What is Sparkel?
Sparkel is a quantity takeoff tool built for contractors. It connects directly to your BIM models and PDF drawings, and lets you extract the exact quantities you need — structured the way you need them — so you can send orders to suppliers, prepare bids, and track material quantities on site.
The problem Sparkel solves
Most BIM-based takeoff tools work on a simple assumption: that the model is correct. They read whatever geometry and properties exist in the IFC file and return a flat list of what they find.
In practice, this is rarely good enough. BIM models from architects and engineers are built for design and coordination — not for contractor takeoffs. Elements are often modelled incorrectly, properties are missing or inconsistent, and quantities extracted directly from the model can't be trusted without a lot of manual checking.
Sparkel is built around a different philosophy: you define what you want to measure, and the model serves as a reference — not the source of truth. This means you stay in control of your quantities even when the model is incomplete or unreliable.
Two ways to work
Sparkel supports two input types that work together seamlessly:
BIM / IFC models — Upload an IFC file, navigate the 3D model, and link elements to your quantity table. Sparkel reads BIM properties and geometry, but you decide which elements count and how they're measured.
PDF drawings — Draw shapes directly on 2D drawings. Every shape you draw appears immediately in the quantity table with its measurements. The same shape concept powers both PDF and BIM workflows, so they feel consistent.
What you get out of Sparkel
A Sparkel project produces a structured quantity table where every row is traceable back to specific elements in the model or shapes on the drawing. From there you can:
Send a request for quotation (RFQ) directly to one or more suppliers
Export quantities to Excel for further cost calculation
Track material quantities during site execution
Reuse project structures as templates across future projects
The AI Copilot
Sparkel includes an AI Copilot that understands your intent and maps it to the right actions in the tool. Instead of learning every feature from scratch, you can describe what you want — for example, "extract all exterior wall quantities" — and the Copilot will guide you through or execute the steps automatically.
Next steps
The next article covers the most important concept to understand before you start: Key Concepts: Items, Linking, and Shapes.
When you're ready to get into the tool, Setting Up Your First Project walks you through your first upload and quantity end to end.