Bourbon maximizes Excel to save time, ensure accuracy
during project development

A bit of an Excel wizard, Tony Bourbon in District 1 has started sharing a tool he developed to expedite the creation of roadway summary sheets.

As part of design plan set, a project needs roadway summary sheet(s) to break down the pay items, units, and quantities used on each individual plan sheet.

Traditionally, ITD workers have used Estimator software to gather and then transfer the data line by line into the plan sheet. Another worker then reviewed the sheet to ensure no mistakes were made.

On a simple project, that could be a day’s work. On a more complex project, it becomes a much more tedious task, prone to costly errors.

Looking to save time and cut down on typos, Bourbon pioneered a new process.

“The estimate is exported from the Estimator software to an Excel format. This file is imported into a spreadsheet that divides the input into tabs with the required output sheet format,” Bourbon explained. “These output tabs are copied and pasted with a dynamic link into the Microstation Roadway Summary Sheet drawings.”

Although it sounds complicated, the outcome is simple.

“If the Estimator is right, then the plan sheets will be right,” Bourbon said. “It reduces the potential for errors.”

Currently, the tool is stored under D1 Standards in ProjectWise.


Published 08-09-19