draw your way to an estimate - builders' show

DRAW YOUR WAY TO AN ESTIMATE: IBS 2009 LAS VEGAS NV.

Copyright 2009 by Mountain Consulting Group, LLC . All rights reservedhttp:// www.mountainconsulting.com 1

DrawDraw Your Way to an EstimateYour Way to an EstimateGetting Started with CAD-Assisted

Estimating, Take-Off and BIM

Presented by: Joe Stoddard and John Jones

IBS 2009 – Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall 2 52-254

How long would this take you ?How long would this take you ?and with and with How many mistakes?How many mistakes?

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What we’ll cover:What we’ll cover:� What is “BIM” ? � What is CAD-assisted estimating ? � Changes Required in Your Approach/Workflow� Potential Pitfalls� Examples of CAD Products – Pro vs. DIY� Your Questions

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� Relational Database(s) Represent the Building (the Model )� Standards-Based (buildingSMART Alliance)

� Estimating and Bill-of-Materials

� Lean Construction

� Energy Usage

� Human Ergonomics

� “Collision Detection”

� Green/Sustainability

� Urban Planning

� Entire Lifecycle

http://www.BIMeducation.com

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Example : Coast Guard ProjectExample : Coast Guard Project“BIG BIM” “BIG BIM”

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COAST GUARD COAST GUARD ––“little bim”“little bim”

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BUILDINGS and FLOORS



Why?Why?� You need to do estimates, and you’re already using CAD !� Profit from the entire project lifecycle – not just construction� Lean and Green

�Fewer Steps (process improvement)�Fewer Resources�Sustainable

� ACCURACY�Production builders - < 1% material variance.

� Resolve Staffing Issues� Conserve Effort (draw once, use many)� Consistent with GenY, tech-oriented buyers

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Reasons NOT TOReasons NOT TO

� I bought the CAD, big quote due tomorrow morning...

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How it Works How it Works -- Input / OutputInput / Output� INPUT! The Drawing Represents the Database

�CAD system replaces a digitizer or other onscreen take-off technology

� OUTPUT = Reporting:� Crawl: Item counts, Onscreen Prompts , Schedules� Walk: Calculations extrapolate other materials/labor/oper ations

� Window hardware...outlet boxes.....labor to install… heat loss� Run: Integration with other applications

� Add item to drawing… reference external data � Price information in separate database

� Results are reported directly by the CAD application� Data exported to, or integrated with, estimating external database or

other BIM applications.

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Example:Example:Direct Direct CountsCounts

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Example: Boolean Logic 1 Example: Boolean Logic 1 � IF “lavatory

counter” THEN “include faucet”

� IF “Interior Door” THEN “include trim”

� IF “Exterior Wall” THEN “perform heat loss calc”

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Example: Boolean Logic 2 Example: Boolean Logic 2

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Advanced Assembly Advanced Assembly FormulasFormulas… the sky is the limit… the sky is the limit� “4D”, “5D” etc. � Complete line-item Bill of Materials� Cut Lists � Heat Loss Calculations� Labor Calculations� Time to build (Scheduling) �� Overall Impact

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Reporting: Reporting: � Export to spreadsheet or Estimating App.

� Ability to create custom Reports�Cut Lists�Room Schedules�Trade Contractor� Load Lists�Purchase Orders�Warranty Requests

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Easy Collaboration Ideas…Easy Collaboration Ideas…so many ways… so little time…so many ways… so little time…

� Good Old E-mail… � Google Spreadsheet /Documents� SharePoint™ and Office 2007� Photo-Image Sharing Sites

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take it away John…take it away John…

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Toolkit : CADToolkit : CAD--Assisted EstimatingAssisted Estimating(Little bim) (Little bim) � A CAD application with Take-off support

� Basic: � Accurate reporting of areas and lengths � Ability to report basic “counts” (Number of Sinks, etc.)

� Advanced: � Ability to create/customize parametric items � Ability to reference items via part numbers or SKUs� Ability to create and modify assemblies and take-off formulas � Comma/Tab Delimited Export � Direct Integration with estimating applications

� Knowledge of Excel or other Spreadsheet� or an estimating application with text import capability support

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Basic CBasic C--AE Products AE Products THIS IS BY NO MEANS A COMPLETE LIST !

� SKETCHUP PRO (www.sketchup.com) � Cadsoft/IMSI “TurboSketch” and HGTV Design ($90)

� Basic areas, lengths, and counts � Only DIY product we found that is usable for C-AE

� AutoCAD LT /Visio/ other basic 2D products- can do basic counts of components/blocks

� Chief Architect, SoftPlan LT, DataCAD� Good counts, good export, not very configurable

� ArchT, DataCAD, VectorWorks, REVIT, ArchiCAD � Require programming, configurations, add-ins

see February 2007 JLC article www.jlconline.com

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Advanced CAdvanced C--AE ProductsAE Products� Cadsoft Envisioneer (www.cadsoft.com $1000+/-

� Advanced C-AE, single database approach

� SoftPlan Pro/ SoftList (www.softplan.com $2900+/-)

�Very good self-contained reporting engine

� BuildersCAD w/Framing � SolidBuilder

�Manufacturing-ready framing /cutlist packages

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Related TechnologyRelated Technology� Xactimate Sketch (www.xactimate.com) � CAD estimator (www.cadestimator.com)

� Bring Your Own CAD (or photos)

� OnCenter (www.oncenter.com) � On-screen takeoff

� Vertigraph (www.vertigraph.com/)� BidScreen XL

None of the above are really “CAD-assisted Estimating - Are visual take-off . They are “BIM-related”

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Changes to workflowChanges to workflow� Design: More collaborative-� budget constraints can be

addressed as they happen� Sales: Estimating becomes more closely related to

sales …. Faster turnaround

� Drafting: Estimator has larger role in driving drafting processes

� Purchasing: Requires fewer review points since items were approved earlier in process

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Changes Changes to to Drafting WorkflowDrafting Workflow

� CAD Model must accurately represent what was sold � Think “Model” not “Drawings”

� Objects and assemblies, not lines

� Provide Access to Model � Centralized (network or Internet)

� Appropriate CAD software and/or viewers

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Delay the “Fork in the Road” Delay the “Fork in the Road” � Old way:

� 3D model, if any, is for presentation only. �No attention to objects – careful line management�Working drawing clean-up begins immediately.

� C-AE Way:� 3D model must contain model information at all times. �Split for “Working drawings” comes at very end of

process if at all . Example: “Exploding” cabinets to hide some lines also removes them from the take-off

�Use Layers, building options, etc. instead for visibility

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Changes to Workflow Changes to Workflow –– Estimating Estimating � Estimating must drive all drafting decisions: (not design decisions)

� Drafting procedures and Standards � How items are defined in software

� Formulas, assemblies, extrapolated items� What is added to the drawings, and how they are added

� Estimating must oversee drawing quality 3Cs� Clarity... Consistency...Completeness

� Estimating must understand...� take-off portion of the CAD software� import/export capability and formats

� Estimating responsible for closed-loop feedback from field� Estimating responsible for overseeing corrections to the model

� Estimators will need seats of CAD software or related viewers.

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Drawing as the Drawing as the DatabaseDatabase

� What is in the drawing?

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Crawl-Walk-Run

Crawl Crawl �Estimating dept. starts to “own” process

� Develop QC for what is on drawings

�Pick Low-hanging fruit from any CAD program� Basic item counts as available, lengths, areas

�Use basic onscreen visual Cues�Take advantage of “Ticklers” � Include basic quantities on drawings�Generate simple item counts

(# of a particular symbol)

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Crawl: Crawl: Item countsItem counts

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Crawl:Crawl:Onscreen Information and Onscreen Information and “Ticklers”“Ticklers”

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WalkWalk � Basic fixture/millwork ‘schedules’ on drawings� Generate simple reports/export files

� Start to verify against known quantities

� Develop closed-loop reporting and revision mechanism

� Re-purpose estimating time saved

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…Walk …Walk another schedule example…another schedule example…

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RunRun�Model defines take-offs, presentation materials, and

working drawings�Collaborative via Internet�Define Parametric objects, by part #/SKU�Complex assembly formulas, extrapolated materials

and labor organized by cost code �Reports formatted for loads, cut-lists, allowance items,

other complex custom reports� Integration with Excel, estimating software�Cost Data kept in external database (ODBC, etc.) �Review closed-loop feedback and continual

improvement of drawings/model on a regular basis

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Run: Run:

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BUILDING MODELAgreement of Sale

As-Sold Estimates

Purchase Orders

Cut-lists

Trade Contractor specs and instruction



take it away John…take it away John…

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General Drawing GuidelinesGeneral Drawing Guidelines� Version Control is Critical

�Naming Conventions� ex. 120606-Jones-A1-JLS.spd� Consider NIBS National CAD Standards (www.nibs.org)

National Institute of Building Sciences

� Use requirements checklists�Consistent sales/selections sheets, specs, etc.

� Place Objects where they exist in real world�Ex. – Basement stair object goes on foundation

drawing, not first floor plan.

� Avoid Object Duplication between floors

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Tips/Tricks Tips/Tricks � Provide schedules/counts/SF directly on

drawings whenever possible � Some products allow you to place

fields/variables/placeholders� Take advantage of 2-way schedules when

possible � Take advantage of shortcuts when appropriate:

� “Notes” with assigned cost to represent an allowance

� Keep cost data external to CAD if possible

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DIY vs. Pro 2D/3D Products DIY vs. Pro 2D/3D Products

� DIY:� Configuration at

highest object level only.

� Can accurately report only SF.

� Item TOs etc. are fixed by the software developer

� Still useful for basic areas, etc.

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DIY vs. Pro 2D/3D DIY vs. Pro 2D/3D Products Products � PRO

� Configuration at every level of detail.

� Compete accounting definitions

� Per-piece and consolidated take-offs

� Flexible reporting options

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DON’T FORGET: DON’T FORGET: � Evaluation Forms -

Please help to keep us “on the air” ! � Business Card and/or Contact Info for Goodies

� Access to SharePoint™ Site with more resources, tips, tricks , product reviews, and more

� Free copy of Connected.Contractor

� Joe - “Cheap Tricks”: Wed. 1/22 1:15“Cheap Tricks”: Wed. 1/22 1:15--2:45 PM2:45 PMSimple Technology Solutions to Big Business Problems:Rm. # 258-260 North Hall

� John – SoftPlan Booth SoftPlan Booth #C4367 #C4367

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Thanks for Coming !Thanks for Coming !� Contact information !

John JonesSoftPlan Systems, Inc. 8118 Isabella Lane Brentwood, TN 37027 Toll-Free: 800-248-0164 [email protected]://www.softplan.com

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Joe Stoddard, AIBDMountain Consulting Group, LLC: 13 Rolling Acres Lane Lawrenceville, PA 16929Toll-Free: [email protected]://www.mountainconsulting.com