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GTeam by Gehry
Technologies
Gehry Technologies recently launched a free preview of its new cloud-based file management and collaboration platform. GTeam is embryonic, but incredibly easy to use and with a well thought out workflow holds great promise. by Greg Corke
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t has been nearly ten years since Gehry Technologies (GT) launched its Digital Project Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, but the Catia-based application was a bit of a slow burner. Instead of the mainstream BIM tool that GT wanted it to be, Digital Project found a niche for itself in larger AEC firms including Skidmore Ownings and Merrill (SOM) and Zaha Hadid Architects. GT also used it with great success in its own consultancy. While Digital Project continues to evolve, GT has also turned its attention to collaboration, with a cloud-based file management and BIM collaboration platform called GTeam. The browser-based service is currently available as a free preview, with a commercial release expected soon. 24
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With GTeam, GT is targeting a wide range of professionals, including architects, designers, engineers, contractors, consultants and building owners, and has the potential to give GT a more mainstream AEC presence. Everything is done in the cloud, which helps ensure project members always have access to up to date information. There is no more emailing or FTP transfer of files â models and drawings are checked out directly from GTeam and checked back in once changes have been made in the relevant authoring software. Every download, message and update is tracked. This is all standard fare for most project hosting services, but with GTeam there is also a powerful model viewing element. Multiple models from different applications
â structural, architectural and MEP â can all be viewed together, measured, sectioned and checked for clashes. This type of functionality is common in applications like Autodesk Navisworks, Tekla BIMsight and AceCad BIMReview (see page 18), but with GTeam it is all done in a web browser, making it ideal for distributed teams.
File management Managing projects in GTeam is easy, but does not mean there is a trade off in capability. Each project is stored in a folder structure, making it easy to browse 3D models, drawings and office documents. For complex projects, or just for good housekeeping, files can also be collated in file sets. Each file sports a thumbnail view alongside the file name. With 3D models there is www.AECmag.com
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