Cubit Estimating AI Tools — Quick Start (v15)

Cubit Estimating AI Tools — Quick Start

A growing suite of AI tools to speed up take-off: auto-scale and rename plans on import, detect symbols, trace areas, count text labels, and edit shapes faster.

Full feature documentation is available via the links in each section below.

Logging InAuto Scale & RenameCount SymbolsAuto AreaScan TextEdit PointsBest PracticesFAQ

iFirst time using AI features? Make sure you check out the changes to logging in.

AI Auto Scale & AI Plan Rename New in v15

View Full Documentation →

What it does

During plan insertion, AI Auto Scale detects the scale shown on the plan and applies it automatically, while AI Plan Rename detects the plan name shown on the plan and renames the imported plan. Use them together or separately.

Key benefits

Automatic scalingDetects and applies the plan scale on import.

Automatic namingRenames plans from the drawing name shown on the plan.

Scale shown at a glanceThe applied scale appears in the bottom-left of the viewport.

Off by defaultEnable either option in Settings → Plans → AI settings for new Plans.

iAlways check the applied scale before measuring. The applied scale is shown in the bottom-left corner of the viewport — whether detected by AI or set manually — so you can confirm it at a glance. If AI Auto Scale can't detect a scale, Cubit prompts you to set it manually. The original file name and page number remain in the plan details pane.

!AI area tools are unavailable until the plan has a scale — this helps prevent incorrect take-off quantities. Set the scale (automatically or manually) before using the area tools.

AI can and does make mistakes. Always review and verify every result before using it in your estimate — AI-generated shapes, counts, and detections may be inaccurate, incomplete, or miss elements entirely. Use your professional judgement to check all outputs.

Count Symbols

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What it does

Select a reference symbol — like a light fitting or power outlet — and automatically detect and count matching instances across the plan.

Key benefits

Rapid bulk detectionCount dozens or hundreds of symbols instantly.

Adjustable confidenceTune the match threshold to refine results.

Quick navigationClick to highlight, double-click to zoom to any result.

High accuracyBest results on clean vector drawings.

!Vector PDF required. This tool reads vector data — it won't work on scanned, flattened, or rasterised plans. If Count Symbols appears disabled, your plan likely needs to be re-imported as a vector PDF. See the Best Practices Guide for setup steps.

AI can and does make mistakes. Always review and verify every result before using it in your estimate — AI-generated shapes, counts, and detections may be inaccurate, incomplete, or miss elements entirely. Use your professional judgement to check all outputs.

Auto Area

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What it does

Analyses floor plans to automatically detect and trace areas, generating editable shapes in seconds, without requiring manual tracing.

Key benefits

Time savingsAutomatically traces walls across the whole plan.

No manual tracingDetects and traces areas for you in seconds.

Editable shapesAdjust, move, or remove points like any manual shape.

Best for floor plansClear, enclosed rooms with standard walls.

!Results vary on complex drawings — elevations, sections, diagonal walls, or curtain wall systems. Always review and adjust shapes before finalising quantities. See the Best Practices Guide for tips on getting better results.

AI can and does make mistakes. Always review and verify every result before using it in your estimate — AI-generated shapes, counts, and detections may be inaccurate, incomplete, or miss elements entirely. Use your professional judgement to check all outputs.

Scan Text Improved in v15

View Full Documentation →

What it does

Finds and counts specific text labels across your plans — room names, door tags, window references, fixture labels, and more. Detection accuracy and result navigation have both been improved in v15.

Key benefits

More reliable detectionv15 has improved how text and labels are detected.

Result navigationStep through results; double-click to centre a match.

Flexible matchingSearch using Contains, Starts with, Whole words, or Case sensitive.

Combined countsGroup multiple search results into a single count shape.

Instant countingConverts labels directly into measurable quantities.

Works on all plan typesVector PDFs, image PDFs, PNG, and JPG all supported.

iv15 has improved how text and labels are detected, but results still depend on drawing quality — rotated or low-resolution plans may affect detection. For the best results, use vector PDFs imported as vector, where v15's improvements are strongest. See the Best Practices Guide for tips on improving detection.

AI can and does make mistakes. Always review and verify every result before using it in your estimate — AI-generated shapes, counts, and detections may be inaccurate, incomplete, or miss elements entirely. Use your professional judgement to check all outputs.

Select & Edit Multiple Shape Points New in v15

View Full Documentation →

What it does

Select multiple points on a shape at the same time, then delete or move them together. Useful for cleaning up AI-generated shapes, and it works with manually drawn shapes too.

Key benefits

Box-select pointsHold Ctrl and drag a box around the points to edit.

Delete or move togetherRemove extra points or reposition them in one action.

Clean up AI shapesQuickly tidy results from Auto Area.

Available to everyoneWorks for all users, not only AI users.

iEnter a shape's edit mode to show its editable points, then hold Ctrl and drag a selection box around the points you want to change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AI expected to be 100% accurate?

No. The AI tools are designed to significantly reduce manual work, not eliminate estimator review. Always review and adjust generated shapes and counts before finalising quantities.

Can I turn on AI Auto Scale and AI Plan Rename?

Yes. Both options are off by default and can be enabled in Settings → Plans → AI settings for new Plans, before importing new plans. Using either option, or both together, consumes the same number of AI tokens. Always check the applied scale before measuring.

What drawings work best with Auto Area?

Floor plans with clear, continuous wall boundaries and standard room layouts provide the best results. Complex layouts such as open-plan industrial spaces may require more manual refinement.

Does Scan Text work on all PDF types?

Yes — it supports vector PDFs, image-based PDFs, PNG, and JPG files. For the best results, use vector PDFs imported as vector, as v15's detection improvements are most effective on vector plans. Detection can still vary with plan quality, resolution, and whether the text is rotated.

Why is Count Symbols greyed out / disabled?

Count Symbols requires vector data. If your plan has been flattened or rasterised, symbol detection won't be available. Re-import the plan as a vector PDF and ensure "Flatten PDF" is turned off. See the Best Practices Guide for full setup instructions.

Do I need to be an AI user to edit multiple shape points?

No. Selecting and editing multiple shape points at once is available to all users, not only AI users. It is especially useful for cleaning up shapes created by Auto Area.