Sessions
At ICE Conference 2011, sessions are no longer solely geared toward the Estimators in your company. New sessions have been developed for Executives, IT Personnel, ICE Basic, Intermediate and Advanced users. Company Executives can come to ICE Conference 2011 and walk away knowing that their investment will produce proven results. Basic sessions are a great place to start for those who have had minimal exposure to ICE. New users can come to ICE Conference 2011 and walk away with the tools needed to become a proficient user of ICE. Other sessions are designed for users with prior training or with several years experience with ICE. Throughout the conference we will also run a full Construction System Toolkit and Wizard Toolkit training class. Several sessions are on tap that will cover all the latest estimating enhancements to ICE.
Basic - The Basic track is recommended for the beginning users with little or no experience with ICE. This track will cover all the basic functions of how to estimate with ICE without getting into the more advanced functions and options.
Intermediate - The Intermediate track has been designed for users who have been using ICE for six months or more. If you are currently using ICE to produce an estimate, but are using the basic functionality, this track will help you learn more about ICE and how to utilize the program to produce better estimates. In the past year, if you attended and understand the basic training or the basic track, this track is the next step in understanding the power of ICE.
Advanced - The Advanced track is for users with several years of experience in ICE. This track will cover the advanced features as well as new features in ICE.
ICE Interfaces - This track is intended to highlight the many interfaces to the ICE program. These sessions will expose users to the latest industry tools for digital construction and how to import that information into ICE. The focus will be divided between digital takeoff tools, Building Information Modeling-BIM, scheduling and accounting exports, as well as generic interfaces.
Enterprise - This track will demonstrate the new MC² ICE Enterprise version. This demonstration will be broken down into three parts that will be repeated each morning and afternoon to enable everyone interested a change to preview this program.
Toolkit - This track is a concentrated review of the Construction System Toolkit. These sessions will demonstrate the tools that allow users to tailor these takeoff tools to meet their estimating needs. This track would be considered an advanced user track.
Demo - This track will demonstrate other software products related to ICE as well as provide other choices to the standard tracks. This track is optional and should be considered as alternatives to the sessions offered in the other tracks. So feel free to join in on these sessions no matter which track you might choose to follow.
Conference 2011 Session List*
Advanced Takeoff Methods – Intermediate Track
This session will expose users to new and existing tips and tricks that are available within the takeoff options, which will include Group Operations for copying and changing multiple lines of takeoff within the current estimate or from another estimate.
Advanced Techniques Construction Systems – Toolkit Track
This session is a continuation of the previous toolkit classes, which will introduce the most complex and powerful capabilities of the CS toolkit. The class will demonstrate such functions as one system “calling” another construction system or an assembly as well as creating new item code on the “fly” directly from the CS Table with the “dot” technique. This advanced class assumes that you have an understanding of the terms and logic discussed in the previous CS Toolkit sessions.
Advanced Typical Specs – Advanced Track
This session will demonstrate the latest features for industrial piping takeoffs in MC²’s Typical Specs program. This class is geared for current users of Typical Specs to gain in depth knowledge on how this tool is setup as well as demonstrate the new features.
Application of Visual Takeoff – Advanced / Toolkit Tracks
This session will demonstrate how to apply the new Visual Takeoff tool to easily customize the Construction System takeoff screen for a more dynamic takeoff screen.
BIM Concepts – Professional Track
This session is an introduction to the terminology, concepts and technologies of BIM. If you are new to the concept of Building Information Modeling (BIM) Technologies, this class will also explain the potential benefits of using BIM technologies to building professionals including contractors, construction managers, and design-build firms.
Complex Operations in Innovaya – Interface / Demo Tracks
This session provides an overview of the more advanced operations of the Innovaya software for BIM and Virtual Construction. If you are a current user of ICE and Innovaya, this class will highlight several of the functions that you may not have seen in the software. If you are interested in the seeing the abilities of this software, the class will demonstrate the more complex functions available with Innovaya.
Customer’s Perspective – Interface Track
This is a new concept for the ICE conference where we will have a customer present how their company is applying ICE to better their business. This year’s “Customer’s Perspective” will highlight the benefits of utilizing BIM by successfully implementing ICE and Innovaya.
Custom Drilldowns and Views – Advanced Track
The Estimate Maintenance Screen displays all the information regarding an estimate, however there is a lot of data. This class will describe how to create custom drilldowns and views to streamline the estimate maintenance process and make the review procedure more efficient.
Developing Tables and Formulas – Toolkit Track
This is a continuation of the toolkit “Getting Started” session. Next demonstrated in the toolkit will be the functions to create CS Tables to generate the correct Item Codes and how to develop formulas to calculate quantities.
EarthWorks Advanced – Demo Track
If you are an existing user of EarthWorks and are looking for help to take advantage of this sophisticated tool, this class is for you. This session will demonstrate EarthWorks Pro to existing users of EarthWorks. You’ll learn the best techniques, tips and tools to calculate cut and fill volumes quickly and accurately as well as new features like importing AutoCAD files to skip the digitizing process.
EarthWorks Basic – Demo Track
Get a look at the latest earthwork programs from Trakware. This class will introduce new users to EarthWorks for Windows. You’ll learn techniques, tips and tools to calculate cut and fill volumes quickly and accurately. Whether you are interested in quantifying excavation or are just getting started with EarthWorks, this entry-level class is for you.
Enterprise Takeoff – Enterprise Track
The ICE Enterprise version is the next generation of estimating programs from MC². This session will demonstrate the takeoff operation in the new program. This class is repeated twice a day for your convenience.
Enterprise Estimate – Enterprise Track
The ICE Enterprise version is the next generation of estimating programs from MC². This session will demonstrate the estimate review and maintenance operations in the new program. This class is repeated twice a day for your convenience.
Enterprise Setup – Enterprise Track
The ICE Enterprise version is the next generation of estimating programs from MC². This session will address the setup of the Enterprise edition including system requirements and design architecture. This demonstration will include importing your existing ICE data into the new program. Time will be allotted for questions regarding the transition to ICE Enterprise. This class is repeated twice a day for your convenience.
Estimate Audit Trail – Intermediate Track
In this session the user will follow his or her various takeoff methods into the Estimate Maintenance window for the purpose of analyzing and reviewing dollar amounts and determining how to find and correct any mistakes that may have been made. The main focus within the Estimate Maintenance window will be on Drill-Down and Take-off toolbar options in conjunction with relevant columns and the Unit Cost view.
Estimate Summary – Intermediate / Advanced Tracks
Learn how to integrate your existing Excel spreadsheets into the MC² Summary and link totals from your estimate into those sheets reducing the need to export estimate data. This class will show how users can add worksheets, add totals by sort codes, use programmable "controls" (radio button, checkbox), query the estimate data with SQL statements, and other advanced methods of collecting and disseminating Summary data.
Estimating Professionals ASPE –Demo Track
Your business card may or may not say “estimator”, but if your work centers around bid day then the American Society of Professional Estimators has something for you. The Society promotes ethics, standards, certification, networking, education and professional advancement through 62 local chapters in the United States. The Society offers estimating resources, many member benefits, online education, employment services and knowledge databanks.
Estimators’ Reference Webpage – Basic / Intermediate Tracks
This new session will show a web page developed by MC² that contains a lot of information needed by Estimators in there “day to day” job functions. We have captured this material and consolidated the data into a single reference web page for all estimators. This session will also focus on ICELINE, MC² Online Forum, which is available exclusively to ICE users.
Export to Accounting – Interface Track
Learn how to integrate ICE with your current Accounting programs. MC² links with most of the popular Construction Accounting programs, as well as providing generic options to export all the pertinent data to accounting from ICE.
Export Estimates Excel – Interface Track
Recent updates of ICE include several methods of exporting data in order to reduce or even eliminate the need to re-enter data as an estimate progresses through each phase of the project. The class will focus on the ability to export estimates to the most widely used tool, MS Excel.
Export to Scheduling – Intermediate / Interface Tracks
This session will demonstrate various methods of transmitting information from your MC² estimate to MS Project. ICE interfaces with several construction scheduling programs with a similar method, but this class will be specific to MS Project so that all the procedures can easily be followed.
Fine Tuning the Estimate – Basic Track
Learn how to change items brought into your estimate by takeoff and customize the Estimate Maintenance window to suit your company's needs.
Getting Started in ICE – Basic Track
This session will introduce new users to the ICE estimating process and familiarize them to MC² terminology.
Getting Started in the Construction System Toolkit– Toolkit Track
This session will demonstrate the basic functions of the CS toolkit which allows users to tailor Construction Systems to meet their estimating needs starting with basic procedures, setting up the unit price catalog and takeoff prompts (Dimensions and Spec Selections).
Group Operations – Intermediate Track
This class will highlight the many tools available in ICE to create an ICE estimate by utilizing data from other projects minimizes the amount of time need to create an estimate.
ICE Implementation – Toolkit Track
This discussion will outline the necessary steps to implement ICE into your company in order to get the maximum return on your investment.
ICE Interface with On-Screen Takeoff – Interface / Demo Tracks
This session will demonstrate how to utilize On-Center’s On-Screen Takeoff® to make the takeoff process more efficient. This class will go through the basic steps of using On-Screen Takeoff with ICE to generate Construction System takeoff automatically.
Import Takeoff – Interface / Toolkit Tracks
There is now so much information available electronically that ICE can use to reduce the effort needed to takeoff an estimate. This discussion will outline several methods available to bring in takeoff by importing Excel data, text files (TXT), and CAD data.
Import Pricing – Interface Track
The Unit Price Catalog (UPC) and Company Standard (STD) files are the basis for all pricing for ICE estimates. This session will show how easy it is to pull in all that data from Excel into ICE eliminating any redundant keyboard entries.
Innovaya BIM Solutions – Interface / Demo Tracks
Innovaya is one of the leaders in BIM and VDC (virtual design and construction) technologies. This session will introduce the basic functions of their Visual Estimating for MC². The demonstration will show how BIM data can be visualized and quantified in Innovaya, then transferred to ICE. Virtually an entire building can be automatically imported into Ice with the push of a button in Visual Takeoff.
Intro to Digital Takeoff – Basic Track
This session will demonstrate how to utilize Digital Takeoff tools to make the takeoff process more efficient. This class is a very basic introduction to the methods and abilities of such takeoff tools.
Intro to Typical Specs – Basic Track
This new session demonstrates the takeoff format for Industrial Pipe takeoffs specific to mechanical contractors. The intention of the class is to teach users new to ICE the terminology used in Typical Specs and how to setup Pipe Specs and complete piping takeoffs.
Modifying Construction Systems – Toolkit Track
After demonstrating the principles of the toolkit in the previous two classes, this session will show how to apply that information by modifying existing Construction Systems. The session will demonstrate several typical modifications as well as cover a few additional toolkit features such as diagnostics and online help.
PlanSwift Interface – Advanced / Interface Tracks
This demonstration will show how MC² interfaces directly to Planswift for digital plan takeoff. You will learn how to take advantage of using digital plans for efficient takeoff into ICE with this program.
Printing Reports – Basic Track
This session will demonstrate effectively using the reports contained within ICE including the customization features.
Project Variables – Intermediate / Advanced / Toolkit Tracks
This session will describe the capabilities and implementation of Project Variables. Project Variables are published estimate scope repositories of data which may be statically defined or dynamically derived from Estimate content. Topics will include how to view and define Project Variables as well as how to implement Project Variables across the various areas of the ICE application.
Report Designer – Intermediate / Advanced Tracks
Learn to build custom reports from within ICE. The MC² Report Designer will allow users to set columns, fonts, and header information so that you can get only the information you need on your company’s reports.
Revit Data Exchange – Interface Track
Many construction companies are currently working directly with Revit to create BIM models to satisfy their client’s requirements. This class will demonstrate how to get data out of Revit, for those companies that already have Revit and the in-house expertise with the software. In Revit you will create schedules for the pertinent data and then import that data directly into ICE with the BIMC² Toolkit.
RS Means Knowledge Base – Advanced / Demo Tracks
Everyone in construction is familiar with RS Means cost books. They have been a standard in our industry for almost 70 years. MC² has linked to their data over the years, but this session will show the biggest and most significant enhancement between our two organizations, an ICE RS Means Knowledge Base. This product gives you standard pricing from RS Means, but also MC² Construction Systems for quick takeoffs. No more searching for the right item in the database! Sorting an ICE Estimate – Basic Track
Learn to use sort codes, to segregate areas of your project and database into logical groups for reporting, estimate maintenance, or summary totals.
Summary and Estimate Bid Intro – Basic Track
This will be a demonstration and explanation of setting up the ICE Estimate summary and how to create a Company Standard for your company.
Table Functions in CS Toolkit – Toolkit Track
This session is a continuation of the basic concepts from the previous day. If you feel you have mastered those concepts and want to know more, this class will explain the many capabilities of the CS tables in the toolkit such as calculating variables, setting sorts, modifying descriptions and assigning costs. This advanced class assumes that you have an understanding of the terms and logic discussed in the previous CS Toolkit sessions.
Takeoff with Assemblies and Add Items – Basic Track
This session demonstrates the various methods to add line items to your estimate that are not addressed in the Construction Systems. Specifically, it will demo how to use, modify and setup these other takeoff methods.
Unit Costs and Quantifiers – Advanced Track
This session is a basic overview of the Quantifier process including a tutorial on making Quantifiers work for you. This session will discuss how to establish a list of quantifiers, assign them to items and sort codes, utilize them to display accumulated quantities, and use them to generate unit costs in reports, job statistics, and unit price analysis.
UPC and Rates – Intermediate / Toolkit Tracks
This introduction demonstrates how the Unit Price Catalog database is built and the Company Standard links to the catalog. Learn how pricing codes are pulled from company standards into an estimate and how they affect prices of items pulled into your estimates during takeoff.
Using Models – Basic / Intermediate Tracks
Models are a quick method to predefine a line of takeoff in order to speed up takeoff. This session will demonstrate how to setup and use models. Many of the newer interfaces to digital takeoff programs use Models as the link between the two application, so there significance and understanding becomes more important in ICE.
Virtual Columns – Advanced / Toolkit Tracks
This session will introduce the newly developed capability of Virtual Columns. Virtual Columns are user defined columns embedded in the Estimate. Topics will include how to define Virtual Columns in the Estimate and Reports as well as demonstrations of applications of Virtual Columns.
- Updated 07/11/11
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