Graphical method for modeling and estimating construction costs
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for computerized modeling of a chamber to enable automatic computerized estimation of chamber attributes, comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting a default polyhedron as a cost estimation polyhedron, said estimation polyhedron having a plurality of facets with each facet having at least one characteristic and comprised of at least one estimation attribute including an area;
(b) altering at least one of said characteristics of a selected facet of said plurality of facets of said estimation polyhedron to approximate said chamber undergoing estimation;
(c) revising in real time said at least one estimation attribute of said altered facet and adjacent ones of said plurality of facets of said estimation polyhedron as modified by said altering step; and
(d) repeating said altering and revising steps until said estimation polyhedron accurately depicts said chamber undergoing estimation.
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Abstract
A method and system for modeling rooms or chambers in a structure for intuitive and accurate estimation of process parameters (e.g., material and labor costs for performing the process) associated with the rooms. A graphical user interface to an estimation program enables an estimator to insert a model of a room and thereafter morph and mold the model to approximate the room undergoing estimation. The model is represented as a polyhedron having a plurality of planes that may be assigned attributes such as floors, walls and ceilings. During the morphing process, the modified and other affected planes of the polyhedron are continually revised to maintain the integrity of the closed volume represented by the polyhedron. Upon completion of the morphing process of the model, the model may be queried by the estimator for performing estimations of target processes with the assigned attributes of the various planes intelligently returning areas and other parameters associated with the estimation polyhedron employed as an approximation of the room or chamber undergoing estimation.
244 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for computerized modeling of a chamber to enable automatic computerized estimation of chamber attributes, comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a default polyhedron as a cost estimation polyhedron, said estimation polyhedron having a plurality of facets with each facet having at least one characteristic and comprised of at least one estimation attribute including an area; (b) altering at least one of said characteristics of a selected facet of said plurality of facets of said estimation polyhedron to approximate said chamber undergoing estimation; (c) revising in real time said at least one estimation attribute of said altered facet and adjacent ones of said plurality of facets of said estimation polyhedron as modified by said altering step; and (d) repeating said altering and revising steps until said estimation polyhedron accurately depicts said chamber undergoing estimation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for graphically estimating attributes of a room, comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a default polyhedron as a cost estimation polyhedron to approximate said attributes of said room, said estimation polyhedron having a plurality of facets, each facet having at least one characteristic and comprised of at least one estimation attribute including an area; (b) altering at least one characteristic of one of said plurality of facets of said estimation polyhedron to approximate said room undergoing estimation; (c) revising in real time said at least one estimation attribute of said altered facet and adjacent facets of said estimation polyhedron; (d) repeating said altering and revising steps until said estimation polyhedron accurately depicts said room undergoing estimation; and a. listing said estimation attributes of said estimation polyhedron as said attributes of said room. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A graphical method for estimating material requirements for a room within a structure, wherein said room is comprised of a plurality of planes, comprising:
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(a) displaying a default surface polygon, said surface polygon forming one plane of a plurality of planes of an estimation polyhedron for approximating said room, said plurality of planes each further having a characteristic and an estimation attribute assigned thereto; (b) altering said characteristic of said default surface polygon into an altered polygon to approximate a plane of said room undergoing estimation; (c) revising said estimation attribute of said altered polygon and adjacent ones of said plurality of planes affected by said altering step; (d) repeating said altering and revising steps until said estimation polyhedron accurately approximates said room undergoing estimation; and (e) converting said estimation attributes of said estimation polyhedron into said material requirements for said room within said structure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising:
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(a) displaying a default surface polygon, said surface polygon forming one plane of a plurality of planes of an estimation polyhedron for approximating said room, said plurality of planes each further having an estimation attribute assigned thereto; (b) altering said default surface polygon into an altered polygon to approximate a plane of said room undergoing estimation; (c) revising said estimation attribute of said altered polygon and adjacent ones of said plurality of planes affected by said altering step; (d) repeating said altering and revising steps until said estimation polyhedron accurately approximates said room undergoing estimation; and (e) converting said estimation attributes of said estimation polyhedron into said material requirements for said room within said structure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification