BIM 360 Glue was initially rebranded to BIM 360 Coordinate before being integrated into the broader Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) platform. Today, its core functionality, which focused on model aggregation and clash detection, is primarily found within the Model Coordination module of Autodesk BIM Collaborate and Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro.
The evolution from a standalone product to an integrated module within the ACC is a critical change. It represents Autodesk's shift from a collection of distinct applications to a unified, common data environment (CDE) for the entire project lifecycle. This transition offers more seamless workflows and connectivity between different project phases, which is a major enhancement over the original BIM 360 platform.
A comprehensive history of the transition
To truly understand what happened to BIM 360 Glue, it helps to break down the product's journey through its various rebranding phases and into the integrated ACC platform:
- BIM 360 Glue (Original Product): This was a cloud-based application that allowed teams to combine and review multi-disciplinary Building Information Models (BIM) from different software, such as Revit and Navisworks. Its main purpose was to facilitate collaboration and detect clashes early in the pre-construction phase.
- BIM 360 Coordinate (Initial Rebrand): In a 2019 consolidation effort, Autodesk renamed Glue to BIM 360 Coordinate as part of an attempt to streamline its product suite. This was the first major step away from the "Glue" moniker, though the core functionality remained the same.
- Integration with Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC): The most significant change occurred in 2021 when Autodesk launched the ACC and began moving all its construction-related cloud services onto a single platform.
- The Model Coordination module within the ACC was created to handle the model aggregation and clash detection workflows formerly managed by Glue/Coordinate.
- This module is now available through subscriptions to Autodesk BIM Collaborate and Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro.
Core functionalities: From Glue to Model Coordination
While the name is gone, the core capabilities of BIM 360 Glue live on and have been significantly enhanced within the ACC's Model Coordination module. These functionalities include:
- Model aggregation: The ability to combine design models from various authoring tools (like Revit, Civil 3D, and Plant 3D) into a single, comprehensive "coordination space".
- Automated clash detection: Model Coordination automatically runs clash tests on the aggregated models, freeing up time for virtual design and construction (VDC) coordinators and allowing them to focus on issue resolution.
- Issue management: Clash results can be turned into formal "issues" that are tracked throughout the project lifecycle. Teams can assign and resolve issues directly within the platform, creating a clear and auditable trail of all coordination decisions.
- Centralized data environment: The shift to the ACC means that Model Coordination is built on the foundation of Autodesk Docs, a centralized document management solution. This ensures a "single source of truth" for all project data, connecting model coordination directly with documents, plans, and other project information.
- Mobile access: The mobile capabilities that were a hallmark of BIM 360 Glue have been carried over and improved, allowing field and office teams to review models and manage issues from anywhere on a mobile device.
The BIM Collaborate product line
The modern-day equivalents of BIM 360 Glue are part of the broader BIM Collaborate product line. The choice between them depends on the user's role:
- Autodesk BIM Collaborate: This is for non-authoring team members, such as VDC managers, project managers, and coordinators. It provides access to the Design Collaboration and Model Coordination modules, allowing them to review models, detect clashes, and track issues.
- Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro: This is for design authors who need to co-author Revit, Civil 3D, and Plant 3D models in the cloud. It includes all the functionality of BIM Collaborate, plus the co-authoring services for design tools. This is the evolution of what was formerly known as BIM 360 Design.
The future: ACC is the standard
For any new projects, Autodesk strongly recommends using the ACC platform rather than the older BIM 360 platform. While BIM 360 is not currently scheduled for retirement and continues to be supported for existing projects, it no longer receives feature enhancements. All future development and innovation are focused on the ACC's unified environment, ensuring that users leverage the most modern and connected workflows available.