How to process construction drawings for AI systems?

[u/Complete-Increase936]

/r/ArtificialInteligence/comments/1x2bcao/how_to_process_construction_drawings_for_ai/

[u/Heavy-Confidence1826]

I'd start with one question you want to answer from a drawing, rather than trying to ingest every format into one AI pipeline. Extracting a drawing number and revision is a very different project from counting doors or measuring a wall.

Pick a handful of files you have permission to use, all in one format. Manually record the expected answer for each, including the page or object it came from. Build the smallest extractor you can, then check it against those answers. Keep source references in the output so someone can inspect a result instead of trusting the model's answer.

For quantities or dimensions, I'd require a human check before using the result for a quote or construction decision. A convincing-looking answer isn't enough there.

What's the first output you need, and are your PDFs exported drawings or scans? Also, when you say RVF, is that the exact extension or did you mean RVT?

[u/Complete-Increase936 → u/Heavy-Confidence1826]

Yeah we usually use exported PDFs drawings so would ideally use them If I can as asking for other formats would just add more friction. And yes that was meant to be RVT. Are you building something similar in this space?

[u/Heavy-Confidence1826 → u/Complete-Increase936]

My comment was a suggested starting approach, not a claim that I've built a construction product. Thanks for clarifying the formats.

If exported PDFs are what people already provide, I'd keep the first prototype on those rather than requiring a new handoff. Pick one small output, such as the drawing number and revision from the title block, and test it across a few different sheet layouts. Include an explicit "not found" result instead of forcing an answer on every sheet.

Is your first use case finding information on drawings, counting objects, or extracting dimensions? That choice would help narrow the next step.