Please review the article
Using Takeoff Boost™ Overview and Requirements and watch the
Takeoff Boost video below for more information and examples of how you can use
Takeoff Boost to get the most out of your
takeoff and
estimating resources.
Contents
What is Takeoff Boost?
How Does Takeoff Boost Work?
Why Would I use Takeoff Boost?
What Takeoff Boost Isn't
What is Takeoff Boost™?
Takeoff Boost for On-Screen Takeoff can get your bid off to a great start by helping save time and boost your team’s productivity by eliminating a significant amount of the manual takeoff process. Our Takeoff Boost feature uses AI technology to return area, linear, and item counts with the click of a button.
Takeoff Boost is integrated into On-Screen Takeoff, although it requires a separate subscription and license key (see Requirements in the Overview and Requirements for all requirements).
Takeoff Boost makes it easier for you to get a preliminary scope of work on a takeoff project. In seconds, Takeoff Boost analyzes a plan and then creates Conditions and takeoff to account for:
- Footprint area
- Footprint Area (area outline of a building, drawn along the outside edge of the exterior walls)
- Net Area (less walls)
- Net Area (cumulative area drawn along the inside edge of exterior and interior walls)
- Walls (linear)
- Lines (straight segments only, based on Wall Types defined within your plans)
- Counts
- Counts such as Plumbing Fixtures, Doors, Elevators, etc.
How Does Takeoff Boost Work?
Takeoff Boost leverages ConstructConnect's proprietary cloud-based artificial-intelligence powered service to analyze the plans on which you run Takeoff Boost, identify takeoff objects, and then sends the takeoff data back to On-Screen Takeoff where it is written to the local database and becomes part of the bid.
Our engineers and AI scientists built this system in cooperation with subject matter experts from the construction industry to deliver real-world value by delivering fast and accurate takeoff. Takeoff Boost is well-suited for General Contractors and several trades (specifically, walls and ceilings and plumbing subcontractors). The technology is designed to provide an accessible, intuitive, and seamless integration into On-Screen Takeoff.
Using Artificial Intelligence models that were trained to identify various takeoff objects, we refined these models by training them on thousands of plans, from a variety of sources. The technology underlying these artificial intelligence models is known as "Computer Vision" and consists of an algorithm that is trained to make these detections as accurate as possible by analyzing all that anonymized training data. The data was curated (painstakingly) by humans and contains several thousand floorplans that have been manually annotated to identify components relevant to our customers’ estimation needs. Our models are hosted on our secure servers that meet all current cybersecurity standards to ensure that Takeoff Boost customers can safely and reliably use this exciting new feature.
The AI technology that underpins our models is state of the art and is constantly being iterated upon to ensure that ConstructConnect customers are always on the forefront of the ongoing advancements in this field of science.
Why Would I Use Takeoff Boost?
Using Takeoff Boost's automated takeoff you can:
- Estimate the scope of a project to see if you're interested in investing the time and effort necessary to work up a formal bid
- Generate a very, very rough cost estimate using your historical Unit Costs and Takeoff Boost's results (along with your own manual takeoff)
Example of Conditions and results that Takeoff Boost results can provide
From here, you could export the results to your favorite estimating program (such as Quick Bid) or simply use the Worksheet Tab to develop a rough Unit Cost estimate.
What Takeoff Boost Isn’t
Let’s get this out of the way, no technology or automation can take the place of a seasoned, knowledgeable estimator. Takeoff Boost is not “complete, automated takeoff” that a user can use, with the wave of a magic wand, to estimate an entire project. Takeoff Boost gives you a great head start on your takeoff, and our Artificial Intelligence models are improving all the time, but as the estimator, you still play a critical role in bringing “human experience” to review and fine-tune the project.
Also, Takeoff Boost isn’t a "fit" for every contractor. For the initial version, what Takeoff Boost finds may not help you in your particular trade or scope of work. You’ll need to judge if what Takeoff Boost can do for you brings value to your organization.
Although the results Takeoff Boost delivers are fairly accurate and the takeoff provided can give you a significant jump start on your Bid, you must review all takeoff Results, rename Conditions, reassign takeoff from the Conditions Boost creates to appropriate Conditions you create, and fill-in missing takeoff manually.
Using, Disabling, and Enabling Quick Start Wizards