Minimal keyword integration: Calculator integration into your workflows
How do I integrate the Bond app into my company?!
Recently, a design-build firm sent in their question to us, and we thought some of you might be thinking about this as well.
“..we are already pretty busy. How can I most efficiently insert this into my workflow?
I am going to break this into two categories: design and LA firms and contracting firms. I am also going to assume this is for pre-build estimating and not post-build analysis. I’ll cover post-build analysis in a future blog. Given that most design/build firms have different protocols for each side of the business, I hope this covers their business as well.
The Bond app needs to know the amount of each item to give reliable answers, all the way down to the number of drip emitters.
Design
For this instruction, I am going to assume you are creating in-depth design packages. If you are not, you may need to work with your contractor to obtain more information, so you know exactly what materials they expect to use.
The Bond app needs to know the amount of each item to give reliable answers, all the way down to the number of drip emitters. If you are including in-depth take-off lists for materials, this is where you will find most of your necessary data. If you are not, you will want to use your CAD, or analog tools to calculate your pipe runs, emitters, plant quantiles by the container size, square footage of mature plants based on phtyo-types listed on the calculator, hardscape materials, etc.
Many CAD programs will allow you to build in self-calculating schedules. This is the fastest way to save time. Set up as many automated calculations in your workflow based on what the calculator needs. As most everything it needs, the contractor needs as well.
Before automation, a simple spreadsheet-based off on the calculator’s input items is how most people are doing this. It acts as a checklist for gathering and entering data and can be referred to if something doesn’t seem right with the results.
Currently, all entries to the calculator are manual. There is no current option to upload your spreadsheets or links to CAD.
The data entry is fast. I have repeatedly seen projects entered in 15 minutes. However, gathering the data is what can be time-consuming. This is where systems are essential.
Plant Material
It is important to note that plant material needs to be entered by container size and quantity in the plant material input group and then as the square footage of mature area based on the available phyto-types in the sequestration input category. Thus, plants are the only input that gets entered twice and by two different metrics.
Equipment, Contractor Transportation, & Deliveries
These are the most challenging categories for the design side of the profession to estimate.
Speaking with your potential build team and asking the following questions will help
- How many trucks do you expect to be traveling to the site each day, and are they gas or diesel?
- Is there a PM that will be on the job, and if so, what type of vehicle and how often do you expect them there?
- How long do you think this project will last?
- What suppliers do you expect to use?
This data is then combined with the miles from their base to the project, and a preliminary calculation is built regarding contractor transportation. Calculating the miles for the deliveries can also be preliminarily established this way. (See below for more details)
Equipment use is a bit harder and will require some investigating with the teams. We often ask:
- What machines will you be using
- How many hours per week do you expect them to be running?
Feet per hour for trenching, yards per hour for material moving, and square feet per hour at specifics depths for excavation are all numbers most contractors have. Obtaining some of these rules of thumb can help you predict these CO2 expenditures.
Build
The build side of the profession is generally responsible for all material purchasing and therefore has almost all the data for Bond right at their fingertips. Using the same data that completes your take-off lists will meet most of the needs of the calculator.
Contractor Transportation
If you are not tacking vehicle usage, this is simple by using the calculator and filling in the type and quantity of trucks you expect to use. The “duration of project” input and “miles from yard to job site” input will calculate the vehicle emissions for the vehicles you list below it. If the project is shorter or runs longer, just change the duration input, and everything recalculates automatically.
Deliveries
The only information you probably do not have is from your suppliers. A google maps search calculating mileage from the supplier to the site and selecting the size truck likely to bring it is all you need. You can put in the quantities of deliveries based on your schedule and the emissions self-calculate.
Plant Material
It is important to note that plant material needs to be entered by container size and quantity in the plant material input group and then as the square footage of mature area based on the available phyto-types in the sequestration input category. Thus, plants are the only input that gets entered twice and by two different metrics.
I hope this is a helpful start to integrating the calculator into your workflow. Feel free to send your questions to rick@calccarbon.com
There are additional video tutorials at www.bond.sandboxblu.com/video-tutorials. Once you sign up for a free account, the help drop-down will include video tutorials.