Carroll Estimating helps construction prime contractors and developers better understand bid and construction costs. Focusing on estimating services, the firm helps secure bids and projects simply and efficiently. In order to generate competitive bids by performing more accurate 2D calculations and automatically generating quantities from 3D models, Carroll Estimating has adopted Autodesk Takeoff within Autodesk Construction Cloud, cutting the time it takes to calculate quantities in half.
Technology plays a key role in business growth
Patrick Carroll, director at Carroll Estimating, knows that the shortage of surveyors and analysts in Ireland is putting pressure on bidding and tendering timescales for infrastructure and construction projects.
“We know that continuous evolution and investment in the best technology solutions ensures that we can promptly provide the most accurate figures to support our relationships. We enjoy the customer loyalty that comes with the quality of work we deliver,” says Patrick.
For Carroll Estimating, utilising BIM on projects and technology that creates a common data environment is essential to having access to the most up-to-date project data and information.
Establishing better BIM practices to save everyone’s time
The use of BIM models for estimating is something Carroll Estimating prioritises in every project. They began a trial of Autodesk Takeoff in early 2020 to explore options that combine 2D and 3D quantification capabilities into a single solution.
“We’ve been able to work much more effectively with our supply chain partners and the main contractor, as we all work with the same information for take-overs, bids and tenders,” says Patrick.
Carroll Estimating can create competitive bids using Autodesk Takeoff by performing more accurate 2D calculations and automatically generating quantities from 3D models.
“Before using Autodesk Takeoff, we were spending a lot more time on this process. For example, on one particular project, we had to do a takeoff for 400 doors, with over 20 door types, and each type had a separate specification. Previously, this could have taken a day to identify doors by model, but with Autodesk Takeoff, we can do this in less than a minute,” Patrick adds. For Carroll Estimating, the reduction in time spent on administrative tasks means that their team can focus on activities that add value.
“Another example is the time it now takes to price structural floors. Before, this could take half an hour and now we can do it in seconds.”
– Patrick Carroll, Director
Competitiveness and growth through technology
Carroll Estimating not only saves time by using Autodesk Takeoff features to generate the exact quantities needed for pricing, but the team can also check and see the most detailed quantities when it comes to bidding and tendering for future work.
The team works with multiple versions of designs across projects, and are now instantly alerted when drawings change. They can then quickly check with Autodesk Takeoff to see how any changes affect pricing, where previously it might have taken days to update these changes. Real-time collaboration with architects and designers means seamless communication. The project team can communicate their needs in models for pricing and estimating the work going forward. This is crucial as accuracy is key when it comes to tendering for works – competition is fierce and estimating needs to be accurate to stay competitive in the market.
“For us as a team, working with multiple 3D models has opened up the market. Previously, we were mainly doing work that had 2D drawings, but now we can work on more complex and larger projects as the solution improves our productivity.” For Patrick, the value of working digitally with BIM is something that shouldn’t be missing from every construction project, and is the very future of the industry.
“Good BIM practice saves time on projects and reduces both the need to repeat tasks and the number of mistakes that can occur. Our team is no longer under so much demand as we work in a digital environment that is collaborative and transparent. This improves productivity as well as safety.”
– Patrick Carroll, Director