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KanBo and Autodesk BIM Integration

In this article:

Overview

KanBo BIM integration allows you to synchronize your KanBo space with your Autodesk BIM 360 project. Learn how to set up the synchronization. Watch the video* below explaining how it works.

*Video is in German but you can use English CC to read the translation. Video guide was recorded on the older KanBo version, you may notice some visual changes.

Creating projects in Autodesk BIM 360

First, you need to create a project. If you already have an existing project you want to use, skip this part.

To create a project in Autodesk BIM 360:

  1. Go to BIM 360 Administration Center. 
  2. Create a new Project Directory by selecting Add.
  1. Fill in the project name and select the project type and language. Fill the rest of the boxes as you like, and then select Save & continue.

You should be presented with this screen:

  1. Select Activate.

You can use a project template, but in our case, we will not apply one.

  1. Activate the project by selecting Activate.

This is what you will be presented with after a successful activation.

Checking the issue statuses

The BIM Sync requires the KanBo space to have the exact same Card Statuses as the Issue Categories inside an issue type and subtype which we will later select to sync with a KanBo space.

Here’s how to check which statuses need to be created in a KanBo space:

  1. Go to docs.b360.autodesk.com and select your project.
  1. Go to Issues.
  2. Select the type and subtype of the issue that you will later sync. If you have not created any issues yet, create a new one.
  1. Select the status icon in the top right corner. All the available issue statuses for this issue type and subtype will be shown.
BIM-KanBo-Integration-8

Connecting KanBo spaces with Autodesk BIM 360 projects

You will need the Setup KanBo role.

Make sure you've added an Autodesk service account to your BIM project. Otherwise, KanBo will not be able to sync it. As a result, the last sync will always show "-".

To connect a KanBo space with an Autodesk BIM 360 project:

  1. Go to the space that you would like to sync with a BIM 360 project.
  2. Make sure that the card statuses of a space share the same name as the issue statuses inside of Document Management on your BIM 360 Project.

A ready-to-sync space should look like this, based on its design type and subtype:

  1. On the top space bar, go to More.
  2. Select Settings.
BIM-KanBo-Integration-10
  1. Select BIM sync.
  1. Select Add Bim Sync.
  1. Select your hub.
  1. Select project.
  1. Select issue type.
  1. Select the issue subtype.

You will now be presented with this window. Below is an explanation of the options available to you.

Sync type (What parts are being synchronized?)

  • Status only – Only synchronizes the status changes
  • Content only – Only synchronizes the name and the Description
  • Full – Synchronizes status changes, the name, and the description

Sync direction (In which direction is being synchronized?)

  • KanBo and BIM – bidirectional sync, any change (if there is a change in both systems at the same time, KanBo changes overwrite)
  • BIM only – only BIM will be updated if something changes in KanBo, changes in BIM do not affect KanBo
  • KanBo only – only KanBo will be updated if something changes in BIM, changes in KanBo do not affect BIM

Sync creation (Where do we allow to automatically create new stuff?)

  • KanBo and BIM – if a card is created in KanBo it results in creation of an element in BIM, if an element in BIM is created then it creates a card in KanBo
  • BIM only – creation of new elements in BIM based on creation of new cards in KanBo takes place only in BIM, new BIM elements will not create any new cards in KanBo
  • KanBo only – creation of new cards in KanBo based on creation of new elements in BIM takes place only in KanBo, new KanBo cards will not create any new elements in BIM

Add link

  • Adds a direct link to the BIM element in the KanBo card as a note.

After configuring your sync options, you can click on add, and after a while (the frequency of sync is configured globally for your KanBo environment by your IT department), your KanBo space should be synchronized with your BIM project accordingly to the rules you have defined in your sync configuration.

Create as many Statuses in KanBo as you need to map out how many of the BIM steps (Statuses) you would like to have synced into your KanBo space. Only if the Status Names in KanBo exist and match EXACTLY the name in the BIM environment the sync will be able to do the mapping correctly. It is not required to have all BIM Statuses in KanBo if you do not require all, i.e. you cold have only the first one and the last one (completed) because for your use case you do not need what is in between.

To check when the next synchronization will occur, you can go to the BIM Sync menu again.

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Removing the sync (or just pausing it)

To remove the sync:

  1. Select Remove BIM sync in the BIM sync windows.

Clean

When you select this option during removal then all metadata about the sync including which card is connected to which Element in BIM will be deleted permanently. If you create a sync again then depending on your sync configuration it might lead to a situation where all KanBo cards will create new BIM elements and all BIM elements will create new KanBo cards resulting in a huge duplication of information in both systems.

If you just want to stop the sync for that KanBo space temporarily keeping the option open to connect it again at some later time to the same Project in BIM, then you should not use the Clean option. Removing without Clean keeps all the metadata, and in case of re-activation all corresponding KanBo Cards and BIM Elements will not be recreated, only updated (depending on your sync configuration).

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