Connecting Data Across the AEC Project Lifecycle with Autodesk Forma

Architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals rely on a variety of digital tools throughout project lifecycles. From initial concept design sketches through detailed design, construction, and operational models, project participants work with numerous discipline-specific tools and generate massive amounts of data to complete projects of all types — ranging from government infrastructure projects to commercial properties and buildings. Yet despite increasingly sophisticated tools, much of that data remains difficult to connect and reuse across phases.

Image source: Narongsak/stock.adobe.com.

For most projects, this mix of tools and data formats creates fragmented information silos that make coordination and collaboration more difficult than it should be. Projects experience inefficiencies, delays, and rework, as key information is not readily accessible to all project participants. Teams often spend as much time managing data handoffs as they do advancing the design.

To address these challenges, Autodesk is moving toward a more unified, cloud-based data environment, with workflows and AI-driven insights providing greater connectivity over project lifecycles. As part of this shift, Autodesk announced in early 2026 that Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) will be brought into Autodesk Forma as part of its AEC industry cloud platform. In practical terms, this means the tools teams already use in ACC are not being replaced, but rebranded and integrated into a broader platform. Under the Forma umbrella, the goal is to enable more continuous, real-time data flow across planning, design, construction, and operations. For state and local government agencies managing complex infrastructure and capital projects, this shift could help streamline data exchange, improve oversight, and reduce the risk of information loss between project phases.

What is Autodesk Forma?

In short, Forma is a cloud-based platform designed to connect planning, design, construction, and operations workflows. At its core is a common data environment (CDE) intended to centralize project information so that teams can access and work from the same data across project phases. The platform also incorporates AI-driven analysis tools to help teams evaluate design options such as environmental performance or site conditions earlier in the process.

By bringing ACC and its construction management tools into Forma, Autodesk is extending that shared environment into construction workflows. Instead of repeatedly converting discipline-specific files and managing compatibility issues, teams can work with more granular, accessible data across tools. Importantly, Autodesk emphasizes that this shift does not require changes to existing workflows or data migration — current projects, tools, and integrations remain intact.

Autodesk Forma integrates planning, design, construction, and operations workflows in a cloud-based platform and with a shared data foundation. Image source: Autodesk.

What’s Changing?

As part of the transition to Forma, Autodesk is renaming several existing products to align with the new platform structure. For users, these changes are primarily about naming and organization — not new tools or workflows. For example, several familiar Autodesk Construction Cloud tools will appear under new names:

• Autodesk Docs becomes Forma Data Management

• Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro becomes

  Forma Design Collaboration

• Autodesk Build becomes Forma Build

• Autodesk Takeoff becomes Forma Takeoff

• Autodesk Estimate becomes Forma Estimate

• Preconstruction Bundle becomes Forma for Preconstruction

• Model Management Bundle becomes

  Forma for Model Management

• Construction Operations Bundle becomes

  Forma for Construction Operations

In addition, Autodesk’s early-stage site planning tool, previously referred to as Forma, has been renamed Forma Site Design. As an AI-powered, data-driven tool, Forma Site Design supports early-stage planning tasks.

Autodesk is positioning Forma to support several broader workflow improvements, including:

•  a more unified platform

•  improved data interoperability

• expanded AI integration across workflows

•  improved collaboration across project phases

Many of these improvements build on capabilities already present in ACC, but are now being extended across the broader, more connected platform.

Autodesk Forma connects data from a variety of solutions. Image source: Autodesk. Click to enlarge.

What’s Not Changing?

While product names are changing, core functionality and day-to-day workflows remain largely the same. The shift is intended as a platform evolution rather than a disruption. For existing ACC users, that means current projects and processes continue without interruption; for example:

• no data migration is required; existing ACC projects, members,

  and data remain in place

• existing workflows and automations continue

• core tools remain unchanged

• licensing, logins, APIs, and integrations are unaffected

In other words, most users will notice the new branding before they notice any meaningful changes to how they work.

Forma Design Collaboration enables project teams to coordinate design of architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Image source: Autodesk. Click image to enlarge.

How Does Forma Benefit State & Local Government Agencies and AEC Firms?

For state and local government (SLG) agencies and AEC firms, the primary benefit of Forma lies in how it connects data across the full project lifecycle. As projects move from planning and design through construction, and into operations, teams can work from a more continuous stream of project data rather than handing off disconnected files at each phase. Reducing handoffs and file conversions can help limit coordination issues, rework, and delays — especially on large, multi-stakeholder projects.

For SLG and AEC organizations, Forma is designed to support the complexity of large infrastructure and building projects. For example, a team planning a new healthcare facility may start by gathering inputs from multiple sources, including GIS data to evaluate possible sites, government records for zoning and infrastructure needs, and LiDAR surveys for detailed site conditions. Forma Data Management can help organize and track these inputs, ensuring that all stakeholders are working from a consistent and up-to-date dataset. This is particularly important for public-sector projects, where multiple agencies and regulatory bodies must coordinate shared project information.

As design concepts progress, teams can use Forma Design Collaboration to develop and coordinate project components, including architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. With Autodesk Revit serving as the first Forma Connected Client, teams can move more directly between cloud-based planning and detailed modeling, exploring design options, and identifying conflicts early in the process.

Additional tools such as Forma Building Design support schematic building design and early-stage analysis. Similar to Forma Site Design, Forma Building Design uses AI-driven tools to generate and evaluate preliminary designs before moving to more detailed modeling. Additional Autodesk AI-powered tools can evaluate factors such as sun exposure, wind patterns, noise, helping teams assess environmental performance during early design stages. While Civil 3D was not part of the initial rollout, Autodesk has announced a series of updates designed to enhance the capabilities of civil teams working in ACC.

With Forma Design Collaboration, users can mark up and annotate drawings in multiple formats. Image source: Autodesk. Click image to enlarge.

Design Collaboration also streamlines reviews, both within project teams and external stakeholders such as government agencies. Teams can create, edit, and mark up drawings directly in the cloud. Comments and annotations can be applied to PDFs, DWGs, and RVTs, with changes synced across mobile and desktop devices, to maintain accountability and tracking across the project. This can help reduce review cycles and improve traceability, particularly for projects that require formal approvals or permitting.

The platform’s collaborative approach helps simplify workflows for both public and private organizations. With a single CDE, teams have a centralized data source, improving data exchange and review processes, while helping reduce inefficiencies. This is particularly valuable on projects involving multiple agencies or approval stages.

As projects move into construction, Forma Build provides project management, field collaboration, quality control, and cost tracking in a single platform, accessible to both office and field teams. Leveraging BIM data and digital twin capabilities, teams can identify issues, annotate drawings, generate requests for information (RFIs) and change orders, and track progress within a connected platform. Teams can access 2D or 3D drawings, photos, sensor data, forms, and other project documentation in one place, improving project management.

Forma Build helps project teams to identify issues, annotate drawings, generate requests for information (RFIs) and change orders, and track progress in an integrated platform. Image source: Autodesk. Click image to enlarge.

Similar to how Forma Design Collaboration supports design processes, Forma Build focuses on construction processes. For example, Forma Build provides tools to manage multiple construction submittals in one log and move items through reviews with actionable responses. This can help accelerate approval cycles and provide field teams with access to the latest approved submittals. Specifications can be organized into structured sections, making it easier to locate and update information. Schedules  can be imported and shared across teams to help keep projects on track.

Forma Takeoff provides tools for accessing 2D and 3D drawings and graphically identifying items to be quantified. Image source: Autodesk. Click image to enlarge.

For quantity estimation, Forma Takeoff supports workflows across design, bidding, and construction phases. Teams can work from both 2D and 3D drawings to identify and quantify items.

As part of the Forma platform, Forma Build enables estimating teams to access the latest project documents and capture scope using linear, count, and area takeoff methods. It also supports custom formulas for complex items, as well as classification using predefined systems or user-defined standards. Users can also export quantities to spreadsheets and estimating software. Because this data is connected to the broader platform, estimates are based on the most current project information.

How to Integrate Forma Into Your Workflows

Implementing an AECO industry cloud requires more than simply deploying new software. While many of Forma’s benefits are apparent early, organizations still need to plan for implementation, standardization, and long-term scalability.

A technology partner such as ARKANCE can help organizations develop an effective implementation plan for Forma. ARKANCE works with agencies and their private-sector partners to support planning, deployment, training, and ongoing operations.

With experience in Autodesk solutions, ARKANCE can help assess an organization’s readiness to incorporate Forma into existing workflows. This may include modernizing operations to take advantage of AI-enabled capabilities within ACC and Forma. The company can also support training, workforce development, and customization to meet organizational needs. By strengthening data management practices and streamlining project delivery, ARKANCE enables AECO teams to fully leverage Forma throughout every phase of the project lifecycle. As with any platform shift, the value of Forma will ultimately depend on how well it is integrated into existing processes and project workflows. 

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This article was sponsored by  ARKANCE.

 

 

 

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