Finally switched from paper plans to a tablet on site and it's a game changer

I used to carry around a whole roll of blueprints for every job site visit. Folding them up in the wind or rain was a pain, and I'd lose my place constantly. About 2 months ago, I finally bought a ruggedized 10 inch tablet with a stylus and a markup app. Now I can zoom right in on the MEP details without flipping through 10 pages. I mark up changes in red and send them to the GC's email before I even leave the parking lot. My truck is way cleaner without all those coffee-stained paper rolls rolling around. Has anyone else found a specific app that handles redlines better than the basic stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

holly70911d ago

Oh wow, I totally feel you on this one. I made the switch about a year ago and honestly I don't know how I managed before. That whole routine of fighting with wet paper plans in the rain, trying to keep the edges from ripping, it was just exhausting. And the mess in the truck, don't even get me started. I use Bluebeam on my tablet and it's been really solid for redlines. It does a good job with the layers and you can save your markups so they look clean when you send them out. The zoom feature alone saved me from squinting at tiny details more times than I can count. Glad someone else is finally getting some peace from the paper chaos.

pat_roberts5510d ago

Man my buddy had the exact same epiphany last year. He showed up to a site in a downpour trying to protect his paper plans under his jacket. Ended up slipping on mud and the whole roll went flying into a puddle. Drenched mess. He finally caved and got a tablet the next week. Now he's always bragging about how he can sit in his truck and email markups before the sun even goes down. Told me he'd never go back to paper even if someone paid him.

david7039d ago

Sounds like your buddy learned the hard way that paper plans and rain don't mix. At least now he can sip his coffee in the cab while the rest of us are doing the wet paper dance.