BidPoint XL Digitizing Software

Automated takeoff is most commonly performed with a digitizing tablet. It looks like a large drafting board, especially when a set of plans is placed onto it. A pointing device, usually a pen-like stylus, is used to identify points on the plan; the digitizer communicates the position of the pointing device to a computer as an x-y coordinate pair with a typical resolution of .001".

Ziatek^® Power Takeoff for Windows intercepts the coordinate information and applies algorithms to compute distances and areas that are used for quantity surveys. The combination of hardware and software automates counting of items, scaling of distances and perimeters and computation of areas.

Paper drawings, which are two-dimensional by nature, implicitly contain three-dimensional information, e.g., thickness of a concrete slab or interior partition height are indicated by notation or by auxiliary view. Ziatek^® Power Takeoff allows the estimator to key in the vertical dimensions so that volume and vertical surface area can be automatically computed and converted to the desired units of measure. A 3D wireframe model of the structure can be viewed in perspective from any viewing angle.

Easy to Use

Ziatek^® Power Takeoff presents the user with a clean, uncluttered screen. An intuitive menu structure keeps the time required to learn the program to a minimum. New users are usually up and running within minutes of installation. Free telephone support from Ziatek ensures a smooth installation.

Time Saving Menu Pad

Most commands can be executed with a single click of the digitizing pen or cursor on the menu pad. When the user toggles from Ziatek^® Power Takeoff to his estimating program, the menu pad allows him to navigate in that program with the digitizer, which eliminates the need to put down the pen to pick up the mouse or keyboard.

Quick Scale

Ziatek^® Power Takeoff allows the user to work in any scale.
Common scales can be selected from the "QuickScale" list in engineering or architectural format.
Eight sets of units - metric and imperial - are available. Numeric scale automatically adjusts for units change.
Ziatek^® Power Takeoff's scale utility can be the bridge between metric drawings and an imperial database.
Unknown scales, e.g., from reduced drawings, can be auto-scaled with the digitizer

Color Coding

You can color code the Takeoff!

Takeoff can be broken down into "layers" - up to 100 layers are available.
A unique color can be assigned to each layer. Up to 16,777,216 colors are used.
Assign a name or WBS code to each layer.
Select from eight fill styles and 5 line styles.
Label individual line segment lengths and polygon areas.
Adjust areas for roof pitch.
Assign 3D information for computation of volumes and vertical surface area.
Each layer can have its own scale and units of measure.

Data Transfer

Ziatek uses technology that puts it way ahead of the competition when it comes to transferring quantities from Power Takeoff into an estimating application. From Power Takeoff, a single click of the digitizing pen will SEND the selected quantity to the interfacing application. Similarly, if the "other" application is active, the same click will RETRIEVE the quantity from Power Takeoff. In comparison, cut-and-paste is archaic and cumbersome!

3D Viewer

A three-dimensional wireframe model of the project can be visualized from virtually any angle in 3D space. The image is presented in vanishing-point perspective, and can be freely rotated about two perpendicular axes for selection of the best viewing angle. This powerful feature helps the construction team to visualize features that are difficult to decipher from two-dimensional paper drawings.

Why Just Takeoff?

There is more to estimate compilation than just takeoff! There are also many "total solution" estimating programs that automate much more than just takeoff. Ziatek believes they simply fail to provide what the industry needs. A few illuminating facts are:

The vast majority of estimators use generic spreadsheet programs such as Excel, Lotus, or Quattro Pro to compile their estimates.
Spreadsheet programs are flexible, providing the user great latitude for customizing his or her estimating system. Once takeoff quantities are input, units conversion, price extensions, totals, etc., are instantly calculated and displayed.
An abundant pool of prospective employees who are proficient with spreadsheet programs is available. In contrast, dedicated programs can be quite esoteric with few knowledgeable users available for hire. Training costs can easily be the largest expense involved in automation if the wrong program is chosen!
Many high-end, dedicated estimating programs are purchased solely for their digitizer interface. It is not uncommon for a contractor to use his expensive, dedicated estimating program to perform takeoff, and then to process the rest of the estimate in a generic spreadsheet program!
A major shortcoming of using spreadsheets for estimating, however, is their inability to perform takeoff!
The industry has created a great need for a system that will automate takeoff for spreadsheet programs.
Ziatek’s product line includes digitizer interfaces that can be used either as a stand-alone takeoff tool, or with powerful, dynamic link capabilities, feed takeoff quantities into any Windows program.
Because the rest of the estimating process is readily automated, manual takeoff can consume 80% of an estimator’s time. Users of Ziatek’s Takeoff Software for Windows report a 4/5 reduction in the amount of time required to perform takeoff! Determining its value is a simple, academic exercise.

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Digitizing Tablet to use with the software