Construction estimating Software is broken into price estimating and blueprint takeoff. For most contractors, blueprint takeoff is the more tedious process. By hand, the estimator must use geometry and manual calculations to calculate areas, lengths and volumes. With software, the estimator can use intelligence built into the software to do calculate irregular shapes in seconds.
The first software that was used for blueprint takeoff was developed using digitizer technology to measure from paper plans. The software ran in the DOS environment and was very cutting edge for its time.
In 1993 Tally Systems introduced one of the first Windows based takeoff applications called QuickMeasure that allowed the estimator to measure plans with a digitizer and send the quantities back into Microsoft Excel. Tally Systems found that most estimators who were working within the Windows environment were using Microsoft Excel to extend pricing and compile their estimates.
In 2006, Tally Systems released a new product called QuickMeasure OnScreen that addressed the change in the construction industry from paper blueprint to plans that were distributed as PDF drawings. Rather than print the PDF plans to paper, contractors were now able to do takeoffs directly from the PDF displayed on the screen of their computer.
Digital plan takeoff is now the most common format for blueprint takeoff. Most applications require that you build your estimate from within the takeoff software while others send the PDF plan takeoff data into an Excel spreadsheet. Others interface with construction estimating software.
Whatever your style, whether it’s doing takeoffs by hand, using a digitizer or measuring directly from a PDF image using the mouse of your computer, the one thing we can all agree on is the blueprint takeoff requires focus and knowledge of how to read the blueprint. With advances in technology, one day the quantities from the blueprint will be provided by the architect and the construction estimator will have to adapt.
Who knows what the next big thing in construction software will be for the time being, PDF plan take off software and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets seem to be the top choice for the construction estimator. Company’s like Tally Systems will certainly adapt just like the estimators had to adapt and will take on the next challenge of making blueprint takeoff faster and more efficient.
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