Plan2Takeoff: Structural BOQ & Cost Estimator

Note: All claims in this summary are based on self-reported information from the project description. No independent verification, revenue data, or customer evidence is available.

The description states that Plan2Takeoff is an interactive web application designed to automate civil engineering material estimation directly from vector PDF blueprints and CAD (.dwg / .dxf) engineering drawings.

It parses vector geometry across drawing layers, detects structural members (isolated footings, columns, beams, slabs, CHB walls), and computes precise quantities using Philippine civil engineering formulas:

• Isolated Footing Concrete Volume

$$

V_{concrete} = \sum_{i=1}^{n} (L_i \times W_i \times H_i)

$$

• Deformed Steel Rebar Weight

$$

W_{rebar} = \sum \left( L_{bar} \times \frac{\pi \cdot d^2}{4} \cdot \rho_{steel} \right)

$$

• Masonry Wall Area

$$

A_{masonry} = \sum (L_{wall} \times H_{wall}) - A_{openings}

$$

The system compares computed quantities against structural checklist rows, flags deviations exceeding 2%, resolves unit costs using DPWH CMPD material price matrices, and generates downloadable Excel workbooks and executive PDF reports.

Inference: The product appears to be a technical tool for civil engineers or construction professionals in the Philippines. It is not described as a SaaS platform or marketplace but rather as an automated takeoff engine with UI components.

The description states that the product was built to address manual quantity takeoff pain points during OJT, where tracing lines and typing numbers into spreadsheets was time-consuming and tedious. The authors note that existing tools were expensive and did not support Fajardo estimation methodology used in the Philippines.

They claim their tool is:

• AI-powered
• Free and accessible
• Designed for Philippine construction standards (Fajardo rules, DPWH rates)
• Built with limited resources during a hackathon

Claim: The product positions itself as an affordable alternative to expensive tools that do not support local estimation practices.

Inference: It is a niche tool targeting civil engineers or contractors in the Philippines who need automated takeoff capabilities aligned with local standards.

The description does not explicitly define target customers or ideal customer profiles (ICP). However, it implies that users are likely:

• Civil engineering professionals
• Construction project managers or estimators
• Contractors working on projects in the Philippines
• Individuals or small firms who lack access to enterprise-grade tools

Inference: The ICP is probably mid-tier construction professionals or students in the Philippines using Fajardo estimation methods and needing costed BOQs from blueprints.

The description states that the tool is free, accessible, and AI-powered. There is no mention of pricing models, subscriptions, or monetization strategies.

Claim: The product is offered at no cost.

Inference: No evidence of a business model beyond the self-reported “free” access.

The system is built using:

• Backend: Python (Flask), pdfplumber, ezdxf, ODA File Converter CLI
• Frontend: React SPA with SVG canvas viewer and custom CSS design system
• Data Sync: Supabase Cloud Storage and localStorage wrapper
• Report Generation: openpyxl for Excel, reportlab for PDF

Key technical features include:

• Asynchronous background job execution
• Vector geometry parsing from multi-page PDFs and CAD files
• Layer-filtering heuristics and spatial index matching for performance optimization
• Support for 228,000+ vector entities in large drawings
• Local storage caching of drawing states

Inference: The product is technically capable of handling complex civil engineering inputs and outputs. It shows early-stage development maturity with optimized parsing and UI components.

The project was submitted to the OpenAI 2026 hackathon on Devpost. The authors mention they are expanding the tool further, including support for full BOQ lifecycle and AI-powered OCR.

There is no evidence of:

• Revenue
• Customers
• Product usage metrics
• Market traction beyond the hackathon

Claim: The project is a prototype built during a hackathon.

Inference: No signs of commercial adoption or product-market fit beyond the development phase.

The description does not reference competitors. However, it implies that current tools in the market:

• Are expensive
• Do not support Fajardo estimation methodology
• Are not accessible to college students or small firms

Inference: The competitive landscape likely includes enterprise-grade software (e.g., AutoCAD-based takeoff tools) that may be inaccessible due to cost or lack of local standards support.

1. No commercial traction – No evidence of revenue, customers, or usage beyond the hackathon.
2. Unverified claims – The product is described as “free,” “AI-powered,” and aligned with Philippine standards, but no external validation exists.
3. Prototype nature – Built for a hackathon; unclear if it has been scaled or tested in real-world conditions.
4. Limited scope – Currently supports only core structural elements; full BOQ lifecycle is planned but not implemented.
5. Dependency on local standards – May limit scalability outside the Philippines unless adapted.

Inference: The tool may be a promising prototype, but lacks commercial viability or market validation without further evidence of traction or product-market fit.

1. Has the tool been used in any real-world construction projects beyond the hackathon?
2. Are there plans to monetize the platform? If so, what is the proposed model?
3. How does the system handle complex or non-standard blueprint annotations (e.g., irregular shapes, unclear dimensions)?
4. What are the performance limitations when processing very large CAD files (e.g., >100MB)?
5. Are there any partnerships with construction firms or engineering consultancies in the Philippines?
6. How is compliance with DPWH rates maintained over time, given that these change periodically?