Project Organization in Cloud Projects

Project Types

In Gemini Terrain, we distinguish between two types of projects based on where they are stored:

• Local projects
  The traditional project in Gemini Terrain, where all data is stored locally (either on a local machine or local server, such as SharePoint)

• Cloud projects
  In principle, cloud projects are identical to local projects, but cloud projects have extended functionality through Gemini Connected.

Info

Cloud projects allow multiple users to work simultaneously on the same project, and offer better solutions for security, availability, and collaboration.

Project Structure

Navigation in cloud projects happens in the same way as in local projects, through the project menu. The same tools and functions for working with drawings, models, and data are available, but with some extra benefits:

• Real-time collaboration with other users
• Automatic version control of files
• Ability to see who has opened which files

A distinction is made between local and cloud projects in the menu. Local projects are stored in their own project folders, while cloud projects are stored in the Gemini Connected project to which they belong.

In the example below we see:

• Yellow folder icons
  The Standard directory contains local projects and is marked with a yellow folder symbol. Such directories can contain a self-selected number of local projects.

• Yellow folders with cloud icon
  The folders Demo project, Example collection, Gemini conference, and Test are Gemini Connected projects. Each Gemini Connected project can contain one or more cloud projects. In the example, we see that the Gemini Connected project Example collection contains four cloud projects, indicated by a larger blue cloud.

Example of project structure with local projects and cloud projects

Division of Gemini Connected Projects

A Gemini Connected project is often defined by a contract that is part of this project. For example, as outlined in the example above, you may want to divide a contract into several smaller sections. This can be done to limit the amount of data in each section. There may be various reasons why this is appropriate, and you are completely free to use either one or more cloud projects per Gemini Connected project.

Tip

For larger construction projects, it is recommended to divide into multiple cloud projects based on geographical areas or disciplines to achieve the best possible performance.

Shared User Folder for the Organization

To ensure the same settings for all users, cloud projects use a shared User folder that is common to the entire organization, User folder for cloud projects. User customizations made in cloud projects will be stored in this shared folder.

If you want to add files to the organization's User folder for cloud projects later, this can be done via File - Include files in User folder for cloud projects.

Content in the User folder for cloud projects can be removed by using right-click functions in the User folder for cloud projects tab in the Gemini Connected file explorer.

Note

Changes to the User folder affect all users of cloud projects in the organization. Therefore, be sure that the changes are desired by everyone before you make them.

Network Connection

Full utilization of the functionality for cloud projects requires an internet connection. Without an internet connection, you can open drawings and models in read-only mode, which is useful, for example, in Gemini 3D Field, where you often spend some time outside network coverage. If you are without network coverage for a period, the programs themselves will perform the necessary synchronization when coverage returns.

Warning

When working without an internet connection, changes you make will not be visible to other users until you get an internet connection again and synchronization is performed.