Vu360 - An exclusive software to View, Markup and Takeoff Project Documents

Vu360 is a free internet-tethered digital document viewer that facilitates contractors to easily update and annotates blueprints on construction documents and generate detailed & accurate estimates to communicate RFIs. The application also helps subs or other project team members to review plans from remote sites.

The application is built up with Microsoft .net framework and can be incorporated with BB-Bid’s online plan rooms and other online products. The application can also be utilized to takeoff .pdf and .till document.

Vu360 is amalgamated with The Blue Book Network’s search tools in order to effortlessly find and spec products, materials and equipment in addition to message contractors and suppliers.

Vu360 contains an in-built web-browser, making it your window and entrance to all the construction information needs.

Some exclusive features of Vu360:

Capability to view PDF, TIFF and all HTML Web pages

Markup and Takeoffs contains Counts, Linear, Square Foot, Volume etc.

The quantities are exportable to Excel or XML

Capability to rapidly communicate information through email or PDF

Keyword Search help you to search the specification book and your own markups

Incorporated with BPM Select to quickly obtain detailed information on products

Integrated with thebluebook.com to quickly obtain information from subcontractors and suppliers

Download now
http://www.thebluebook.com/2011/index.php?id=16#Instructions

Posted by Rajib Dey
Business Development
Global Associates
A pioneer company in construction estimating
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The arrival of Newforma® Project Center software for AEC industry

The leading software company Newforma® just launches the eight edition of Newforma® Project Center software. This comprehensive, integrated solution will make an evaluation to the world of BIM-based design.

The users will get the ability to simplify the project execution process including design review, contract administration and communication to work out on technical engineering and 3-D coordination challenges at the beginning of the project lifecycle. The software can chalk up any 3-D view from any program and communicate the change in real time.

The software has been useful to the contractors as it provides greater transparency, advanced accountability and reduced risk.

Newforma Project Center has come up with some exclusive features like integrating meeting minutes with action items that helps manage agendas, minutes, and commitments connected with project meetings.

Organize and manage internal project information including project email for all your projects.

Track action items, RFIs, and other open project items across a series of meetings. Share and track published project information with external team members across all projects.

Link the new BIM activity center with revit.

Increase remote access functionality, adding practical document control, standardizing on Microsoft Excel for reporting and providing tools to manage the explosion of digital site photos.

Posted by
Rajib Dey
Business Development
The construction estimating services

Steps of a proper Estimation

A proper estimation is integrity of some sequential processes or steps. An accurate estimation gives you the chance to complete the project in schedule time and under budget. The basic understanding of the project estimation gives you some advantage which will be surely beneficial for you. That’s why it is very important to follow the steps of the project estimation properly. Here we will discuss the steps of a proper estimation.

The Design: First of all you have to study the design accurately. Only a clear understanding will give you a better idea about how the project is going to be after completion. The drawing and supporting electronic files are included to illustrate the general scope of improvements. You will take care of the essential factor of the construction like safety, traffic operations, durability, desired appearance, maintainability, environmental protection, drainage and other permitted constraints. The design review process is much more important because the success of the project is on the design.

The Required Software: Selecting the proper software required for the estimating a project is another important step for the project estimation. To find out the perfect software for the type of estimation is very important.

Taking out quantities: In the next step of taking out quantities, the measurements are taken off from the drawings and entered on measurement sheet or dimension paper. The measurements to be taken out would depend upon the unit of measurement. For example, in the case of stone masonry in superstructure, length, thickness and height of the walls above plinth level would be taken out from the drawings and entered on the measurement sheet, whereas, in the case of plastering only the lengths and heights of the walls would be entered. Obviously, the unit of measurement in the first case is cubic meter and that in the second case is square meter.

Squaring out: The fourth step consists of working out volumes, areas, etc. and casting up their total in recognized units.

Abstracting: In the last step all the items along with the net results obtained in the second step are transferred from measurement sheets to specially ruled sheets having rate column ready for pricing.

The last two steps above are known as working up. All calculations in these stages and every entry transferred should be checked by another person to ensure that no mathematical or copying error occurs

PlanSwift - An unique software for accurate construction estimating

PlanSwift is an user friendly construction takeoff software. It makes the estimating as easy as just point and click. PlanSwift can load scanned plans as well as import directly from .TIF, .PDF - Adobe, .DXF, .DWF, .DWG - AutoCAD, .PLN - Dodge Plan files, .JPG, and more. PlanSwift can also download plans directly from many online plan rooms.

According to the software company it is like Swiss knife which has many utilities in one hand. This multi-tasking software has many features:
• Print or Email Plans Effortlessly
• Just Point & Clock To Calculate Areas, Linears & Counts
• New Apple iPhone Integration
• Track Changes with Comparative Plan Overlays
• Identify Takeoffs Easily By Labels And Color
• Planswift Can Also Calculate Curves (Arcs) And Cut-Outs!
• Maintain Accuracy With The Magnification Tool
• Easily Navigate Through Plans Using The Overview Window
• Fully Customizable Hot Keys And Bookmarks
• Load All Major CAD And Image File Types

Top 10 Reasons to Buy PlanSwift:

1. PlanSwift is very easy to learn. Just point and click!
2. Most estimators can estimate 10X as fast using PlanSwift vs. traditional methods (ruler & highlighter).
3. Astounding accuracy. Precisely trace/digitize items on the plan using your mouse or a digitizer.
4. Create an audit trail...if it's colored, its counted!
5. Save $ on gas, printing, and shipping costs. No more driving to pick up plans...just email them.
6. Top rated customer support...we have REAL ESTIMATORS on staff who can speak your lingo!
7. Go Green! Go Paperless! It's cheaper, faster, and more environmentally friendly.
8. Best value for your $. As shown in our testimonials, you get the most features for the best price.
9. Extremely customizable & powerful. The software can be customized to suit your exact needs. You can do your takeoff + estimate in the same software.
10. PlanSwift is becoming the platform. Because of it's integration capabilities and our SDK (Software Developers Kit), Many online planrooms and estimating software partners are creating integrations which will allow you as a customer to have a positive, integrated experience.

Posted by Debarati Nath
for www.quantity-takeoff.com

Primus-DCF - A useful tool for construction estimating

The renowned Italian software leader ACCA launched the Primus DCF. Primus-DCF is based on a DCF (Document Computation Format). It is a free software for creating Price Books, Price Lists, Estimates and Bills of Quantities.

The software is designed to facilitate the Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and building contractors to create bills of quantities and estimate and export the information to Excel, Word or PDF files.

The construction professionals get the ability to open Price Books, Price Lists, Estimates and Bills of Quantities and insert, amend or copy parts of data from a source document to a destination document


With Primus-DCF it is also possible to take-off measurements directly from any AutoCAD drawing file and be familiar with the drawing entities and automatically send the measurements to the associated Price List Item in PriMus DCF. This will help you to constantly maintain the Bill of Quantities under control and Estimate’s budget with the progression of the design phase updating all data in realtime.

The software is compatible with Windows 3.x/95/98/Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista/Server 2008/7/NT/3/4/SP 1/2/3/4/5/6

Downloadable link
http://www.primus-dcf.com/en/Download/tabid/79/Default.aspx

Posted by
Rajib Dey
for construction estimating service

CMiC Open Enterprise v10

This technologically advanced new version will be highly beneficial for the architectural, engineering, construction and capital project owner industry.
By using a single scalable database the software integrates all project management functions and informations to improve speed and accuracy of project final costs. This will minimize the transaction time and enhance productivity.
This XML based software facilitates organizations to speed up interoperability within their own organization and interoperability with external project stakeholders.
The software comes up with our main product groups
CMiC Financials
CMiC Project Controls
CMiC Project Management
CMiC Experience Management
The software can provide the following advantages :-
Job Initiation
Estimate to Job Cost Budget
Estimate to Subcontract / Purchase
Payment Management / Compliance
Contract to Billing
PCI to Posted Owner Change Order
Job Forecast to WIP
Procurement to Payment
Financial Budget to Financial Statements
Order Bill to Cash
Time Sheet to Employee Check
Site Management

Rajib Dey
www.quantity-takeoff.com