SEQUENTIAL ESTIMATE AUTOMATION

1 . An estimate automation system, comprising:

an interface;

a processor; and

a memory, the memory storing instructions for causing the processor to:

store in the memory an estimate for mitigation or reconstruction received via the interface;

extract data from the estimate;

make one or more intelligent decisions based on the extracted data; and

generate a scope of work statement.

2 . The estimate automation system of claim 1 , wherein the interface is a user interface or a communication transceiver.

3 . The estimate automation system of claim 1 , where the one or more intelligent decisions includes one or more of mapping one or more line items in the estimate to one or more mitigation or reconstruction counterparts; adjusting one or more original quantities in the estimate to one or more building-material-specific quantities for mitigation or reconstruction; defining the scope of one or more repair items that do not require mitigation or reconstruction components; defining one or more mitigation or reconstruction items required that do not have a counterpart; and identifying one or more items for which further information is needed.

4 . The estimate automation system of claim 3 , wherein mapping one or more line items in the estimate to one or more mitigation or reconstruction counterparts comprises at least one of defining a one-to-many relationship or defining a many-to-one relationship.

5 . The estimate automation system of claim 3 , wherein adjusting one or more original quantities in the estimate to one or more building-material-specific quantities comprises increasing one or more of the original quantities or identifying an alternative material to associate with at least one of the one or more original quantities.

6 . The estimate automation system of claim 3 , wherein identifying one or more items for which further information is needed comprises mapping each of the one or more items for which further information is needed to a question that can be understood by a subject matter expert or to a basic data request that can be completed by a layperson.

7 . The estimate automation system of claim 6 , wherein the basic data request identifies an image, video, or document that may contain the further information.

8 . The estimate automation system of claim 6 , wherein the memory further stores instructions for causing the processor to repeat the storing, extracting, and making steps until minimum set of requirements has been satisfied.

9 . The estimate automation system of claim 3 , wherein identifying items for which further information is needed further comprises reporting the items for which further information is needed via the interface.

10 . A method of automating scope of work estimates, comprising:

receiving an estimate for mitigation or reconstruction via a communication interface;

storing the estimate in a memory;

extracting data from the estimate using a processor;

storing the extracted data in the memory; and

applying a predetermined rule set to the data stored in the memory, wherein the predetermined rule set is stored in the memory.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

generating a scope of work estimate;

storing the scope of work estimate in the memory; and

outputting the scope of work estimate via the communication interface.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

conducting a preliminary evaluation of whether to proceed with applying the predetermined rule set to the extracted data.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

evaluating whether sufficient data is stored in the memory to generate a scope of work estimate.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

identifying missing data that must be obtained before a scope of work estimate can be generated;

communicating, via the communication interface, a set of questions corresponding to the missing data.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving, via the communication interface, additional data in response to the set of questions;

storing the additional data in the memory; and

repeating the applying and evaluating steps.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

generating, if sufficient data is stored in the memory, a scope of work estimate;

storing the scope of work estimate in the memory; and

outputting the scope of work estimate via the communication interface.

17 . A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code configured when executed by a processor to:

receive an estimate for mitigation or reconstruction via a communication interface;

store the estimate in a memory;

extract data from the estimate using a processor;

store the extracted data in the memory; and

apply a predetermined rule set to the data stored in the memory, wherein the predetermined rule set is stored in the memory.

18 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the computer readable program code is further configured when executed by a processor to:

generate a scope of work estimate;

store the scope of work estimate in the memory; and

output the scope of work estimate via the communication interface.

19 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the computer readable program code is further configured when executed by a processor to:

conduct a preliminary evaluation of whether to proceed with applying the predetermined rule set to the extracted data.

20 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the computer readable program code is further configured when executed by a processor to:

evaluate whether sufficient data is stored in the memory to generate a scope of work estimate.