The NOVA AVA updates from 2022: Our software has also been continuously developed this year. With the clear aim of making the work of planners, estimators and project managers even more efficient and intuitive. The focus was on practical functions that respond to specific everyday requirements and noticeably improve workflows.
Whether in cost planning, team communication or the structured management of projects – many of the new features have been developed in response to feedback from users. The platform has not only been functionally expanded, but its operation has also been specifically optimized.
There has been significant progress, particularly in the interaction with BIM and structured cost planning. Links between models, components and Bill of Quantities were strengthened, new interfaces were created and collaboration within the team was further simplified.
With clear improvements in areas such as permissions, PDF output, favorites management and communication, it is clear that Nova Ava is not only growing technically, but above all in line with the requirements of its users.
The 2022 updates are representative of a software that is constantly evolving – with a focus on clarity, structure and added value in every project.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
January 2022: Into the new year with BIM and Archicad
Happy New Year video 🙂
Taking off with BIM in 2022
How it works with NOVA AVA and Archicad 25
January 3, 2022
February 2022: Better printing, more targeted learning
Cost planning PDF
Print list improved
We have expanded the options for outputting the cost planning in a PDF document:
in the new “Comment” field (Properties dialog) you can now enter descriptive text and images (e.g. for the project) and activate them for print output using placeholders
a compilation of the main cost groups can now be placed in front, with free selection of the structure depth and rounding options
Calculation lines are now indented depending on the structure for an improved display
the signature line can now optionally be activated at the very end
February 16, 2022
NOVA AVA Training
Webinars: because you want to know exactly!
Here we show you what will help you in practice when working on costing and AVA – whether in the traditional way or with the help of BIM.
Our experts support you with clear goals and in small groups. We clarify your individual concerns and enable you to exchange ideas with other users.
Click here for the next dates:
February 22, 2022
March 2022: Focus on BIM cost elements and project costs
BIM cost elements & filters
Better organization with project reference
By assigning cost elements and filters to a specific project, you can now make your cost planning according to BIM even clearer. And yet all data can still be searched across projects and is available for BIM-based quantity and cost calculations.
March 6, 2022
Optimized cost analysis
Evaluate projects faster and more flexibly
We have once again topped it up:
Many of you have requested the display of the respective contractors of the services to be evaluated – we have implemented this
A further feature relating to “Opportunities & Risks” now opens up new forecasting options for the risks of “expected” supplements and their impact on the expected total costs of the project
We have also extended the filter functions of the project cost analysis, so that you can now activate specific LVs with selected labels and characteristics and/or only use commissioned LVs
and the highlight: the different views of the project costs (e.g. according to DIN276, by trade, cost planning and specifications) can now be saved and called up in the project itself, thus eliminating a lot of clicks!
March 6, 2022
April 2022: More control with flexible admin roles
The new NOVA AVA Administration
Flexible authorizations for NOVA admins
Until now, a NOVA AVA user was an admin – or not. With the new authorization structure, “admin roles” can now be defined. This is particularly useful in structures with many users and different administrative tasks. For example, who is responsible for user management, who is responsible for designing print templates and who is responsible for department-wide system settings? You can now assign this conveniently with a few mouse clicks using the appropriate authorizations.
April 7, 2022
Great cooperation makes for great features 🙂
Thanks for your input @ https://hammeskrause.de/
On behalf of the Partnerschaftsgesellschaft freier Architekten mbB hammeskrause architekten from Stuttgart, we have improved NOVA AVA with the following functions for an even more practice-oriented way of working. And in doing so, we brought the know-how of the HKA team to the screen!
Copying items and structures from cost planning
Until now, it was only possible to copy items into cost planning from cost plans. However, there is also a need for copying from other cost plans (without having to convert them into cost plans). So we have now also activated existing cost plans as a “copy source” and made them selectable.
DBD-BIM database can also be used in catalog-based cost planning (e.g. DIN276)
The DBD library also contains non-model-specific data that is not related to components, such as for construction site equipment and other services. We have extended the interface accordingly so that these can now be called up directly in catalog-based cost planning. Here too, the references (from the cost group to DBD-BIM and STLB-Bau) are stored persistently.
Save DBD-BIM keys to the NOVA cost elements
This increases convenience when using cost elements for components and allows subsequent updating of the data linked to DBD-BIM
Transfer comments from cost planning
This makes it easier to merge “partial cost planning” into “total cost planning”. The comment on an item/calculation line is also evaluated to check its uniqueness.
Recognize DBD-BIM cost elements more quickly
If several DBD-BIM cost elements are linked to a component, it is now much easier to see which content belongs to the respective cost element; we now also display the list of the respective services.
DBD-BIM / STLB BAU – Price region
Of course, not all projects are planned and created in the same region, so the price region must be taken into account. We do this now, the active price region is saved and processed specifically for each cost planning and in each BOQ.
April 11, 2022
May 2022: Synchronize appointments, automate quantities
New calendar function!
Synchronize NOVA appointments with calendar apps now!
A practical feature: you can now synchronize project appointments with external calendar apps (Google, Apple, Outlook…)! And in both directions. No matter where you enter and edit appointments, be it directly in NOVA or in your favorite calendar app, you’ll always be up to date in both systems!
May 24, 2022
3D BOQ – the quantity connector
Link BOQ positions with 3D filters!
Quantity takeoff really couldn’t be quicker. Import the IFC file into the project, use the master BOQ items for BOQ creation and press the button: the 3D filters stored in the master BOQ items now scan the model and generate the item quantities for cost calculation and tendering fully automatically
Here is the video:
https://youtu.be/_DQhXYQ3Pcw
May 26, 2022
July 2022: Favorites, communication and 3D everywhere
New feature: Favorites!
And faster again…
Are your lists of projects and BOQs getting longer and longer? Then you can now “favorite” projects and BOQs and simply place them at the top of the lists using the yellow star. And there is also a new widget on the NOVA Dashboard – it shows you your favorites for immediate selection. Small thing – big effect 😉
July 2, 2022
Communication is everything!
New function: Messages
Every good platform has an integrated messaging system, and so does NOVA AVA. From now on, you can chat directly with your colleagues and in groups, exchange emojis and images, share videos and transfer files – just like you know it!
July 3, 2022
DIN276 with 3D viewer
Now the 3D model is everywhere!
Previously, the 3D model was only available in the cost planning according to the IFC structure. From now on, the link to the components is also retained in the cost breakdowns, e.g. according to DIN276 or the trades (LB) and your own catalogs. This means that you can now immediately see in the viewer which components are linked to the selected cost group.
July 5, 2022
September 2022: Communication, calculation, control
E-mails: better organized!
You decide when and which emails you receive
Previously, there was only one setting – you either received an email immediately for each system notification or none at all. We have now redesigned this: with this update, you can now set in your NOVA profile exactly which type of notification you would like to receive as an e-mail. And you can also control the frequency – e.g. daily or weekly as a collective e-mail or simply immediately for the topics that are important to you.
September 5, 2022
Supplier management further expanded
Ratings now also directly for individual measures
Previously, a supplier could only be assessed overall using predefined criteria. With the new update, you can now define your own evaluation criteria and also evaluate the supplier’s performance based on measures. This in turn results in an evaluation of all measures in which the supplier is involved, giving you a clearer picture!
September 6, 2022
New add-on: EKT – the free EP calculation
EP calculation for cost planning & BOQ creation
The unit price for a BOQ item can be estimated, retrieved from price libraries such as the NOVA Smartpool or, even better, calculated in detail. With the NOVA AVA add-on for costing, this can now be done easily and accurately in the cost planning and BOQ creation modules. You can use cost estimates, i.e. the direct costs of the partial service, to determine the manufacturing costs, group the direct costs in a targeted manner by assigning cost types (wages, materials, equipment) and apply your values from overhead groups (AGK, BGK, W&G). You can either use your standard templates or apply project-specific values as required. If you have set up a master BOQ and stored the respective calculations for the master items, you can now calculate projects at the touch of a button.
The EKT add-on is included free of charge in all packages until the end of 2022, so there is plenty of time to try it out!
September 7, 2022
October 2022: Project variables for smart quantity takeoff
The new project variables for quantities
Quantity takeoff for cost planning and Bill of Quantities
Many of you have asked for this! A central point in the project where quantity variables and formulas for quantity determination can be stored and called up in all cost plans and BOQs of the project. The variables for the quantity calculation can be used directly in the calculation approaches of the BOQ items. You can also create templates via quantity catalogs and thus link certain “sets” of quantity variables directly to projects. Then simply enter the values in the project – or have them calculated using the formulas – and the quantity calculation for the cost calculation and tender specifications is complete.
October 26, 2022
November 2022: Faster, more beautiful, smarter
Our todo list is empty?
Nope, but shorter 🙂
These optimizations, which have gone online in recent weeks along with the new design, are large and small and worth mentioning:
Improved display on tablets
New global search via project data
Copy items now clearer thanks to DrillDown
Fine-tuning for the IFC model comparison in the 3D viewer
Corrections to quantity import in D11 format
Extended search and filter functions in the supplier module
November 15, 2022
3D viewer even faster & more stylish
The eye works with you!
The display of your 3D models in NOVA AVA is now much faster and visually very appealing. For example, glass surfaces are now visualized almost photo-realistically and rooms are displayed with their openings. And there is also a very practical new function: by holding down the Ctrl/Cmd key, entire areas with several components can now be selected with a “mouse drag”.
November 30, 2022
December 2022: Strong features at the end of the year
Christmas presents
These are the NOVA AVA improvements at the end of the year
We say goodbye to 2022 with this fine list. Many thanks to all our customers for their input and congratulations to our technical team for the great output 🙂
Powerful scheduling with BIM4D
After the scheduling module has been in beta for some time now, we have now really stepped up our game. The first release of the full version for schedules with AVA &BIM integration is finally here! Thanks to your feedback, we were able to realize these highlights:
Link schedules with Bill of Quantities
BOQ items can be assigned to operations
Link operations with components and services directly from the BIM 3D model
And some general improvements and enhancements:
Schedule templates
Copy schedules
User control for schedules
“Draw” processes into the GANTT using the mouse function
DBD Premium Highlights
We have a long-standing and very successful partnership with DBD! This is also due to the successful integration of STLB-Bau and DBD-BIM in NOVA AVA, both in the modern online version. And in order to always make it as good as possible, we have now tackled the fulfillment of the criteria for the DBD Premium Partnership and implemented all points. The joint certification will take place shortly in 2023:
STLB-Bau Check
Embedded in the NOVA AVA BOQ check, a comparison of the STLB-Bau items of the BOQ with the always up-to-date STLB-Bau online library can now be started. It is then immediately apparent at a glance which BOQ items are incomplete, for example, because mandatory specifications are missing, which items are ‘out of date’ or which items are no longer valid because they are no longer available in the current version
Update STLB construction items
There are now further options here as to which content from the online library should or should not be transferred to the existing items when updating:
Texts
Unit prices
Unit price shares
Catalog assignments (DIN276, service areas)
DBD-BIM simpler transfer of cost elements
Previously, the DBD-BIM dialog was always closed after transferring a DBD cost element and therefore had to be restarted for the sampling of further components. We have now shortened this, the dialog simply remains on 🙂
Measurement processing / construction invoicing
With the new measurement check, you can now check the syntax of the quantity takeoff at any time. This means that “errors” can now be found quickly and easily and then corrected.
We have created additional options for “Rounding” measurement calculations. In addition to the previous “Rounding up”, you can now also set “Rounding down” or “Mathematical rounding”.
We have also optimized collaboration on the platform in the context of construction invoicing: from now on, your internal site managers can see whether the contractor you have invited to NOVA has already created measurement sheets. But of course, you will only see the content, i.e. his calculations, when the external contractor explicitly submits the data entry sheets!
BIM – Exchange information for sampling now
The best way to sample a 3D model quickly and reliably is to work with filters and cost elements. And you can now exchange these with your partners and use them directly in every NOVA AVA account. Collaboration is everything.
December 20, 2022