Autodesk launches BIMaaS

Autodesk enables web browser access to its main design tools on a pay-as-you-go basis

OK, Autodesk don’t call it BIMaaS, but its announcement that its main design tools including Autodesk Revit are now accessible via a web browser amounts to the same: “For the first time ever, customers can access full-fledged 3D design … work in a browser without sacrificing performance, power or functionality.”

Anticipating such moves I started to write about BIM-as-a-Service, superceding CADaaS, in 2008, and it’s been a recurring theme since then as design software firms have extended their cloud computing capabilities.

Autodesk says its ongoing strategy is to provide access to its most popular tools from almost anywhere, anytime, regardless of device and without compromising performance. The new capability, enabled in partnership with Amazon Web Services, OTOY and Nvidia, is initially available as a 90-day tech preview and expands the remote access capabilities provided to Autodesk’s subscription and rental plan customers through Autodesk Remote (similar to HP’s RGS – post). Autodesk CTO Jeff Kowalski says:

“Designers and engineers face deadline pressures and efficiency targets that demand work be more mobile than ever. It’s no longer a requirement to run sophisticated 3D design applications such as Inventor, Revit, 3ds Max or Maya on a powerful workstation. Now all you need is a simple browser and an Internet connection. We are excited to be first in the design industry to provide this capability.”