Some newest construction project management applications for effective construction management

Recently the global construction industry has witnessed great technological evolution. Several useful applications emerges out which can make your construction project management process superior from project planning to achievement. The following are some newest applications useful for effective construction project management.

PlanGrid: This construction application will be useful if anyone directly performs with architect in future construction projects. The construction software enables the users to distribute plans, markups, photos, specifications, reports with the whole project team members effortlessly. So the possibilities for all types of mis-communications are reduced to a great extent and all the information can be easily allocated throughout planning stage to all the parties involved with the construction project.

Material Estimator: With this handy construction tool the contractors, designers, remodelers, engineers, architects as well as other building professionals will be able to calculate feet inch fraction construction math and building materials estimating. This construction application deals with square footage concerning any project and offers a instant estimate of the total materials (drywall, decks, fencing, gravel, concrete, flooring and paint etc.) utilized in a construction project.

Build It Live: It is (SaaS) construction project management software program useful for owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, vendors, laborers, who are associated with the project, to get all the updated information concerning the latest drawings, schedules, and changes online on the cloud. So the concerned parties in the planning & building of the projects will get access to the above information. If any modification is occurred to a project, all the project stakeholders will be notified about the modification automatically through the email.

Control Center 7: Control Center 7 allows the users to keep a track of their jobsite from any remote location. This construction application performs in tandem with cameras already set up in the jobsite and provides you visual access to the job ceaselessly. Get crucial visual information long after your project is finished as well as a complete online database of recorded images from your camera system.

Take photograph & post detailed views to be conveyed to the team members. Trim down lag time while finding any complication on site and resolving it. An immediate photo is used to provide change orders, a recently completed milestone or what materials are required for giving order.

SmartBidNet: This commercial construction bidding software can allow you to keep track on the financial information of vendors and subcontractors as well as bid project data, documents etc. associated with the project through a web-based and mobile platform. Just put the bid information into the app to have some ideas on whom to select. Besides, measurements and other statistics are also affixed to each bid for taking effective decision.

With bid invitations, the subcontractors will be able to get customized access to the online plan room. One can keep track of what plan files they view and download and collaborate on estimating through takeoff integrations.

Project Quote Estimate: It is a handy construction field estimator in the app store. It consists of 19 diversified calculators and tools for materials and costs that can generate an on-site estimate efficiently. This application is only compatible with residential properties at present.

This application lets building contractors to produce professional quotes instantly for any client in the construction site as well as estimate costs and quantities quickly for any renovation project. Just create a pdf quote and sent it to the clients through email.

iQuick Contract Maker: Quick Contract Maker can be applied to generate a legal contract instantly and effortlessly through any phone or handheld appliance. The application includes pre-written information useful for creating legal contract. It can be customized for any contract agreement. All stages of the contract are contained with the application, just select the section according to your choice and add it to the device and send it to the clients through email.

One can apply it for diverse projects which range from Construction, Landscape, Real Estate, Movers, Home Repair, etc.

Ref. : http://tech.co/

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Clever House Foam Cement Method

This video shows the unique and fast and Cheap Prefab Steel/Concrete House Construction, ideal for LowCost- and MediumClass- and Luxury-Villas and Houses

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.saudiarabia.quantity-takeoff.com

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Construction-Estimating Labor Costs for Work

Perfect construction problem found on the civil engineering PE exam. This covers estimating labor for painting and plastering.

Check out www.civilengineeringacademy.com

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Plexxis Software launches the beta version of Electronic Price Agreement (EPA) for construction estimators

Plexxis Software introduces the Electronic Price Agreement (EPA) intended for the Drywall ERP estimating, digital takeoff, construction management software, and mobile app solution. It is still in beta stage. The estimator can apply it for getting the most updated material pricing for bids efficiently and precisely.

The application comes up with some intuitive features like filtering, sorting, automatic quantity conversion and material code matching standard. Another exclusive feature is the EPA Unit Of Measure Intelligence (UOMi) that aids estimators to forward a request concerning material pricing in the units of measure they prefer. As for instance lineal feet or number of screws. The supplier will also able to provide pricing in their favorite units of measure like sheets or box of screws. The UOMi will provide huge benefits to both estimators and suppliers by converting as well as updating pricing easily and smoothly.

Plexxis is also planning to include some exclusive features like Bid Protection, Search & Suggest, Code Match etc.

Bid Protection will allow estimators to alter quantities a little or merge quantities from several bids with the intension of avoiding third parties from finding out projects that are being bid on.

Search & Suggest feature helps suppliers to go with the same database search features like estimators and acquire the rapid item searches and the calculation of special offers outside of the estimators requests.

With Code Match the estimators can automatically matches their material codes with the codes utilized by the supplier. As a result both can immediately analysis items as required by them.

EPA beta testing is planned for 4 months. After that all Plexxis customers can utilize it for their work. To avail the demonstration of the product, wall and ceiling contractors can make contact with Plexxis. For getting more updates about the product visit the Plexxis website.

  

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.qunatity-takeoff.com

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Why Professionals keep away from Cost Estimating Software Technologies

Lots of manufacturers utilize the professional software platforms to a great extent across the globe and reap huge benefits. But lots of people refuse to include this profit-making tool to their estimating resources due to the following reasons:-

Short-range, and short-sighted, thinking relating to profit making - Traditional manufacturers favor to include new machines to the production floor in place of new software. This may help in executing more work but not become effective to deal with omissions in competitive estimates and quoting.
 

A conviction that manual quotes on the basis of experience and ‘feel’ are rapid – It seems to be proper thinking in the preliminary phases of basic projects but jobs that gradually develop into considerably multifaceted or vary in scope and sequence midstream are managed by software technologies, where information is gathered from a database, in a superior way.

Lack of proper training to become expert with any new computer skill – It is not possible for many companies or they are reluctant to maintain the time, effort, and resources necessary to be trained with new software technology. But this primary sacrifice may result in understanding the vision and advantages of an up-to-date quoting process.

Since it is hard to measure what your existing process is providing any value to you – It may be avoided. As for instance, if one can easily find out that a significant amount of money is getting loss due because of overestimating – immediate measures should be undertaken to get rid of the issue.

   

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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Ohio Unveils Nearly $2.4 Billion in Building Projects in New Budget

Columbus: Gov. John Kasich and Republican lawmakers unveiled nearly $2.4 billion in planned building projects, outlined as part of a new biennial capital budget to be considered by the Ohio House and Senate soon.

The total includes $675 million for school repairs, about $450 million for colleges and universities, $369 million for road, bridge and related public works projects, $100 million in Clean Ohio funding for farmland, open spaces and related projects, and $574 million for state agencies' capital needs. The latter includes monies for improvements at state parks.

The new capital budget is up from about $1.8 billion OK'd for 2013-14; most of the projects are backed by long-term debt issued by the state. Administration officials estimate the spending proposal will create 31,000 jobs over the next several years.

The legislation included more than $14.7 million in projects in Mahoning County, about $1.1 million in Columbiana County, $14.8 million in Stark County and nearly $1.5 million in Trumbull County, including:

• Statewide Development Centers in Mahoning County, $937,500 through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
• Youngstown Radio Reading Service, $8,170 through the Ohio Broadcast Media Commission.
• Southern Park Historic District in Mahoning County, $250,000 through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
• Butler Institute of Art in Youngstown, $279,717 through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
• Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown, $500,000 through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
• DeYor Performing Arts Center in Youngstown, $100,000.
• The Nursing Outreach Initiative in Mahoning County at Eastern Gateway Community College, $250,000.
• Elevator replacements at Youngstown State University, $2.5 million.
• Utility upgrades and expansions at YSU, $2.5 million.
• Campus building upgrades at YSU, $1.5 million.
• Roof repairs and replacements at YSU, $1.5 million.
• Instructional space improvements at YSU, $1 million.
• Campus lighting upgrades at YSU, $800,000.
• Moser Hall Advanced Manufacturing Lab at YSU, $700,000.
• Restroom renovations at YSU, $400,000.
• Youngstown Tech Block Building No. 5 at YSU, $1.5 million.
• Museum of Ceramics in Columbiana County, $223,850 through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
• Science Lab Expansion at Kent State University in Salem, $500,000.
• Classroom building renovations at Kent State University in East Liverpool, $420,000.
• Tech Belt Oil and Gas Learning Center at Eastern Gateway Community College in Trumbull County, $250,000.
• Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning repairs and replacements at Kent State University's Trumbull County campus, $950,000.
• TBEIC Energy Integration Laboratory Shared Resource Center at Youngstown State University in Trumbull County, $250,000.
• Pro Football Hall of Fame, $10 million.
• Fine Arts Building renovations at Kent State University's Stark County campus, $1.5 million.
• Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning repairs and replacements at Stark State College, $2.5 million.
• Student Center One renovations at Stark State College, $500,400.
• Atrium skylight glass replacement at Stark State College, $220,000.
• Parking lot improvements at Stark State College, $95,710.

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.ohio.quantity-takeoff.com 

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The Challenge of Construction Project Estimating

When we work on projects that deal with new processes or new technologies, we often find ourselves moving through territory where no one has gone before. Still, our customers, our partners, and our managers want us to provide reliable estimation that we can commit to. This is the basic challenge that project teams in innovative companies must deal with today.

The main challenge an estimator facing is the changing circumstances. The innovative and new techniques applied by the modern day engineers come frequently. Sometimes the innovative procedures change the total system of construction. This change varies greatly on the time estimation of the project.

New products are introduced regularly in the market. To get unique look of the construction the building owners sometime opt for new products. Some products have more potentiality than the usual previous products. May be the durability, quality and functions vary from the old product. Naturally the contractors want to avail the product to get the best possible result. This type of new products makes a huge difference in the production cost of the construction. The estimated cost in the building budget may not be the same after execution. So the estimator has to be very careful to overview such matter.

Apart from that there must be some uncertain circumstances during the construction period which can affect the estimating procedure. Various types of social issues like inflation, mass crisis of the materials, natural disaster make a deep impact of the estimating process. The cost and time estimating hamper much for all these types of challenges.

It is a sign of good estimator who can foresee the inevitable factors during the construction period and make a estimating according to this. Estimating lesser or more than the actual cost is a failure the estimator. That’s why the challenges of estimating are vital important to a successful estimator.

Steps of a proper Estimation

A proper estimation is integrity of some sequential processes or steps. An accurate estimation gives you the chance to complete the project in schedule time and under budget. The basic understanding of the project estimation gives you some advantage which will be surely beneficial for you. That’s why it is very important to follow the steps of the project estimation properly. Here we will discuss the steps of a proper estimation.

The Design: First of all you have to study the design accurately. Only a clear understanding will give you a better idea about how the project is going to be after completion. The drawing and supporting electronic files are included to illustrate the general scope of improvements. You will take care of the essential factor of the construction like safety, traffic operations, durability, desired appearance, maintainability, environmental protection, drainage and other permitted constraints. The design review process is much more important because the success of the project is on the design.

The Required Software: Selecting the proper software required for the estimating a project is another important step for the project estimation. To find out the perfect software for the type of estimation is very important.

Taking out quantities: In the next step of taking out quantities, the measurements are taken off from the drawings and entered on measurement sheet or dimension paper. The measurements to be taken out would depend upon the unit of measurement. For example, in the case of stone masonry in superstructure, length, thickness and height of the walls above plinth level would be taken out from the drawings and entered on the measurement sheet, whereas, in the case of plastering only the lengths and heights of the walls would be entered. Obviously, the unit of measurement in the first case is cubic meter and that in the second case is square meter.

Squaring out: The fourth step consists of working out volumes, areas, etc. and casting up their total in recognized units.

Abstracting: In the last step all the items along with the net results obtained in the second step are transferred from measurement sheets to specially ruled sheets having rate column ready for pricing.

The last two steps above are known as working up. All calculations in these stages and every entry transferred should be checked by another person to ensure that no mathematical or copying error occurs

Interior Design Estimate

The term interior design is concerned with the improvement of an interior space. After purchasing a residential house or an office for the company premises the first thing is to optimize and harmonize the uses of the interior space.

Interior design is a practice that reacts to changes in the economy, organization, technology, demographics, and business goals of a business.

So interior design estimate is very much essential to figure out the cost of designing commercial or residential interiors.

READ MORE........http://www.quantity-takeoff.com/interior-design-estimate.htm

Residential Estimating

We provide a complete residential estimating service that will be beneficial to the building professionals and owner builders. For several years we have been successfully providing professional estimating services to the new constructions, residential construction, remodeling construction, light commercial, apartments, town homes and more.

READ MORE.......http://www.quantity-takeoff.com/residential-estimating.htm