The NOVA AVA updates from 2023: Our software has been consistently developed further this year too. New functions, optimized workflows and many detailed improvements ensure that project work is even more efficient, clearer and more intuitive. Anyone who wants to manage construction processes digitally will find practical, state-of-the-art solutions here.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
January 2023: More structure, speed and overview
Updating scheduling
New features in the scheduling module
Now the expansion of the schedule module continues in quick succession!
With this release, you can now assign a company to processes, assign a priority and further categorize them with your own labels. The schedule can then be dynamically grouped according to this information. We have also implemented the predecessor-successor and their relationship, e.g. start-end relationships, in the task structure table.
The highlight, however, is the new construction process simulation on the 3D model with the cost development, here you can now watch the construction progress in the “movie” with the PLAY button 🙂
Tender & Suppliers & BOQ 3D
From the “Miscellaneous” section
Tender module
From now on, bidders will receive an e-mail confirmation with their PDF bid as an attachment when their bid is approved. This message gives the bidding companies the certainty that all requested information has been submitted on time.
Supplier management
Do you want to find out which suppliers have not participated in your tenders for a long time? There is now a quick filter function for this search. This allows you to quickly filter out companies that have not bid for some time from the search for suitable companies.
BOQ 3D-Connector
BOQ items can be linked to BIM models via the 3D filters. This allows quantities to be determined “at the touch of a button”. With large models and several hundred items in the BOQ, this used to take a few minutes. We have therefore simply changed the time unit – now it only takes seconds 🙂
January 19, 2023
Model viewer with new functionality
The “Filter & Colors” function
We have received very strong input from the BIM Alliance(https://www.bim-allianz.de/): it’s about “finding without searching”. Excuse me?
Quite simply: a model comes in from planning and is now to be used for cost planning. Until now, the model first had to be meticulously examined in order to obtain an overview of which components with which properties were actually included – that was the search.
From now on, all it takes is one click, e.g. on the “Material” parameter, and all components are grouped according to their material in the NOVA 3D viewer, the respective number is determined and colored in the viewer – that’s finding. And – on top – filters for the current and future projects can be created from this with a further mouse click.
Here is the video of the function:
January 21, 2023
February 2023: Interfaces, standards and beautiful printing
GAEB 3.3 XML + IFC
The NOVA AVA GAEB interface is fit for 3D model-based quantity takeoff!
The expert committees of the Joint Committee for Construction in Electronics (GAEB) have been thinking about how to build the bridge to BIM from an early stage and the right course has been set. Click here for the website: https://www.gaeb.de/de/produkte/gaeb-datenaustausch/
As a fully-fledged alternative to the BIM BOQ container, items and quantity calculations can be linked directly within a GAEB BOQ file with the components of an IFC 3D model. Thanks to this intelligent mapping, you can now exchange and update IFC models and GAEB files with your partners, even asynchronously. Smart. And now available in NOVA AVA for all BOQ service phases and quantity takeoff.
February 6, 2023
Scheduling – PDF Edition
Now chic!
It’s not so easy to convert a schedule into a nice PDF. This is because a schedule is usually quite wide and the page breaks are a real challenge. We have now mapped this for all conceivable DIN A formats and also introduced the option of selecting the start and end date for the print display. And of course, you can now also integrate a logo!
February 7, 2023
Scheduling – Interfaces
MS Project, Primavera, XML and GAN
The interfaces for exchanging schedules with all common tools have now also been completed. For the import, the originals of the market leaders and additionally open formats such as XML and GAN are supported. For export, we rely on the standards of the open source community and MS Excel.
March 2023: SmartPool V2 with new filter options
NOVA SmartPool V2!
Even more inside – even faster to find!
The NOVA SmartPool is the largest German-language library for service descriptions with prices. At the moment, you can already access over 2.5 million BOQ items with real market prices from projects that have been completed or are currently being executed. If you are not yet familiar with the NOVA SmartPool, take a quick look here: https://avanova.de/smartpool
In addition to the previous full-text search for short and long text, we have now provided new optional filter options. From now on you can:
Narrow down the search results specifically to a “Not older than” date
Use the zip code area search to find the right regional service descriptions with order prices for you
Differentiate according to billing units (m² / m³)
Search specifically for content from standard libraries (e.g. STLB-Bau)
Filter according to set assignments to DIN276 or service areas (trades)
March 27, 2023
June 2023: Project participants at a glance
Project participants
The new overview
Many trades and partners work together on a project. For quick access to the contact details of the respective responsible parties, we have now provided a practical overview of the project. “On screen” and as a PDF document.
June 21, 2023
July 2023: Secure, structured, traceable – measurement verification in Nova Ava
Workflow for measurement check
Reliably check services rendered
In larger organizations, the approval of an invoice passes through several stages and involves different levels of responsibility. An invoice is usually accompanied by proof of the service provided: The measurement sheet. The service quantities recorded here justify the invoice claim and must therefore be carefully checked. In NOVA AVA, this checking procedure can now be configured individually via workflows: how many levels of checking should there be and which persons (with assigned roles) are involved in the approval process at what time. The process is documented in an audit-proof manner with appropriate logging of the approval steps, the filing of receipts and documents and the QR codes for mobile devices (for verifying the approval amount).
July 26, 2023
August 2023: Clearer communication, better control, optimized planning
Tendering module – Bidder communication
Questions & Answers
The tender platform integrated in NOVA AVA maps communication between bidders and tenderers in addition to tender processing and the exchange of documents. Especially when many bidders participate in an award procedure and many questions about the tender are received, it must be possible to answer them easily and in a structured manner.
Our developers have rethought the user interface here and made it much more user-friendly. With new filters for questions (e.g. unanswered, answered, published, questioner, …), communication with bidders is now clearer and easier. In addition, a full-text search is now available. This can be used to search for comparable questions in any project using keywords and the respective answer can be accepted as a suggestion. This is very practical when many different trades are put out to tender in a project and repetitive general questions can be answered in a standardized way.
August 1, 2023
Authorization concept extended
More overview – more options!
The more employees in a company work with NOVA AVA, the more important the control and distribution of tasks and authorizations for the respective projects becomes. With the current update, we have therefore expanded the authorization concept and simplified its handling at the same time.
From now on, authorizations can be set directly on projects – and not just on the specifications they contain, as was previously the case. From now on, these project authorizations are “inherited” by all downstream elements, i.e. BIM models, cost planning, schedules and Bill of Quantities of the project. The project rights of a user can be “overridden”, i.e. explicitly changed, for each of these elements. Handling user groups has also become easier: the assignment of a role (authorization) now takes place at the level of the user group itself, making it much easier to manage teams with the same authorization for the team members and assign them to projects.
If you have any questions or need tips on how best to use the new rights and roles concept in your company, please contact our support team!
August 24, 2023
Scheduling further optimized
Customer wishes implemented
Scheduling is getting better and better! Here are the most recently requested functions that we have implemented:
* In the PDF output, the weekends are now also discreetly highlighted with a corresponding background color
* the current date is now clearly highlighted in the GANTT view
* in the PDF options for outputting the desired time period, the system now remembers the last settings made for the start and end date
* In the current version, the duration of a process can now also be entered directly; the end date is calculated automatically based on the stored start date
* the task names can now optionally be displayed directly on the task bar for the PDF output of the schedule
* horizontal separator lines can now be activated for the output via another new PDF option
* Import & Export now also transfer fields for classifying processes such as priority, company, labels,…
August 25, 2023
November 2023: Calculation meets BIM visualization
Innovation through NOVA AVA – calculation with BIM function
Mühltal, November 16, 2023 – NOVA Building IT GmbH is expanding its NOVA AVA cloud service with a completely new and unique BIM functionality for the costing module. This innovation enables cost planners, estimators and construction managers to mirror the calculation back into the BIM model and visualize all cost components. This makes BIM visualization a highly effective tool for costing and construction management.
In NOVA AVA, the building model can now be specifically “screened” in the BIM viewer starting from the final costing sheet. This means that every type of partial service can be made visible via cost types on every component of the BIM model using filters. The new function is available immediately. It is
part of the Calculation add-on, which contractors use to carry out their simple or differentiated overhead calculations and opens up a wide range of possible applications:
As part of the cost calculation and final check of the cost estimate, the use of materials can be quickly visualized and it can be checked whether all work and materials have been taken into account. The planning of the construction site and project is also supported by the visualization of the required resources. In the final costing, materials with large quantities can be identified as well as those that are only used occasionally.
“The new function enables a completely new perspective – namely looking back from the calculation to the BIM model. This gives estimators, construction managers and decision-makers an intuitive and powerful tool for displaying cost components in the model,” explains Felix Grau, Managing Director of NOVA Building IT GmbH. “The initial applications and their benefits are obvious. We are convinced that it will be used in a variety of ways in practice and deliver real added value.”
The company will be presenting its cloud service NOVA AVA BIM 5D at the industry trade fair BIM World Munich from November 28 to 29 at booth 251.
November 16, 2023