Automated Bill of Materials Generation from Virtual Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for generating a bill of materials from architectural models and drawings are inefficient and lack automation, requiring manual review and processing, which can lead to errors and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising processors and computer-readable memories that generate virtual 2D or 3D models and relational databases, define specification scopeboxes, determine assembly placement and interconnections, and create a schedule for material ordering and placement, thereby automating the bill of materials generation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual review and processing of drawings or models is used to generate bill of materials, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but efficiency and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-service by allowing the bill of materials generation process to execute autonomously without manual intervention. The processor automatically retrieves data from the visual building model, extracts component information, and generates the bill of materials through programmed algorithms, eliminating the need for manual review and processing while maintaining high accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual review process with an automated computational system. The processor substitutes human analysts by using software algorithms to interpret visual building models, identify components, and generate billing information, thereby dramatically improving productivity while reducing manual labor requirements
2Reliability
If manual review of drawings or models is performed to determine necessary items, then accuracy can be verified, but time consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual verification processes with automated computational algorithms that systematically extract data from visual building models. The processor uses programmed logic to ensure data accuracy and completeness, eliminating human error while reducing the time required for verification from hours to minutes
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates accurate digital copies of building component information directly from the visual model. By extracting and replicating data elements from the digital model rather than manually transcribing from drawings, the system maintains high accuracy while significantly reducing processing time and eliminating transcription errors
3Loss of information
If comprehensive manual analysis of architectural models is conducted, then completeness of material listing is improved, but complexity of the process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex task of bill of materials generation into distinct automated steps: retrieving visual model data, extracting component information through pattern recognition, categorizing materials by type and specification, and generating the final bill. This segmentation simplifies the overall process while ensuring comprehensive coverage of all material information through systematic processing of each segment
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for improvements in generating a bill of materials and a schedule. In some embodiments, a system is disclosed that has one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable memories coupled to the one or more processors and configured with instructions executable by the one or more processors that may cause the system to perform operations that include receiving a file, folder, or package, generating one or more virtual 2D or 3D models and a relational database based thereon, generating one or more specification scopeboxes defined by spaces within the models, determining placement of assemblies within spaces defined by specification scopeboxes to associate assemblies with specification scopeboxes, determining the interconnection of assemblies, generating a quantity scopebox containing materials necessary for the placement of the assemblies and their interconnections, and generating a schedule for the ordering or placement of the materials.