
qto-report
Generate Quantity Take-Off (QTO) reports from BIM/CAD data. Extract volumes, areas, counts by category. Group elements, apply calculation rules, and create cost estimates automatically.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/datadrivenconstruction/ddc_skills_for_ai_agents_in_construction --skill qto-report- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads qto-report automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Quantity Take-Off (QTO) Report Generation
Overview
Based on DDC methodology (Chapter 3.2), this skill automates the extraction and grouping of quantities from BIM/CAD data. QTO is the foundation for cost estimation, scheduling, and project planning in construction.
Book Reference: "Quantity Take-Off и автоматическое создание смет" / "QTO and Automated Estimates"
"QTO Quantity Take-Off: группировка данных по атрибутам позволяет автоматически извлекать объемы и количества из BIM-моделей для расчета стоимости." — DDC Book, Chapter 3.2
5D BIM Concept
The QTO process is central to 5D BIM:
- 3D: Geometry (volume, area, length)
- 4D: Time (schedule integration)
- 5D: Cost (quantity × unit price)
Quick Start
import pandas as pd
# Load BIM element data
df = pd.read_csv("revit_export.csv")
# Generate QTO by category
qto = df.groupby('Category').agg({
'Volume': 'sum',
'Area': 'sum',
'ElementId': 'count'
}).rename(columns={'ElementId': 'Count'})
# Calculate cost (if unit prices available)
qto['Unit_Price'] = [150, 80, 450, 200] # $/m³
qto['Total_Cost'] = qto['Volume'] * qto['Unit_Price']
qto.to_excel("qto_report.xlsx")
Core QTO Functions
Basic QTO by Category
import pandas as pd
def generate_qto(df, group_by='Category'):
"""
Generate Quantity Take-Off grouped by specified column
Args:
df: DataFrame with BIM elements
group_by: Column(s) to group by
Returns:
QTO summary DataFrame
"""
# Define aggregations based on available columns
agg_dict = {}
if 'Volume' in df.columns:
agg_dict['Volume'] = 'sum'
if 'Area' in df.columns:
agg_dict['Area'] = 'sum'
if 'Length' in df.columns:
agg_dict['Length'] = 'sum'
if 'Count' in df.columns:
agg_dict['Count'] = 'sum'
else:
agg_dict['ElementId'] = 'count'
qto = df.groupby(group_by).agg(agg_dict)
if 'ElementId' in agg_dict:
qto = qto.rename(columns={'ElementId': 'Count'})
return qto.round(2)
# Usage
qto = generate_qto(df, group_by='Category')
print(qto)
Multi-Level QTO
def generate_multi_level_qto(df):
"""Generate QTO grouped by multiple levels"""
qto = df.groupby(['Level', 'Category', 'Material']).agg({
'Volume': ['sum', 'count'],
'Area': 'sum'
}).round(2)
# Flatten column names
qto.columns = ['Volume_m3', 'Element_Count', 'Area_m2']
# Add percentages
qto['Volume_Pct'] = (qto['Volume_m3'] /
qto['Volume_m3'].sum() * 100).round(1)
return qto.sort_values('Volume_m3', ascending=False)
# Usage
qto = generate_multi_level_qto(df)
qto.to_excel("qto_multi_level.xlsx")
QTO with Pivot Table
def generate_qto_pivot(df, values='Volume', index='Level', columns='Category'):
"""Generate QTO as pivot table"""
pivot = pd.pivot_table(
df,
values=values,
index=index,
columns=columns,
aggfunc='sum',
fill_value=0,
margins=True,
margins_name='TOTAL'
).round(2)
return pivot
# Usage - Volume by Level and Category
qto_pivot = generate_qto_pivot(df, values='Volume')
qto_pivot.to_excel("qto_pivot.xlsx")
Cost Calculation from QTO
Apply Unit Prices
def calculate_cost_from_qto(qto_df, prices_df, quantity_col='Volume'):
"""
Calculate costs by applying unit prices to quantities
Args:
qto_df: QTO DataFrame with quantities
prices_df: DataFrame with Category and Unit_Price
quantity_col: Column containing quantities
"""
# Merge with prices
result = qto_df.reset_index().merge(
prices_df, on='Category', how='left'
)
# Calculate costs
result['Total_Cost'] = result[quantity_col] * result['Unit_Price']
result['Cost_Pct'] = (result['Total_Cost'] /
result['Total_Cost'].sum() * 100).round(1)
# Summary
grand_total = result['Total_Cost'].sum()
print(f"Grand Total: ${grand_total:,.2f}")
return result
# Unit prices database
prices = pd.DataFrame({
'Category': ['Wall', 'Floor', 'Column', 'Beam', 'Foundation'],
'Unit_Price': [150, 80, 450, 200, 120], # $/m³
'Unit': ['m³', 'm³', 'm³', 'm³', 'm³']
})
# Calculate
cost_estimate = calculate_cost_from_qto(qto, prices)
cost_estimate.to_excel("cost_estimate.xlsx", index=False)
Apply Rules from Excel
def apply_excel_rules(df, rules_path):
"""
Apply calculation rules defined in Excel file
Excel format:
| Category | Formula_Type | Factor | Unit |
| Wall | volume | 1.05 | m³ |
| Floor | area | 1.10 | m² |
"""
rules = pd.read_excel(rules_path)
results = []
for _, rule in rules.iterrows():
category = rule['Category']
formula_type = rule['Formula_Type']
factor = rule['Factor']
category_data = df[df['Category'] == category].copy()
if formula_type == 'volume':
category_data['Quantity'] = category_data['Volume'] * factor
elif formula_type == 'area':
category_data['Quantity'] = category_data['Area'] * factor
elif formula_type == 'length':
category_data['Quantity'] = category_data['Length'] * factor
elif formula_type == 'count':
category_data['Quantity'] = category_data.groupby('Category').ngroup() + 1
category_data['Unit'] = rule['Unit']
results.append(category_data)
return pd.concat(results, ignore_index=True)
# Usage
df_with_quantities = apply_excel_rules(df, "calculation_rules.xlsx")
BIM Data Extraction Patterns
From Revit Export (CSV)
def process_revit_export(csv_path):
"""Process standard Revit schedule export"""
df = pd.read_csv(csv_path)
# Standardize column names
column_mapping = {
'Family and Type': 'Type',
'Volume': 'Volume',
'Area': 'Area',
'Count': 'Count',
'Level': 'Level',
'Category': 'Category'
}
df = df.rename(columns={
k: v for k, v in column_mapping.items()
if k in df.columns
})
# Convert volume from cubic feet to cubic meters (if needed)
if 'Volume' in df.columns:
# Revit exports in cubic feet by default
df['Volume_m3'] = df['Volume'] * 0.0283168
return df
# Usage
df = process_revit_export("revit_schedule.csv")
qto = generate_qto(df)
From IFC Export
# Using IfcOpenShell
import ifcopenshell
import pandas as pd
def extract_qto_from_ifc(ifc_path):
"""Extract quantities from IFC file"""
ifc = ifcopenshell.open(ifc_path)
elements = []
for element in ifc.by_type("IfcBuildingElement"):
# Get properties
props = {
'GlobalId': element.GlobalId,
'Name': element.Name,
'Type': element.is_a(),
'Material': None,
'Volume': None,
'Area': None
}
# Extract quantities from property sets
for definition in element.IsDefinedBy:
if definition.is_a('IfcRelDefinesByProperties'):
pset = definition.RelatingPropertyDefinition
if pset.is_a('IfcElementQuantity'):
for qty in pset.Quantities:
if qty.is_a('IfcQuantityVolume'):
props['Volume'] = qty.VolumeValue
elif qty.is_a('IfcQuantityArea'):
props['Area'] = qty.AreaValue
elements.append(props)
return pd.DataFrame(elements)
# Usage
df = extract_qto_from_ifc("model.ifc")
qto = generate_qto(df, group_by='Type')
Advanced QTO Reports
Detailed Material Breakdown
def material_breakdown_qto(df):
"""Detailed breakdown by material type"""
breakdown = df.groupby(['Category', 'Material', 'Type']).agg({
'Volume': 'sum',
'Area': 'sum',
'ElementId': 'nunique'
}).rename(columns={'ElementId': 'Unique_Elements'})
# Add subtotals for each category
category_totals = df.groupby('Category').agg({
'Volume': 'sum',
'Area': 'sum'
})
breakdown['Category_Volume_Pct'] = breakdown.apply(
lambda row: (row['Volume'] /
category_totals.loc[row.name[0], 'Volume'] * 100),
axis=1
).round(1)
return breakdown
# Usage
material_qto = material_breakdown_qto(df)
material_qto.to_excel("material_breakdown.xlsx")
QTO with Waste Factors
def qto_with_waste(df, waste_factors):
"""
Apply waste factors to quantities
Args:
waste_factors: dict like {'Concrete': 1.05, 'Steel': 1.03}
"""
qto = df.groupby(['Category', 'Material']).agg({
'Volume': 'sum'
}).reset_index()
# Apply waste factors
qto['Waste_Factor'] = qto['Material'].map(waste_factors).fillna(1.0)
qto['Net_Volume'] = qto['Volume']
qto['Gross_Volume'] = qto['Volume'] * qto['Waste_Factor']
qto['Waste_Volume'] = qto['Gross_Volume'] - qto['Net_Volume']
return qto
# Usage
waste = {'Concrete': 1.05, 'Brick': 1.08, 'Steel': 1.03}
qto = qto_with_waste(df, waste)
QTO Comparison (Design vs As-Built)
def compare_qto(design_df, asbuilt_df, group_by='Category'):
"""Compare designed vs as-built quantities"""
design_qto = design_df.groupby(group_by)['Volume'].sum()
asbuilt_qto = asbuilt_df.groupby(group_by)['Volume'].sum()
comparison = pd.DataFrame({
'Design': design_qto,
'AsBuilt': asbuilt_qto
})
comparison['Difference'] = comparison['AsBuilt'] - comparison['Design']
comparison['Variance_%'] = (
(comparison['AsBuilt'] - comparison['Design']) /
comparison['Design'] * 100
).round(1)
return comparison
# Usage
comparison = compare_qto(design_df, asbuilt_df)
print(comparison)
Export Functions
Export to Multiple Formats
def export_qto_report(qto_df, base_name, include_charts=True):
"""Export QTO to Excel with formatting and charts"""
from openpyxl import Workbook
from openpyxl.chart import BarChart, Reference
# Excel with multiple sheets
with pd.ExcelWriter(f"{base_name}.xlsx", engine='openpyxl') as writer:
# Summary sheet
qto_df.to_excel(writer, sheet_name='Summary')
# Detailed data
if hasattr(qto_df, 'reset_index'):
qto_df.reset_index().to_excel(
writer, sheet_name='Details', index=False
)
# CSV for integration
qto_df.to_csv(f"{base_name}.csv")
# JSON for API
qto_df.reset_index().to_json(
f"{base_name}.json", orient='records', indent=2
)
print(f"Exported: {base_name}.xlsx, .csv, .json")
# Usage
export_qto_report(qto, "project_qto")
Quick Reference
| Task | Code |
|---|---|
| Basic QTO | df.groupby('Category')['Volume'].sum() |
| Multi-column QTO | df.groupby(['Level', 'Category']).agg({...}) |
| Pivot QTO | pd.pivot_table(df, values='Volume', ...) |
| Apply prices | qto.merge(prices, on='Category') |
| Calculate cost | df['Cost'] = df['Volume'] * df['Unit_Price'] |
| Add waste factor | df['Gross'] = df['Net'] * waste_factor |
Resources
- Book: "Data-Driven Construction" by Artem Boiko, Chapter 3.2
- Website: https://datadrivenconstruction.io
- IfcOpenShell: https://ifcopenshell.org
Next Steps
- See
cost-estimation-resourcefor detailed cost calculations - See
auto-estimate-generatorfor automated estimate creation - See
gantt-chartfor 4D scheduling integration - See
co2-estimationfor carbon footprint calculations
FAQ
What does the qto-report skill do?
Generate Quantity Take-Off (QTO) reports from BIM/CAD data. Extract volumes, areas, counts by category. Group elements, apply calculation rules, and create cost estimates automatically.
How do I install qto-report?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/datadrivenconstruction/ddc_skills_for_ai_agents_in_construction --skill qto-report in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/qto-report/ (personal) or .claude/skills/qto-report/ (project).
Which AI agents can use qto-report?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is qto-report safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains qto-report?
It is published by datadrivenconstruction in datadrivenconstruction/ddc_skills_for_ai_agents_in_construction. It has 121 recorded installs.
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