During my recent visit to World of Concrete, I met and talked with Mike Tartaglia and Steve Warfle. It had been a while since I worked with InSite software, and I heard they had made numerous improvements. First let’s cover the basics of the program. InSite does not run in AutoCAD. It can import files to AutoCAD version 2010. It cannot import Micro Station or other file types outside AutoCAD. The program utilizes two distinct screens, the CAD viewer and the takeoff area that act like individual programs. Commands are verb/noun. That means you select the command you want to do, (verb), then items on the screen you want to affect, (noun). This is the way new users think, shortening the learning curve.

The 3 basic elements critical to a takeoff are 2D lines like contours, 3D lines like curbs, and spot elevations. InSite does an admirable job of working with 2D lines. There is no function that tries to read text near the line and adjust elevations to match. We are not big fans of these routines, seems we always need to fix half of them. Just go through the lines after joining, verifying or changing the elevation.  Points can be imported with similar ease. The catch comes with 3D lines, that is a line that although continuous changes elevations. Curbs and sidewalks are 2 examples. In order to do a true 3D line, you would need Field General Software, ($3,495.00).  The work around is easy. It is not that hard to draw points and connect them with a line. Offset the line to the side and raise or lower it, you now have a curb. This is not data quality work, but if you are using your takeoff for data, your takeoff is too good.

Bore logs, stripping and subgrades are handled well. There is the advantage of a table based format to enter and edit these factors that affect the final numbers. InSite provides takeoff numbers using several different calculation methods so the user can get an average based the information.  The pipe takeoff is easy to use and very detailed. If you do underground utilities you need to take a look at the program, it does a nice job with pipe, fittings and related materials for bedding and shading.

It seems the new buzzword with takeoff software is pdf import. InSite has produced a unique solution. CAD based programs import an engineer produced, (not scan) pdf directly to the screen, and one layer. It takes some time to sort it all out. InSite allows you to draw right over a pdf, tiff or any other picture. You are able to let the program follow each line automatically and correct along the way. This is not only easy but more accurate than digitizing paper.

InSite is well priced at $6,995.00 the developers are adding features all the time so expect more in the future. The core program is stable and easy to navigate. I like the program for the first time user. With the program being broken down into the CAD window and Takeoff window, an estimator can have support staff do the initial import and clean up, then detail the job in the takeoff window. Please visit InSite

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