From our friends at Carlson Software (Dan H.)

DanHolohan

MAYSVILLE, Ky.-- Build a better mousetrap, the saying goes, and the world will beat a pathway to your door. Carlson Software Inc. went one better with Carlson Takeoff, developing the first-ever AutoCAD-based site-estimating option. Construction companies are finding this new software from Carlson is the perfect answer for fast and accurate project estimating.

First introduced in 2004 to take the drudgery out of estimating from “digital plans,” Carlson Takeoff topped the million-dollar-sales mark in 2006 and is on track to reach $2 million by the end of the year.

“Construction companies are discovering that Carlson Takeoff is the most accurate site estimating software available,” says Bruce Carlson, president and founder of Carlson Software. “It’s so accurate, its models can be used for both stakeout and machine control once contractors get the bid.”

Built on the AutoCAD engine, Carlson Takeoff is easy to use and saves countless hours by offering 3D simulation, streamlined digitizing, automated elevating, precision calculating of volumes and material quantities, plus cut/fill color mapping.

“We were staking out a design in Wausau, Wisc., for cut and fills, when the engineer emailed us a changed design plan,” explains Andy Portale, of GSP Group in Oconomowoc, Wisc. “To our amazement, we opened the design file in Carlson Takeoff and within minutes, we determined the cut and fills for the whole site. Then we simply transferred the design surface (tin) to our Topcon HiperLite GPS data collector with ease. There were no transitions whatsoever. It was awesome.”

Carlson Takeoff gives construction companies the flexibility to input to different software programs, including DXF, LandXML, and Softdesk, and then output to a wide variety of hardware including Sokkia, Leica, TDS, Topcon, Nikon, and more.

“We listen intently to our customers in order to deliver better, improved software solutions to meet their needs,” adds Carlson. “We’re excited to be providing a real time-saving solution with Carlson Takeoff.”

Visit www.carlsonsw.com or call 800-989-5028 for more details about Carlson Takeoff or for the name of a Carlson dealer ready to serve you.

Founded in 1983, Carlson Software Inc. is a leading provider of office and field software for land development markets, including land surveying, civil engineering, mining, construction, accident reconstruction and machine control. Carlson Software is headquartered in Maysville, Ky., with offices in Atlanta and Boston.