Bobyard released Pattern Search, a feature that automates one of the most tedious parts of preconstruction: calculating square footage from landscaping plans.
With Pattern Search, estimators define a legend of hatch patterns, like sod, pavers, mulch or pavement, then run the model. Bobyard automatically generates precise polygons and area totals, erasing the need to click points by hand. Once production rates are applied, Bobyard instantly turns takeoffs into clean, accurate bid numbers, according to the company.
“This is something contractors have been asking for since we launched,” said Michael Ding, Bobyard’s founder and CEO. “We built Pattern Search to eliminate the manual polygon work that slows down takeoffs and give landscapers full control over clean, accurate output.”
Ding, a former Stanford student and computer science researcher, founded Bobyard to introduce AI to one of construction’s most outdated and under-digitized sectors. Unlike standard tools or outsourced solutions, Bobyard’s AI is trained on thousands of specialized landscape plan sets, making them uniquely equipped to handle messy, real-world drawings full of noise, overlaps and edge cases.
Backed by investors such as Pear VC and Primary VC, Bobyard serves mid-market and enterprise landscape contractors — typically those handling commercial installation projects valued between $3 million and more than $20 million. These contractors manage dozens of bids per month and perform time-consuming takeoffs. Many count on Bobyard to streamline estimating workflows, increase bid volume and boost margin confidence by reducing takeoff time by 40–70 percent.
Pattern Search enhances Bobyard’s functionality by expanding beyond symbol-based plant counting to now offer precise area measurements, all within a single, streamlined workflow.
