n8n Workflow Automation for Construction

Overview

This skill implements visual workflow automation for construction processes using n8n. Automate repetitive tasks, integrate systems, and build PROJECT TO BUDGET pipelines without extensive programming.

Inspired by DDC Methodology - Automating the bridge between BIM models and cost estimation.

"Автоматизация процесса 'от проекта к смете' позволяет сократить время на подготовку бюджета с недель до часов."

— DDC LinkedIn Post

Quick Start

n8n Installation

# Using Docker (recommended)
docker run -it --rm \
  --name n8n \
  -p 5678:5678 \
  -v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n \
  n8nio/n8n

# Using npm
npm install n8n -g
n8n start

# Access at: http://localhost:5678

Construction Workflow Examples

1. Revit to Budget Pipeline

{
  "name": "Revit to Budget Automation",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "name": "Watch Revit Export Folder",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.localFileTrigger",
      "parameters": {
        "path": "/data/revit_exports",
        "events": ["add"],
        "fileExtension": ".xlsx"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Read Excel Data",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.readWriteFile",
      "parameters": {
        "operation": "read",
        "filePath": "={{ $json.fileName }}"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Parse BIM Elements",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "parameters": {
        "language": "python",
        "code": "import pandas as pd\nimport json\n\ndf = pd.read_excel(items[0].binary.data)\n\nelements = df.to_dict('records')\n\nreturn [{'json': {'elements': elements, 'count': len(elements)}}]"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Match to Unit Prices",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "parameters": {
        "url": "http://api.construction-prices.com/match",
        "method": "POST",
        "body": "={{ JSON.stringify($json.elements) }}"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Calculate Costs",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "parameters": {
        "language": "javascript",
        "code": "const elements = items[0].json.elements;\n\nlet totalCost = 0;\nconst costBreakdown = [];\n\nfor (const elem of elements) {\n  const cost = elem.quantity * elem.unit_price;\n  totalCost += cost;\n  costBreakdown.push({\n    category: elem.category,\n    quantity: elem.quantity,\n    unit_price: elem.unit_price,\n    total: cost\n  });\n}\n\nreturn [{\n  json: {\n    total_cost: totalCost,\n    breakdown: costBreakdown\n  }\n}];"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Generate Report",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.spreadsheetFile",
      "parameters": {
        "operation": "create",
        "fileName": "cost_estimate_{{ $now.format('yyyy-MM-dd') }}.xlsx"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Send Email Notification",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.emailSend",
      "parameters": {
        "to": "project-team@company.com",
        "subject": "New Cost Estimate Generated",
        "text": "Total estimate: ${{ $json.total_cost }}"
      }
    }
  ]
}

2. Daily Project Report Automation

{
  "name": "Daily Project Report",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "name": "Schedule Trigger",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.cron",
      "parameters": {
        "cronExpression": "0 6 * * 1-5"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Fetch Project Data",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "parameters": {
        "url": "{{ $env.PROJECT_API }}/status",
        "method": "GET"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Fetch Weather Data",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "parameters": {
        "url": "https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather",
        "qs": {
          "q": "{{ $json.project_location }}",
          "appid": "{{ $env.WEATHER_API_KEY }}"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Generate Report",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "parameters": {
        "language": "javascript",
        "code": "const project = items[0].json;\nconst weather = items[1].json;\n\nconst report = {\n  date: new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0],\n  project_name: project.name,\n  progress: project.progress_pct,\n  weather: {\n    condition: weather.weather[0].main,\n    temp: Math.round(weather.main.temp - 273.15)\n  },\n  tasks_today: project.scheduled_tasks,\n  blockers: project.blockers || []\n};\n\nreturn [{ json: report }];"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Post to Slack",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
      "parameters": {
        "channel": "#project-updates",
        "text": "📊 Daily Report - {{ $json.project_name }}\n\nProgress: {{ $json.progress }}%\n🌡️ Weather: {{ $json.weather.condition }} ({{ $json.weather.temp }}°C)\n\nToday's Tasks:\n{{ $json.tasks_today.join('\\n') }}"
      }
    }
  ]
}

3. BIM Model Change Detection

{
  "name": "BIM Change Detection",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "name": "Watch IFC Folder",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.localFileTrigger",
      "parameters": {
        "path": "/models",
        "events": ["change"],
        "fileExtension": ".ifc"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Extract Model Data",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand",
      "parameters": {
        "command": "python /scripts/extract_ifc.py {{ $json.fileName }}"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Compare with Previous",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "parameters": {
        "language": "python",
        "code": "import json\n\ncurrent = json.loads(items[0].json.output)\nprevious = load_previous_version()\n\nchanges = {\n  'added': [],\n  'modified': [],\n  'deleted': []\n}\n\n# Compare logic\nfor elem in current:\n  if elem['id'] not in previous:\n    changes['added'].append(elem)\n  elif elem != previous[elem['id']]:\n    changes['modified'].append(elem)\n\nfor elem_id in previous:\n  if elem_id not in [e['id'] for e in current]:\n    changes['deleted'].append(previous[elem_id])\n\nreturn [{'json': changes}]"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Update Database",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.postgres",
      "parameters": {
        "operation": "executeQuery",
        "query": "INSERT INTO model_changes (timestamp, changes) VALUES (NOW(), '{{ JSON.stringify($json) }}')"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Notify Team",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.microsoftTeams",
      "parameters": {
        "message": "🔔 Model Updated\n\n+{{ $json.added.length }} elements added\n📝 {{ $json.modified.length }} elements modified\n-{{ $json.deleted.length }} elements deleted"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Common Workflow Patterns

Data Extraction Pattern

// n8n Code Node - Extract BIM Quantities
const xlsx = require('xlsx');

// Read uploaded file
const workbook = xlsx.read(items[0].binary.data, { type: 'buffer' });
const sheetName = workbook.SheetNames[0];
const data = xlsx.utils.sheet_to_json(workbook.Sheets[sheetName]);

// Process BIM elements
const quantities = {};
for (const row of data) {
  const category = row['Category'] || 'Unknown';
  const volume = parseFloat(row['Volume']) || 0;

  if (!quantities[category]) {
    quantities[category] = { count: 0, volume: 0 };
  }
  quantities[category].count++;
  quantities[category].volume += volume;
}

return [{ json: { quantities, total_elements: data.length } }];

Cost Matching Pattern

// n8n Code Node - Match elements to unit prices
const elements = items[0].json.elements;
const priceDatabase = $env.PRICE_DATABASE;

const matched = [];

for (const elem of elements) {
  // Fuzzy match description to price items
  const match = await $http.post(`${priceDatabase}/search`, {
    query: elem.description,
    category: elem.category
  });

  matched.push({
    ...elem,
    matched_item: match.data.best_match,
    unit_price: match.data.unit_price,
    confidence: match.data.confidence
  });
}

return [{ json: { matched_elements: matched } }];

Report Generation Pattern

// n8n Code Node - Generate PDF Report
const PDFDocument = require('pdfkit');

const

n8n-workflow-automation

Como adicionar

Cole no README do seu repo

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