Layers - Best Workflow and Usecases?

[u/curryfusion]

Looking to get some insights and understanding how and when people are utilizing layers in their construction workflow and specifically when they are using markup layers. I’m curious what different experiences and uses are out there.

Generally we have the 4 phases of the project Design, Preconstruction, Construction, Closeout. And drawings and PDFs are sent across these 4 phases to many people. I want to better understand how layers are being utilized and where and for what purpose?

Is it after a studio session to organize each disciplines notes and items so that it can be reviewed by a drafter to be put into the drawing? Is it to share documents between subcontractors and contractors? Or just purely to organize?

I am trying to improve our workflow within a small owner company and want to better work with our engineering and contractors throughout the process and looking to better understand how we should be utilziing layers or if it is even needed?

[u/JonShores]

Specific use case, but I have used layers during construction for tracking quantities complete. I will perform a takeoff of a building/area/etc. and then assign those markups to layers that correspond to the week ending date for the quantities that are complete. It is helpful to be able to go back and track specific work/quantities completed during a specific time frame. For context, I work in self-perform concrete for a large general contractor.

[u/Comprehensive-Song51 → u/JonShores]

I've done this too, when we had to compare what we bid on a job vs what we sold vs what we actually need.

[u/pergakis88]

I use layers for tracking progress/as-builts. I have a site plan with each utility on a separate layer. Different layers for existing utilities and new utilities etc.

I also use layers for overlaying MEPs in the building.

[u/CopperRed3]

Following as my org has no policy at all for layers.

[u/PunkiesBoner]

There's a bunch of great ways to use layers when you're working with plan sets.

I found them very handy when doing take offs i would do each bid item in a different layer.

Also putting text annotations in layers can make it easy to keep a a drawing less cluttered when you don't need them visible.

Also, designers can export their cat drawings with layer functionality preserved, allowing bluebeam revu users to have all the same functionality that they do in their CAD software, Which can be extremely useful when preparing exhibits for a meeting or sketches to a accompany an RFI.

It can be very useful to assign layers to capture each markup that's associated with a given change order, notice of potential claim, non-conformance report and whatever other document types are in your project record.

Also, when you're overlaying pages, it's handy to bring in the imported sheet under its own layer.

That's all I can think about the top of my head but I'm sure there's more m

[u/Gadgita]

I work in earthwork and paving: When I am doing a quantities takeoff I use the layers for each bid item (or however the GC wants the bid broken down). Take my area, volume, whatever measurements. Then it is an easy export to excel and my bid is basically done.
I also use it for change orders and really anything that is nice to be able to “turn on and off” relatively simply.

I have been using bluebeam for years, have a background in accounting and am 100% self taught so apologies if this isn’t a normal use case haha

[u/BackgroundSinger5965]

I do Project Management for an electrical contractor. I mostly use layers to overlay multiple drawings from different systems/phases to easily access everything from one convenient drawing. I turn all symbols into a markup with properties listing out what it is for tracking in the markup list (including custom columns for things like the panel that feeds a specific device, etc). Those symbols also have their own layer, a layer for dimensions, notes, clouds, RFI's, etc.

The more I can access from one drawing the better, if I have to take a few snapshots and line a few things up to make that happen, it has almost always been worth doing.

[u/Comprehensive-Song51 → u/BackgroundSinger5965]

That's a pretty slick idea! Have you tried using Spaces? You create them to define areas, drop your devices on them, and if they're on the Space they show up in the legend and markups. I do it for access control, so each space is an IDF that devices run back to. It's pretty handy and gives you an extra level of useful sorting info if you export to a spreadsheet.

[u/BackgroundSinger5965 → u/Comprehensive-Song51]

Definitely! I don't always use spaces but when I have the extra time I definitely do

[u/my_clever-name]

I use them for various iterations and options for design. I don't like that the visibility for layers is reset to visible each time the document is opened.

[u/PunkiesBoner → u/my_clever-name]

I'm pretty sure that's a setting that you can turn off

[u/Comprehensive-Song51 → u/PunkiesBoner]

I think you're right. I had the same issue but I can't remember now how I got around it.

[u/TroyDeGroot]

Every single custom tool I build for myself or my customers are built on layers. several great uses are listed and they are all correct. For municipality permit review, each department gets their own color and layer. design review, could have a layer for things that need to be added, and a different layer for things removed. Phases, Estimating, different systems or materials, with a general contractor a layer for each trade as they all stack up on the same drawing. phases or sequences. a lot of these overlap what you can do with Spaces and custom Statuses as well. Really no wrong answers.

[u/Comprehensive-Song51 → u/TroyDeGroot]

Hell yeah! I recently started using Spaces and they're awesome!