1. Estimating With Electronic Documents Kevin R. Miller, Ph. D
Estimating With Electronic Documents Kevin R. Miller, Ph.D. Brigham Young University

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 are searchable.
Scan Documents
Readability issues.
Wasted resources.
Scanned specifications are typically NOT searchable
OCR helpful but not 100%

5. Reprographics Companies
Drawing File Types
Color
Designers NO
DWG
B&W
Reprographics Companies
YES
TIF
Corps of Engineers
CALS
DWF
SOURCE OF FILES
READ-
ONLY
FILE TYPE
The print driver for each file format comes standard with AutoCAD.

6. PDF Drawings
PDF
PDF files will work in some of the takeoff software packages but may operate slower.
Multi page PDF files may or may not work depending on the which takeoff software package is being used.
PDF file creation is not a standard Autodesk print driver.

9. 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 utbx.com
Builders Exchange network

10. 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.

11. Alternative to Printing
Takeoff Viewers
Measurements are taken from the computer screen.
Identifies what has been taken off.
An organizational structure can be used.
Integration with Estimating Software

12. Takeoff Viewer Features
Digitizer like Features
Count
Lineal measurements
Area

13. Additional Features Markups are placed on the documents.
The measurements are modifiable.
Review of takeoff easily accomplished.
Work Breakdown Structure
Highlighting
View multiple views at a time.

14. Electronic Document Benefits
Contractors can review the doc’s to decide if they want to bid the project.
Receive project documents quicker (Internet/ ).
Addenda docs are readable vs. faxed docs.
Better distribution to subcontractors.
Subcontractors receive a full set of plans that they can keep.

15. Takeoff Viewer 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.

17. Benefit to Estimators Plan checkout time is reduced.
Plan return process is eliminated.
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.

18. Benefits for Clients
Graphically designated quantities with the numerical quantities.
Increased communication prior to construction.
Limits liabilities.

19. 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.

21. Google Earth and Takeoff Viewers
Allows for preliminary site takeoff
GPS integration using .gpx files with Google Earth
Layouts of site roads and utilities

23. Screen Size Does Matter
Minimum monitor size should be 17”.
Recommended 19” or 20” Viewable.
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.

25. Challenges Learning curve
Large curve until you start, then it is small. (half a day or less to start using the software)
Hardware 15” screens difficult to work with.
Proprietary image file formats
Getting the documents from designers without scanning

26. Takeoff Viewer Companies
Product Company URL
On-Screen Takeoff On-Center Software
Takeoff Tool US Cost Inc.
Max View MaxView Corp.
BidScreen XL (Excel Add-in) Vertigraph Inc.