Masonry Magazine November 2009 Page. 21
MASONRY COMPUTER ESTIMATING
Masonry Computer Estimating
That Does It All... in 3D!
by TRADESMEN'S SOFTWARE
Reviewing our transportation best practice, www.genuine
stone.com/content/file/Best Practices/Transportation Best Practice
071409.pdf. We found that implementing transportation management promotes shipment efficiency, ultimately minimizing negative impacts to the environment and reducing costs. A comprehensive and proactive transport strategy can also improve carrier-shipper relations and enhance the quarry's, processing facility's or mason's reputation for social responsibility. Masons would also benefit from our case studies (www.genuinestone.com/env_researchandresults.php), which will help them better understand, maintain and execute the designers/architects' green design and specification of intent.
Masonry: Is it safe to say that stone is green?
Mattke: In a word, "Yes!" Genuine Stone is a natural product that is durable and easy to maintain, and that lasts for more than 100 years. As stated earlier, the NSC has worked hard to ensure that we credibly characterize natural stone ourselves before it was defined by others for us. We have been extremely proactive and engaged a third party to help us, so that we can safely and accurately say that natural stone is green. Now that we have a better understanding of our environmental footprint, we can effectively compare natural stone to other building products and look at where we need to improve.
Masonry: How does natural stone compare to other building materials in terms of sustainability?
Mattke: Our overall Life Cycle Assessment will answer this question. In it, researchers evaluate different "Environmental Impact Categories" such as global warming, acidification, eutrophication, habitat alteration, natural-resource depletion, solid-waste generation, ozone depletion and indoor air quality, among other factors. This is the most quantitative and holistic approach to compare the numbers of one product relative to another.
Comparison of natural stone to other products also depends on who the stakeholder is and if they're seeking some kind of certification like GreenSeal, GreenGuard, EcoLabel, or LEED.
New for 2009!
On-Screen 3D Take-Off
Just point and click on the digital blueprint and see your walls displayed. Our new On-Screen 3D Take-Off Engine makes it simple and fast.
Runs on Windows PCs and Bootcamp/Windows on Intel Macs.
30 day money back guarantee.
Support available 7 days a week.
152
Comes with more than 400 items in material database.
See the actual building being displayed in 3D as you do your take-off in either PLAN mode, PERSPECTIVE mode, OUTSIDE mode, INSIDE mode or at any ELEVATION.
Complete your take-off, then walk through or around and see the actual finished buildingis).
Calculates CMU: HALF and FULL BULLNOSE, DOUBLE BULLNOSE, CHAMFER, or SASH for any or all OPENINGS, JAMBS, CORNERS, CONTROL JOINTS and any SPECIAL CUTS
Integrate with Accounting Software and transfer data to Microsoft Excel.
Negotiating projects with a 3D image will win you more contracts and enhance your professional image
TRADESMEN'S SOFTWARE, Inc.
1-800-494-4899
See for yourself at:
www.tradesmens.com
READER SERVICE #163
November 2009
MASONRY 19
www.masonrymagazine.com