers analyze and consolidate critical project information, thereby improving accountability at every level of a construction organization, the vendor said.

SpringBoard Control Console by LoadSpring Solutions

The SpringBoard Control Console is the Web portal through which users access LoadSpring’s customized, integrated project management software suites. The console provides application security measures such as authentication protocols and customized portals. The application suites adhere to the ISO 17799 information security standard, which emphasizes the confidentiality, integrity and availability of key information, the vendor said.

These project management suites are built to integrate software such as the following:

Construction software for mobile devices

As cell phones and other mobile devices become tiny computers, the software that offers that expanded functionality is spreading faster than viruses on an unprotected PC. But even though there still aren’t a bevy of applications written specifically for AEC pros, there is much software for mobile devices that will simplify life in the field and beyond.