While cloud computing and the abundant project data it provides have transformed everything from construction management to conceptual design, preconstruction estimating remains stubbornly unchanged

Integrated business systems, or what is sometimes referred to as a Construction ERP, have struggled to meet the needs of the construction and engineering industry for some time.

As estimation during preconstruction grows more important, Autodesk acquires San Diego's ProEst and adds it to its Construction Cloud.

The deal, announced Oct. 27, will allow the tech firm to build out its project management platform further into preconstruction..