Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Integration

Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Computer Aided Design (CAD) software provides modeling and simulation tools for construction projects. These systems provide a key component to the successful execution of a project in the form of design specifications and material requirements from within a virtual model.

Providing an integration point with third-party CAD systems enables fast and accurate data sharing between design, estimating, schedule, project controls and accounting. Integrated CAD empowers data sharing between the systems unlike any single point of entry on the market. A work breakdown structure based on a design model (work package or entire project) from a third party CAD system can be created in Hard Dollar where cost, productivity, and schedule dates can be defined. Create multidirectional data delivery and collaboration by sending new data defined in Hard Dollar back to the CAD system to update the work package or project with cost, productivity, and schedule data.

Through a user interface, the data source (CAD system) may be accessed to allow the user to select the work package or project that they want to define cost, productivity, and schedule data for in Hard Dollar. Once the work package or project is selected, the user may elect whether or not they would like the resources (i.e. materials) associated with this work package or project in the CAD system to be imported into Hard Dollar along with the work package or project.

The result of selecting a work package or project and defining whether or not to add resources may be the creation of a work breakdown structure (including resource requirements, if elected) for the selected work package or project in the Hard Dollar Cost Breakdown Structure Register.

Below is an example of what the work breakdown structure may look like in Hard Dollar for a work package imported from a third party CAD system. The 4”-A-12 activity represents the entire pipe run (CBS Position Code 1). Each of the subordinate activities (materials) are those components that are necessary to “build” this pipe run. In the first screenshot, all of the activities are collapsed (hiding the resources required to complete the activity). In the second screenshot, the activities are expanded to show the resources required to complete the activity.

Once the work breakdown structure for the work package or project has been created in Hard Dollar, the costs, production rates, and schedules may be defined with direct integration to Primavera® or Microsoft® Project. Costs may be defined by detailing all of the resource requirements and a production rate (Detail cost source), directly entering the cost of the activity without defining the resource requirements (Plug cost source), or awarding the activity (component) to a subcontractor or vendor (Quote cost source).

An option may be provided to allow the user to add the drawing(s) for this work package or project as a project attachment in Hard Dollar for reference purposes.

Once the cost, productivity (man-hours), and schedule dates are defined in Hard Dollar, the user may be provided with a method to update the originating work package or project in the CAD system with thedata defined in Hard Dollar. This data may be used for planning, look ahead purposes, and/or historical analysis.