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ISY CALCUS

Norconsult AS is the largest multidiscipline AEC consultant in Norway with 1400 employees. ISY software is developed by 'Norconsult Information Systems AS' which employs 112 people, has been in existence for 21 years and generates €14 million in turnover. ISY (translates as 'Easy and In System) develops solutions for design, planning, construction, FM, GIS, CAD, structural analysis, cost estimating, specifications and project management. ISY have more than 10,000 users in the AEC industry. BIM Products Ltd is the UK distributor for ISY Calcus and is responsible for its standards and language localisation.

 

CALCUS - BIM PIONEERS

ISY have been investing heavily in developing BIM based cost applications for several years. They have adopted the BuildingSMART approach and have tested 15 CAD systems and more than 450 BIM's for integration with Calcus in the last 3-1/2 years. The Calcus solution is recognised as a world pioneer in BIM calculation and has been used on projects in London, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Washington, Durban and Stockholm. ISY is at the cutting edge of BIM based cost applications and has no true competitors in this field.

 

BIM PRINCIPLE WITH BCIS DATA

Calcus reads the 3D BIM objects (walls, doors, windows, slabs, beams, columns etc.) and their quantities and matches them to an extensive cost database which has in excess of 1500 construction types. Calcus is being developed to use a comprehensive database covering British construction standards and norms. These are based on information and licensed from the Royal Institute of Chartered Quantity Surveyors (BCIS) which is updated twice a year.

 

HOW IS CALCUS POSITIONED?

Traditional early stage cost estimates based on the gross area of the proposed building whilst being quick to generate are 'rough and dirty' and generate 'one number' with a +/- cost range; it is not possible to test the principles, guesswork and assumptions they are based on. At the other end of the spectrum detailed calculations by a QS are based on a specification but require considerable effort, time (2-3 weeks) and expense. Their accuracy is dependant on good documentation, and includes assumptions for details that have not been decided. Neither method is suitable for a dynamic situation where the design is being revised by the stakeholders. The Calcus method sits between these two scenarios. It is extremely fast, generates a high level of accuracy with little input, produces good documentation and is easy to adapt to a dynamic project.

 

THE CLASSIC CALCUS METHOD (NO BIM)
Calcus has been specifically developed for cost estimating and calculation during the early stages of a project; idea > design sketching > preliminary design > detailed design. It fills the gap between the too simplified Gross Area estimate and the more tedious detailed resource calculation and provides a very high level of accuracy while keeping the work at a minimum. Calcus employs a systematic approach together with a high quality construction cost database (see separate product sheet).


THE BIM CALCUS METHOD
When a BIM is established on a project, Calcus will retrieve all the building objects from the model at any time. Data is available through the ISO-standardized IFC format and valuable information is attached to each object:

  • Quantities and full original geometry
  • Construction method and materials
  • Structural attributes etc.

BCIS COSTING DATABASE

The 1,500 construction types in its comprehensive database cover the British construction traditions, and each one may be adjusted into variations to suit the project requirements. The database is licensed from the Royal Institute of Chartered Quantity Surveyors and is subject to updates twice a year.

 

STANDARD LEVEL MODEL; AUTOMATIC MATCH
When CAD models are well organized, similar type objects have the same name/type number and naming scheme (wall types, door types, slab types etc.). Calcus recognises the name/type numbers and uses this for an automatic match to calculation elements containing specific cost data for the type. In this way a cost estimate may be established with little work and be directly linked to the quantities and building objects in the model. The advantage is that the process can be re-run at any time with little additional effort to produce updated results and a well documented cost estimate at every milestone in the project.

 

POORLY PREPARED BIM's

In the conceptual stage and even later in the design process, models may be less organised than they should be. Even in this case, Calcus will read all objects and quantities from the model. Users can then easily match the cost elements in the rich construction cost database to the objects in the BIM by hand. This drag & drop method is effective and provides a good overview.

 

QUALITY CONTROL

Calcus includes quality control and 'double check' features and will display in a transparent manner all available information that is integrated in the model; object attributes, quantity takeoff, calculation drilldown and a lot more. The Calcus cockpit displays the model so it may be browsed visually from a cost estimation viewpoint with the option of highlighting objects not recognised or costed and a palette of other quality assurance features. Calcus provides a sense of control never experienced before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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IFC IMPORT FROM ALL CAD SYSTEMS

 

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CALCUS READS BIM IN IFC FORMAT

 

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CALCUS COST COCKPIT