SnapCOST — AI cost estimating from drawings to BOQ and quantity takeoff

1.What is SnapCOST?

SnapCOST (스냅코스트) is a web-based AI cost estimating platform developed and operated by DESIGN INSIGHT. It divides a project into buildings, floors and rooms and links the drawings, 3D models, bill of quantities (BOQ), quantity takeoff, specifications and CXD evidence of the same room as one set of project data. Value engineering (VE) branch comparisons, revision locks, alternative CG galleries, design proposal decks and color plans (SnapPPT) are handled in the same workflow.

2.What problem does it solve?

It addresses having to revise takeoffs, BOQs and ordering documents separately every time the design changes, and the difficulty of explaining which drawing a quantity came from. The takeoff records the formula, variables, drawing source and quantity evidence grade for each room, and BOQ lines, specifications and CXD capsules are linked by the same room so the evidence can be traced. During VE review it verifies the current basis before export, preserves locked revisions and rate settings, and proposes materials verified (VERIFIED) on other projects as candidates for finish slots.

3.How is it different from existing CAD tools?

CAD tools are for drawing; SnapCOST reads CAD drawings and 3D models and carries them into quantity takeoff and the BOQ. From a DXF drawing it treats closed polylines on the floor-finish layer as room boundaries, groups them by ROOM TAG text and extracts each room's area and finish surfaces (ROOMTAG extraction), while also computing wall, floor and ceiling quantities from room type plans and SketchUp 3D models with separate opening deductions. Rooms with open boundaries or abnormal areas are not applied automatically and are passed to a person for review with the reason.

4.Who is it for?

It is for architecture and interior design firms that prepare their own BOQs, takeoffs and color plans, contractors and custom furniture makers that need to manage VE comparisons, furniture costs and schedules, public and private clients and auditors who verify quantity evidence and revision history, and cost estimating offices that review unit prices and finishes. DESIGN INSIGHT refines the features by using them on its own public library, school and hospitality interior projects.

5.How can I commission development or collaborate?

For SnapCOST adoption and for commissioning AI agents or workflow automation in architecture and construction, email ceo@desinsight.com or call +82-2-2603-7252. To check results on your own drawing first, request a trial takeoff with one drawing and your finish specifications; we accept 10 requests per month on a first-come basis and reply within 7 business days. DESIGN INSIGHT runs several AI agents together in its own practice on the SnapGRID environment.

6.What does it produce?

It produces the construction cost BOQ, quantity takeoff, specifications (finish slots), CXD capsules, VE branch comparison and revision-locked statements, web 3D models and alternative CG galleries, design proposal decks, color plans and a per-material room usage and purchase order draft. Deliverables share the FL03 document family style (embedded NanumSquare fonts and evidence QR codes), and each output is confirmed by a person before it is finalized.

7.How does the Jev finish recommendation work?

An agent asks TypeSafe's Jev model how well candidate materials fit a specification item and shows the judgment as a reference panel in front of the existing approval button. The server chooses candidates from the organization's verified (VERIFIED) products and suppliers, and code separately performs unit price and unit comparisons and hard specification conflict checks. Only allowed fields such as item name, specification, unit and room name are sent out; unit prices, amounts, customer names and contact details are blocked by a check right before the request. When confidence is below 0.6 or required information is missing, the item goes to human review instead of a recommendation, and the feature currently runs as a pilot on one designated project.

8.Is my data safe?

Without signing in, no screens or APIs other than the public about and sample pages are accessible, and project data and the SHA-256 runtime asset store are isolated by organization (fail-closed) behind permission checks. External partner access requires viewing the full NDA and completing an electronic signature for time-bounded access (90 days initial, renewable in 3-month increments within the contract term), while masking sensitive unit prices and blocking unauthorized file exports. Requests to the external AI model (Jev) are checked right before sending so that only allowed fields pass, and CXD capsule search is computed on the server without external transmission.

9.Can I see actual outputs?

You can download the sample BOQ and quantity takeoff (Excel and PDF) of the anonymized project 00 Library Remodeling without signing in, and each file is published with its SHA-256 value. Amounts in the sample are ratio-converted and are not actual construction costs. Screens of the features in operation are shown in the SnapCOST videos on the DESIGN INSIGHT YouTube channel (@desinsight).

View the sample BOQ and takeoff

10.What kind of company is DESIGN INSIGHT?

DESIGN INSIGHT (디자인인사이트 주식회사) is an architecture and interior design firm in Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, that carries out interior design for public projects such as public libraries and schools. Its YouTube channel @desinsight publishes project videos including Sanggye Library, Jungbong Library, Hamyang Library, Miryang Municipal English Library, Taereung Eoullim Library, the Hwaseong reading culture space, Daegok High School, Eco 1 Elementary School, Ungchon Elementary School and Seosa Middle School. The design team develops SnapCOST and operates multiple AI agents together on SnapGRID across registered master and compute nodes with a directive ledger, task queue leases and canonical NAS SHA-256 verification.