The arrival of Newforma® Project Center software for AEC industry

The leading software company Newforma® just launches the eight edition of Newforma® Project Center software. This comprehensive, integrated solution will make an evaluation to the world of BIM-based design.

The users will get the ability to simplify the project execution process including design review, contract administration and communication to work out on technical engineering and 3-D coordination challenges at the beginning of the project lifecycle. The software can chalk up any 3-D view from any program and communicate the change in real time.

The software has been useful to the contractors as it provides greater transparency, advanced accountability and reduced risk.

Newforma Project Center has come up with some exclusive features like integrating meeting minutes with action items that helps manage agendas, minutes, and commitments connected with project meetings.

Organize and manage internal project information including project email for all your projects.

Track action items, RFIs, and other open project items across a series of meetings. Share and track published project information with external team members across all projects.

Link the new BIM activity center with revit.

Increase remote access functionality, adding practical document control, standardizing on Microsoft Excel for reporting and providing tools to manage the explosion of digital site photos.

Posted by
Rajib Dey
Business Development
The construction estimating services

Maxwell Systems™ introduces ProContractorMX™ version 2.5

Maxwell System Inc, a pioneer software company in takeoff and estimating, job cost accounting, and project management, just launched Maxwell Systems™ ProContractorMX™ version 2.5. The latest version will provide a great benefit to the concrete and masonry construction companies to enhance their productivity and profitability.

The software can manage the complete project lifecycle , procurement, bids and proposals, financials, employees, payroll, equipment. The contractors will be in a position to find out their exact job costs.

Maxwell Systems™ ProContractorMX™ maintain flawless workflow that varies from takeoff and estimating through job cost accounting and project management, and ultimately for critical reporting and analysis.

By applying this latest software the contractors can easily get their plans obtainable in the estimating.

ProContractorMX 2.5 comes up with some new features like ProContractorMX Connect, Document Management, Payroll Electronic Filing, Building Information Modeling (BIM.

ProContractorMX Connect – Generate the latest project information in the office or in the field. Give access to all the vital documents and reports with the help of latest mobile device and easily track the development of the project.

Document Management –Produce, track, systematize, and handle the project related several documents; put up significant, online "paper” trails; and put alerts for critical due dates. Thus the contractors are able to meet up deadlines, and keep on schedule.

Payroll Electronic Filing – The software can be utilized for electronic tax filing. ProContractorMX 2.5 produces tax file information following processing payroll and makes e-files (or magnetic media) that can be used for filing to state and federal agencies.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) –Bring in items from a Building Information Modeling or BIM file and create an estimate alongwith cost items and quantities.

Posted by
Rajib Dey
Business Development
The construction estimating service
rajib@jobs2india.com

Guidelines for estimating a Door

While estimating a door identify each opening in line with the items in the schedule and other relevant data on the architectural drawings. In the specifications all the information regarding installation must be assessed carefully.

While making a quantity survey for doors, merge all similar types and frames and keep an eye so that nothing can be missed. To simplify the task just count the total number of openings.

Consider material, size, gauge, finish, core material, style, fire rating label, doors made of plastic & wood etc for making estimation of a door.

For any particular building also take into consideration pre-hung doors and windows alongwith additional items like pre-hung units, locksets and interior casings etc.

Put down space for casings, stops, grounds, and hardware in the tabulation on the Quantity Sheet

There are several types of specialty doors that can be utilized in the modern buildings. These types of door are sliding glass doors, overhead garage doors, and bulkhead doors. These should also be included in quantity sheet

Scrutinize the plans and specifications briefly to ensure that all hardware, operating mechanisms, fire ratings, finishes, and any special installation requirements are also included.

While executing quantity estimation give special consideration to fire doors and consider the appropriate temperature riser for a fire door. In this case you can get help from architect or local building inspector

Pay particular attention to fire doors when performing the quantity takeoff. At the time of calculating quantities, take in any glass (usually wired) or special inserts to be installed in fire doors (or in any doors).

Publisher :
Rajib Dey
Business Development
rajib@jobs2india.com
Estimating Service

The Technique of Construction Estimating

The construction estimating is the calculated amount of various required items of work, and the expenses likely to be incurred there on. The total of the probable expenses to be incurred on the work is known as estimated cost of the work. This cost is a close approximation of its actual cost. The agreement of the estimated cost with the actual cost will depend on accurate use of estimating methods and correct visualization of the work, as it will be done. Doing accurate estimating is very important as the success of the project largely depends on estimating methods. Under estimating may result in the client getting an unpleasant shock when tenders are opened and drastically modifying or abandoning the work at that stage. Over- estimating may loose the engineer or estimator his client or his job, or in any case his confidence.

Estimating is the most important of the practical aspects of construction management, and the subject deserves the closest attention of one aspiring to a career in the profession. It is a comparatively simple subject to understand; however, as it brings one up against practical work, methods and procedure, knowledge of it cannot be acquired without close application.

Data Required for Preparing an Estimate:

In order to prepare a detailed estimate the estimator must have with him the following data:

1. Plans, sections and other relevant details of the work.

2. Specifications indicating the exact nature and class of materials to be used.

3. The rates at which the different items of work are carried out.

To enable an estimator to take out the quantities accurately, the drawings must themselves be clear, true to the fact and scale, complete, and fully dimensioned. The estimator has also to bear in mind certain principles of taking out quantities.

Steps in Preparation of an Estimate:

There are three clearly defined steps in the preparation of an estimate.

1. Taking out quantities

In the first 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.

2. Squaring out

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

3. Abstracting

In the third 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 second and third 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.

Cost Estimator: A Profession to Give Security

Cost estimating is a well formulated prediction of the probable construction cost of a specific building project. In the designing phase of the project, cost estimation is an important management tool for providing information about the facility and the project budget. The conceptual cost estimate is becoming more important to owners, architects, and builders. It is a tool for determining required funding and to gauge the needs of a project.

Licensed professionals known as cost estimators prepare cost estimates. An estimator cannot be trained entirely in a classroom. The theory and science of estimating is important, but it takes experience with construction, as well as experience actually quantifying and costing work, to complete the training of an estimator. A person possessing the “art of estimating” has a good feel for the effort required to produce work, good construction experience, and knowledge of the theory and science of estimating. The less information available about a project, the more experience is required to do a cost estimate. An estimator would typically have an engineering or architectural background and be qualified by experience.

The knowledge of building technology is essential to be able to break down a building into components in a structured way and then price the different components with applicable unit rates to derive the total cost. For state or public funded projects (e.g., public libraries) there will most likely be owner-mandated limits placed on the A/E firm to design within a set budget. A professional construction cost planning and management firm will generally contract to perform a cost estimating function as a consultant throughout the various pre-design and design phases of the project. Frequently, larger architectural and engineering firms will have in-house cost estimating departments. Large construction firms may also have in-house cost estimators. Many planners chose to have two cost estimates as a check against each other, but if a single cost estimate is to be utilized, then the use of an independent cost estimator is highly recommended.

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