Quantity Surveying and Estimating in the digital age.

Sometimes, you can still use some of the old methods of measuring to your advantage by incorporating them into digital take-offs.

In the field of quantity surveying, there are generally two methods of quantity take-off: manual and digital.

Whilst both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, digital take-off is generally considered to be more efficient and accurate than manual take-off.

Manual take-offs involve using construction plans and other documentation to make a list of all the physical materials required. Then, by looking at the plans, quantity surveyors/estimators will use various formulas and calculations to figure out the exact quantity of each item.

This method can be incredibly complex and time-consuming, with many different equations, as well as many materials and small details to be considered. Any errors here can therefore result in either an overestimation or an underestimation, which can have a significant impact on the project and budget.

On the other hand, digital take-off utilizes digitizers, electronic devices that take measurements from drawings and input the data directly into computer programs. This method is faster and more efficient than manual take-offs, and it can scan pictures regardless of the size they’re placed on . Digital take-off also streamlines the process and enhances accuracy.

In summary, while manual take-offs are still used by some contractors, digital take-off is becoming increasingly popular due to its speed, efficiency, and accuracy.

However, there are still some things that you can learn from the old method of take-off verses the digital method. For example, in the old manual method, I use to build up all the centre lines and areas before I actually started the individual descriptive BOQ items. Let’s say, if i was working on a multi based ousing project, for example, it would provide me with a quicker solution when measuring these finishes.

• Floor areas per room (there could be different floor finishes in different rooms)
• Ceiling areas per room (there could be different ceiling finishes in different rooms)
• Wall areas per room (less doors and/or window opening that needed to be deducted on a ‘room by room basis’s) there could be different wall finishes in different rooms)

This gave me the opportunity to use these areas where different floor wall and ceiling finishes were not always the same specification in different areas.

With the advancement in digital take-off from the drawings, perhaps a similar process might be useful to use, if the software is capable of coping with the 3D displays that most of ‘these software programs’ generally have these days.

I attempted to try this method in the latest version of Cubit Enterprise and found that if I did the floor areas separately for every room, that was fine. But using these floor areas by copying down to a new section for ceiling areas linked these measurements together so I couldn’t use them independently of each other. If I switched off the floor areas, it automatically switched of the ceiling areas, and I wasn’t able to get separate 3D views for ceiling areas.

Attempting to use the wall areas in the same way, caused the same problem as above and I couldn’t show wall areas separately from the floor of ceiling areas.

So, I decided perhaps the best thing to do was to create a list of areas that wasn’t linked to each other.

· One list for Floor Areas

· One list for Ceiling Areas

· One list for Wall Areas

This enabled me to switch each area, on or off, independently, and also use a different colour to identify each type of material on a ‘room by room’ basis, if i wanted to. The results then showed the different materials in different colours when I looked at it in 3D view. It also allowed me to quickly switch between different layers to make sure that nothing had been missed. Then, I could switch one layer, ‘on or off’ in each section and display the different layers all at once or one at a time in 3D view.

Works great if you have a change in the specification during the measuring or pricing stages.

There is perhaps always something you can use from your existing knowledge to complement any new technology that comes along.

Happy Tendering

Trevor Moseley MAIQS, CQS., ICECA.

Consultant QS/Estimator

Director

QS Project Services

Web: https://www.3keys.com.au

email: [email protected]

Tel: 0417 202 222

The author assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this post, and the information contained in it is provided on an "as is" basis only, with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness..."

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