Agent skill · software engineering · datadrivenconstruction
n8n-cost-estimation
Build n8n pipeline for automated cost estimation from Revit/IFC using DDC CWICR database and LLM classification.
Why this skill is useful
Adds a complete n8n pipeline with executable scripts for automated cost estimation from Revit/IFC files, integrating LLM classification and vector database queries.
What it needs
Requires @qdrant/js-client-rest, n8n installed locally. Requires qdrant account access. About 3k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-02-14. 265 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Automated Cost Estimation Pipeline Business Case Problem Statement Traditional cost estimation requires: Manual work item lookup in price databases Time-consuming element classification Expert knowledge of pricing standards Repetitive data entry Solution Free open-source n8n pipeline that converts CAD (Revit 2015-2026) files into full cost and time estimates using AI (LLM) and vector database with 55,000+ work items. Business Value Traditional Role Automated Alternative ----------------- ---------------------- BIM Manager manually exports data Pipeline auto-classifies elements Junior Estimator searches databases Vector search finds matches in ms Senior Estimator maps assemblies LLM identifies quantity parameters Foreman calculates labor hours DDC CWICR contains documented norms Project Manager aggregates costs Pipeline outputs phased breakdown Processing speed: 3-10 seconds per element group Technical Implementation Pipeline Architecture n8n Pipeline Steps 1. File Conversion Node 2. Load Elements 3. LLM Classification 4. Vector Search in CWICR 5. Calculate Costs 6. Generate Report Real-World Results Example project (racbasicsample.rvt): Processing time: ~30 minutes with ChatGPT Elements analyzed: 500+ Automatic classification: 95% accuracy Manual review needed: 5% edge cases Key Insight from Community "My subjective take: professionals who ignore workflow automation and AI-agents today have roughly 5 years before the construction industry moves past them. The tools are free and open. The data is open. The only question is who learns to use them first." Prerequisites n8n (local or hosted) DDC CAD converters DDC CWICR database OpenAI/Anthropic API key Qdrant vector database Resources GitHub: cad2data Pipeline repository Database: OpenConstructionEstimate-DDC-CWICR Community: n8n Workflows for Construction (Telegram)
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills datadrivenconstruction/n8n-cost-estimation