NEWSLETTER

What Is Next At BSD?

Today and for the next quarter most of our development resources continue to focus on improving performance across the broad spectrum of computing platforms currently hosting BSD SpecLink-E (SLE) client and server software. As we do this we also address anomalies where found and continue to tune the application’s expanding features as the need arises. We also respond to customer requests adding and reshaping features to meet specific needs.

In the background though, a new day is dawning. We’re currently completing design of the integration between LinkMan-E (LME) and CostLink-E (CLE), the next generation of our powerful, but surprisingly easy-to-use CostLink/AE cost estimating system. This will complete a circle allowing full coordination between Revit models, CLE cost estimates and SLE specifications. If you haven’t looked at CostLink/AE, you should. CostLink/AE is cost estimating software that includes a subscription to three different annually renewable databases from the premier vendor of building construction cost data, R.S. Means (RSM), a division of Reed Construction Data (RCD).



Two of these databases can be used to build an estimate from scratch using line items and assemblies of line items. The third is a powerful cost modeling database of over 75 building types that lets you frame an estimate using a bare minimum of basic parameters for the type of facility. To prepare a model estimate all you have to do is select the building type, enter the building size in square feet, and the estimated perimeter of the building in linear feet. You can also choose from a number of exterior closure/structural frame alternatives and you can override defaults for additional parameters:

• Number of Floors
• Average Floor to Floor Height
• Partition Density (GSF per SF of Partition)
• Average Partition Height
• Door Density (GSF per Door)

Once a model is generated it can be modified by adding, deleting or replacing assemblies using line items and assemblies from the other two databases.

Whether an estimate is started from scratch or by using a model, the new LinkMan interface is going to allow associating Revit objects with estimate assemblies to provide accurate quantities from the Revit model to drive the CostLink cost estimate. At the same time, the CLE assemblies, which are composed of line items that will equate to LinkMan products, will be linked to SpecLink to enable appropriate product specifications.



LinkMan, as its name implies, facilitates linking items between multiple applications with disparate data types. It comprises a set of ‘dashboards’ and views that display the relationships between the data of the several applications. Each application has an associated view to display the state of data in that application. For example, the Revit view shows the Revit family, category and type tree, and the SpecLink view shows all products in the connected project organized by Section in the project tree. The CLE interface development effort will add a CostLink-E view displaying the CLE cost estimate assemblies in the UniFormat structure used to construct the estimate.

Everything is linked to LinkMan via LME’s own set of product and assembly definitions displayed in two dashboard views. The first dashboard shows all the products, the status of each product in each application (in use or not in use), and the assemblies that use the product. The second dashboard shows each LME assembly comprising a group of products and the assembly's status in the Revit project, SpecLink-E, and in the future, the CLE application. Each assembly also lists its quantity and will connect that quantity to the CLE cost estimate if desired.

The beauty of this combination of products (Autodesk Revit, BSD SpecLink-E, CostLink-E and LinkMan-E) is that a user can easily do a budgetary estimate in CLE, an early facility model in Revit using the quantities from Revit to improve the budget, and generate a specifications framework based on links from these two applications through LinkMan into SLE. The user can then use LinkMan to keep model, cost estimate and specification in sync throughout the project to produce a completely coordinated set of bid documents.

If you are interested in learning more about BSD LinkMan-E and how it works now with SpecLink-E, visit http://www.bsdsoftlink.com/linkman/linkman.htm. For more information about the current CostLink/AE product please visit http://www.bsdsoftlink.com/costlinkae/ae.htm.