CEM238-Construction Cost Engineering

Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Upeksha Madanayake
Email: u.h.madanayake@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Buildings and related facilities are expensive to construct, maintain, refurbish and operate. Meeting these costs requires significant expenditure and investment by the developer, building owner or the occupier. It is therefore important that these costs are accurately estimated and budgeted for before construction work starts; controlled and planned for during construction as well as forecasted for the operational life of the building.

Doing this involves collaboration between designers and constructors, but important elements are the assessment, valuation, manipulation and management of costs. These elements are performed by quantity surveyors and the module develops the specialism, by building on prior study of measurement and valuation in the preliminary module Basic Quantity Surveying Principles.

Aims:

The aim of this module is to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to estimate, plan, manage, control and engineer building costs across all stages of the construction and development process: from financial feasibility appraisal, design, construction procurement, construction operations, commissioning, maintenance and refurbishment to demolition.

Assessable learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the various principles, techniques and standard methods of measurement and the practices of quantification, definition and costing of construction works.


2. Apply the understanding of how these are appropriately used at different stages of the construction process and in different circumstances.


3. Undertake simple, practical exercises of taking-off quantities of construction work items at appropriate level of detail, using traditional dim paper as well as with a computer programme.


4. Know the key sources of cost information relating to estimating, measurement and specification of building work and production of bills of quantities, cost estimates and other construction cost-related documentation


5. Have an understanding of, and ability to apply the techniques of cost estimating, cost planning, cost management and cost control in construction development and operations.

Additional outcomes:

Students will be able to provide informed advice on construction costs at inception, briefing and design stages of building projects. Students will understand the principles of construction cost control and payment at post-contract stages of a building project and be able to assess cost and advise on common post-contract cost/value problems.

• Construction engineering cost factors: Techniques for mensuration, quantification, documentation and definition of construction works.


• Cost Management at project inception and design stage: Cost Estimating, cost planning of design and cost control systems.

Outline content:

A  list of lecture topics, lecturers and relevant readings is provided below.

• Construction engineering cost factors: Techniques for mensuration, quantification, documentation and definition of construction works.


• Cost Management at project inception and design stage: Cost Estimating, cost planning of design and cost control systems.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This is a One-week module that covers the basic principles and techniques of building construction, quantification and measurement of construction work, costing and estimating.

The week of teaching and learning activities of the module covers the fundamentals of construction technology and measurement of construction works which provides an understanding of building construction and quantification of construction costs.  The module then looks at the techniques used to accurately estimate and budget for construction work; control and manage these costs during construction.

The module will be delivered by lectures, tutorial discussions and the undertaking of practical tasks on cost management and cost engineering. Some lectures will be given by specialist experts in aspects of construction cost management.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The online test (20% of the module mark), takes place after the completion of first week. This test is based on the RICS New Rules of Measurement: Detailed measurement for building works (‘NRM 2’). The test is consisting of 10 questions and must be completed within 20 minutes. The students are only allowed one attempt. The test is used to assess Learning outcome 1 and 2 and encourages students to study the measurement rules before they undertake practical exercises of taking-off quantities of construction work items while encouraging them to engage in tutorials.

A set exercise (80% of the module mark), designed as an authentic learning activity, where students are asked to carry out a detailed measurement exercise using both traditional and digitalised methods, produce priced bill of quantities and provide client advice about the means of controlling the cost. In this activity, the students must not only learn the measurement and costing principles, but also conduct some wider research activities to provide cost advise to (hypothetical) clients. The students will also learn how to critically evaluate alternative cost elements for their cost effectiveness. 

Formative assessment methods:

Each lecture topic will follow a workshop/ practical class where the students will be given a practical exercise to try their hands-on. The tutors will provide instant feedback to students on their work during these session. These feedback will act as formative assessments which will eventually help students in their achievement of set learning outcomes.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to?all full time and flexible modular?students on taught PGT programmes in SBE. 

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late: 

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days; 


• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded. 

 The University policy statement on penalties for late submission?which applies to all full time and flexible modular PGT students in SBE?can be found at:?https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf 

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work. 

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Required to achieve 50% of the overall module mark to pass the module.

Reassessment arrangements:

Same assessment types as first assessment arrangements, but with different tasks/ questions

• Class test administered by School 20%


• Set Exercise 80%

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 22 August 2023