How can you ensure all team members access construction drawings?

So many comments about Cloud Based systems, these certainly have their merits and a place in modern construction, but the question is about how "ALL" team members access "CONSTRUCTION" Drawings...... So rather than the client; site managers and design teams being able to sit at their laptops and PC's, my spin on this is how does the pipeline ganger; scaffold chargehand or plant operator have access to the construction drawings..... If you're wet, cold and covered in muck, you'll not want to have to pull a phone out of your pocket and zoom in 20 times to see the relevant details, you will want access to the full size construction drawings in black and white (or even colour...!) Technology is not always the right answer.

Centralise drawings on a shared platform (e.g OneDrive, Google Drive, BIM360, ACC, DropBox, etc), set role-based access, update in real-time, provide user training, ensure mobile accessibility, implement backup procedures, communicate access details, and enforce security measures for efficient team access. By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth and efficient process for all team members to access and work with construction drawings.

To ensure everyone on a construction team can access drawings, a mix of digital and physical methods works best. Digital platforms, like cloud services, are great for larger projects and provide real-time updates, accessible from anywhere with internet. For smaller projects or teams preferring hard copies, a central location on-site with printed drawings is ideal. This combination caters to different needs and helps overcome challenges like unreliable internet, making sure all team members stay informed.

In my experience it is always better to have a server group for all projects and all the drawings has to be uploaded on that so that everybody has the access to that . Also we need to have regular meetings to check whether they have gone through the drawings

We utilize Bluebeam to host document review sessions in the cloud which gives everyone access to the documents. This is an extremely powerful tool where the host can manage access and collect feedback from design review members who are invited to a session. Bluebeam was developed around the Construction and Design industry standard practices and is a powerful tool that brings a lot of benefit for a very reasonable cost.

Make sure that your team is trained in navigating software based packages for accessing drawings. Also make sure that superseeded drawings are automatically communicated to all to prevent potential rework.

Establishing a document deliverable matrix with in communication matrix is key to issuance of required documents as per RACI. Effectiveness of process on weekly basis to ensure its working on right path and take action if otherwise.

To ensure all team members access construction drawings, establish clear workflows and protocols. Define roles, naming conventions, communication methods, and create a master drawing register for clarity and coordination, minimizing errors and ensuring everyone is aligned.

Again……Use Sitecoms, common sense relaying and communications amongst other things. Keep your eye out, re-launching soon, trials available.

It's crucial for ensuring all team members have access to construction drawings. For instance, implementing a standardized system for uploading and organizing drawings on a shared server ensures that everyone knows where to find the latest documents. Creating a protocol for version control helps prevent confusion, ensuring that team members always refer to the most up-to-date drawings. Moreover, defining roles and responsibilities within the team, such as assigning someone to oversee document updates, contributes to a smoother workflow and facilitates efficient access for all team members.

In addition to utilizing Bluebeam ( the most effective tool we have utilized), using Teams/Sharepoint for smaller projects has been effective. This also works for managing team correspondence and collaboration. For more rigid management Documentum is preferred.

1. Get familiar with the drawing access tools. 2. Educate team members on how to understand and work together on drawings. 3. Quickly respond to inquiries or problems. 4. Explain any revisions or changes to the drawings. 5. Look for ideas for enhancements. 6. Develop an environment that is focused on learning and collaboration.

Sitecoms don’t do training but you can relay all of the information for the training, share all documents photos, reports etc etc through Sitecoms, easily accessible fully recorded. Training provider’s can update all candidates separately or as a group via the Ap. Common sense comms !!

Investing in training and educating the team plays a pivotal role in ensuring universal access to construction drawings. Conducting workshops or sessions on the chosen document management platform equips team members with the skills to navigate and retrieve drawings efficiently. Establishing guidelines for regular training refreshers ensures that everyone stays proficient in using the tools. Additionally, educating the team on the importance of timely access and emphasizing the impact on project timelines encourages a proactive approach, fostering a culture where every member understands the significance of staying updated with construction drawings.

Time spent on quality training and education for your team translates to job efficiency. Ensuring that each team member understands their roles and access to systems will encourage them to use said processes while also minimizing stopping time and mistakes. Team members who are confident they have the knowledge needed for their position then become assets to helping and training others who may be new or not as proficient.

1. Review drawings for accuracy and completeness. 2. Ensure alignment with project standards. 3. Verify drawings match actual site conditions. 4. Record any discrepancies or issues found. 5. Share findings with the team and stakeholders. 6. Prevent costly mistakes or delays through thorough reviews.

Periodic reviews and audits of drawings should be agreed upon at the outset of the project. These periodic reviews and audits ensure that RFIs and design clarifications are captured and up to date. Periodic reviews and audits should take place on both cloud-based drawing sets and hard copy sets that may be required by contract for code or AHJ mandated inspections. Consolidated drawing sets are a useful way of providing current sets of drawings to all members of the project team when numerous RFIs and/or clarifications have been issued. Lastly, periodic reviews and audits of drawings facilitate a smooth transition to as-built drawings sets at close out.

A final way to ensure all team members access construction drawings is to review and audit your drawings regularly. You should check your drawings for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and compliance with the project requirements and standards. You should also verify that your drawings are aligned with the actual site conditions and reflect the progress and changes of your project. You should document any discrepancies or issues, and communicate them to your team and stakeholders. By reviewing and auditing your drawings, you can ensure quality, safety, and efficiency, and prevent costly mistakes or delays.

Reviewing and auditing of construction drawings prevents any sort of delay and overshooting of cost due to mistakes. It also ensures safety

Sitecoms……All information is chronologically stored for easy access and recall. Not just drawings, inductions, courses, health and safety training and documents. It also stores all site communication’s, to the project community, on and off site whether single person, work group, company, work section or whole project. It’s stored for easy recall, pre build - live build and post completion.

I find some of these contributions interesting because it leaves out one of the most important component of construction and its physical interaction. This could be phone calls, meetings in person, etc.

We can utilize a shared folder within the internal network storage or opt for cloud space. Organizing all drawings in a systematically structured folder, we can include new revisions encompassing design, IFC, shop, coordination, MEP, and as-built documentation.

In construction, universal access to drawings is crucial. Mobile-friendly platforms ensure on-the-go access, while centralized version control keeps everyone on the same page. Integrating drawing tools with communication channels streamlines collaboration. Tailored access permissions enhance security, and providing offline solutions tackles low-connectivity challenges. These strategies build a foundation for efficient and accessible drawing access, key to project success.

As the drawings can be full of details and difficult to read, specific views or printout should be done for the main operations that show only the relevant information that step.

Programs like drop box will give enough free cloud space to upload your entire project and then give everyone access to the Dropbox and your set. If you can afford the cloud based software then that’s great but if you’re not there yet free trial is all you need to get the job done.