Does Building Explorer only work with Autodesk Revit products?

At the present moment, yes; however, we are looking into other BIM CAD applications.



Can Building Explorer be used “out of the box” to estimate and schedule?

Yes it can be.  Building Explorer comes with a fully integrated set of RSMeans cost databases updated regularly that you can further customize (formulas, parameters, descriptions, work items, import your cost data, etc.) within our Cost Data Manager module that ties in directly to Revit and lays beneath our Building Explorer data.



Is there a way to estimate incomplete Revit models?

Building Explorer was designed in such a way that you are able to continually add information to your Revit Family objects as the design progresses.  Each time you add a more precise assemblies / work items to Revit objects, your model based Revit estimate in turn becomes more accurate instantly.  For missing model components (you have not designed yet), for example HVAC, use our Sq. Ft. Model Wizard based on real life buildings’ data from RSMeans to include costs of those missing elements.



What kind of reports can Building Explorer produce?

Within Building Explorer you can analyze a model from many different aspects.  For example, you can produce MS Excel QTO’s, Cost reports based on the Uniformat, Masterformat 2004, by levels (how much does level 4 cost?), by Revit Families, by predefined groups (i.e. Tenants).  If you create phases within Building Explorer, you are able to produce cost reports based on phases.  You can also analyze your defined spaces, departments, and produce Sq. Ft. area reports based those.



How are the costs associated to the model estimate related to project location?

When setting up your project information choose from a map where your project is being built.  Once you have chosen the city, Building Explorer utilizes RSMeans 900+ North America City-Cost index for factors in labor and material.  Within the Cost Data Manager module you are also able to define your own city and create a cost factor based on labor and material.



Is Building Explorer a standalone application or a network application?

Currently Building Explorer installs on one computer at a time; however, it was designed to be a network application and we are currently testing it in a network environment?



If the Revit model has changed, do we have to redo the entire estimate once it is imported to Building Explorer?

Changing a Revit Model instantly changes your cost estimate and project schedule upon importing it into Building Explorer; furthermore, you can also take advantage of our Version Compare feature that displays two versions of the model side-by-side.  With this feature you can analyze and select which information (assembly, work items, crews, equipment, subcontractors, schedule logic, etc.) you would like to use from the previous Revit model and create a new up-to-date third version.



Does Building Explorer generate project schedules automatically?

Our Automatic Scheduling Engine produces detailed project schedules you can export to MS Project or Primavera.  Within the scheduling engine you are able to manipulate the logic that accompanies our mathematical algorithms that produce thousands of tasks instantly.  By creating Phases, Groups, and manipulating the relationship editors to suite your specific project needs, you can produce multiple construction sequencing options instantly.  Analyzing different building options visually inherently gives you to power to predict what will happen next on projects and act accordingly.



What exactly is a BIM based 3D Bidding Platform?

Building Explorer 3D Quote/Bid Platform allows users to create instant Bid/Quotes by selecting which object would like to included in the report.  Once created, all the user does is chose which companies to include in the bid.  The companies receive a MS Excel spreadsheet where they input their quote.  When the quote is received by Building Explorer the user has the ability to view them side-by-side.  In fact, once a winning offer is chosen, the quoted cost is integrated into the system cost for further estimating precision and the objects are effectively displayed in our color coded 3D Subcontractor Viewer.



What is the license structure of Building Explorer?

Please contact us at sales@buildingexplorer.com or call us directly at 323.319.6469