Lecture 1

Station 1 – What is Cost Estimate?

- “A calculation of the probable cost of a product or a project, based on
information relating to the price of materials, labour, etc.”

Station 2 – Cost Estimate vs. Project Development

- Project Development:

Stage C - Sketch
Stage B - Outline Stage D -
Stage A - Brief Design (Design Stage E - Tender
Proposal Documentation
Development)

- Cost Estimate:

Feasibility Budget Estimate Tender

Concept Estimate PreTender
(Preliminary) (Development Estimate/Tender
(Option Selection) Estimate
Estimate Application) Evaluation

Station 3 – What is Building Measurement? Why?

- “The transformation of drawn information into description and quantities,
undertaken to value, cost and price construction work, as well as enabling
effective management”.
- “A process of translation of the information stipulated in drawings or other
relevant documents into descriptions and quantities.

- Building Measurement is important as it allows for cost to be calculated for the

construction of a building. The first question asked by a client is “How much?”.

- Building Measurement is needed to –

a.) Establishing a budget price.

b.) Giving a Pre-Tender Estimate
c.) Providing a contract tender sum
d.) Evaluating the amount to be paid to a contractor
e.) Building Measurement is a core skill required for quantity surveyors,
estimators, and construction managers.
Station 4 – Format of Cost Estimating; Elemental vs. Trades
Elemental Trade Format (Bill of Quantities)
- Based on major elements of a - Based on the trade aspect.
building (ceiling, slab, wall, etc). - Used for Pre-Tender to Tender
- Used from preliminary (feasibility Evaluation and Variation
study) to Pre-Tender. Assessment.
- Do not need detailed drawings. - Detailed drawings such as
- Mainly used by client, investor, detailed architectural,
and developer. engineering (civil, structural,
- Easily to be understood by lay electrical, hydraulic), etc
people. - Mainly used by builders more
than others.
- Not easily understood by lay
people.

Both totals should be the same or similar.

Station 5 – Three Principles, ANZSMM

- The three measurement principles are: -
1. Labour
2. Materials
3. Plant
- Main method of measurement is – Australia and New Zealand Standard
Method of Measurement of Buildings Works 2018 Edition.
- Other references which should be used-
a.) Australian Cost Management Manual Volume 1
b.) Australian Cost Management Manual Volume 2
c.) Detailed Building Measurement Volume 1
d.) Detailed Building Measurement Volume 2
e.) Book of Area

Station 6 – Area of Building

- Area Definition – AIQS –
a. Fully Enclosed Covered Area (FECA)
b. Unenclosed Covered Area (UCA)
c. Gross Floor Area (GFA) – GFA = FECA + UCA
d. Gross Building Area (GBA) – Used as the footprint of the building.
- Information of Measurement:
a.) Drawings – Plans, Sections, Elevations, Details, etc.
b.) Specifications – General and Particular Specifications
c.) Standard Method of Measurement (SMM)
 d.) Query List – Replaced by E-mails
- Tools for Measurement:
a.) Scale Ruler
b.) Calculator
c.) Pens & Ruler
d.) Colour Pencils
e.) Measurement Sheets

- Preparation of Measurement
1. Stage 1 – Taking-Off (Measure)
a.) Dimensions are read and measured from drawings and entered in a
recognised form or special ruled paper (like measurement paper or a
schedule)
b.) It is easier to first have a list of items (take-off) as a checklist to
measure, so it reduces chances of missing items and allows a logical
order to follow.
2. Stage 2 – Working Up (Extend)
a.) This stage involves ‘squaring the dimensions. That means calculating
the final quantities (lengths, areas, and volumes) for that item.
3. Stage 3 – Editing and Inputting in the Workbook
a.) All the descriptions and quantities are then put in logical order (called
abstracting) and a draft workbook is written. Final checking of typos
and errors is carried out at this stage.

- Taking-Off Process Current

- Linear Take-Off
a.) Perimeter/Girth Measurement – measure a girth of the following rectangular
plan.
b.) Centre Line Measurement – used for measurement of brick walls, trench
excavation, strip footings.
Formula of Centre Line:
1. CL= 2a + 2b – 4c. If ‘a’ and ‘b’ are external dimensions.
2. CL = 2a + 2b + 4c. If ‘a’ and ‘b’ are internal dimensions.
3. CL = 2a + 2b. If ‘a’ and ‘b’ are centred dimensions.

- Essential Measurement Rules –

1. Unless required, work shall be measured net as fixed in position.
a. All work is measured net as built in
b. No allowance is made for waste
c. Actual quantities in the finished building.
 d. Contractors make their own allowance for waste factors in pricing the
work
2. Any void/opening <1m2 fully contained within its boundaries of the
measured area is not deducted from the quantity calculated for that area.
3. Columns/piers <1m2 occurring at the boundaries of the measured area is
not deducted from the quantity calculated for that area.
4. Doors and windows <1m2 contained within the boundary or occurring at
the boundaries of the measured area is not deducted from the quantity
calculated for that area.
5. Intrusions are always deducted.
6. No deductions will be made from items required to measured
a. By areas for voids less than 1m2.
b. By volume for voids less than 0.1m3 with the exception of walls and
slabs given by volume when rule (a) above will apply.
7. Where practicable, descriptions of items or headings to groups of items
will contain reference to their general location in the work, mention name,
size, material and fixing method.
8. All final calculations for quantities shall be rounded up to the next full unit
and that full unit is the billed quantity.
9. For item billed in tonnes the final quantities are taken to the next full 0.01
of a tonnes.

- Why Areas?
a. Building Size
b. Workload
c. Bulk Check
d. Planning
e. Scheduling
f. Progress
g. Cost Comparison – across different projects and stages.

Station 7 – Traditional Approach vs. On-Screen Take-Off

 Lecture #2

Station 1 – Site Preparation

- Site Preparation-
o First thing to do on each development site.
o Demolition of the existing structure.
o Preparing the site and clearing the site for construction.
o Bulk excavation to the level where the structure will start.
o Site establishment.
- ASMM Relevant Section
o Section 2 Preliminaries
• Preliminaries provides a description of a project that
allows the contractor to access costs which, whilst they
do not form a part of any of the package of works
required by the contract, are required by the method
and circumstances of the work. The purpose of
preliminaries is to describe the works as a whole, and
to specify general conditions and requirements for their
execution, including such things as subcontracting,
approvals, testing and completion.
• Preliminaries is the cost of administering a project and
providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site
based services and other items not included in the
rates.
o Section 3 Demolition
• The most high risk activity in the construction sector.
• Safe demolition should:
➢ Allow sufficient time for planning the works.
➢ Procure an appropriate contractor (carry out
safety and environmental audits).
➢ Provide sufficient information to a good standard.
• Pre-demolition information
➢ Asbestos investigation
➢ Utility information
➢ Structural hazards and risks
➢ Hazardous materials and health hazards
 ➢ Constraints to demolition imposed by the site
conditions
➢ Pre-construction information

o Section 4 Groundworks
• 4.1 Excavation
• 4.2 Filing and Hardcore
• 4.3 Paper and Plastic Membranes
• 4.5 Underpinning
• 4.6 Rock Stabilisation
Station 2 – Earthwork
- Site Preparation
o 4.1.1 Siteworks
➢ Clearing the site (m2) (Remove weak soil)
o Clear the area of site from rubbish and vegetable matter
including tall grass, shrubs, bushes and the like trees ≤
0.50m girth (see 4.1.1.1.1). Bigger Trees are separate.
➢ 4.1.1.2 removal of trees complete stumps and roots
(no).
❖ If trees more than girth of 0.5m are in the site,
you need to measure this item.
➢ Protection and retention of existing trees and shrubs.
➢ Turf or vegetable soil to be stockpiled.