Your First Day with Darwin

Your First Day with Darwin

This chapter will guide you through the essential steps of using Darwin for the first time.
In less than an hour, you will learn how to:

1. Create your first project
2. (Optionally) Import an IFC model
3. Map model elements to cost modules
4. Generate your first estimation
5. Review and adjust prices
6. Produce a clear, traceable cost breakdown

Think of this chapter as your onboarding path — a quick but complete tour of how Darwin works in practice.

Each section ahead will break down the process into simple, guided steps with explanations of why each action matters.

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1. What You’ll Need Before Starting

To follow this onboarding, you should have:

• Access to your Darwin tenant
• A project idea (real or sample)
• Optional: an IFC model you want to test
• Optional: any documentation you’d like to attach (drawings, PDFs, notes)

If you do not have an IFC, don’t worry — Darwin works perfectly with manual input too.

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2. The Onboarding Flow at a Glance

Here is the flow you will follow in the next pages:

Step 1 — Create Your First Project

You will set up the container where all your estimation work will live: your documents, IFC files, modules, price lists, and revisions.

Next: first-project.md

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Step 2 — Import an IFC Model (Optional but Recommended)

If you have a BIM model, you will upload it and let Darwin extract quantities and classify objects.
If you do not use BIM, you can skip this step entirely.

Next: import-ifc.md

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Step 3 — Map Elements to Modules

This is where design connects to cost.
You will tell Darwin which module corresponds to which building element, allowing the platform to compute quantities automatically.

Next: mapping.md

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Step 4 — Create Your First Estimation

You will build an estimation using modules, quantities, and project-specific settings.
Darwin will compute costs, labor, materials, and overheads automatically.

Next: estimation.md

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Step 5 — Review Prices and Exchange Rates

You will review market assumptions, update price lists if needed, and ensure the estimate reflects current economic conditions.

Next: price-review.md

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3. What You Will Learn

By finishing this onboarding journey, you will understand:

• How Darwin organizes project data
• How modules act as reusable cost logic
• How IFC models accelerate quantity takeoff
• How estimates are structured and reviewed
• How to keep prices and exchange rates up to date
• How everything stays traceable inside the project container

This knowledge forms the foundation of your work in Darwin.

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4. Ready to Begin?

Start with the first step:

➡️ Create Your First Project