Bedrock for Project Engineers
Summary: Project engineers use Bedrock to automate drawing comparison and change detection, saving 10+ hours per week on tasks that previously required manual review.
The Challenge
Project engineers are responsible for identifying scope changes when new drawing revisions arrive. This typically involves:
- Manually comparing old and new drawings side by side
- Creating overlays to visualize differences
- Documenting changes for change order requests
- Communicating findings to subcontractors and stakeholders
- Tracking which changes affect schedule and budget
On large projects with frequent revisions, this work can consume 10-20 hours per week.
Common Pain Points
| Pain Point | Impact |
|---|---|
| Manual overlay creation | 2-4 hours per 100 sheets |
| Missed changes | Costly rework discovered later |
| Documentation gaps | Disputes over what changed and when |
| Communication delays | Subs don’t know about changes affecting their work |
| Change order backlogs | Can’t keep up with revision pace |
How Bedrock Helps
Automated Comparison
Instead of manually reviewing each sheet:
- Upload the prior drawing set
- Upload the current drawing set
- Bedrock automatically matches and compares sheets
- Review categorized changes in minutes
A 500-sheet comparison takes 15-20 minutes instead of 20-40 hours.
Change Categorization
Bedrock categorizes detected changes:
- Additions: New elements added to drawings
- Deletions: Elements removed from drawings
- Modifications: Existing elements changed
This categorization helps prioritize review and documentation.
Cost Impact Estimation
For each detected change, Bedrock estimates potential cost impact based on:
- Type of change (structural, architectural, MEP)
- Scope of modification
- Historical cost data
This supports faster change order preparation.
Export and Documentation
Generate professional outputs:
- PDF overlays for stakeholder review
- Change reports listing all modifications
- CSV exports for spreadsheet analysis
These documents support change order requests and dispute resolution.
Typical Workflow
| Step | Without Bedrock | With Bedrock |
|---|---|---|
| Receive new drawings | Download from architect | Same |
| Compare to prior | 4-8 hours manual review | 15 min upload + processing |
| Document changes | Manual notes and screenshots | Automated change report |
| Create overlays | Manual in Bluebeam | Auto-generated PDFs |
| Distribute to subs | Compile and email | Share Bedrock exports |
| Prepare change order | Manual cost estimation | Use Bedrock cost estimates |
Time Savings
| Task | Manual Time | With Bedrock | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100-sheet comparison | 4 hours | 20 min | 3.5 hours |
| Change documentation | 2 hours | 30 min | 1.5 hours |
| Overlay creation | 2 hours | 0 (automatic) | 2 hours |
| Weekly total (2 comparisons) | 16 hours | 2 hours | 14 hours |
What Bedrock Does NOT Do
- Does not replace engineering judgment: You still review and validate findings
- Does not create change orders: Outputs support your documentation
- Does not communicate with subs: You distribute the exports
- Does not track project schedule: Use your PM tools for that
Bedrock handles the comparison; you handle the project management.
Integration with Existing Tools
Bedrock exports work with your current workflow:
| Tool | Integration |
|---|---|
| Bluebeam | Import overlay PDFs for additional markup |
| Procore | Attach change reports to RFIs |
| Excel | Import CSV for custom analysis |
| Share PDF exports directly |
FAQ
How long does it take to learn Bedrock?
Most project engineers are productive within 30 minutes. Upload two drawing sets, wait for processing, review results. No complex setup required.
What if I already use Bluebeam for comparison?
Bluebeam is excellent for markup but requires manual alignment per sheet. Bedrock automates the comparison, and results can be imported into Bluebeam for additional annotation.
Can I compare partial sets?
Yes. Upload only the sheets you need to compare. Bedrock handles any set size from a few sheets to 1,000+.
How accurate is the change detection?
Bedrock detects changes at the pixel level. Accuracy exceeds 99% for graphic elements on native PDFs. Some filtering removes noise like title block updates.
What about scanned or legacy drawings?
Bedrock works with scanned drawings, though accuracy is highest with native PDFs. Scan quality affects alignment precision.
Key Takeaways
- Project engineers can save 10+ hours per week on drawing comparison
- Automated comparison replaces manual side-by-side review
- Changes are categorized and documented automatically
- Cost impact estimates support faster change order preparation
- Exports integrate with Bluebeam, Procore, and existing workflows
- Learning curve is minimal; most are productive in 30 minutes
Last updated: 2026-02-04