New Autodesk Tandem Systems Feature

Facility managers and building owners should not have to know specialized technical skills to read as-built documentation, rely on 2D drawings and cumbersome manuals, or play guessing games in the field to understand how their building systems are connected. The information owners and operators receive from AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) is often difficult to manage and not useful.

Autodesk Tandem is a digital twin solution that provides a visual replica of building assets and indexes related data. Tandem’s new release, Systems, creates visual context for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, drainage systems, and other services, providing valuable insight to how elements are connected. So, how is the System Feature going to benefit building operations? 

1. Visualize Systems in Context to Spaces 

Facility and building managers should not have to rely on 2D drawings or know how to use BIM (Building Information Modeling) to understand their building systems. Tandem can provide owners with a visual overview of their systems hidden behind sheetrock. These views can be color coded for ease of use. This functionality gives users contextual understanding of where systems are in reference to their rooms and spaces. This makes it easy to understand how turning on and off your systems will impact operations in relation to your building. Even more notable – when something needs to be replaced or fixed, you will know exactly where that asset is. 

2. Understanding Assets Relationships

Tandem makes your systems easy to understand – so you know how your systems are connected and where. The new Systems feature makes it easy to visualize how the system operates, and even interact with each other. One asset may be connected to multiple systems, which PDF drawings cannot easily express. After selecting an asset inside Tandem, the properties panel will list all the system relationships associated with the item. This information can inform users during the decision-making process and eliminates the need for technical knowledge when navigating building documentation. 

While these benefits sound great, when would a facility manager use the Systems feature? Imagine overseeing a commercial building with kitchen units in each tenant’s office, and multiple restrooms – when suddenly there is a leak. Instead of questioning where to turn off the water the facility manager could make an informed decision to turn off a valve that impacts the least units as possible but quickly fixes the issue. Or say an air handling unit goes out – the facility manager can know which tenants will be impacted until it is repaired and can act proactively notifying clients without having to walk the entire site.

The new Systems feature is just one of many ways that Autodesk Tandem is harnessing building data and to provide insights and help owners effectively operate their facilities. Try Tandem for free today here.

To learn more about setting up a System in Autodesk Tandem follow this tutorial.

Want to dive deeper? Join us for the upcoming April Webinar.