Frequently Asked Questions About Autodesk FMDesktop

Hagerman & Company, Inc. Technology Bulletin

Frequently Asked Questions About Autodesk FMDesktop

by Matt Lane
Service Manager,
MCSE, CNE, USE

Who can use and benefit from FMDesktop?
Autodesk FMDesktop is typically used by departments and individual personnel involved in facilities management and/or maintenance management and is especially popular in healthcare, education, government, finance and any other type of company that needs to manage large amounts of office space. FMDesktop is also in use by AEC firms that provide facilities management services to clients.

How is Autodesk^® FM Desktop unique from other CAD-centric Facilities Management Software?
Some of the unique attributes of FMDesktop include the following:

	FMDesktop has greatly simplified the process by which the drawing information is connected to the facilities database. Autodesk FMDesktop has the ability to "batch-connect" polylined spaces to the facility database. This unique functionality is easy, and extremely powerful.
	Autodesk FMDesktop also provides non CAD users with simple, intuitive tools for viewing and managing drawing and other graphical information by the use of the Autodesk DWF file format to manage drawing information easily outside the CAD environment.
	The software is intuitive and looks similar to Microsoft Outlook so users get up to speed and are productive almost immediately.
	FMDesktop is much less expensive and quicker and easier to implement than most competitive systems
	Because it is from Autodesk, it offers the best integration with Autodesk CAD products including AutoCAD, Architectural Desktop and Revit

Do I have to have CAD drawings of my facility spaces in order to use Autodesk FMDesktop?
No. The information can also be entered directly into the FMDesktop database without having any drawings. This option allows companies that don't have supporting CAD drawings to use FMDesktop effectively. If and when facility drawings become available, the user has the choice of using the entered area or the area derived from the drawing polyline. This provides maximum flexibility and versatility.

How can I get my existing facilities data into FMDesktop?
Autodesk FMDesktop is built on a Microsoft Access database platform. MS Access has robust data import features already built in. When you combine the data import abilities of MS Access with the robust drawing management aspects of FMDesktop’s Facility Link application, virtually any data you have in electronic form is easily imported into the Autodesk FMDesktop database.

Does FMDesktop also have computerized maintenance management (CMMS) capabilities?
Yes. FMDesktop delivers functionality for all your basic maintenance management needs. It provides everything you need to manage all of your organization’s testing, inspection and maintenance activities including:

	Demand Work Request for managing day-to-day activities.
	Scheduled Work Requests to manage preventive and predictive maintenance activities.
	Project Related Work Request for condition assessment and construction or move management.

Does FMDesktop support BOMA standards?
Yes. FMDesktop provides a facility to implement and report space designation standards as outlined in both the BOMA 1980 and BOMA 1996 standards “Standard Method for Measuring Floor Area in Office Buildings”. For more information on this topic, please contact Hagerman & Company for a detailed white paper.

Does FMDesktop support JCAHO requirements?
Yes. JCAHO is a reporting and compliance standard seen in healthcare and other industries that need to manage Life Safety deficiencies for compliance and safety purposes. In the healthcare industry, a listing of these deficiencies is often referred to as a "Statement of Conditions". Facility Manager provides the ability for users to manage their Statement of Conditions in accordance with JCAHO requirements and report such deficiencies using a standardized form known as the "Part 4 Short Form". For more information on this topic, please contact Hagerman & Company for a detailed white paper on this topic.

How does FMDesktop tie into building information modeling (BIM)?
The benefits of using BIM during building design have been well-publicized and are fueling its adoption rate amongst architects worldwide - transforming their drawing-based processes to model-based processes. Revit is Autodesk’s industry leading solution for BIM. Facility managers using Autodesk FMDesktop can now take advantage of the reliable building information being created by Autodesk Revit Building - immediately realizing several significant benefits. For more information on this topic, please contact Hagerman & Company for a detailed white paper.