What is Bluebeam Revu®?

Bluebeam Revu is a software application that allows users to mark-up, take-off, organize and collaborate with PDF files. It is mostly used by people in the Construction, Architecture, Engineering and Manufacturing industries.

Bluebeam Revu is built on the powerful foundation of the dynamic nature of the PDF file format. PDFs are capable of containing a collection of metadata including annotations, layers, digital signatures, 3D information among others. This collection of metadata can be easily edited and organized using the Revu software.

Statistics from the official site of Bluebeam, Inc. say that the software is used by 94% of top US contractors and 92% of top design-build firms.

Bluebeam Revu delivers an award-winning PDF creation, editing, markup and collaboration technology for design and construction workflows.

What Bluebeam Revu Can Do

Create: Bluebeam Revu can convert an unlimited number of Microsoft Office document files and CAD drawings int high-quality 2D or 3D PDF files. It can also convert scanned images into text searchable documents.

Mark Up: This helps to simplify communications between project team members using Bluebeam Revu. It also helps in tracking annotations in drawings and generating reports.

Collaborate: Bluebeam Revu offers a remote connectivity functionality using the Bluebeam studio hosted on a cloud server. Studio projects and studio sessions can help project team members collaborate on projects anytime anywhere, in real time.

Organize: Whether the project partners are in the office or in the field (e.g. a construction site), Bluebeam Revu makes it easier to make large drawing sets more manageable by creating smart documents that can be shared among the project team members.

Key Bluebeam Revu Features

Document Markup

  • Annotate PDFs with markups such as customized text, shapes, stamps and watermarks
  • Measure PDFs with built-in measurement tools
  • Flatten PDF mark-ups
  • Change markup properties and save for reuse
  • Assign mark-ups to layers
  • View, filter and sort mark-ups and comments
  • Generate and export a CSV, PDF or XML summary of all markups in a file
  • Import PDF mark-ups
  • Create and add dynamic stamps to PDFs

Page Content and Editing

  • Extract, delete, rotate and insert blank pages
  • Customize the size of new pages and resize existing pages
  • Drag document tabs out of the interface and into their own windows across multiple monitors
  • Embed file attachments
  • Overlay pages to compare two or more PDF revisions
  • Combine separate documents to create a single PDF

Revu® Solutions for Architects & Engineers

Bluebeam Revu is an essential communication tool for architects and engineers. It is an ideal software for maintaining data integrity from start to finish of a project. As the designers, Bluebeam Revu helps the architect and the engineer in design review, an important step in the design process. It is built with this in mind: that getting timely design feedback from project stakeholders is critical for avoiding costly changes during construction.

Bluebeam Revu makes the process of design review faster and efficient by allowing project partners to mark up and collaborate on the same documents in real time, from anywhere.

Besides design review, Bluebeam Revu simplifies the process of submittals with its powerful markup and editing tools which integrates seamlessly into many document versions making the running of a project smooth.

Revu® Solutions for Estimators

Bluebeam Revu is built on the principle that delivering better bids will help in improving a company’s construction business. It, therefore, provides mart take off tools that accurately capture drawing measurements and calculations.

Revu® Solutions for Owners

For the project owners, implementing Bluebeam Revu is a plus. It helps them get better visibility into their projects by enabling them to easily review project documents and information in real time, from project inception to the facilities management stage.

“Operation and maintenance are the longest phases of a building’s life cycle. That is why the project handover and close out process is crucial for the long-term health, safety and cost of a building.  Bluebeam Revu gives quick access to critical building information essential for the execution of their duties.”

Other Bluebeam Revu Software Functionalities

Document Management: it makes it possible and easier to manage all project folders and files in one location. This makes it possible for project teams and team members to access, upload and review the latest project documents.

Design Review: Revu speeds up design reviews by allowing project partners to mark up and collaborate on the same documents in real time, or any time.

Drawing Management: Dynamic document tools in Revu make it easy to manage and share the most current drawing set with project partners, in the office and in the field.

Submittal Review: Revu simplifies submittals with powerful markup and editing tools, and integrates seamlessly into many document management systems to keep your project running smoothly.

RFI Posting: Revu keeps RFIs clear and organized with smart markup, hyperlinking and visualization tools, helping your project stay on track.

Punch Process: By sorting and summarizing punch items within drawings, Revu helps project teams achieve a 90% completion rate on the first backcheck.

 

Nzangi Muimi

I’m a Quantity Surveyor, Educator and the founder of QuantBuild Academy, the fastest-growing technology-focused YouTube channel online. I am passionate about construction information technology and the digitalization of the construction industry.

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