Collaborative Milestone Review Process
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
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.
Bluebeam 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.
User Resources
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.
Bluebeam Training Videos Link: Bluebeam Training Videos
MDOT Support Services Link: MDOT - Support Services
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
MDOT Custom Profile Download: MDOT_BlueBeam Review.bpx
Toolset Overview Document: MDOT Bluebeam Review Toolset Overview
Video instructions for importing profile: Adding MDOT Profile and Tool Sets.mp4 PDF version: Adding MDOT Profile and Tool Sets.pdf
Collaborative Milestone Review Training Material
Step 1: Initial Setup - All Users
- Video Instructions: Initial Setup.mp4 PDF Version: Initial Setup.pdf
- 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.
Step 2: Starting a Session and Inviting Users - Project Managers
- Video Instructions: Starting a Session and Inviting Users.mp4 PDF Version: Starting a Session and Inviting users.pdf
- 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.
Step 3: Joining a Studio Session - All Users
- Video Instructions: Joining a Studio Session.mp4 PDF Version: Joining a Studio Session.pdf
- 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.
Step 4: Commenting in a Studio Session - All Users
- Video Instructions: Commenting in a Studio Session.mp4 PDF Version: Commenting in a Studio Session.pdf
- 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.
Step 5: Finishing a Studio Session - Project Managers
- Video Instructions: Finishing a Studio Session.mp4 PDF Version: Finishing a Studio Session.pdf
- 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.
Project PDF (Strip Map) Review
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.
Video instructions for commenting in a Project PDF Pilot: Bluebeam_Commenting in a Project PDF Pilot