BILL OF ENGINEERING MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION (BEME);

A CASE STUDY OF A 100 METERS ROAD.

By
Engr. Oladipupo S. OLAFUSI Ph.D., MNSE, MNICE, MACostE
(Delivered on Saturday 28th October, 2017)

1.0 INTRODUCTION
For all engineering works, it is required to know beforehand the probable cost of construction known as
estimated cost. Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) also referred to as 'Bill'; is a tool
used before, during and post-construction to assess and value the cost of construction works. This
includes the cost of materials, labor, equipment and all/any other resource(s) required for the success of
any construction endeavor based on a pre-determined scope and specification.

2.0 OBJECTIVES OF A BILL

The objectives of a BEME are:

(i) To provide sufficient information during construction planning, for tendering and
contracting purposes or for the purpose of knowing the estimated cost of the proposed
project (If the estimated cost is greater than the available funds to execute the project,
then attempts are made to reduce the estimated cost by reviewing the scope and/or
specification).

(ii) To Facilitate the comparison of rates and prices between bidders.

(iii) To provide priced Bill of quantities for use in the periodic evaluation of Works executed;
for the purpose of payments and project control, during and on-completion of a project
for disputes and compensation or to determine if the project was completed on-budget
or otherwise.

(iv) To provide rates and prices which can be used in the variation of additional works
instructed by the Clients.

(v) To enable the Clients to assemble actual tendered rates and prices to prepare for future
estimating and budgeting.

In order to attain these objectives, the bill is often itemized such that the proposed work are broken
down into classes of work with sufficient details for distinguishing between the classes of work, and
between works of the same nature carried out at different locations or in any circumstances.

The BEME is usually presented in a tabular form and prepared in work packages or categories by a
process of "taking-off" which involves identifying and breaking down all elements of a construction
work that is measured; including their respective cost. The Bill should be simple, as brief as possible, all
items should be covered by the bill and prepared such that would be understood by a layman as much
as possible.

*Taking-off refers to the process of identifying and breaking down the elements of construction works that can be measured
and priced. it helps extract the detailed quantities and measurement of elements of any construction works.
3.0 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOQ & BEME

Although, BOQ and BEME tends to serve the same purpose and are prepared in the same manner or
format; but BOQ is used basically for building works, while BEME is used for civil engineering works such
as Roads and drainages, retaining walls, piling, underpinning, bridges and culverts, railway works, dams
etc.

4.0 MEASUREMENTS AND ESTIMATING FOR BEME

4.1 Standard Method Of Measurements

There is usually a standard method of measurement (varies for countries or regions as in the
Code of Practices); which helps in the classification of works, as it defines:

(i) how works are to be broken-down into separate items in the bill
(ii) the information to be given in item description
(iii) the units of expressing the quantities of each item
(iv) how the works are to be measured for the purpose of calculating quantities

The Standard Method of Measurement provides detailed guidelines for the measurement of
works; which reduces the possibility of measurement related disputes at the post-construction
stage. The Standard methods of measurement also contains an exhaustive list of work items.
This provided uniformity among the tenders and also reduces the pricing risks for the bidders
and consequently more competitive tenders can be expected. The 4th edition of the NIQS'
Building and Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (BESMM4) and the 4th edition of
the Institute of Civil Engineers, United Kingdom's Civil Engineering Standard Method of
Measurement (CESMM4) is currently in use for estimating and billing of quantities in Nigeria.

4.2 Estimating and Evaluation For BEME

The art of estimating and evaluation is influenced majorly on the ability to read and understand
drawings without difficulty and the ability to calculate quantities such as single items or
numbers, weight, time (hours, weeks) and dimensions such as length (linear meter), area
(square meter), and volume (cubic meter). Accuracy in estimate is very important; and in
preparing one, the quantities of different items of work are calculated by simple measurements
which aids the calculated cost of the project. The process involves:

(i) Interpreting plans, drawings and understanding the specifications.

(ii) Developing a work breakdown structure of the construction project into
segments or phases.
(iii) Develop or clearly define the scope for each segment or phase of the project.
(iv) Calculate and estimate the cost of materials, equipment, labor and man-hours
required for each segment or phase.
(v) Summarize the cost for each segment or phase into cost per required unit.
(vi) Transfer the rate and estimated quantities into the BEME.
(vii) Peruse the BEME thoroughly for errors and omissions.
 5.0 PRESENTATION FORMAT FOR BEME

BEME typically comes in different tabular forms, depending on the organization or estimator. Although,
there is a conventional (professionally acceptable) format of presenting BEME as shown in Table 1
below. But, a quantity estimator or cost engineer can be innovative in presenting a Bill for direct-labor
projects, for himself or any other reason as shown in Table 2 or otherwise.

Table 1: Conventional Bill

Amount
Item Item Description Quantity Unit Rate

Table 2: Innovative Bill

Materials Labor Other
Item Description Total Notes
Qty Unit Rate Amount Qty Unit Rate Amount Cost
6.0 100-METER ROAD CASE STUDY

Assume a 100 meters long road of 10 meters width carriageway and drainage on both sides is to be
constructed according to the drawing presented in Plate 1 below.
6.1 Estimation and Evaluation

Prior to the preparation of the Bill, as discussed earlier; steps are taken to breakdown the
proposed project into stages or sections. In the case of this case study, the project is broken-
down into Site Clearing, Earthwork, Drainage Works, Road Stabilization and Pavement
Construction.

6.1.1 Site Clearing

Often times a lump sum or provisional sum is provided for the cost of clearing based on
the Engineer's experience and the current state of the site to be cleared (having visited
the site for a detailed assessment).

For the purpose of this project, I assumed a provisional sum of ₦500,000 (Five Hundred
Thousand Naira) would be adequate for the clearing of the site and removal of topsoil
and other unsuitable material.

6.1.2 Earthwork

This seems to be one of the most difficult task on road work estimations. It involves the
excavation, filling and leveling of ground surface for the road construction. The cutting
and filling of soil during earthwork is carried out with respect to the formation line (an
imaginary line which indicates the earthwork's finished surface from the road design
provided). The portion of soils above the formation line indicates that the soils need to
be cut (excavated), while the voids below the formation line indicates that the soil
needs to be imported to fill-up the voids (filling); to achieve the formation level as
presented in Figure 1 below.

Existing Road Profile

Cut

Formation Line

Fill

Figure 1. Road Profile

The volume of earthwork can be calculated manually or using computer applications

such as MS Excel, AEC CutFill, etc. In estimating the cost of earthwork, the cross-
sectional area of the road is assumed to be trapezoidal in shape as in Figure 2 below;
and detailed measurement from site assessment (such as the depth and width of cuts
and fills as discussed in Figure 1) is required as inputs in the estimation.
 B

S
d S

Sd Sd
Figure 2. Typical Cross-section of a Road

B is the breadth or width of the road in meters = 10 m

d is the depth of fill, which varies from point to point ac in Column C in Table 3. below
S is the slope (usually assumed to be 2)

Table 3. Estimation of Earthwork

A B C D E F G H I
Quantity
Depth, Breadth, Center Side Area Total Area Length (m3)
Points Chainage
d (m) B (m) Area (m2) (m2) (m2) (m) Cut Fill

1 0 - 0+30 0.5 11.4 5.7 0.5 6.20 30 186.0

2 0+30 - 0+45 1.3 11.4 14.82 3.38 18.20 15 273.0
3 0+45 - 0+85 0.7 11.4 7.98 0.98 8.96 40 358.4
4 0+85 - 0+100 1.2 11.4 13.68 2.88 16.56 15 248.4
TOTAL 1065.8

Points- these are the points on the road, where measurements of fill were
taken.
Chainage- is the distance between points of measurements taken on-site.
Depth- is the depth of fill, which varies from point to point on the road profile.
Breadth- is the same as width of the proposed road.
Center Area- is the area of the rectangular cross-section of the road.
Side Area- is the area of the triangular (sides) cross-section of the road. it is
usually calculated by the product of the slope and square of the depth
of fill (Sd2).
Total Area- is the sum of the center area and the side areas (summation of
columns E and F).
Length- is the distance covered by the chainage at each point along the road
Quantity- is total volume of earthwork required at each point on the road (i.e.
product of columns G and H).

However, for the purpose of this case study, 1065.8 m3 of earthwork is estimated to be
carried-out on the road construction work (given the depths and lengths of fills along the
100 meters road from the project site assessment), and I assumed a rate of ₦3,200 per
cubic meter would be adequate for the earthwork. Note also that the earthwork is
carried out on the entire right of way (ROW); which is 11.4 meters and not just the
carriageway of 10 meters.

6.1.3 Drainage Works

For the estimation of the cost of drainage, usually it is estimated in linear meters in the
BEME. Although, a detailed calculation of the volume of concrete, reinforcement and
the cost per linear meter of completing the drainage according to the designed
specification would have been carried out (including all other cost element such as
curing, handling if precast, transporting, concrete drainage cover, etc). And the
approximate cost of completing 1-meter of the specified drainage as shown in Plate 2
below is computed in the BEME.

For the purpose of this case study I assumed ₦45,000 (Forty Five Thousand Naira) per
linear meter for the completion of the specified drainage in the BEME.
Plate 2. Drainage Specification Details
 6.1.4 Road Stabilization
The stabilization is often estimated in volume or area of coverage (i.e. cubic meters or
square meter respectively). Although, the cost of providing, laying and compacting the
specified material (sand, crushed stone, hardcore, etc.) would have been calculated
before computing in the BEME. The calculated cost per unit and the estimated quantity
required are then transferred to the BEME. For the purpose of this case study, we had
two layers of stabilization; 150 mm thick granite crushed stone to serve as base course
for the road pavement and 50 mm thick sharp river sand bed to receive the paving stone
(pavement). The stabilization materials are to be spread across the entire carriageway
along the length of the road as shown in the designed road section in Plate 1. Although,
the rates for the granite crushed stone and the river sand would differ based on the cost
of completing each of them, but the quantity would be the same (i.e. 10 m width x 100
m length = 1000 m2). However, an estimator can decide to group the entire stabilization
together or separate the granite crushed stone from the sharp river sand bed in the
BEME.

For the purpose of this case study, I separated the granite crushed stone from the river
sand bed and the rates were ₦4000 (Four Thousand Naira) and ₦1,000 (One Thousand
Naira) respectively to complete a square meter for the stabilization.

6.1.5 Pavement

The pavement which is the last course of the road section may also be estimated in
volume of area covered (i.e. cubic or square meter respectively); depending on the
pavement type and as required by the bill.

For the purpose of this case study, the pavement is a 80 mm thick paving stone, required
to be estimated in square meters. Like the estimation of the coverage area in those for
the stabilization; the quantity is the same because we have to pave everywhere that was
stabilized, otherwise the quantity would differ. Thus, ₦4,800 (Four Thousand Eight
Hundred Naira) was estimated to complete a square meter of the specified pavement.

Please read up on:

(a) The estimation of reinforced concrete structures, concretes, reinforcements for
a detailed understanding of the drainage estimation.
(b) The estimation of road materials for a detailed understanding of the estimation
of stabilization.
(c) The estimation of road pavements for a detailed understanding of the
estimation of pavement.

6.2 Summary of BEME For 100 Meters Road:

Table 4 below presents the detailed Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation for the 100
Meters road case study. Please recall that:

(i) I assumed a provision of ₦500,000 for the entire clearing of the site
(ii) The volume of earthwork is 1065.8 m3 and I assumed ₦3,200 per cubic meter for the rate.
 (iii) The estimated cost of drainage per linear meter is ₦45,000 and total quantity is 200
meter (both sides of the road).
(iv) The estimated volume of stabilization was 1000 m2, while the rates for granite crushed
stone and sharp river sand were ₦4,000 and ₦1,000 respectively.
(v) The estimated volume of paving stone required for the pavement is also 1000 m 2 and
the rate of completing the pavement (all cost inclusive) is ₦4,800.

Table 4. Bill of Engineering Measurement and Estimation; Case Study of 100 Meters Road
Amount
Item Item Description Quantity Unit Rate (₦)
(₦) (Kobo)
Clear site, remove all unsuitable sub-
grade material and cart away all
1 500,000
unsuitable materials off-site (haulage
inclusive).
Provide, spread and compact approved
2 Laterite material to fill and shape the 1065.8 m3 3,200 3,410,560
road to formation line.

Provide and install 125 mm thick

reinforced concrete (grade M25) 450 x
450 mm drainage with 100 mm thick
3 reinforced concrete 600 x 600 mm 200 m 45,000 9,000,000
drainage cover (according to the
specifications of the designed drainage).

Provide, spread and compact approved

granite crushed stone base to a compact
4 thickness of 150 mm. (haulage 1000 m2 4000 4,000,000
inclusive).

Provide, spread sharp river sand, Shape,

Level and compact to a compact
5 thickness of 50 mm in preparation for 1000 m2 1000 1,000,000
paving.

Provide and lay 80 mm thick paving

6 stone (cost of handling, transporting, 1000 m2 4,800 4,800,000
damp-proofing and grouting inclusive).

Sum of works (Item 1-6) 22,710,560

Provide 5% VAT 1,135,528

TOTAL 23,846,088
Note:
Sometimes provisions are made for overhead (the assumed cost of executing the project by the
contractor, which varies for individual contractors) after the sum of works, before adding the 5% VAT;
but in this case study, I have considered the contractor's overhead in the individual cost element for the
categories of work.
However, the estimated cost of the 100 meters road construction is ₦23,846,088 (Twenty Three Million,
Eight Hundred and Forty Six Thousand, Eighty Eight Naira Only).

Additionally, the bill can also be broken further down into subsections like our resource person Engr. B.
Jolayemi Oyinloye presented on Saturday 21st October, 2017 as below:

Plate 3. Engr. Oyinloye's BEME Sample (showing sub-sections in a Bill)