Catalog Overview
Catalog Overview
Section titled “Catalog Overview”The Catalog is the backbone of Darwin’s cost intelligence system.
It contains all the reusable building blocks that define how your organization understands construction:
- Materials
- Labor
- Expenses & Logistics
- Modules (your Cost DNA)
- Classifications (UniFormat, MasterFormat, IFC context)
This section explains how the Catalog works, why it matters, and how each component contributes to consistent, structured, and transparent estimating.
1. Why the Catalog Exists
Section titled “1. Why the Catalog Exists”Traditional estimating tools often bury critical information inside spreadsheets.
Each estimator ends up rewriting the same structures:
- material lists
- crew compositions
- production rates
- system definitions
- indirect cost templates
Darwin solves this by turning all of that knowledge into reusable, standardized components.
The Catalog ensures that:
- estimations are built on consistent assumptions
- teams share the same construction logic
- updating prices does not break logic
- new estimators onboard faster
- cost data becomes an asset, not a liability
2. What the Catalog Includes
Section titled “2. What the Catalog Includes”Materials
Section titled “Materials”The physical components of construction: concrete, rebar, drywall, windows, etc.
Each material includes:
- unit of measurement
- default cost
- supplier information (optional)
Trades and production rates, including:
- hourly cost
- trade classification
- optional productivity assumptions
Expenses & Logistics
Section titled “Expenses & Logistics”Indirects and operational costs, such as:
- general conditions
- handling and warehousing
- transportation rates
- distance tiers
These help ensure that estimates reflect real-world jobsite conditions.
Modules (Your Cost DNA)
Section titled “Modules (Your Cost DNA)”The most important part of the Catalog.
A Module is a reusable assembly that represents how something is built — a masonry wall, a slab, a footing, a door, a window system, a beam, a partition, a façade panel.
A module contains:
- materials
- labor
- expenses
- documentation
- classification tags
- optional IFC context
Modules define construction logic — not prices.
Prices come from the price list assigned to the project.
3. How the Catalog Connects to Estimating
Section titled “3. How the Catalog Connects to Estimating”When you create an estimation:
- modules bring construction logic
- materials and labor flow into cost breakdowns
- expenses apply automatically
- price lists update the numbers
- IFC mapping assigns modules to building elements
The Catalog ensures that the same structure is applied consistently across all projects.
4. Best Practices for Using the Catalog
Section titled “4. Best Practices for Using the Catalog”To get the most out of Darwin:
Start with simple, well-defined modules
Section titled “Start with simple, well-defined modules”You can expand complexity over time.
Avoid mixing logic with prices
Section titled “Avoid mixing logic with prices”Modules define how you build.
Price lists define how much it costs today.
Document modules clearly
Section titled “Document modules clearly”Include notes, drawings, or specifications where relevant.
Use consistent naming conventions
Section titled “Use consistent naming conventions”This makes searching and filtering easier across projects.
5. Explore the Catalog Sections
Section titled “5. Explore the Catalog Sections”Continue to the next pages to dive into each part:
- ➡️ Categories
- ➡️ Materials
- ➡️ Labor
- ➡️ Expenses & Logistics (optional relocation needed)
- ➡️ Modules
Each chapter explains how the component works and how it contributes to your estimating workflow.