Transcript Estimating With Electronic Documents Kevin R. Miller, Ph.D

Estimating With Electronic
Documents
Kevin R. Miller, Ph.D.
Brigham Young University
kmiller@byu.edu
Technology Assisting the
Estimator
 Estimating loads are becoming more demanding.
 Estimate more projects in less time.
 Electronic documents help estimators fight back.
 Electronic documents may help estimators win
more projects.
What Are Electronic Docs?
 Same thing as paper, just on a computer screen.
 Spec’s are typically PDF files.
 Drawings are often TIF, CALS or DWF files.
 They are not the computer automatically
calculating all the quantities.
Creating Electronic
Documents
 Generated directly from CAD or Word
Processor
 Generated from the applications in the exact same
way as paper documents.
 The files that are created are Read-Only.
 The PDF spec files can are searchable.
 Scan Documents
 Readability issues.
 Wasted resources.
 Scanned specifications are typically NOT searchable

OCR helpful but not 100%
Drawing File Types
FILE
TYPE
READ- SOURCE OF FILES Color
ONLY
DWF
YES
Designers
Color
CALS
YES
Corps of Engineers
B&W
TIF
YES
Reprographics
Companies
B&W
DWG
NO
Designers
Color
 The print driver for each file format comes
standard with AutoCAD.
PDF Drawings
 PDF
 PDF files will work but may operate slower.
 PDF will operate faster if they are converted to a TIF
format.
 PDF file creation is not a standard Autodesk print
driver.
Electronic Docs Come From
 Owners
 Corps of Engineers
 Corps of Engineers on pilot project saved $20,000 in
reproduction costs.
 Federal / State Agencies
 Designers
 Architects / Engineers
 Planrooms
 FWDodge.com
 Repromax.com Network or reprographic companies
 SBR Technologies - Utah
 Builders Exchange network
utbx.com
Typical Costs to Contractors
 The contractor pays a local reprographics
company to print the entire set of documents
 Contractors prints only the sheets they need.
 The contractor may elect to print smaller
sheets to reduce costs.
 A free viewer is used to print the documents
to scale in-house.
 The above options does not represent a cost
savings to the project, rather a cost shift is
what has occurred.
Alternative to Printing
 On Screen Takeoff
 Measurements are taken from the computer screen.
 Identifies what has been taken off.
 An organizational structure can be used.
Takeoff Viewer Features
 Digitizer like Features
 Count
 Lineal measurements
 Area
Additional Features
 The measurements are modifiable.
 Review of takeoff easily accomplished.
 Highlighting
 View multiple views at a time.
 Ability to efficiently perform repetitive takeoff.
 Ability to copy and paste or link into estimating
software.
Electronic Document Benefits
 Contractors can review the doc’s to decide if they
want to bid the project.
 Receive project documents quicker
(Internet/Email).
 Addenda docs are readable vs. faxed docs.
 Better distribution to subcontractors.
 Subcontractors receive a full set of plans that
they can keep.
Additional Benefits
 Greater accuracy than digitizers.
 Easier to identify where cost differences occur in
design/build projects.
 Measurements are modifiable and stored.
 All the measurements can occur before
calculating quantities.
 Easier archival of documents.
 Ability to overlay drawing changes.
Benefit to Estimators
 The Takeoff and plan checkout process is
streamlined.
 Takeoff time is reduced.
 Standardized colors can be used for takeoff.
 Takeoff review is visual.
 Plans are easily taken with you, as well as the
takeoff tools.
 Takeoff can be “Linked” to Excel
Benefits for Clients
 Graphically designated quantities with the numerical
quantities.
 Increased communication prior to construction.
 Better estimates from contractor.
Other Benefits of Using
Electronic Documents
 Presentations to show staging and site
considerations.
 Project Manager can verify estimate quantities.
 % complete calculations and provide support to
the calculations.
 As-built drawings.
 For remodel work, photographs can be included
with the drawings.
Google Earth and Takeoff Viewers
 Allows for preliminary site takeoff
 GPS integration using .gpx files with Google Earth
 Layouts of site roads and utilities
 www.earth.google.com
Screen Size Does Matter
 Minimum monitor size should be 17”.
 Recommended 19” or Larger.
 Screen resolution 1600 x 1200 or above.
 Dual monitors are great.
 Plan view on one screen; details, schedules,
specifications, or estimating software on the other
screen.
Challenges
 Learning curve
 Large curve until you start, then it is small. (half a
day or less to start using the software)
 Small screens difficult to work with.
 Getting the documents from designers without
scanning
Takeoff Viewer Companies
Product
Company
URL
On-Screen Takeoff
Takeoff Tool
Max View
BidScreen XL (Excel Add-in)
Plan Swift
Capture
On-Center Software
US Cost Inc.
MaxView Corp.
Vertigraph Inc.
Tech Unlimited, Inc.
E-Ring
www.oncenter.com
www.uscost.com
www.maxview.com
www.vertigraph.com
http://www.planswift.com
http://www.ering-cad.com/
Elect. Doc’s in Education
 Greater accessibility to plans & specs
 Reduced cost to students
 Introduce students to more types of projects
 Easier to show students the solutions.
 Require students to still use scales and digitizer.
Elect. Docs in Education Cont.
 Computer lab has 50 computers with dual screens.
 Faculty have gone to dual monitors.
 Industry is switching as a result of summer hires and
graduates.