How Virtual Design and Coordination Tools Are Changing Construction Project Delivery

The construction technology landscape has been evolving rapidly, and one of the most significant shifts has been the integration of virtual design and construction (VDC) tools into everyday project workflows. At the 2018 Groundbreak conference in Austin, Texas, Procore unveiled a series of updates that signaled where the industry is heading. Among the key announcements were a new Design Coordination product, a Model Viewer for 3D BIM navigation, and the strategic acquisition of BIManywhere to strengthen mobile BIM capabilities. These developments reflect a broader industry movement toward better collaboration between field teams and office staff through digital tools. For contractors and builders looking to stay competitive, understanding these trends is essential. This article draws on insights from that event to explore how VDC tools, BIM coordination, and over the air updates are reshaping construction project delivery. For a broader look at how regulatory changes are also affecting the building sector, see key codes and standards updates reshaping residential construction for home builders.

What Design Coordination Means for Construction Teams

Design Coordination, as introduced by Procore, is a product specifically built for Virtual Design and Construction teams. It aims to simplify the BIM coordination process by centralizing all access points and coordination issues within a single platform. Instead of juggling multiple software tools and spreadsheets to track clashes and design conflicts, teams can manage everything from one dashboard. Users can integrate their existing BIM products directly into the platform, assign ownership of specific coordination items to team members, elevate issues to RFIs when needed, and track the status of each item through resolution. This approach eliminates the back and forth that often slows down coordination meetings and reduces the risk of miscommunication between the design and construction teams. One of the most practical features is live syncing through Navisworks plugins, which allows for real-time coordination updates. When a clash is resolved in the model, the change reflects immediately in the platform so everyone stays on the same page. For teams already investing in essential building codes and standards updates every home builder should know, adding a VDC coordination tool creates a natural bridge between design compliance and field execution.

• Centralized issue tracking eliminates the need for manual spreadsheets
• Ownership assignment ensures every coordination item has a responsible party
• Direct RFI elevation speeds up the resolution of design conflicts
• Real-time Navisworks syncing keeps all stakeholders aligned

Making BIM Accessible Through Model Viewers

One of the challenges with BIM has always been accessibility. While BIM modelers and VDC specialists are comfortable navigating complex 3D environments, the same cannot be said for foremen, superintendents, and other field personnel who need the information but lack the training. Procore addressed this gap by previewing a Model Viewer tool designed specifically for non-specialists. The Model Viewer features an intuitive control system with three joysticks, including an elevator joystick that lets users move north and south through the model. A tap and hold function allows users to zoom into a specific area by selecting a point on the corresponding 2D floor plan. This design philosophy makes BIM data useful to a much wider audience on the jobsite. When field teams can interact with the model directly, they can identify potential installation issues before they become costly rework. The ability to connect a 2D drawing to its 3D counterpart without specialized training is a significant step forward. Similar thinking has driven innovation in thermal inspection tools, where companies like FLIR have been making their devices more intuitive for construction professionals. Check out this article on how FLIR updates thermal imager technology to support better field diagnostics on building projects.

How Strategic Acquisitions Drive BIM Integration

The release of Design Coordination and the Model Viewer were not developed in isolation. Both products were made possible in large part by Procore’s acquisition of BIManywhere, which was announced in September 2018. Founded in 2012 by Peter Wu and Winson Chu, BIManywhere had built a mobile 3D BIM model viewing engine that allowed users to access models on tablets and phones. This mobile capability was exactly what Procore needed to bridge the gap between office-based design review and field-based model access. What is particularly telling is that the announcements at Groundbreak 2018 were the result of only two months of partnership with the BIManywhere team after the acquisition closed. That rapid integration speaks to the value of having the right technology and talent already aligned with the company’s vision. The acquisition brought not only software but also deep expertise in mobile BIM rendering, which is critical for jobsites where laptops are impractical. This kind of technology integration mirrors what is happening in other parts of the construction ecosystem. For instance, how Volvo Trucks is automating remote updates for construction fleet management shows a similar pattern of using software acquisitions to expand capabilities and deliver more value to construction teams in the field.

Real-Time Issue Tracking and RFI Management in VDC Workflows

A significant pain point in construction coordination has always been the gap between identifying a design clash and resolving it through proper channels. Procore’s Design Coordination directly addresses this by integrating issue tracking with RFI management. When a team member identifies a coordination issue in the model, they can assign it to the appropriate stakeholder, track its progress, and if necessary elevate it to a formal RFI without leaving the platform. This tight integration reduces the administrative overhead that typically slows down the design review process. Instead of a coordinator noting issues in one system and then manually creating RFIs in another, everything flows through a single workflow. The ability to track issue status directly within the platform also gives project managers better visibility into how coordination is progressing across the entire project. This is especially valuable on large-scale projects where hundreds or even thousands of coordination issues need to be managed simultaneously. For construction firms that also manage field operations across multiple sites, similar efficiencies are being realized through fleet automation. The approach taken by Volvo Trucks automates remote updates for construction fleet management to keep equipment and logistics running smoothly alongside project coordination efforts is another example of this trend.

1. Identify a coordination issue within the BIM model
2. Assign ownership to the responsible team member
3. Track the issue through resolution status updates
4. Elevate unresolved issues to RFIs when necessary
5. Close out items once they are resolved in the live model

The Bigger Picture: Construction Technology Trends Beyond VDC

While Procore’s 2018 announcements focused on VDC and BIM coordination, they fit into a broader trend of software platforms absorbing specialized construction tools through acquisition and organic development. The construction technology sector has seen a wave of consolidation, with major players like Autodesk, Trimble, and Procore all expanding their offerings through strategic purchases. For construction firms, this means the software ecosystem is becoming more integrated but also more complex to navigate. The decision to adopt a platform approach versus a best of breed approach depends on the size of the firm, the complexity of projects, and the existing technology stack. VDC-specific tools are just one piece of the puzzle. Regulatory changes, safety standards, and energy codes also continue to evolve and require attention from project teams. Staying informed across all these fronts is critical for construction professionals who want to deliver projects on time and within budget. For a comprehensive look at the regulatory environment, refer to building industry notebook regulatory updates energy code trade offs and safety standards for construction professionals for an overview of how compliance intersects with technology adoption.

The table below summarizes how different areas of construction technology have evolved alongside VDC tools in recent years:

Conclusion: Embracing Digital Coordination for Better Project Outcomes

The announcements made at Procore’s Groundbreak 2018 conference highlighted a clear trajectory for the construction industry. Design Coordination tools, accessible model viewers, and strategic acquisitions like BIManywhere all point toward a future where digital collaboration is the norm rather than the exception. For construction teams, the benefits are tangible: fewer coordination errors, faster RFI resolution, and a more direct connection between the design model and the people building from it. Field teams who can access and interact with BIM data in real time make better decisions, leading to fewer change orders and less rework. As the technology continues to mature, the firms that invest in these capabilities will have a competitive advantage in delivering complex projects efficiently. The same principles of connectivity and real-time data are transforming other areas of construction operations as well. To understand how tracking technology is reshaping fleet logistics, read about how telematics and over the air updates keep trucking fleets on the road and what that means for construction supply chains.