CE3QBC: Quantification and Costing: Buildings and Civil Works

Module code: CE3QBC

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Upeksha Madanayake, email: u.h.madanayake@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE CE2CTQ OR TAKE CE2QCT (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 29 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is designed for students who already have some knowledge of construction technology and the introductory measurement and quantification skills of building work for procurement and cost management purposes. This module develops these introductory quantification skills to a more advanced level, sufficient to demonstrate expertise in a quantity surveying role. The module further explores the costing aspect of building elements which gives rise to commercial management practices. On completion of the module, the student should be sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable to fulfil a productive junior QS role in preparation for more intricate practice. 

The aims of the module are to develop an understanding of the principles and practice of measurement of building work, applied to more advanced forms of construction including aspects of civil works (e.g. Roads/Pavings and Piling Works) and to develop a critical understanding of measurement and documentation as key skills of the quantity surveyor. The students should be able to demonstrate ability to measure, define and cost construction works, and produce project information that supports the design, construction and commercial management of projects. 

The Module Lead at the University of Reading Malaysia is Dr Bruno Lot Tanko (b.tanko@reading.edu.my).

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Understand advanced processes of measurement and be able to measure building work for complex forms of construction. 
2. Measure building work for more complex forms of building construction for the purposes of tender document production. The process will include use and interpret plans, drawings and specifications. 
3. Assemble information and data from a variety of cost information sources relating to the costing and pricing of building work, synthesise them, discern and establish connections with quantified data. Produce pricing documents such as bills of quantities and schedules of rates. 
4. Present quantitative and qualitative information; produce professional reports; proposals; professional documentation in accordance with published conventions for the purpose of tackling problems, generating effective solutions and make well-considered costing decisions. 

Module content

• Quantification and costing of more advanced measurement; such as: 
  • Advanced foundations and sloping sites 
  • Basements/ External works 
  • Concrete framed buildings including staircase 
  • Steel framed structures 
• Advanced cost estimating, preparation of tender documents & pricing of BQs cost planning and cost analyses of construction works 
• Advanced use and application of CostX or other similar computer programmes 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is delivered in 2-hour lecture sessions, supported by additional Practical classes/ workshops over the Semester-1 as follows: 

• Lecture sessions - Lectures will be held on a weekly basis (2 hours) in class as detailed in the university timetable.  
• Practical classes/ workshops – Interactive Practical classes/ workshops will be held in class (subject to university guidelines) (1 hour) where the students will have the opportunity to get their hands-on with variously advanced quantification and costing activities. The students will also have the opportunity to discuss the solutions for these practical exercises

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

Study hours

At least 45 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Each week, the lecture 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 the session. These feedback will act as formative assessment which will eventually help students in their achievement of set learning outcomes. 

Half way through the module (i.e. week- 6), there will be a ‘support session’ for portfolio assignment, where the students will be given the opportunity to discuss the progress of their portfolio assignment submission. The students are expected to present a 1-page summary of their work. This will act as an interim milestone to receive formative feedback from tutors before the final submission. 

Reassessment

Additional costs