Is anyone here using tablets for plan annotation and takeoffs? Best software (iOS/Apple)? 1

[Spartan5]

What apps have you found to work well? I'm looking for something that allows for quick measurement (distance, area, perimeter) and annotation (leaders, clouds, sketching). Integration with a cloud storage service would be great as well. I'd prefer something with a one time fee rather than an ongoing subscription but that is becoming ever more difficult to come by.

 

[jayrod12]

I don't know how well it integrates with Apple. But bluebeam has great measurement tools that work well with our windows surfaces.

 

[Agent666]

I second bluebeam on a Microsoft surface device. On iOS bluebeam isn't of the same calibre as the full blown PC version from what I understand. Plangrid is another possibility, though no idea if they have a mac version and I've never used it.

 

[phamENG]

For you guys using bluebeam - how is the photo embedding feature? I know for iOS you can snap a picture and drop a photo icon hyperlink onto a sheet that opens the photo when you click on it (even if you open it on a desktop). Last time I tried it with a PC it would only embed the photo directly into the sheet, covering whatever's behind it (annoying when making a live photo key plan with multiple shots in the same vicinity). Not sure if they have changed it or if there's a way to unlock the icon method in it.

 

[Aesur]

We use Bluebeam as well for all things PDF related, including comments, redlines, sealing plans, etc... To answer your question @phamENG, it appears that what you mentioned is possible on the tablet version: Youtube Video Link.

 

[Agent666]

phamENG, yes you can do that in the PC version of bluebeam. Just write a note or markup and while still in the note you can then take a photo using the camera on your device or insert a picture you took earlier which it will embed with the note. Basically works the same as Aesur's youtube link, click on an icon and embedded photos appear.

 

[phamENG]

Outstanding. Thanks, Agent666. Put one more note in the "Pro" column for transitioning to a Surface...

Sorry for hijacking the thread, Spartan!

 

[JoelTXCive]

I have Microsoft Surface that I use in the field sometimes. Aside from bluebeam, there is another app that receives lots of positive reviews for taking photos and doing quick annotations + field notes.

It's called: 'Drawboard PDF'. It is not near as powerful as bluebeam, but for quick photos and fieldnotes; it works well. I use it to take photo in the field, and then write notes so that I can go back to the office and CAD it up.

I think the app costs less than $15 a year.

They have lots of you tube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB2WapYG4oQ

 

[Celt83]

Bluebeam (Windows, Mac) - Industry standard right now (recent versions have been an absolute embarrassment, but can still do what is required with occasional crash)
Drawboard PDF (windows) - decent program to get measurement tools you need to purchase a pro subscription
Concepts (Windows, Mac, IOS) - with a bit of mucking with the settings can get to a decent scale drawing
Autodesk Sketchbook (Windows, Mac, IOS, Android) - create a visual scale and then you can do manual takeoffs
Krita (Windows, other versions available but not stable) - same Autodesk Sketchbook
Xodo PDF (Windows, IOS, Android) - no personal experience but see this recommended a lot



My Personal Open Source Structural Applications:

https://github.com/buddyd16/Structural-Engineering

Open Source Structural GitHub Group:

https://github.com/open-struct-engineer

 

[Brad805]

I use a wacom tablet for marking up drawings in bluebeam. The first thing I realized when I first started is it takes practice. It is a bit like artwork, and with these devices the scale of your page is constantly changing as you zoom around. For scale drawings I use the paper version, but there is a few extra steps to use that and I have found I have not been using it as much.