COMPUTER AIDED

ESTIMATING
BY
ASOKA PERERA

ESTIMATORS REQUIREMETNSTS IN
COMPUTING SYSTEM
Calculate bill time prices
Apply calculated item rates against all relevant
bill items
Provide an extension and summation of bill
items;
Provide variety of reports
Store data on different resources and their
requirements
Store full build-up of each bill item within the
contract

ESTIMATORS REQUIREMETNSTS IN
COMPUTING SYSTEM

Assist the estimator in his communication

with others
Maintain by file records the estimators
skated and extend his knowledge of the
construction process.
Limit potential errors within the estimating
process

WHAT IS CONSTRUCTION
SOFTWARE?
A. What is construction estimating
software?
B. What can construction estimating
software do?
C. How do you know it is time to invest in
construction estimating software?
D. Additional resources

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING
SOFTWARE BUYERS GUIDE
i. Introduction to Estimating
ii. When to Buy
iii. Software Benefits
iv. Starting your Selection Process
v. Takeoff Software, Cost Databases,
and Worksheets
vi. Vendor Selection
vii.Implementation

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING
SOFTWARE BUYERS GUIDE
i. Introduction to Estimating
"Estimating is the lifeblood of the
construction industry. If you have failures
in estimating, you will be out of business
before you know it.
Excel is good -- but it may not be
enough
Well worth the investment

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING
SOFTWARE BUYERS GUIDE
When to buy: When should I consider
estimating software?
to three concerns
migrating huge amounts of cost estimate
data,
accommodating custom spreadsheets and
"recreat[ing] the company estimating wheel by
introducing new technology."

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING
SOFTWARE BUYERS GUIDE
Software benefits: What benefits
should I expect from a cost estimating
software package?
First, since it maintains standard cost data, you spend
less time costing out resources and supplies.
Second, cost estimating software can be integrated
with your construction management and accounting
software.
Third, you'll spend less time wielding a ruler, since
most packages allow you to take off quantities

from a blueprint using a digitizer.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING
SOFTWARE BUYERS GUIDE
Software benefits: What benefits
should I expect from a cost estimating
software package?
Fourth, once you have implemented cost
estimating software, you can use it to doublecheck old estimates.
Fifth, cost estimating software generally offers
multi-user support.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING
SOFTWARE BUYERS GUIDE
Starting your selection process:
Getting ready to buy construction
estimating software
The first step in any construction estimating
software purchase is understanding what
kinds of bids your firm will be called on to
give.
Key budgetary considerations

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING
SOFTWARE BUYERS GUIDE
Takeoffs, databases and worksheets:
What cost estimating capabilities
should I consider?
Vendor selection: What should I ask
vendors about their construction
estimating programs?

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING
SOFTWARE BUYERS GUIDE
Implementation: Now that we've bought
our estimating software, how do we get
started?
Within the first three months, the program
should be installed and the application's
business owner should be scheduling
beginner-level training courses.
By the end of six months, you should be
performing old processes within the new
application.

CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATING
SOFTWARE BUYERS GUIDE
Implementation: Now that we've bought our
estimating software, how do we get started?
By the end of nine months, you should be finetuning all processes.
By the end of 12 months, you should be
implementing integrations and other special
features. At this point you should also meet with
your staff to discuss successes, failures and
general application performance, and to start
scheduling more advanced training courses.

Computer aided estimating

development
History
Many organizations including software companies,
universities attempted to develop estimating software
from early 1980s
Today there are probably more than 200 such
software
There are software suit to specific construction
industry such as in USA, UK, Australia
There are software for specific type of estimating such
as building, road works, repair

Computer aided estimating

development
History
Many attempted to develop estimating software using
spreadsheets such Excel, lotus 1-2-3 etc. and there
are a large number of such software in use.
Spreadsheet based software lacks organized data
handling and many occasion suitable for personal
type estimating system
The facilities are limited and often cannot be linked to
cost-control, planning or other management functions
Errors are not minimized.

Computer aided estimating

development
History
Many attempted to develop estimating software using
spreadsheets such Excel, lotus 1-2-3 etc. and there
are a large number of such software in use.
Spreadsheet based software lacks organized data
handling and many occasion suitable for personal
type estimating system
The facilities are limited and often cannot be linked to
cost-control, planning or other management functions
Errors are not minimized.

Computer aided estimating

development
Developments at university of Moratuwa
We started the development of computer
aided estimating system from 1992
1995 a comprehensive system was
developed using Excel and VBA
1999 system was further developed using
Access 97 and later modified using Access
2000

Computer aided estimating

development
Development by A R Project Management
Services CIS-BILLEST. (CIS stand for
Construction Information Systems)
Two modules for Estimating and
Tendering
Pre tender Estimating
Project Management Cost Estimating and
Budgeting

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Maintenance 1.1 Add /Edit Resources

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Maintenance 1.2 Add /Edit Resources Details

Supplier Data

Cost

Stock Data

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Maintenance 1.2 Add /Edit Resources Cost New Price Indices / Edit

ICTAD
Indices

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Maintenance 1.2 Add /Edit Resources Cost HSR/BSR Resources Edit

The latest cost

calculated
based ICTAD
Indicies

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Maintenance 1.2 Add /Edit Resources Cost Maintain Resources' Index
You can resource
to this ICTAD indices
category

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Maintenance 1.2 Add /Edit Resources Cost Add New HSR/BSR Item
You can add a seach
Text
BSR-C gives all concrete
Items

You can vies the

Rate-Analysis
You can add
BSR item

You can edit

Rate-Analysis

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Maintenance 1.2 Add /Edit Resources Cost Add New HSR/BSR Item - View

You can edit

Rate-Analysis

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Maintenance 1.2 Add /Edit Resources Cost Add New HSR/BSR Item - Edit

You can edit

Rate-Analysis

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Maintenance Add Tendering BOQ Items Rate Analysis
1. Select Project
2. Define mark-up
3. Select Bill
4. Add search word such
as concrete
5. Add BOQ item
Link Rate analysis

You can edit

Rate-Analysis

You can vies the

Rate-Analysis

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Transactions Tendering BOQ Item Rate Analysis
Format 2

You can vies the

Rate-Analysis

You can edit

Rate-Analysis

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Outputs View Tendering Project Budget - Format 01

You can vies the

Rate-Analysis

You can edit

Rate-Analysis

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Outputs View Tendering Project Resource Requirement

You can vies the

Rate-Analysis

You can edit

Rate-Analysis

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Outputs View Price Indices by Year

You can vies the

Rate-Analysis

You can edit

Rate-Analysis

CIS-BILLEST FACILITIES
Outputs View Price Indices Fluctuation

You can edit

Rate-Analysis

CAE FILLING SYSTEM

Last minute adjustments

To mark-up
Discounts etc

Other Estimating Systems

Building Cost Information Service

Other Estimating Systems

Building Cost Information Service
BCIS Services

Other Estimating Systems

Sage Estimating Software

SUMMARY

Estimators requirements
Computer facilities
Computer Aided Estimating development
CIS -Billest Facilities
Others Estimating Software
A demonstration
End

THANK YOU