ACC @ WisDOT 2025-04-15

Last updated: 2025-04-15

Much content here is about future intent. All information that has not yet occurred is subject to change and is provided for information only.

Executive summary

1. Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) has been in development for many years.
2. WisDOT has implemented it on the current I-41 and 94-EW mega projects since 2022.
3. ACC is a proprietary, purpose-built cloud solution. It is required to fully automate the management of user edit sessions and the multitude of file connections across Civil 3D projects. Generic cloud providers cannot provide this functionality.
4. Methods believes from an end-user perspective, it is ready for enterprise deployment (i.e. move Civil 3D projects off of LANs and on to ACC).
5. We also believe that the current tools in-product for managing project creation, user assignment, and synchronization between the two do not match DOT's resources to manage the volume at the enterprise level.

Methods intention with ACC @ WisDOT

1. Implement a platform for all in-house Civil 3D projects very similar to current N:\pds\c3d folders.
2. Automate processes using a combination of the current Org Code assignment and AEC Collections (Civil 3D) license tables for assignments with the primary initial goal of handling Civil 3D users and projects in the region offices.
3. Automate the creation of ACC/Civil 3D projects through Civil 3D
4. Make it possible for region staff to create Civil 3D projects for consultants and add anyone with an Autodesk cloud license individually to projects.

End user experience

1. All current file activity (open, edit, save) in ACC occurs locally. Lock and sync functions between the cloud and a user's local cache occur through Autodesk's Desktop Connector (DC).

2. An end user can have access to a selection of projects in ACC and then choose to only sync a subset of that group.

3. DC functionality was vastly improved in April 2023 with the 16.2 version release.

4. There are some known issues that we have documented at Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) known issues (wi.gov). At the time of this document, they include

   1. Civil 3D crashing when opening an ACC file - This does not happen regularly and involves a one-time fix.
   2. Sheet Set Manager (SSM) for Web incompatible with custom DSTs - Autodesk has been developing an SSM that can handle multi-user access. It currently doesn't work with our sheet set DSTs.

Autodesk licenses

Software

• AEC Collection (C3D, IWX, Recap Pro, Revit, ADSK Docs)

Cloud access

• Autodesk Docs - Most C3D tasks only require a Docs license (part of AEC Collection).
• BIM Collaborate Pro - Certain tasks related to data shortcuts require this license.
• Differences can be found in the following page: Autodesk Civil 3D Help | About Working With Data Shortcut Projects in Autodesk Docs | Autodesk

License management

• Software licenses in AEC Coll can currently be managed through some other web-based DBMS with Premium licensing package. This allows license management outside of the Autdoesk manage portal.

  • Users can be added by staff without Autodesk portal access (i.e. IT)
  • Users are automatically removed when they leave employer
  • Passwords managed with SSO

• Cloud access licenses are currently not able to be managed through Premium. ADSK is working on this

• Methods is waiting for this implementation before Department-wide roll-out

ACC project versus C3D project

1. An ACC project can contain one to many C3D, IWX, Recap Pro, Revit projects

   1. You cannot create an ACC project in Civil 3D OOTB
   2. You also cannot create a Civil 3D project (_Shortcuts) in ACC

2. Permissions on an ACC project cannot be set until it is created

   1. This can be done with a project template now, but it doesn't include C3D project creation

3. Access on an ACC project cannot be granted until it is created. This can be done with individuals or company groups in OOTB ACC

Methods automations/decisions for enterprise roll-out

Mega/Majors projects will continue to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis for access and permissions

Normal in-house users and ACC/C3D projects

1. Everyone who gets a C3D license (AEC Collections) will get a BIM Collab Pro license

2. There will be a template of AA-######## for normal projects, where AA is a region designator and the pound signs are the eight digit number. For example:

   1. NW-11980303
   2. SW-52100402
   3. With current C3D project template folders within

3. ACC/C3D Project creation vid

   

4. 

5. Methods will cross-tab C3D users against Org Codes and default grant access to their region's projects

   1. We created a tool to automate this because new users need to be added to existing projects
   2. It may take a few days for a new user to get access to all region projects

6. Every user will have permission for Project Admin (can add/remove users individually)

7. There will be a Civil 3D tool available only to in-house staff to automate creation of a Civil 3D project on WisDOT ACC (as close to current project creation as possible)

Takeaways

1. When will ACC be implemented across WisDOT in-house? - Soon after ADSK implements Premium licensing for cloud products
2. What will default visibility for Civil 3D user be in ACC? - You will have access to all of your region's projects
3. Who can be added to a WisDOT Civil 3D project? - Anyone with an Autodesk account and web license (Docs or BIM Collab Pro) that a region user adds.
4. How soon must Civil 3D projects be in ACC? - New projects will be added as soon as ACC is rolled out. Project migration of existing projects will not be mandatory. There will be a time in the future that all in-house Civil 3D projects must be in ACC.

C3D project migration

Migrating a C3D project into ACC is more complicated than copy/paste.

1. The data standards for ACC are more strict than native Windows

2. There is a tool to assist with the migration of projects (Autodesk DWG Migration for Docs), but there are still many cleaning steps prior to migrating to ACC.

   1. Removing circular references
   2. Removing broken references
   3. Autodesk Civil 3D Help | About Autodesk DWG Migration for Docs | Autodesk

3. In short, Methods would recommend that a C3D project be fairly young (prior to corridor files and beyond, fairly few sheets) to be considered for migration.

Future potential impacts

1. 2D/3D DWGs and models can be accessed via web browser

   1. Contractor Data Packet review of 3D deliverables
   2. Design review can be done without pdf and without C3D expert on-hand

2. Models can be published to fully open view

   1. Local officials/Utilities/DNR/public

      dodge-rndbt.iwm

      

   2. Contractor Data Packet
3. Workshare
   1. External users can be added to WisDOT projects, WisDOT users can be added to other region projects

4. There is currently no plan to require the use of ACC for WisDOT consultant design projects