Difference between revisions of "Collaborative Milestone Review Process"

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This page is a guide to utilizing Bluebeam for collaborative milestone reviews. The use of Bluebeam for milestone review processes is not required at this time, however, this page is intended to be a resource for users that are participants in the Bluebeam Pilot Reviews or that would like to implement the use for their project. This page will provide training information regarding the use of Bluebeam as well as the process for setting up and participating in a Studio Session review.
 
  
==[[#Introduction to Bluebeam|Introduction to Bluebeam]]==
+
==[[Process Change Information|Process Change Information]]==
Bluebeam products provide powerful and easy to use features for marking up Engineering PDF documents and project collaboration. Through the use of Studio Sessions, users can collaboratively review a project from any location by integrating project documents from ProjectWise to the BlueBeam cloud service hosted by Amazon. By participating in a Studio Session, users are able to collaborate on one or more files and all markups are immediately viewable by other users participating in the session.
+
As part of MDOT’s goal for utilizing the concept of a “single source of truth” for documents and processes throughout design and construction, utilizing digital means to capture comments during project milestone reviews has been a priority. MDOT joined the AASHTO Innovation Initiative Project PS&E C-Rev in the fall of 2017 to further advance a real-time collaborative milestone review process.  In March of 2015, the Digital Pen process was officially started as part of the DA-2015-03 Process Improvement for internal milestone reviews as a transition tool to help users accustomed to pen and paper reviews switch to digital commenting. This process was intended to ensure that comments were being harvested digitally by users. As a result, many users have begun switching from utilizing the Digital Pen to utilizing full digital commenting in Adobe.
  
There are two roles within a Bluebeam Studio Session. That of an initiator, and that of a participant. To initiate a Studio Session, a user is required to have a licensed version of Bluebeam Revu. To be a participant in a Bluebeam Studio Session, the unlicensed version of Bluebeam Revu is required at a minimum.
 
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==[[#Bluebeam Software Requirements|Bluebeam Software Requirements]]==
+
As users have become more familiar with utilizing full digital commenting for milestone reviews, it has allowed MDOT to investigate the process and determine if improvements can be made to allow for time savings for the Project Manager, Reviewers, and design team during the review process. Advantages of adding a real-time component to the milestone reviews include time savings by allowing multiple users to comment in a document at the same time, improving engagement between the design team and QA units, reducing the amount of time the Project Manager takes to clean up review comments, and allowing improved accuracy in addressing comments by consolidating responses in the files.
Bluebeam offers three editions of Revu: Revu Standard, Revu eXtreme and Revu CAD. Each edition comes with a View Mode which allows the program to function without a license while still allowing access to Bluebeam Studio Sessions. For MDOT users, consultants, or any other user that will be a participant in a collaborative milestone review but not required to create a session, the View Mode in any edition of Revu can be utilized to access the session.  
 
  
<big>'''External Users'''</big>
 
  
For users outside of MDOT that will be participating in a collaborative milestone review, Bluebeam Revu can be downloaded at the following link: <big>'''[https://www.bluebeam.com/trials/ Bluebeam Revu download]'''</big>
+
To add the real-time component to the milestone review process, new software was investigated. Based on this investigation, Bluebeam PDF software was selected to be piloted as a complimentary tool to the ProjectWise Milestone Review Process. With Bluebeam, milestone review documents can be temporarily loaded into a Studio Session with integration to ProjectWise which allows multiple users to access the files concurrently, comment and view any other user’s comments in real-time during the review session. While the software has a different user interface than Adobe, the commenting process is similar.
  
<big>'''MDOT Users'''</big>
 
  
Bluebeam Revu must be installed from the Software Center for MDOT employees.
+
<big>'''To improve the current milestone review process and discontinue the Digital Pen process, Bluebeam has been selected to implement the Real-Time Collaborative Milestone Review Process.'''</big>
 
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==[[#User Resources|User Resources]]==
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==[[Real-Time Collaborative Review Process Overview|Real-Time Collaborative Review Process Overview]]==
A wide range of introductory and in-depth instructional videos are available for viewing on Bluebeam's website. It is recommended that users utilize this resource for basic understanding of the program. Additional information as well as MDOT Specific training videos on the use of Bluebeam for collaborative milestone reviews are located on the Support Services website.  
+
The new process will change how users review project documents during the milestone review period, but does not change development of plans, the milestone review meeting, or where documents are ultimately stored. All project files and comments will be stored in ProjectWise in their appropriate locations and will still be accessible after the review period, however, during the milestone review period all reviews must be done utilizing the Studio Session created by the Project Manager. An overview of the process is noted below:
  
<big>'''Bluebeam Training Videos Link: [https://support.bluebeam.com/training-videos/ Bluebeam Training Videos]'''</big>
+
# The design team will notify the Project Manager when the milestone plans have been placed in the appropriate folder in ProjectWise and are ready for review.
 +
# The Project Manager will review the submitted files in ProjectWise.
 +
# The Project Manager will notify QA and coordinate a review date.
 +
# Once the date is selected and reviewers are ready to be notified, the Project Manager will create a Bluebeam Studio Session that links the ProjectWise files to the Bluebeam Studio cloud. The project files will remain checked out to the Project Manager for the duration of the review period.
 +
# The Project Manager will fill out the standard ProjectWise generated milestone review meeting notification email and include a link to the Bluebeam Studio Session for the review.
 +
# All reviewers will comment on the plans utilizing the Bluebeam Studio Session during the review period.
 +
# The Project Manager and Design Team will monitor and review any comments during the review period.
 +
# One to two days prior to the milestone review meeting, the Project Manager will finish the Bluebeam Studio Session, review comments as necessary, and load the review files back into ProjectWise.
 +
# The project files that have been loaded back onto ProjectWise will be utilized during the milestone review meeting.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
A flowchart that compares the digital pen process to the Bluebeam Studio process is shown in the following figure:
  
<big>'''MDOT Support Services Link: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/trainingmaterials.htm MDOT - Support Services]'''</big>
 
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==[[#MDOT Customizations|MDOT Customizations]]==
 
Bluebeam can be customized through the use of Profiles that can be imported into the program. Profiles provide an easy way to store the toolbar, tool sets, menus and other display settings within Bluebeam. A custom Profile has been created for MDOT Milestone reviews that includes tool sets for the following sections:
 
* Environmental and SESC
 
* Geometrics
 
* Geotech and CFS
 
* Hydraulics
 
* Quality Assurance
 
* Real Estate
 
* Region and TSCs
 
* Signals and Signing
 
  
<big>'''MDOT Custom Profile Download: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=6a0dd47e-7fc0-4dae-8d41-37f63a076f12&fileName=MDOT%20BlueBeam%20Review.bpx MDOT_BlueBeam Review.bpx]'''</big>
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[[File:Collaborative Milestone Review.jpg|1000px|frameless|center]]
  
<big>'''Toolset Overview Document: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=2c0d407f-8609-42e1-b2df-c1f629d45b02&fileName=%22MDOT%20Bluebeam%20Review%20Toolset%20Overview.pdf%22 MDOT Bluebeam Review Toolset Overview]'''</big>
 
  
<big>'''Video instructions for importing profile: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=c21ad5e3-9055-4211-aaaf-69933d53d2a5&fileName=%22Adding%20MDOT%20Profile%20and%20Tool%20Sets.mp4%22 Adding MDOT Profile and Tool Sets.mp4]'''</big>
 
<big>'''PDF version: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=fac661e1-bd92-4744-97c5-236ffa9182cf&fileName=%22Adding%20MDOT%20Profile%20and%20Tool%20Sets.pdf%22 Adding MDOT Profile and Tool Sets.pdf]'''</big>
 
 
{{top}}
 
{{top}}
  
==[[#Collaborative Milestone Review Training Material|Collaborative Milestone Review Training Material]]==
+
==[[Introduction to Bluebeam|Introduction to Bluebeam]]==
 +
Bluebeam products provide powerful and easy to use features for marking up Engineering PDF documents and project collaboration. Through the use of Studio Sessions, users can collaboratively review a project from any location by integrating project documents from ProjectWise to the BlueBeam cloud service hosted by Amazon. By participating in a Studio Session, users are able to collaborate on one or more files and all markups are immediately viewable by other users participating in the session.
  
<big>'''Step 1: Initial Setup - All Users'''</big>
+
There are two roles within a Bluebeam Studio Session. That of an initiator, and that of a participant. To initiate a Studio Session, a user is required to have a licensed version of Bluebeam Revu. To be a participant in a Bluebeam Studio Session, the unlicensed version of Bluebeam Revu is required at a minimum.
 +
{{top}}
  
:<big>'''Video Instructions: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=4a38c011-d3e1-4d30-a231-2589d88e07ca&fileName=%22Initial%20Setup.mp4%22 Initial Setup.mp4] PDF Version: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=de1a5064-f954-4271-8884-bb997ccf9745&fileName=%22Initial%20Setup.pdf%22 Initial Setup.pdf]'''</big>
+
==[[Software Requirements|Software Requirements]]==
 +
Bluebeam offers three editions of Revu: Revu Standard, Revu eXtreme and Revu CAD. Each edition comes with a View Mode which allows the program to function without a license while still allowing access to Bluebeam Studio Sessions. For MDOT users, consultants, or any other user that will be a participant in a collaborative milestone review but not required to create a session, the View Mode in any edition of Revu can be utilized to access the session.  
  
:Steps through the initial setup of Bluebeam after it is installed and includes linking to ProjectWise and creating a Bluebeam Studio Account. This video should be utilized for both Initiators and Participants of a Collaborative Bluebeam Milestone Review.
+
<big>'''External Users'''</big>
  
 +
For users outside of MDOT that will be participating in a collaborative milestone review, Bluebeam Revu can be downloaded at the following link: <big>'''[https://www.bluebeam.com/trials/ Bluebeam Revu download]'''</big>
  
<big>'''Step 2: Starting a Session and Inviting Users - Project Managers'''</big>
+
<big>'''MDOT Users'''</big>
:<big>'''Video Instructions: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=78ddfd06-35f5-48dc-b510-1165e3d3be72&fileName=%22Starting%20a%20Session%20and%20Inviting%20users.mp4%22 Starting a Session and Inviting Users.mp4] PDF Version: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=e1eca4e4-2af3-4135-9be0-87db8059e2ad&fileName=%22Starting%20a%20Session%20and%20Inviting%20Users.pdf%22 Starting a Session and Inviting users.pdf]'''</big>
 
  
:Steps through the process of initiating a Bluebeam Studio Session as part of a Collaborative Milestone Review. This video should be utilized by the Initiator, typically the Project Manager, of the Collaborative Bluebeam Milestone Review. Participants of the review skip to Step 3.
+
Bluebeam Revu must be installed from the Software Center for MDOT employees. An instructional video for installing Bluebeam from the software center is provided at the following link: <big>'''[https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=47bd200f-7f78-41cd-b08f-40b320111bdf&fileName=Bluebeam_Installing%20from%20Software%20Center.mp4 Bluebeam_Installing from Software Center]'''</big>
 +
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 +
==[[MDOT Training Information|MDOT Training Information]]==
  
<big>'''Step 3: Joining a Studio Session - All Users'''</big>
+
===[[Setting Up Bluebeam (All Users)|Setting Up Bluebeam (All Users)]]===
:<big>'''Video Instructions: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=6d5c86b9-cb52-4759-a07e-a8a4c5e767fc&fileName=%22Joining%20a%20Studio%20Session.mp4%22 Joining a Studio Session.mp4] PDF Version: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=71a073d8-848d-4389-b446-fea43b1e9b5f&fileName=%22Joining%20a%20Studio%20Session.pdf%22 Joining a Studio Session.pdf]'''</big>
+
:<big>'''Initial Setup: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=4a38c011-d3e1-4d30-a231-2589d88e07ca&fileName=%22Initial%20Setup.mp4%22 Video] | [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=de1a5064-f954-4271-8884-bb997ccf9745&fileName=%22Initial%20Setup.pdf%22 PDF]'''</big>
 +
:This training steps through the initial setup of Bluebeam after it has been installed on your computer and includes the process for linking the program to ProjectWise and creating a Bluebeam Studio Account.
  
:Steps through the process of joining a Bluebeam Studio Session as part of a Collaborative Milestone Review utilizing a link or Session ID provided by the Initiator of the review. Both Initiators and Participants of the session should utilize this video.
+
:<big>'''MDOT Customizations: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=c21ad5e3-9055-4211-aaaf-69933d53d2a5&fileName=%22Adding%20MDOT%20Profile%20and%20Tool%20Sets.mp4%22 Video] | [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=fac661e1-bd92-4744-97c5-236ffa9182cf&fileName=%22Adding%20MDOT%20Profile%20and%20Tool%20Sets.pdf%22 PDF] '''</big>
+
:Custom tool sets have been created for this process to standardize the tools that reviewers utilize to better track comments during the milestone review. The training steps through the importing process for these customizations. The profile and a toolset overview document can be downloaded below:
  
<big>'''Step 4: Commenting in a Studio Session - All Users'''</big>
+
:<big>'''MDOT Custom Profile: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=6a0dd47e-7fc0-4dae-8d41-37f63a076f12&fileName=%22MDOT%20BlueBeam%20Review.bpx%22 MDOT Bluebeam Review.bpx]'''</big>
:<big>'''Video Instructions: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=90445c0d-5e0f-45ed-b4c3-04fdeca6ce10&fileName=%22Commenting%20in%20a%20Studio%20Session.mp4%22 Commenting in a Studio Session.mp4] PDF Version: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=07fcf888-383e-47d8-8362-8b920c6a97c6&fileName=%22Commenting%20in%20a%20Studio%20Session.pdf%22 Commenting in a Studio Session.pdf]'''</big>
+
:<big>'''Toolset overview Document: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=2c0d407f-8609-42e1-b2df-c1f629d45b02&fileName=%22MDOT%20Bluebeam%20Review%20Toolset%20Overview.pdf%22 Custom Toolset Overview]'''</big>
  
:Provides instructions on how to comment in a Bluebeam Studio Session. Ensure that you have downloaded and installed the MDOT custom profile located in the '''MDOT Customizations''' section prior to commenting in a session. Both initiators and Participants of the session should utilize this video.
+
===[[Reviewing a Project (All Users)|Reviewing a Project (All Users)]]===
 +
:<big>'''Joining a Studio Session: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=6d5c86b9-cb52-4759-a07e-a8a4c5e767fc&fileName=%22Joining%20a%20Studio%20Session.mp4%22 Video] | [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=71a073d8-848d-4389-b446-fea43b1e9b5f&fileName=%22Joining%20a%20Studio%20Session.pdf%22 PDF]'''</big>
 +
:This training steps through the process of joining a Bluebeam Studio Session as part of a Collaborative Milestone Review utilizing a link of Session ID provided by the Initiator of the Review.
  
 +
:<big>'''Commenting in a Studio Session: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=90445c0d-5e0f-45ed-b4c3-04fdeca6ce10&fileName=%22Commenting%20in%20a%20Studio%20Session.mp4%22 Video] | [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=07fcf888-383e-47d8-8362-8b920c6a97c6&fileName=%22Commenting%20in%20a%20Studio%20Session.pdf%22 PDF]'''</big>
 +
:This training provides instructions on how to comment in a Bluebeam Studio Session. Ensure that you have downloaded and installed the MDOT custom profile as noted in the Setting Up Bluebeam section prior to commenting.
  
<big>'''Step 5: Finishing a Studio Session - Project Managers'''</big>
+
===[[Setting up a Milestone Review (Project Managers or Review Initiators)|Setting up a Milestone Review (Project Managers or Review Initiators)]]===
:<big>'''Video Instructions: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=a5ec1d36-559f-4f57-a81e-64bcaf21da81&fileName=%22Finishing%20a%20Studio%20Session.mp4%22 Finishing a Studio Session.mp4] PDF Version: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=1b56abed-e101-4033-a8cd-e574576785b3&fileName=%22Finishing%20a%20Studio%20Session.pdf%22 Finishing a Studio Session.pdf]'''</big>
+
:<big>'''Starting a Session and Inviting Users: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=78ddfd06-35f5-48dc-b510-1165e3d3be72&fileName=%22Starting%20a%20Session%20and%20Inviting%20users.mp4%22 Video] | [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=e1eca4e4-2af3-4135-9be0-87db8059e2ad&fileName=%22Starting%20a%20Session%20and%20Inviting%20Users.pdf%22 PDF]'''</big>
 +
:This training steps through the process of initiating a Bluebeam Studio Session as part of a Collaborative Milestone Review.
  
:Steps through the process of finishing a session and saving the comments into ProjectWise. Only the initiator of the session has the ability to finish the session, so it should be utilized by the initiator, typically the Project Manager.
+
:<big>'''Finishing a Studio Session: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=a5ec1d36-559f-4f57-a81e-64bcaf21da81&fileName=%22Finishing%20a%20Studio%20Session.mp4%22 Video] | [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=1b56abed-e101-4033-a8cd-e574576785b3&fileName=%22Finishing%20a%20Studio%20Session.pdf%22 PDF]'''</big>
{{top}}
+
:This training steps through the process of finishing a session and loading the comments into ProjectWise. Only the Initiator of the session has the ability to finish the session.
  
==[[#Project PDF (Strip Map) Review|Project PDF (Strip Map) Review]]==
+
==[[Bluebeam Resources|Bluebeam Resources]]==
Users in a Bluebeam Studio Session review may encounter one of the Project PDF pilot projects. The Project PDF replaces all plan and profile sheets in a project with a single PDF that encompasses the entire limits of the project and utilizes bookmarks to display the work type. Since all sheet types (ali, rem, con, etc) are shown in the same PDF, comments must be set up in way to track where the comment applies. An instructional video has been provided below for commenting on a Project PDF pilot.
+
A wide range of introductory and in-depth instructional videos are available for viewing on Bluebeam's website as well as an interactive user manual. It is recommended that users utilize this resource for basic understanding of the program. Additional information as well as MDOT Specific training videos on the use of Bluebeam for collaborative milestone reviews are located on the Support Services website.  
  
<big>'''Video instructions for commenting in a Project PDF Pilot: [https://mdotjboss.state.mi.us/SpecProv/getDocumentById.htm?docGuid=bf284d27-ae42-4cdd-a482-2100388a5aba&fileName=Bluebeam_Commenting%20in%20a%20Project%20PDF%20Pilot.mp4 Bluebeam_Commenting in a Project PDF Pilot]'''</big>
+
:<big>'''Bluebeam Online User Manual: [http://support.bluebeam.com/online-help/revu2018/Content/RevuHelp/Dashboard.htm User Manual]'''</big>
 +
:<big>'''Bluebeam Training Videos: [https://support.bluebeam.com/training-videos/ Training Videos]'''</big>
 
{{top}}
 
{{top}}
 +
 +
[[Category:Bluebeam]]

Revision as of 08:38, 31 August 2018


Process Change Information

As part of MDOT’s goal for utilizing the concept of a “single source of truth” for documents and processes throughout design and construction, utilizing digital means to capture comments during project milestone reviews has been a priority. MDOT joined the AASHTO Innovation Initiative Project PS&E C-Rev in the fall of 2017 to further advance a real-time collaborative milestone review process. In March of 2015, the Digital Pen process was officially started as part of the DA-2015-03 Process Improvement for internal milestone reviews as a transition tool to help users accustomed to pen and paper reviews switch to digital commenting. This process was intended to ensure that comments were being harvested digitally by users. As a result, many users have begun switching from utilizing the Digital Pen to utilizing full digital commenting in Adobe.


As users have become more familiar with utilizing full digital commenting for milestone reviews, it has allowed MDOT to investigate the process and determine if improvements can be made to allow for time savings for the Project Manager, Reviewers, and design team during the review process. Advantages of adding a real-time component to the milestone reviews include time savings by allowing multiple users to comment in a document at the same time, improving engagement between the design team and QA units, reducing the amount of time the Project Manager takes to clean up review comments, and allowing improved accuracy in addressing comments by consolidating responses in the files.


To add the real-time component to the milestone review process, new software was investigated. Based on this investigation, Bluebeam PDF software was selected to be piloted as a complimentary tool to the ProjectWise Milestone Review Process. With Bluebeam, milestone review documents can be temporarily loaded into a Studio Session with integration to ProjectWise which allows multiple users to access the files concurrently, comment and view any other user’s comments in real-time during the review session. While the software has a different user interface than Adobe, the commenting process is similar.


To improve the current milestone review process and discontinue the Digital Pen process, Bluebeam has been selected to implement the Real-Time Collaborative Milestone Review Process.

[top of page]


Real-Time Collaborative Review Process Overview

The new process will change how users review project documents during the milestone review period, but does not change development of plans, the milestone review meeting, or where documents are ultimately stored. All project files and comments will be stored in ProjectWise in their appropriate locations and will still be accessible after the review period, however, during the milestone review period all reviews must be done utilizing the Studio Session created by the Project Manager. An overview of the process is noted below:

  1. The design team will notify the Project Manager when the milestone plans have been placed in the appropriate folder in ProjectWise and are ready for review.
  2. The Project Manager will review the submitted files in ProjectWise.
  3. The Project Manager will notify QA and coordinate a review date.
  4. Once the date is selected and reviewers are ready to be notified, the Project Manager will create a Bluebeam Studio Session that links the ProjectWise files to the Bluebeam Studio cloud. The project files will remain checked out to the Project Manager for the duration of the review period.
  5. The Project Manager will fill out the standard ProjectWise generated milestone review meeting notification email and include a link to the Bluebeam Studio Session for the review.
  6. All reviewers will comment on the plans utilizing the Bluebeam Studio Session during the review period.
  7. The Project Manager and Design Team will monitor and review any comments during the review period.
  8. One to two days prior to the milestone review meeting, the Project Manager will finish the Bluebeam Studio Session, review comments as necessary, and load the review files back into ProjectWise.
  9. The project files that have been loaded back onto ProjectWise will be utilized during the milestone review meeting.


A flowchart that compares the digital pen process to the Bluebeam Studio process is shown in the following figure:


Collaborative Milestone Review.jpg


[top of page]


Introduction to Bluebeam

Bluebeam products provide powerful and easy to use features for marking up Engineering PDF documents and project collaboration. Through the use of Studio Sessions, users can collaboratively review a project from any location by integrating project documents from ProjectWise to the BlueBeam cloud service hosted by Amazon. By participating in a Studio Session, users are able to collaborate on one or more files and all markups are immediately viewable by other users participating in the session.

There are two roles within a Bluebeam Studio Session. That of an initiator, and that of a participant. To initiate a Studio Session, a user is required to have a licensed version of Bluebeam Revu. To be a participant in a Bluebeam Studio Session, the unlicensed version of Bluebeam Revu is required at a minimum.

[top of page]


Software Requirements

Bluebeam offers three editions of Revu: Revu Standard, Revu eXtreme and Revu CAD. Each edition comes with a View Mode which allows the program to function without a license while still allowing access to Bluebeam Studio Sessions. For MDOT users, consultants, or any other user that will be a participant in a collaborative milestone review but not required to create a session, the View Mode in any edition of Revu can be utilized to access the session.

External Users

For users outside of MDOT that will be participating in a collaborative milestone review, Bluebeam Revu can be downloaded at the following link: Bluebeam Revu download

MDOT Users

Bluebeam Revu must be installed from the Software Center for MDOT employees. An instructional video for installing Bluebeam from the software center is provided at the following link: Bluebeam_Installing from Software Center

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MDOT Training Information

Setting Up Bluebeam (All Users)

Initial Setup: Video | PDF
This training steps through the initial setup of Bluebeam after it has been installed on your computer and includes the process for linking the program to ProjectWise and creating a Bluebeam Studio Account.
MDOT Customizations: Video | PDF
Custom tool sets have been created for this process to standardize the tools that reviewers utilize to better track comments during the milestone review. The training steps through the importing process for these customizations. The profile and a toolset overview document can be downloaded below:
MDOT Custom Profile: MDOT Bluebeam Review.bpx
Toolset overview Document: Custom Toolset Overview

Reviewing a Project (All Users)

Joining a Studio Session: Video | PDF
This training steps through the process of joining a Bluebeam Studio Session as part of a Collaborative Milestone Review utilizing a link of Session ID provided by the Initiator of the Review.
Commenting in a Studio Session: Video | PDF
This training provides instructions on how to comment in a Bluebeam Studio Session. Ensure that you have downloaded and installed the MDOT custom profile as noted in the Setting Up Bluebeam section prior to commenting.

Setting up a Milestone Review (Project Managers or Review Initiators)

Starting a Session and Inviting Users: Video | PDF
This training steps through the process of initiating a Bluebeam Studio Session as part of a Collaborative Milestone Review.
Finishing a Studio Session: Video | PDF
This training steps through the process of finishing a session and loading the comments into ProjectWise. Only the Initiator of the session has the ability to finish the session.

Bluebeam Resources

A wide range of introductory and in-depth instructional videos are available for viewing on Bluebeam's website as well as an interactive user manual. It is recommended that users utilize this resource for basic understanding of the program. Additional information as well as MDOT Specific training videos on the use of Bluebeam for collaborative milestone reviews are located on the Support Services website.

Bluebeam Online User Manual: User Manual
Bluebeam Training Videos: Training Videos

[top of page]