METHOD FOR SEMI-AUTOMATIC QUANTITY TAKEOFF FROM COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN DRAWINGS

• US 20090070071A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: WOOD, ANDREW
• Granted Patent: US 9,208,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include methods for semi-automatic quantity takeoff from computer aided design (CAD) drawings. For each drawing object a corresponding takeoff object is created. A takeoff object may include the dimension of geometry (e.g., numerical, lineal, area) to quantify, the object parameter to be quantified for all instances of the object, and the takeoff calculations to be performed. After a takeoff object is defined, the corresponding instances are automatically identified and quantified. The cost of each instance is then calculated and added to the project cost. Using automated methods, instead of manual techniques, reduces errors and increases the accuracy of the generated cost estimate. Advantageously, the takeoff objects may be saved in the system database and reused for different projects, thereby ensuring consistency between projects. Furthermore, reusing takeoff information, both between instances of an object and between projects, reduces the time required to perform cost estimates.

Claims

1. A method for generating cost estimates from a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing that represents a design project, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of an instance of a drawing object in the CAD drawing;

generating, for the selected drawing object, a takeoff object, wherein the takeoff object is configured to store a quantify type, a quantify property, and cost data used to generate a cost estimate for the design project based on instances of the selected drawing object in the CAD drawing;

receiving values for each of the quantify type, the quantify property, and the cost data;

parsing the CAD drawing to identify the instances of the selected drawing object;

quantifying, based on the values for the quantify type and the quantify property, a takeoff quantity for the identified instances of the selected drawing object;

computing, from the takeoff quantity and the cost data, a cost estimate for the instances of the selected drawing object; and

storing the values for the quantify type, the quantify property, and the cost data in the takeoff object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the quantify type is one of a numerical count, a linear count, an area computation, or a volumetric computation, specifying how the instances of the selected drawing object should by quantified.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the quantify property specifies an instance-specific property of the selected drawing object used to determine a value for the quantify type for a given instance of the selected drawing object.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a takeoff report using the takeoff object, wherein the takeoff report includes the values for the quantify type, the quantify property, the cost data and the cost estimate; and

displaying the takeoff report.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected drawing object is identified by a globally unique identifier (GUID) shared by each instance of the selected drawing object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein parsing the CAD drawing to identify the instances of the selected drawing object comprises identifying each instance of a drawing object in the CAD drawing that shares the GUID of the selected drawing object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each instance of the selected drawing object is identified by a globally unique identifier (GUID).

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform an operation for generating cost estimates for a design project from a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing representing the design project, by performing steps of:

receiving a selection of an instance of a drawing object in the CAD drawing;

generating, for the selected drawing object, a takeoff object, wherein the takeoff object is configured to store a quantify type, a quantify property, and cost data used to generate a cost estimate for the design project based on instances of the selected drawing object in the CAD drawing;

receiving values for each of the quantify type, the quantify property, and the cost data;

parsing the CAD drawing to identify the instances of the selected drawing object;

quantifying, based on the values for the quantify type and the quantify property, a takeoff quantity for the identified instances of the selected drawing object;

computing, from the takeoff quantity and the cost data, a cost estimate for the instances of the selected drawing object; and

storing the values for the quantify type, the quantify property, and the cost data in the takeoff object.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the quantify type is one of a numerical count, a linear count, an area computation, or a volumetric computation, specifying how the instances of the selected drawing object should by quantified.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the quantify property specifies an instance-specific property of the selected drawing object used to determine a value for the quantify type for a given instance of the selected drawing object.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a takeoff report using the takeoff object, wherein the takeoff report includes the values for the quantify type, the quantify property, the cost data and the cost estimate; and

displaying the takeoff report.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the selected drawing object is identified by a globally unique identifier (GUID).

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein parsing the CAD drawing to identify the instances of the selected drawing object comprises identifying each instance of a drawing object in the CAD drawing that shares the GUID of the selected drawing object.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein each instance of the selected drawing object is identified by a globally unique identifier (GUID).

15. A method for generating cost estimates for a design project from a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing representing the design project, the method comprising:

specifying a selection of an instance of a drawing object in the CAD drawing; and

invoking a quantity takeoff tool configured to;

receive a selection of an instance of a drawing object in the CAD drawing;

generate, for the selected drawing object, a takeoff object, wherein the takeoff object is configured to store a quantify type, a quantify property, and cost data used to generate a cost estimate for the design project based on instances of the selected drawing object in the CAD drawing;

receive values for each of the quantify type, the quantify property, and the cost data;

parse the CAD drawing to identify the instances of the selected drawing object;

quantify, based on the values for the quantify type and the quantify property, a takeoff quantity for the identified instances of the selected drawing object;

compute, from the takeoff quantity and the cost data, a cost estimate for the instances of the selected drawing object; and

store the values for the quantify type, the quantify property, and the cost data in the takeoff object.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the quantify type is one of a numerical count, a linear count, an area computation, or a volumetric computation, specifying how the instances of the selected drawing object should by quantified.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the quantify property specifies an instance-specific property of the selected drawing object used to determine a value for the quantify type for a given instance of the selected drawing object.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the quantity takeoff tool is further configured to:

generating a takeoff report using the takeoff object, wherein the takeoff report includes the values for the quantify type, the quantify property, the cost data and the cost estimate; and

displaying the takeoff report.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected drawing object is identified by a globally unique identifier (GUID).

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the takeoff object further stores the GUID of the selected drawing object.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the first instance and each of any additional instances of the selected drawing object is identified by a globally unique identifier (GUID).