CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
13 April 2011
Product News
Hard Dollar Introduces New 5D Design Data Integration
Hard Dollar announced the availability of its 5D Design Data Integration model. The new module provides an open API for integration to any design software system. Out-of-the-box integration with On Center On-Screen Takeoff software is included. The integration utilizes a framework established to streamline the process of translating design and takeoff data into usable estimating quantities for engineering and construction projects.The integration dramatically shortens the time it takes to get accurate quantities into estimates, and identify and update changes between drawings and estimate versions.
Users of the On-Screen Takeoff software can calculate lengths, areas, volumes, counts, and more by simply using a mouse to click on electronic drawings, such as image files or PDF files. The resulting quantities are instantly visible to estimators using the Hard Dollar software, where they can be placed into the estimate to drive cost items, resources, or assemblies.
If the drawings later change, Hard Dollar flags any new or revised take-off quantities so the estimator has full visibility to the changes, which can then be processed into the estimate with a mouse click. Thanks to the all-electronic exchange, the entire cycle is up to 500% faster and significantly less prone to error.
"The Hard Dollar integration to On Center On-Screen Takeoff is simple and intuitive, and will provide mutual customers a significant advantage in their estimating process," said Chris Buzz, Chief Operating Officer for On Center Software. "Hard Dollar is the first ISV to take full advantage of our new API and it shows."
"Hard Dollar estimates that leveraging electronic design data throughout the project cost management process will result in greater cost accuracy and re-double efficiencies many times over," said Brad Barth, Hard Dollar Vice President. "Our Design Data Integrator was built to enable 'plug-in' access to leading design data sources such as On Center's On-Screen Takeoff (OST) solution. The dynamic interaction between Hard Dollar and OST supports a highly visual process by enabling quantities and bills of materials to flow seamlessly from electronic drawings into robust cost models containing crews, assemblies, costs, and schedule logic linked to Microsoft Project and Oracle Primavera."
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