Using the AI Copilot
The AI Copilot is a conversational assistant built directly into Sparkel. Instead of navigating menus and learning every feature manually, you can describe what you want to achieve in plain language and the Copilot will execute the steps for you — or guide you through them.
What the Copilot can do
The Copilot understands Sparkel's full feature set and maps your intent to the right actions. Common things you can ask it to do:
Extract quantities for a specific element type — "Get me all exterior concrete walls from this model"
Set up dynamic linking rules — "Automatically link all IfcSlab elements to my floor item"
Create items and organise a takeoff — "Set up a takeoff for a concrete bid with walls, slabs, and columns"
Help with shapes — "I need to manually measure the facade area on the west elevation"
Export or send to suppliers — "Prepare this takeoff and send it to our concrete supplier"
How to use it
Open the Copilot panel from the main interface.
Type your request in plain language. Be specific about what you want to measure and from which model or drawing.
The Copilot will respond with either a direct action, a set of steps, or a clarifying question if it needs more information.
Review what it's done — every action the Copilot takes is visible in the interface so you can verify the result.
Tips for good prompts
Be specific about the element type — "concrete walls" is better than just "walls". If you know the IFC class or a property value, include it.
State the purpose — telling the Copilot whether you're preparing a bid, an order, or tracking site progress helps it choose the right structure.
Describe what you expect in the table — for example, "I want one row per floor" or "split by wall type" gives the Copilot the context to organise items correctly.
Iterate — if the first result isn't quite right, tell the Copilot what to change rather than starting over.
When to use the Copilot vs. doing it manually
The Copilot is fastest when you're starting a new takeoff and want a structure set up quickly, or when you're unsure which features to use for a particular situation. For fine-grained adjustments to individual items or shapes, working directly in the interface is often quicker.
Most experienced users combine both: use the Copilot to scaffold the takeoff, then refine manually. When you're ready to send quantities to a supplier, see Supplier Ordering.