AI Symbol & Item Counting
Stop tallying symbols by hand across dozens of plan sheets. BuildVision uses computer vision to detect and count every outlet, switch, fixture, sprinkler head, diffuser, and fitting on your plans — then aggregates totals across all sheets and feeds them directly into a BOQ. Visual overlays show exactly what was detected so you can verify in seconds.
Features
AI Symbol Detection
Detect symbols on construction PDFs, then review grouped results against the legend and schedules. Drawing quality, symbol conventions and overlapping marks affect the result; correct missed or misclassified items before pricing.
Automatic Counting
Every instance of each symbol type is counted accurately and categorized. No more tally sheets, no more losing count halfway through a 40-sheet plan set
Multi-Sheet Aggregation
Counts from every sheet in the plan set are aggregated into a single summary. Upload 50 sheets and get one total count per symbol type — no manual addition required
Visual Verification
Color-coded overlays on the original plan show exactly where each item was detected. Click any count to jump to the sheet and see the highlighted symbol — verify in seconds, not hours
Count-to-BOQ Pipeline
Counted items flow directly into a structured bill of quantities with no re-entry. Symbol counts become material line items ready for pricing and procurement
Any Trade, Any Symbol
Electrical outlets, plumbing fixtures, fire sprinkler heads, HVAC diffusers, structural connections, lighting fixtures — if it is on the plan, BuildVision counts it
Process
How It Works
Upload Plans
Drop your PDF blueprints into BuildVision — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, or any other trade. Single sheets or full plan sets
AI Detects Symbols
Computer vision scans every sheet, identifies all symbol types from the legend, and counts every instance. Results are categorized by symbol type and sheet
Verify Counts
Review color-coded overlays on the original plan. Each detected symbol is highlighted — click any count to see exactly where it was found. Adjust anything that needs correction
Export or Build BOQ
Export aggregated count totals as CSV, or move them into a BOQ. Symbol counts become material line items ready for pricing
- Eliminate hours of manual counting
- Catch every item — no more missed symbols
- Visual proof of every detected item
- Aggregate counts across multi-sheet plan sets
- Feeds directly into BOQ and quote workflows
- Works for any trade — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire
The Problem
- Your estimator is hunched over a plan set with a highlighter, tallying symbols sheet by sheet. 40 sheets, 12 symbol types, 4 hours of counting — and they still miss a few
- Missed outlets or fixtures turn into change orders on site. One overlooked sprinkler head on one sheet can throw off the entire bid
- When counts do not match, the only way to verify is to re-count everything from scratch — doubling the time investment
Our Solution
- AI scans all 40 sheets in minutes and counts every symbol type. No tally marks, no highlighters, no losing count on sheet 37
- Color-coded overlays on every sheet show exactly what was detected. Click any symbol to verify — takes seconds, not hours
- Counted items flow directly into a BOQ with zero re-entry. Symbols become material line items ready for pricing and procurement
See it in action
Short clips recorded in the BuildVision editor. Each one links to its full guide.
Measure length, count and radius
Length 0:25Measure a wall with Length, count light fixtures and name the count, then drag a radius on the curved bay. Each one is saved to Measurements.
Read the guide: Measure length, count and radiusPDF symbol counting in practice
From a lighting plan to separate fixture quantities
The existing E320 showcase records 35 A2 fixtures and 21 B fixtures. Keeping those types separate lets an estimator check schedule descriptions and apply the appropriate price and labor allowance.
1. Match the legend
Check the fixture tag and schedule. Keep A2 emergency variants and other fixture types in their own groups. Legend symbols are not installed equipment.
2. Correct the overlay
Inspect each group against the PDF. Remove confirmed duplicates, add missed symbols and reclassify incorrect types before accepting totals.
3. Reconcile the scope
Compare by sheet and zone, resolve schedule differences, and carry the reviewed counts into the BOQ. Count controls and associated work separately.
The E320 showcase contains 35 A2 fixtures and 21 B fixtures. This example prices only those two types; it is not the full lighting scope.
| Item / reference | Measured | Allowance | Priced qty | Material / unit | Labor h / unit | Direct cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A2 recessed LED fixtureE320 | 35 EA | 0% | 35 EA | $210.00 | 1.5 | $11,287.50 |
| B shallow-plenum LED fixtureE320 | 21 EA | 0% | 21 EA | $190.00 | 1.6 | $6,510.00 |
| Direct-cost subtotal for these lines only | $17,797.50 | |||||
Labor rate: $75.00/hour. Each line = allowed quantity × material unit cost + allowed quantity × labor hours/unit × labor rate. Round allowed quantities up to whole units in this example. Labor is applied to allowed quantity here; use installed quantity instead if that is how your assembly is defined. Rates are teaching assumptions, not current supplier quotes.
Scope still to price
- Other fixture types, controls, branch wiring, conduit, supports, and terminations
- Access equipment, testing, permits, taxes, overhead, and profit
Follow the electrical PDF walkthrough, then use the BOQ workflow to prepare the quantities for pricing.
Stop Counting Symbols by Hand
Let AI count every outlet, fixture, and fitting across all your sheets in minutes — free for 14 days.
Book a demo
Prefer a walkthrough before you start?
Book a demo on your drawings, or send us one bid package and we will run it through BuildVision and send back the results.
- Explore takeoff, estimating, and quoting.
- Discuss your drawings and estimating rules.
- Or send one bid package and get results back without a meeting.
- 1Your details
- 2Choose a time