Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for estimating a construction project over a computer network. The first step in the process starts when an architect or contractor enters information relating to at least one construction project into an online database. This online database is stored on a server creating a series of quantities for each of the at least one construction projects. Next, a system host presents a series of quantities for each of the at least one construction projects. Next, users such as contractors, subcontractors or construction managers can purchase and download these quantities and a construction report. These quantities are presented in a unique electronic spreadsheet template. Once the users have this template with the quantities included, they can bid on each construction project either online or through any other communication means.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a process and a system for listing information relating to a construction project over a computer network. More specifically, the invention relates to a process and a system for presenting quantities, estimates, bids, project schedules, and shop drawings relating to construction projects over a computer network. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a process and a system for displaying quantities, estimates, bids, project schedules and shop drawings for a construction project over a computer network. The quantities and estimates, are created through an electronic spreadsheet engine while the shop drawings are stored as a digitized drawing. The first step in the process starts when an architect or contractor prepares construction documents that are conceptual or working documents. The information is then transformed into a detailed list of quantities ready for pricing in an electronic spreadsheet format. This information is then stored in an online database. This online database is stored on a server that is connected to remote computers over the computer network. When the system host enters this information the system host creates a series of quantities for each of the construction projects. Next, the system host presents these quantities for each of the construction projects on a web-page over the computer network. Next, users such as contractors, subcontractors or construction managers can purchase and download these quantities and a construction report. Once the users have these quantities they can bid on each construction project either online or through any other communication means. 
     To further simplify this process, each construction project is sorted in the database by location so that when users log into the database, they can choose construction projects based upon their location. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
     FIG. 1 schematic diagram of the system for presenting construction projects over a computer network; 
     FIG. 2 is the process for importing construction information into a server on the computer network; 
     FIG. 3 is the process for presenting construction projects over the computer network; 
     FIG. 4 is a copy of an add/remove project web-page for adding or removing projects to the database; 
     FIG. 5 is a copy of a file upload web-page for uploading files into the database; 
     FIG. 6 is a copy of a project update web-page for revising projects already entered into the database; 
     FIG. 7 is a copy of a location selection web-page for selecting construction projects based upon their location; 
     FIG. 8 is a copy of a quantities listing web-page wherein a user can select the particular quantities to purchase; 
     FIG. 9 is a copy of a customer information web-page for entering in the name and information of a user who might want to purchase a listing of quantities for a project; 
     FIG. 10 is a copy of a cost update web-page that allows an administrator to update the cost to download quantities for each division or specification section; 
     FIG. 11 is a first embodiment of a selection page for selecting quantities or estimates; 
     FIG. 12 is a second embodiment of a selection page for selecting a project quantity or estimate listing; 
     FIG. 13 is a copy of a first web-page detailing a project quantity or estimate listing; 
     FIG. 14 is a copy of a second web-page detailing the project quantity or estimate listing; 
     FIG. 15 is a copy of a third web-page detailing the project quantity or estimate listing; 
     FIG. 16 is a copy of a fourth web-page detailing the project quantity or estimate listing; 
     FIG. 17 is a copy of a fifth web-page detailing the project quantity or estimate listing; 
     FIG. 18 is a copy of a sixth web-page detailing the project quantity or estimate listing; 
     FIG. 19 is a copy of a seventh web-page detailing the project quantity or estimate listing; and 
     FIG. 20 is a copy of an eighth web-page detailing the project quantity or estimate listing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 refers to a schematic diagram of the computer network  5  for presenting a construction project over a computer network. 
     In this case, there is a server  10  that is run by a system host  15  that controls a processor  20 , a data storage device  25 , a database  30 , and a series of web-pages  35 . The database is preferably stored in data storage device  25 , while web-pages  35  are generated for viewing from database  30 . 
     System host  15  runs a program that controls the process for displaying quantities, estimates, bids, project schedules, and shop drawings on construction projects stored in database  30  over the computer network. Through a series of remote computers, a series of different purchasers can log into server  10  to review these construction projects and to purchase information relating to these construction projects on web-pages  35 . These purchasers could be an architect  40 , a general contractor  50 , a construction owner  60 , a construction engineer  70 , a subcontractor  80 , a construction supplier  90  or a builder  95 . 
     This process is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. Essentially, FIG. 2 shows the process for entering information into database  30 . In this case, in step  100 , a project owner such as an architect  40  selects to add or remove a project. Next in step  110 , the user such as an in house project co-ordinator receives information relating to a construction project in a central office that houses system host  15  via an electronic transfer, or through a regular mail service. The electronic transfer can be effected by either an electronic transfer such as electronic mail or a file upload. The user uploads this information via a web-page shown in FIG.  5 . This information comes in the form of shop drawings, or project schedules. Here, in step  120 , the user reviews the drawings and specifications with team leaders and enters information such as digitized sketches taken from blueprints, and a spreadsheet that contains the estimate numbers for each type of material necessary to build this construction project. Next, in step  130  the user prepares the order of the quantities to take off. Next, in step  140 , the user distributes the order of the take off to each discipline. Each discipline or section is categorized and listed in FIGS. 13-20. Next, in step  150  the user starts the quantities take off process for each discipline. Here, all material quantities are taken off and listed with the associated specification section, sub-sections, and drawing number. All quantities that are taken off include an audit trail, indicating how the quantities were derived and the location in the documents where these quantities were specified. Each detail, location and specification is referenced with respect to construction documents when available or at the discretion of the team leader. In some cases, a traced drawing is included with the quantities indicating precisely what was taken off from the drawings. 
     Next, in step  160  a project supervisor such as a head of a division reviews the quantities taken off of the information presented. Here the project supervisor can question the user regarding the type and the amount of quantities taken off of the information presented. In this case, the estimators use a take off software such as a digitizer which allows each estimator to review the drawings and take off quantities based upon these drawings. 
     Next, if the supervisor accepts these quantities, then in step  170  the user prepares these quantities for posting online. After that, each specification section and subsection that has been quantified will be saved as an individual electronic spreadsheet file and posted online in that manner. Next, in step  180  the user creates a test run to determine whether the data has errors. Finally, in step  190  the user posts quantities online for sale or use online to bid. 
     FIG. 4 shows a web-page for allowing a member of an administrative team to enter information relating to this construction project. This information is the project name, the address of the project, including the city, state, and zip code of the project, the engineers estimated cost, the bid due date, the General Contractor&#39;s estimated project start date, the project contract number, the size of the project in square footage, and a brief description of the project. 
     Once this information has been entered, the administrative team can change the project information via a web-page shown in FIG.  6 . FIG. 6 shows a series of fields that allows a user to update quantities, estimates or bids for each sub heading. For example, this web-page allows a member of the administrative team to enter the division number and the name of the subheading taken from one of the sixteen divisions shown in FIGS. 13-20. Next, the user can update the division cost and the project square footage for each division entered. 
     FIG. 3 shows the process for retrieving this information for the construction projects. This process starts with step  200  wherein a purchaser such as a contractor, subcontractor, engineer, or construction manager logs into server  10 . Next, in step  210  the purchaser selects the location of the project via a web-page shown in FIG.  7 . In this case, when the purchaser selects a project based upon the location of that project, system host  15  sorts each project based upon its location and then presents these project in the order of the proximity to the location that the user selected. Once this project has been selected in step  220 , the purchaser can review this project in step  230  to make sure that this project is the exact project selected by the purchaser. The purchaser reviews this project via a web-page shown in FIG.  8 . 
     Next, in step  240  the purchaser agrees to purchase this project wherein the purchaser is next directed step  250  to enter in the purchaser&#39;s purchasing information in a webpage shown in FIG.  9 . Here the purchaser enters customer information such as company name, address, the user&#39;s name, telephone number, fax number, email address, the user&#39;s login id and password. In addition, the purchaser is asked to enter in his or her credit card information to purchase this item. 
     Next, in step  260  the purchaser downloads the information that he or she purchased. Essentially the information purchased by the user is either quantities, estimates, bids, project schedules, or shop drawings. 
     If in step  250  the purchaser purchased quantities from system host  15 , then the purchaser could proceed to step  270  to enter estimates for the quantities downloaded by the purchaser. The purchaser has the option to either enter these estimates online and have them saved into database  30 , or to send these estimates directly to the purchaser presenting the construction project online. If the purchaser presents his or her estimates online then the purchaser simply uploads this information relating to the estimates to server  10  and system host  15  saves this information in database  30 . 
     Next, in step  280 , the purchaser can also present a bid based upon these estimates so that this system creates not only an online quantity disclosure for construction projects but also an online bidding process for construction projects. 
     At any time during this bidding process, the user displaying the construction project information could provide cost updates to the purchasers bidding on this project. These cost updates could be in the form of a change in the price of each quantity report downloaded, or a change in the price of quantities for each division based upon the square feet of the project. The display of this cost estimate is shown in a web-page in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 11 shows a first embodiment of the invention showing a listing for the quantities in the sixteen different fields shown in FIGS. 13-20. In addition, on this web page there is included a listing of the quantities in a left-hand column and the corresponding estimate in the right-hand column. In this way a purchaser can simply select a check box in the left-hand column to select the quantity and the price for that quantity. 
     FIGS. 13-20 show the layout of a series of web-pages that list quantities. Essentially, when an architect  40  presents information relating to this project to system host  15 , the architect  40  presents this information in a spreadsheet style with CSI index numbers detailing the different areas of construction. A user using system host  15  then arranges this information into a series of  16  headings that are standard for all projects. These headings are general conditions, sitework, concrete, masonry, metals, wood and plastics, thermal and moisture protection, doors and windows, finishes, specialties, equipment, furnishing, special construction, conveying systems, mechanical, and electrical. In that way, a series of purchasers connected to system host  15  can select different quantities for purchasing based upon the purchaser&#39;s selection of these divisions or headings. 
     Accordingly, while two embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.