Glossary

Common terms used in BuildVision and construction.

A

AI Detection Automatic identification of building components (doors, windows, walls) in construction drawings using artificial intelligence.

Area Measurement (SF) Square footage calculation for flooring, painting, roofing, and other area-based work.

B

Bid A proposal submitted to win a construction project, including scope, price, and schedule.

Budget The planned cost for a project, tracked against actual spending.

C

CAD (Computer-Aided Design) Software used to create technical drawings. Common formats: DWG, DXF.

Calibration Setting the scale of a drawing so measurements are accurate.

Change Order A formal document modifying the original project scope, cost, or schedule.

CSI Division Construction Specifications Institute categories for organizing work (Division 01-50).

D

Daily Log A record of activities, conditions, and events at a job site for each day.

E

EA (Each) Unit of measure for counted items (doors, fixtures, etc.).

Estimate A calculation of expected project costs, often presented as a quote.

G

Gantt Chart A timeline visualization showing project tasks, durations, and dependencies.

I

Invoice A bill requesting payment for goods or services provided.

L

LF (Linear Foot) Unit of measure for length-based items (trim, piping, wiring).

Line Item An individual priced component in a quote or invoice.

M

Markup The percentage or amount added to costs to cover overhead and profit.

MEP Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing - the building systems.

O

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) Technology that reads text from images and PDFs.

P

PDF Portable Document Format - common file type for construction drawings.

Permit Official approval from authorities to perform construction work.

Polyline A connected series of line segments used for linear measurements.

Progress Billing Invoicing for work completed at defined milestones rather than at project end.

Q

Quote A formal price proposal sent to a client for approval.

R

RFI (Request for Information) A formal question seeking clarification about drawings or specifications.

S

Scale The ratio between drawing dimensions and real-world dimensions (e.g., 1/4" = 1'-0").

SF (Square Foot) Unit of measure for area.

Stage A major phase of a construction project.

Submittal Documents submitted for approval before materials can be used (product data, shop drawings, samples).

T

Takeoff The process of measuring quantities from construction drawings.

Task An individual work item within a project stage.

V

Vector Drawing data stored as mathematical lines and shapes (vs. pixels), allowing accurate measurements.

W

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Hierarchical organization of project work into manageable sections.