Abstract

Quantity Take-off, the process of obtaining the dimensions and calculating the quantities from given plans and specifications, is perhaps the most basic and important phase in the detailed estimation of construction costs. The pricing strategies of cost estimation vary greatly in different situations. However, as the pricing changes, the quantity of the work involved in a particular project remains unchanged. A relatively accurate quantity take-off is thus a crucial element to successful bidding and project management. This thesis presents a new methodology that can integrate AutoCAD with the quantity take-off during the detailed cost estimating process. Based on the designer's 2D AutoCAD drawings, and through interaction with a user, a customized AutoCAD module generates a 3D model of a project and exports the components' information into an external Access database which contains detailed quantity take-off information. The 3D model improves project visualization by allowing estimators to visualize the construction process as it would be actually built. Moreover, this customized module makes the quantity take-off much more efficient and effective.