CADopia Introduces ExtrAXION
ExtrAXION is the simplest quantity surveying and cost estimating software tool. It is the perfect solution for the AEC industry professional who requires accuracy, speed, efficiency and emphasis on detail when preparing project cost estimates, especially in renovation projects, where digital drawings may not be available.
ExtrAXION offers the ability to rapidly measure linear elements, areas, volumes and item counts, with great accuracy. It supports a large number of CAD (.dwg, .dxf etc.) and image files such as scanned drawings and digital photographs (.bmp, .gif, .jpg etc.) as well as multi-page PDF files.
Measurements can be associated with Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) work items at any time, resulting in an automatic and comprehensive integration of the quantity takeoff and cost estimating procedures. WBS data can be imported from or exported to MS Excel and quantity takeoff and cost estimation results can also be extracted to MS Excel.
ExtrAXION can be used by general contractors, architects, quantity surveyors, cost estimators and any professional in the construction trade involved in quantity takeoff and cost estimating.
Measure with just a few clicks:
- Linear and arc elements.
- Areas either on the drawing’s level or perpendicularly to it by specifying a fixed height, or even variable height at each polyline node.
- Volumes based on areas, specifying height and width, if necessary.
- Count elements using individual or group selection marking. Blocks of CAD drawings may be used for automatic count.
Features and Benefits
- ExtrAXION is easy to learn and does not require any specialization in the use of CAD software. One can start using it with minimum training and get results fast.
- Optimize the quantity takeoff procedure based on digital plans, using several measurement methods.
- Minimize the time required to complete the takeoffs.
- Built-in tools (zoom, magnifier, snaps to objects etc.) for speed and accuracy.
- Each measurement is colored and labeled and can be visible or hidden. This greatly minimizes the possibility of unintended omissions or double measurements.
- Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) may be built within ExtrAXION or imported from Excel. Work items may be added even during the course of a measurement.
- WBS work items may be linked to their corresponding measurements. Measurements and their details are displayed directly under the work item. Total or per-drawing work item quantity is automatically calculated and access to work item measurements is just a click away: by double-clicking on a measurement under a specific work item, the corresponding drawing is opened, and all measurement layers that relate to this work item in this drawing are enabled.
- All project measurement data are efficiently stored in a single location (data file or database). Project plans (be they CAD drawings or scanned plans), WBS, takeoff quantities and any other relevant information are easily accessible.
- ExtrAXION’s quantity takeoff engine minimizes the use of paper plans, rulers and highlighters that traditional methods require.
- Work on either CAD (dwg, dxf, dgn etc) drawings, image files (bmp, gif, jpg etc) or PDF files.
- Elements of “intelligent” CAD drawings such as lines, polylines and blocks may be used in combination with the built-in selection tools for extra fast measurements.
- Each measurement may be composed of several parts, combining different measurement methods e.g. measuring area in different parts or directions of the plan.
- The measurement result may be adjusted by specifying a factor or even an entire MS Excel-like formula.
- Using the built-in filtering and sorting capabilities, measurement views can be customized and extracted to MS Excel.
- It is possible to mark already measured parts of the drawing, using an auxiliary layer, so that they are clearly visible.
- It is possible to try different budget scenarios by readjusting library parameter values in each project.
- A measurement can be linked to one or more work items.
- Measurement results can be derived from primary measurement results using even complex mathematical expressions.
- Custom measurements can be created by using basic measurement types. In a custom measurement, the user can set measurement parameters, whose values can either be typed in or marked on the drawing. For example, in order to calculate the total weight of slab reinforcement bars where the main measurement is the length of each steel reinforcement bar, the parameter “slab width”, which should be defined, can be marked on the drawing.
- It is possible to copy measurements from one drawing to another. This is greatly helpful, for example, in the case where a drawing you’ve been working on has been altered by its creator, but the quantity takeoff progress you’ve made in the original drawing is significant.
- Analysis of areas using simple shapes like rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoids triangles and arcs where the surface area calculations, the dimensions, the related work items etc. are presented in every detail.
- Full measurement analysis either using template sheets, or exporting all measurements to excel. Areas are calculated by breaking down closed shapes into triangles, trapezoids, rectangles and circle sectors, with dimensions shown on the drawing.
-Optionally, the area calculations can be performed using triangles only, which is useful for on-site measurement checking.
New features added
- New ways of storing data: on an SQL Server database or on a local database file. A project may be exported from the central SQL Server Database and be saved as an .sdf file allowing users to work away from their office. This way a quantity surveyor is able to continue measuring on the construction site and later re-import the modified project file to the main SQL Server.
- Multi-user support when using SQL server to store data installation more than one users have access to the same project simultaneously and they can even measure on the same drawing!
- New, intuitive and flexible way of organizing and presenting drawings, measurement sheets and measurements.
-Each drawing may include any number of measurement sheets and every sheet as many measurements you wish.
-Measurements are presented in tree views, below the work items of the WBS and below drawings and measurements sheets.
-Drawings can either be stored into the project, or used as external references. - Length measurement on isometric drawings
A new option to manually enter the value in length measurements was added. It can be used on isometric drawings e.g. oil & gas, in cases where the scale is different per drawing region or if the user just wants to override ExtrAXION’s calculations. - Object Count
Automatic object count is now possible even on scanned image files.
Automatic counting of blocks has been significantly improved. Users can now select a block directly on the drawing in order to count all its instances. Alternatively, each block can be chosen from a list of all available blocks, while the currently selected one is previewed.
Define a search region on the drawing, where object search will be limited to whether you are working on an image file or a vector drawing. - New option to define the size of the marker used for counting objects, in addition to its shape and color.
- Revisions
Visual comparison of drawings to identify changes between different versions. This way, alterations are easily detected and measurements can be modified accordingly. The comparison can be performed between image files or between vector drawings. - Copying and moving measurements
Users can choose parts of one or more measurements to be copied or moved on the drawing. Thus, the process of measuring in cases there are many identical objects e.g. windows on a facade, can be significantly accelerated. - 3D measurement representation
It is possible to have a three dimensional view and to rotate drawings and their measurements for a better visualization and control over the measurements in space. E.g. roofs, walls and openings, which have been measured on the floor plan.
The 3D view allows the direct detection of errors which emerge from wrong dimension input. E.g. errors that might occur while typing the value of a parameter such as the height of a wall which has been measured with the method “vertically to the drawing”.
Measurements can be represented in three dimensions in vector drawings and even in scanned drawings! - Roofs
The area of an inclined roof can be calculated from the floor plan drawing.
The roof is calculated based on its slope, which can be entered either in degrees or in pitch. - Black and White View
Ability of Black and White view of colored vector drawings in order to clearly distinguish the measurements from the underlying drawing layers
The Black and White feature is also available in the 3D view of drawings and their measurements. - Importing more than one Drawings simultaneously
It is now possible to select and add more than one drawings to a project simultaneously
The drawings which are imported together can be in different formats (dwg, dxf, jpeg, pdf etc.) - Notes on drawings
It is possible to enter notes on drawings in order to point out highlights and clarifications for the drawing’s approver.
The user can specify and change the size, color and position of a note entry freely. - Miscellaneous
Improved measurement analysis per work item and per sub-measurement with all measurement results, parameters and functions available. The area analysis (in rectangles, triangles, trapezoids etc.) of each figure is also shown.
Selecting and linking multiple work items to a measurement using the Ctrl or Shift key is now available.
Set the scale on vector files by directly typing it, choosing from predefined ones in addition to defining it on the drawing.
Users can now name each sub-measurement, as well as edit their names and parameters at a later time. Additionally, parameter values per node can be edited directly on the drawing.
It is possible to rotate one or more measurements (free, about 90°, vertical and horizontal inversion). The rotation feature along with the copy feature speed up the measuring process in situations with plenty of similar areas, for example symmetric rooms in a hotel.
In both Vector and scanned drawings the scale can be changed at any point, even if there have already been made measurements on the specific drawing. The measurement’s shapes are readjusted automatically and their values are recalculated.
It is now possible to change the marking figure shape and size of existing measurements. It is also possible to use custom made count shapes which have been created using a CAD software.
Important expansion of the options which appear by right clicking for faster access to ExtraXION’s commands.
The user has the ability to define the line weight of each measurement separately.
The user can now adjust the crosshair to his liking, by changing the size and or the color of the axes.
There is no ortho mode anymore it has been replaced by the Polar track lock option that is enabled automatically when measuring on non-vector drawings. Press F8, or click the button.
15 degrees is the default. See in Settings to define the angle polar track lock
There is a hint showing the line length during drawing lines when measuring
Single click area measurement on vector drawings using the method “line enclosing point” to automatically locate the perimeter even if it is not a closed polyline. If there is area overlapping due to single click only it is automatically measured only once. In case of minus (–) then it is subtracted.
Right click to hide figure current layer or hide all other layers show all layers
Multiple work items selection is possible before starting a measurement in order to link a measurement with all selected WBS items.