Local architectural practices - with geographically widespread project teams - are turning to online project management and hosting facilities to replace expensive practices like repeatedly issuing hard copy drawings and documents to an entire project team as a project progresses.

The time-saving and profit-boosting move sees practises like the Msunduzi Architects Partnership, which is working on the R200m Golden Horse Casino project in Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, posting all its project drawings and documents on a secure project site on buzzsaw.com. Authorised members of the project team share the drawings.

Traditionally, revised project drawings have to be distributed to the entire project team a number of times during a project. A practice could end up sending out a complete set of drawings to about 12 people at least five times. Not only is that about 100 000 sheets of paper, but printing and distribution are a vast exercise. The time it takes to monitor the receipt of each revision also has to be taken into consideration.

"When we began preparing for the project we agreed it was critical that we find a means of more efficiently distributing drawings among the geographically widespread project team," says Terence Naidoo, FTP Site Manager, Stauch Vorster Architects in Durban. "Local Autodesk reseller, AfricaBlue, introduced us to buzzsaw.com ."

The portal is exclusively for the building design and construction industries, providing services like project management and hosting facilities. For USA users there are online services from RFQs to purchasing facilities.

At any time, project team members can view the latest drawings of any part of the Casino. They can also make modifications to drawings and only one person can work on a drawing at a time. "Stauch Vorster monitors the uploading/downloading of files and keep track of when it was done and by whom. We know when a particular project member has finished making input to a specific drawing - a 'notify member by e-mail' message advises team members that a file has been posted to the site and is available for downloading," says Naidoo.

Sharing and managing drawings effectively means there are no delays in modifying drawings as the design develops. Later in the project it means none of the allied disciplines can work on an out-of-date drawing, preventing the frustration and added cost of having to re-do work.

The entire team uses AutoCAD and there is no problem with accessibility to drawings.

Clients also enjoy easy access to drawings and documents.

As an initial strategic investor in buzzsaw.com, Autodesk holds a 40% interest in the company and has recently signed an agreement to purchase the remaining 60% of the company. Buzzsaw.com was spun off from Autodesk in October 1999 and Autodesk has remained its largest single shareholder and key strategic partner.

Autodesk

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