Step-by-Step Use of the Tool
1. Create a Project
- Create a Project
- Create a Subproject within the project
- Once the Subproject is created, click “Settings”
2. Upload Plans
Upload all Plans that should be included in the calculation to the created subproject.
Verify the classification
The system automatically classifies plans as:
- Floor plan
- Facade Plan
- Section Plan
3. Send Plans to AI
Select which plans should be sent for interpretation.
Allowed plans:
- Floor plans
- Facade Plans
Start the AI interpretation by clicking “Analyze Plans”
4. Create Elements
When the AI interpretation is complete, elements are created from everything that was identified.
- Proceed to the step “Review”
- Click “Save Elements”
- This navigates you to the interactive canvas to begin the calculation
Calculation
When all preparatory work is complete and all documents to be calculated have been uploaded and interpreted by the AI, the user is automatically taken to the interactive canvas to begin the calculation.
1. Scale Verification
Each PDF uploaded to our system is assigned a scale based on known dimensions in the drawing. However, we strongly recommend always starting by verifying a known measurement on each drawing.
- If you have uploaded multiple plans, the scale must be verified on each one, as it may differ between plans.
1.1 Verify the Scale
For each drawing:
- Measure a known distance.
- Ensure the measurement is correct.
1.2 If the Scale Is Incorrect
Use the Calibration Tool:
- Enter the correct measurement (e.g. 3.5 m)
- Measure the same distance on the drawing
→ The scale is updated automatically
6. Review Elements
Go through each category:
- Verify dimensions
- Select the element:
- Either by clicking it in the sidebar
- Or by selecting it on the interactive canvas
- This opens a side panel showing all attributes, such as height, length, and width
- Some attributes are calculated automatically by the system based on the document scale
- Select the element:
- Verify drawn shapes (draw new ones or adjust as needed)
- Everything included in the calculation must be drawn
- Verify recipes / composition
- A recipe represents all materials required to build an element
- Example: Stud wall
- A recipe contains ingredients
- Example: nails, gypsum boards, etc.
- This determines which materials are used to build each element (e.g. tiles for bathrooms, concrete for foundations)
- A recipe represents all materials required to build an element
- Verify ingredients
- All recipes have default ingredients with standard dimensions for the underlying materials
- Different structures require different material dimensions; ingredients allow you to set values such as 45x90 or 45x115 for specific materials
- Mark the element as complete
7. Link Related Elements
Why is this necessary?
Certain elements, such as windows or doors, can only exist if they are located within another element, for example a wall. For the calculation to be accurate, it is important to link related elements together. Calculations are performed by accounting for openings (e.g. doors and windows) within larger elements such as walls, façades, and roofs.
Rules for Related Elements
| Element Type | Must Be Linked To |
|---|---|
| Window | Wall, room, or façade |
| Door | Wall, room, or façade |
| Interior wall | Foundation |
| Roof window | Roof |
An element can belong to multiple other elements
Example:
A window in an interior wall between two rooms → linked to:
- Room on side A
- Room on side B
- The wall itself
8. Export
Once all elements:
- have been reviewed
- are marked as complete
- have correct relationships
Open the calculation and export the result.
We offer two export formats:
- Excel
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| E | Open/Close element navigator |
| P | Open/Close attributes & recipes |
| Right-click (hold) | Pan the canvas |
| Double-click | Toggle standard controls ↔ polygon edit mode |
| Ctrl + click | Select multiple elements on the canvas |
| Shift + drag on a drawn object’s resize handles | Provides finer control when resizing shapes |