Software Appraisal Report

Introduction
In the Modern construction industry the quantity survey is required to make bills of quantities and whole life costing in a fast and accurate method, therefore software are introduced to meet that criteria. This report is produced to examine, discuss and valuate the application of computer software for the preparation of documentation duties of the Quantity Survey in the construction industry. At the current situation professional are not much aware of the softwares available and how to correctly apply this software. In this document two types of softwares are identified and assessed. The benefits and drawbacks are described. As the current construction industry uses advanced mechanisms for whole life costing, new, fast and easy software are introduced to calculated whole life cost. In this document whole life software are recognized and appraised to discover the most economic software package.

Software Appraisal Report

Why should we use computer software?

Advantages Computer software set standards to exchange information in a high standard and the internet allows us to do it worldwide. Its much easy to prepare documents from software than typewriters; typing errors can be corrected easily. Data can be easily edited or changed according to our requirements. We can edit data without difficulty more. Calculations can be done with less effort in this system. Printouts and photocopies can be made anytime anywhere. Computer software is extremely faster than manual doing. Large amount of data can be stored for retrieval for a long period.

Types of software for takeoff and producing bills of quantities

QSPro PriMus MS Excel Sage Estimating Cleopatra Enterprise Quote Werks WinQS Vector

Selected software packages which are evaluated are

1. QSPro 2. PriMus

QSPro
QSPro is the most economical quantity surveying software package on the market. This software will save a lot of time when preparing a bill of quantity. This software presents value for money.

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Initial purchase price QSPro with libraries such as SMM7 and CESMM bundle price is 895.00, and if its for academic or student requirement its free of charge (do not contain all the features as the bundle. Annual maintenance price The maintenance cost for the first year is included in the initial price. After completing the first annual maintenance cost is 100.00. Training Training session can be seen free online but for additional interactive training session cost 175.00. Additional hardware Additional hardware is not required, an Intel Pentium 4 and above (Much below standard requirement). Ease of installation Just after downloading from the internet, run the .exe file open the software. Ease of use I. Opening up the package Just go to the icon and double-click, no need any additional supporting software. II. Starting a new project Selecting a new bill or open and existing bill. III. Entering data Data can be directly imported from the library or edit and existing bill. Calculation sheets are present for fast calculations. IV. Saving Saving data is effortless, this software has an auto saving feature which is very easy in case of a sudden blackout of the computer, and data will still be saved. V. Opening up existing to edit and change data Opening and editing software is very easy, same method as MS excel. VI. Adjustments to standard printouts Printout size can be altered; printout can be to standard B of Q layout. Print preview feature is present to look what is to be printed. Just as simple as using MS excel. Exporting I. Hard copy printing Report style can be set to SMM or CESMM. No of print can be set, Printout starting page no can be set and some part of the printout can be changed. Can the work be saved to different types of formats - The file format it saves is only supported by the QSPro software, no change, alteration or conversion cannot be done to the format. This maybe major disadvantages of this software package since the software can be only opened in computers which have QSPro only.

II.

Physical Evaluation of the software Starting the software package is effortless, opening and running the software is a bit difficult to new comers since the icons do not have descriptions of their purpose. The overall appearance of the software is not vivid. The overall software is easy to learn to MS excel

Software Appraisal Report

users. Side calculations and updating bill is effortless. QSPro has a very efficient support services such as email. (Replies emails in minutes for support services) This software contains libraries such as SMM 7, CESMM etc, favoring the software. This software is compatible with the modern windows operating systems except mac os. Disadvantages -

PriMus
Primus is costing software for Quantity Surveyors, Engineers, Architects and Building contractors to simply produce bill of quantities and build an estimate. This software has a very-user friendly interface making the user easy to use it. Initial purchase price N/A Annual maintenance price N/A Training Free of charge training sessions available. Additional hardware There is no need to attach an additional hardware, the software runs on its own from basic computer hardware. Ease of installation Its very easy since no additional knowledge is needed for the installation process. Ease of use VII. Opening up the package Opening up the package is effortless since it`s just double-click and it is opened no need for any supporting software. VIII. Starting a new project Starting a new project is always to edit and existing data. IX. Entering data Data can be directly imported from the price list and/create or edit and imported data. X. Saving The work data can be saved at anytime and most importantly the file which is to be saved can be done for its mobile version of Primus, making the software available anytime anywhere. This software can be saved in the PDF format. XI. Opening up existing to edit and change data Opening and editing existing data is not difficult since no additional knowledge is required for it. XII. Adjustments to standard printouts Printing pages can be set, a cover page is automatically presented which can be edited. An advanced Printing feature is available for additional requirements.

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Exporting I. Hard copy printing Hard copy printing is different from the standard bill of quantity software since this software shows a breakdown of the quantity of the work. This software can be exported to MS word format as a image and be sending to the internet, computer etc. Can the work be saved to different types of formats This software presents a unique feature that makes it very favoring. This software has its own mobile version which requires a bit different format, where the computer software can be saved in that mobile software making the software available anytime anywhere. (For ipad )

II.

Physical Evaluation of the software This software got a very user-friendly interface encouraging customers to use it. The software consists of help features and training videos for free of charge. This computer software has its own mobile version of it for ipads which is an excellent feature. Adding and editing data is very effortless. This software supports most of modern windows operating systems. The major drawback is when inserting of data which can consume time. The hard copy format is different than the standard version of bill of quantities. Updating bills of quantities is a same as Ms excel mistakes can occur. The software experience is overall excellent.

Recommendation
Overall QSPro can be recommended for purchasing because its got what the quantity survey requires from and taking off, bill of quantity software. Primus is a very attractive, simple tool for bills of quantities but It lacks of integration such as updating bills.

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Whole Life Costing

Whole life costing is a critical part of the construction industry. The existing construction industry is seeking for best value for money for supply of goods and serviced, this is where whole life cost is expended for low cost for period. As the construction industries accelerate rapidly new technology is used to match the requirement. Whole life software is very efficient and productive methods to monitor the whole life of goods and serviced through whole life.

Types of software for calculation of whole life costing

WLC Evaluator Causeway

Selected software packages which are evaluated are

1. WLC Evaluator 2. Causeway

WLC Evaluator
WLC evaluator is computer software to measure whole life costing. WLC evaluator make it possible for uses to estimate the whole life cost through a well organize method providing benefits over the period of assessment. Whole life costing can be described as the process of direct and indirect method of monitoring from the inception to end of a project life cycle (end of life/disposal). WLC evaluator is a excellent tool to monitor the whole life cost and find and compare alternative routes for better whole life cost.

Initial purchase price N/A Annual maintenance price N/A Training A step by step guidance is available at the help option, which is free. For advanced software like this more tutorial are needed. Additional hardware There is no need to attach an additional hardware, the software runs on its own from basic computer hardware. Ease of installation Its very easy since no additional knowledge is needed for the installation process. Ease of use I. Opening up the package Opening up the package is effortless since it`s just double-click and it is opened no need for any supporting software. II. Starting a new project Starting a new project is not that difficult, just as the software is opened it opens as a new project.

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III. IV.

V.

VI.

Entering data Entering data to the software is easy, no need to be become an expert. Saving Saving the software is to be done manually, can save it anytime while running the software. The type of the file saved format is only compatible with WLC evaluator. Opening up existing to edit and change data Opening and editing existing data is not difficult since no additional knowledge is required for it. Adjustments to standard printouts Printing pages can be set, a cover page is automatically presented which can be edited. An advanced Printing feature is available for additional requirements.

Exporting I. II. Hard copy printing Direct printing cannot be done from this software, but it can import data to Ms excel and print as required. Can the work be saved to different types of formats No, this software cannot save data in different formats but it can be exported to Ms excel.

Physical Evaluation of the software This is easy software to follow on to. The outcome of data can be previewed in Gantt chart, pie chart; bar chart formats make this software more interesting. The data feeding is an easy task to follow since the help feature shows the step by step method of how to use this software. This software is based on ISO15686-5 which is a standardized method of life cycle costing. The work breakdown structure of this software can be customized for requirement. Importing and exporting data makes this software very useful. WLC evaluator is advanced software to evaluate whole life cost. This software doesnt contain any hard training software such as training videos to guide users. Direct printouts cannot be taken, but the data should be exported to MS excel and then printed. Overall software experience is good

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CATO Whole life costing

Causeway (CATO) whole life costing is computer software which is used to measure the whole-life cost of a project form beginning to end. This software is a combination of softwares which not only calculates the whole life cost but does the whole works of the quantity survey. CATO is very advanced software which integrates cost plan, cash flow, e-tendering, takeoff bills of quantities; cost management, whole life costing etc. This software offers `Cradle to grave cost management`.

Initial purchase price N/A Annual maintenance price N/A Training A step by step guidance is available at the help option, which is free, but training provided in inadequate. Additional hardware There is no need to attach an additional hardware, the software runs on its own from basic computer hardware. Ease of installation The installation process is a bit tricky, but the installation process is fast. Ease of use I. Opening up the package Opening up the package is effortless since it`s just double-click and it is opened no need for any supporting software. II. Starting a new project Starting a new project is not that difficult, just as the software is opened it opens as a new project. III. Entering data Entering data to the software is a bit difficult, expert guidance is required. IV. Saving No supporting data to tell that the files can be saved. V. Opening up existing to edit and change data Opening and editing existing data is not difficult since no additional knowledge is required for it. VI. Adjustments to standard printouts Printing cannot be done. Exporting I. II. Hard copy printing Hard copy printing cannot be done. Can the work be saved to different types of formats No.?

Physical Evaluation of the software CATO whole life costing is very advanced software. This is a Cradle to grave cost management` software package. This software is so advanced it can substitute a quantity survey profession. This software needs to offer more training since it can be read and learned easily. This software measures life cycle costs, operational cost, end etc.

Software Appraisal Report

Overall software experience is good. Recommendation WLC evaluator is user friendly software which enables users to be flexible and customize data and apply. CATO is a combination of software used to calculate the beginning to the end of a project with high details which required expert advice. CATO requires additional software to run not like WLC evaluator. I recommend WLC evaluator since it contains what is required.