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BIM Takeoff lets you generate quantity takeoffs and build a complete Estimate directly from a 3D model — no manual measurement required. Map element parameters once, run the Model to Takeoff Wizard, and CUBE auto-creates Takeoffs and links them to your BOQ Items based on each element's metadata.

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Quantity surveying from BIM models has traditionally meant exporting schedules from Revit, reconciling them in Excel, and then re-entering quantities into estimating software. Every model revision restarts the cycle. BIM Takeoff replaces that workflow. As long as the modeller has populated each element with a Quantity Parameter, a Unit, and a Cost Database Item Code, CUBE can read those values directly from the model and assemble the Estimate for you.

This module sits inside the Estimates workflow and works alongside CUBE's standard 2D and 3D measurement tools, so you can mix automated takeoffs from BIM with manual takeoffs from PDFs and CAD drawings in the same project.

How BIM Takeoff works

BIM Takeoff treats the model as the source of truth for quantities. Three pieces of data on each element drive the entire workflow:

• Quantity Parameter — the parameter on the element whose value should be summed (e.g., Volume, Area, Length, Count).
• Unit — the unit that quantity is recorded in (cum, sqm, m, Each).
• Cost Database Item Code — the code that maps the element to an Item in your linked Cost Database.

When you run the Model to Takeoff Wizard, CUBE walks every element in the file, reads these three values, groups elements by Item Code, and creates a Takeoff for each group. Measurements on those elements are added as static measurements inside the Takeoff, and the matching BOQ Item is linked automatically. The result is an Estimate populated with quantities, units, and item-level costs without anyone clicking the measure tool.

Prerequisites

• The BIM Takeoff module is included as part of the Project Management product. Users on a PM seat can access it; access from CDE or Field seats follows your subscription configuration.
• The project must have a Cost Database linked to the Estimate.
• The BIM file (Revit, Navisworks, IFC) must have the three required parameters populated on every element you want quantified — Quantity Parameter, Unit, and Cost Database Item Code. Elements missing these values are skipped.
• BIM files are uploaded and managed through the standard Files / Spaces module. See the Files articles for upload, versioning, and processing.

Creating an Estimate from a model

The end-to-end flow looks like this:

1. Create the Estimate and link it to the relevant Cost Database.
2. Add the BIM file to the Estimate. Any RVT, NWD/NWC, or IFC file already uploaded to the project's Folders can be attached.
3. Open the Model to Takeoff Wizard. The Wizard reads the parameter list from the model and asks you to map three parameter names: which parameter holds the quantity, which holds the unit, and which holds the Cost Database Item Code.
4. Run the mapping. CUBE processes the model, groups elements by their Item Code, and auto-creates one Takeoff per group. Each element's measured value (volume, area, length, or count, depending on the parameter) is added as a static measurement on its Takeoff.