Autodesk ACC Connector

Connect DatumOS to your Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) projects to access construction documents, BIM models, RFIs, submittals, and issues directly from AI conversations.

Overview

The Autodesk ACC connector provides comprehensive access to your construction project data, including:

• Project Documents - Search and retrieve plans, specifications, photos, and reports
• BIM Models - Query building information models for element properties, versions, and changes
• RFIs - Access Requests for Information with status, assignees, and attachments
• Issues - Search project issues with location, discipline, and resolution tracking
• Submittals - Find submittal packages with approval status and revision history

Capability Matrix

The table below shows what operations are available for each data type. For detailed examples of how to use these capabilities, see Example Prompts.

Prerequisites

Before connecting Autodesk ACC, ensure you have:

• Active ACC Account - Valid Autodesk Construction Cloud subscription
• Project Access - Member or admin role on at least one ACC project
• Browser Access - Modern web browser with cookies enabled for OAuth

Connecting Your ACC Account

Step 1: Navigate to Settings

1. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner
2. Select Settings from the dropdown menu
3. Go to the Connectors tab

Step 2: Initiate Connection

1. Find Autodesk ACC in the connector list
2. Click the Connect button
3. You’ll be redirected to Autodesk’s authorization page

Step 3: Authorize Access

1. Sign in with your Autodesk account credentials
2. Review the requested permissions (see Permissions Required)
3. Click Allow to grant DatumOS access to your ACC data
4. You’ll be redirected back to DatumOS Settings

Step 4: Verify Connection

Once connected, the Autodesk ACC connector will show a Connected status with a green indicator. You can now use ACC data in your conversations.

Supported Data Types

Documents & Files

Search and access construction documents across all connected projects:

Supported File Types:

• PDF drawings and specifications
• Images (JPEG, PNG, TIFF)
• Microsoft Office files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Autodesk files (RVT, DWG, NWD)
• Text documents and spreadsheets

Search Capabilities:

• Full-text search across document content
• Filter by file type, project, folder, or date range
• Fuzzy matching for approximate filename searches
• Sort by relevance, date modified, or file size

Example Questions:

• “Find the latest architectural drawings in the Riverside project”
• “Search for electrical specifications updated this month”
• “Show me photos from the site inspection last week”

BIM Models & Data

Access detailed building information from Revit and other BIM models using the AEC Data Model API:

Capabilities:

• Element Properties - Query properties like dimensions, materials, phasing, and custom parameters
• Model Navigation - Browse projects, models, and versions
• Version Comparison - Track changes between model versions (added, modified, removed elements)
• Property Discovery - Explore available properties and data types in each model
• Spatial Queries - Filter elements by level, room, or location (coming soon)

Performance:

• Sub-2-second response times for most queries
• Automatic pagination for large datasets (up to 5,000 elements)
• 1-hour caching for model metadata

Example Questions:

• “List all structural columns on Level 2 in the Main Building model”
• “What walls were added in the latest version of the architectural model?”
• “Show me mechanical equipment with the ‘Equipment Tag’ property”
• “Compare versions 3 and 4 of the structural model to see what changed”

RFIs (Requests for Information)

Search and retrieve RFI details including:

• RFI number, title, and description
• Status (Open, Answered, Closed)
• Assigned users and due dates
• Related documents and attachments
• Response history and resolution

Example Questions:

• “Show me open RFIs assigned to the electrical subcontractor”
• “Find RFIs about the HVAC system closed last month”
• “List urgent RFIs with responses pending”

Issues

Access project issues with full tracking details:

• Issue type and status
• Location and discipline
• Assignee and priority level
• Photos and related documents
• Creation and resolution dates

Example Questions:

• “What critical issues are open on the second floor?”
• “Show me resolved structural issues from November”
• “Find issues assigned to the general contractor”

Submittals

Search submittal packages and track approval status:

• Submittal number and title
• Approval status and workflow
• Revision history
• Attached documents
• Reviewer comments

Example Questions:

• “Show me pending submittals for the plumbing contractor”
• “Find approved submittal packages from last quarter”
• “What submittals are awaiting architect review?”

Folders & Project Structure

Browse and navigate your ACC project folder hierarchy:

Capabilities:

• Folder Tree - View complete folder structure up to 5 levels deep
• File Counts - See how many files are in each folder
• Nested Navigation - Explore subfolders and their contents
• Multi-Project - Works across all connected projects

Example Questions:

• “Show me all folders in the Oakland Office Building project”
• “What subfolders exist under Drawings?”
• “How is the Civic Center project organized?”

Permissions Required

The Autodesk ACC connector requests the following OAuth scopes:

DatumOS does not request write permissions - the connector is read-only for security. You cannot create, modify, or delete ACC data through DatumOS.

BIM Data Access

AEC Data Model API

The Autodesk ACC connector uses the AEC Data Model GraphQL API for high-performance BIM queries. This provides:

• Fast Queries - Sub-2-second response times for most element queries
• Rich Metadata - Access to all element properties, including custom parameters
• Version Tracking - Compare model versions to track changes
• Property Discovery - Explore available properties before querying

Model Eligibility

Not all files in ACC are BIM models. To use AEC Data Model features:

1. File Format - Must be Revit (RVT), IFC, or other supported BIM format
2. Processing - Model must be successfully processed by ACC
3. Version - Model must have at least one published version

DatumOS automatically checks eligibility and provides helpful error messages if a file is not a valid BIM model.

Version Differences

Track changes between model versions with detailed element-level diffs:

• Added Elements - New elements in the newer version
• Modified Elements - Elements with changed properties
• Removed Elements - Elements deleted from the model
• Property Changes - Specific properties that changed with old/new values

This is particularly useful for:

• Answering RFI questions about recent changes
• Reviewing change orders and scope modifications
• QA/QC verification between design phases

Sync Frequency and Status

The Autodesk ACC connector operates in real-time mode:

• No Background Sync - Data is fetched only when you ask questions
• Always Current - Every search retrieves the latest data from ACC
• No Data Storage - DatumOS does not cache or store ACC content
• Live Connection - Requires active internet connection

Connection Status

Monitor your ACC connector status in Settings → Connectors:

• Connected (Green) - Authentication valid, ready to use
• Expired (Yellow) - OAuth token expired, click Reconnect
• Error (Red) - Connection failed, check credentials or network

Token Expiration

OAuth tokens for Autodesk ACC expire after 60 days of inactivity. When your token expires:

1. Go to Settings → Connectors
2. Click Reconnect next to Autodesk ACC
3. Complete the OAuth flow again
4. Resume using ACC data immediately

Rate Limits

Autodesk ACC API enforces rate limits:

• 100 requests per minute per user
• Automatic retry with exponential backoff
• Transparent errors - DatumOS shows rate limit messages if exceeded

If you encounter rate limiting:

• Wait 1-2 minutes before retrying
• Reduce search frequency during heavy usage
• Contact support if limits are consistently hit

Fuzzy Search

The ACC API does not support wildcard searching. To handle approximate matches, DatumOS uses client-side fuzzy search with Fuse.js:

• Threshold - 0.3 similarity score (0 = exact match, 1 = any match)
• Search Keys - File name, title, description
• Performance - Fast for result sets under 1,000 files

Example: Searching for “electical plans” (typo) will still match “electrical plans” with high relevance.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Project Access Issues

If you can access a project in the ACC web portal but not in DatumOS:

1. Verify Connection - Check connector status is green in Settings
2. Refresh Projects - Disconnect and reconnect to refresh project list
3. Check Permissions - Ensure you have at least “Viewer” role on the project
4. Wait for Sync - New project access may take 1-2 minutes to propagate

BIM Model Issues

If BIM queries fail or return no results:

1. Check Model Status - Open the file in ACC Viewer to verify it loads
2. Verify Processing - Look for “Processing complete” status in ACC
3. Use Property Discovery - Run property discovery to see available data
4. Contact Support - If model should work but doesn’t, contact support with model URN

Security & Compliance

Data Privacy

• No Content Storage - DatumOS does not permanently store ACC file contents
• Metadata Only - Only file names, properties, and search results are cached temporarily
• User Isolation - You can only access projects you have permission to view
• Token Security - OAuth tokens are encrypted at rest and in transit

Audit Logging

All ACC connector operations are logged for compliance:

• User ID and timestamp
• Operation type (search, retrieve, query)
• Project and file IDs accessed
• Response times and result counts

Logs are retained for 90 days and available to account administrators.

Next Steps

Further Reading

• Autodesk ACC Documentation 
• AEC Data Model API Reference 
• DatumOS BIM Queries Guide (coming soon)