MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF DESIGN

FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE,
BUILDING & PLANNING

ABPL90208
CONSTRUCTION MEASUREMENT AND ESTIMATING

Assignment 2.1 – COST PLAN (35 MARKS)

Due date: Friday 20th October 2023 (around 7 weeks including the non-teaching
period) – 11:59pm.

Learning Objectives

Upon the completion of this assignment, student should be able to:

(1) Extract quantities of building work items from BIM and 2D drawing using take-
off software;
(2) Prepare elemental cost plan / bill of quantities for the building;
(3) Price measured construction work items; and
(4) Prepare a Cost Plan Report for a building.

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Assessment 2.1 - COST PLAN (35 marks)

The Scenario
Your client has approached you to do a design development level cost plan and
report. They have a finite funding envelope and therefore value management
proposals need to be provided in case the cost plan is over budget.

What you are required to do

Using the design development quality documentation provided (Revit Model and
Drawings), you need to prepare a complete Elemental Cost Plan and associated Cost
Plan Report using iTWO CostX 7.0 software package. Prepare your cost plan (Cost
Planning and Cost Analysis) making other relevant assumptions where necessary
with regards to specifications for different items of work. Also included below is
‘definition of area terminologies’ based on AIQS Cost Management Manual Volume 1.
When preparing your cost plan, you are required to use the 3D Revit model
provided to you in the following ways:

1. To seek detail for the cost plan

2. Bulk check large items
3. Visual aid for cost planning (3D visualisation).

The Report
The formal Design Development Cost Plan Report for this project should cover off,
but is not limited to the following sub-headings:
1. Front Cover
2. Contents page
3. Main Content such as (but not limited to):
i. Introduction
ii. Executive Summary
iii. Cost Plan Summary
iv. Issues Identified in the 3D Revit Model (At least 5 issues)
v. Risk Allocation and Mitigation Strategies
vi. Key Assumptions and Exclusions
vii. Value Management Proposals (At least 3)
viii. Appendices
• Cost Plan
• Document Register
• Assignment 2.2

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Generally
During the tutorials your tutor will take you through the step-by-step process
involved in preparing the cost plan using Cost X software. You are strongly advised to
attend tutorials as the knowledge developed will help you with your cost planning
assignment. Experience have shown that missing one week of tutorial and
lecture can have a serious impact on a student’s ability to catch up and benefit
from the subject’s learning outcome. The cost plan assignment is due on Friday
20th October 2023 at 11:59 pm.

Please submit the following on CANVAS :

(1) Soft copy of CostX file - save the file using a combination of (1) your name (2)
student number and (3) course code, in .exf (CostX native file) formats.

e.g. AJIBADE AIBINU_349093_ABPL90208

(2) Soft copy of CostX file of the Rate Library

(3) Soft copy of Cost Plan Report inpdf file format.

Notes on submission:
• CANVAS > Assignment Submission > Assignment 2.1
• All documents including CostX files and PDF report files (including
Assignment 2.2) should be zipped together in one .zip file, due to
CANVAS submission limitation.

Assessment Criteria for Cost Plan and Unit rate build up

CRITERIA MARK

Cost Plan Report content and presentation 20%

Measurement of all Building Elements and GFA following the 25%

Elemental Cost Breakdown Structure and Coding System for
Dimension Groups

Create the Rate Library for the respective Dimension Groups with the 20%
detailed description for the respective item along with the rate build-
ups

Create the Cost Plan in the Workbook using the coded Dimension 25%
Group with their respective coded Rate Library and presentation

Unit rate build ups in the rate library – consistency & methodology 10%

TOTAL 100%

PROPROTION OF FINAL MARK 35%

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Indicative Measurement Check List
***Note: Items listed below provide an indicative generic list only. Some
items listed below may not be on the documents and some might items
will be on the drawings that are not listed below***
Fully Enclosed Covered Area (FECA) Unenclosed
Covered Area (UCA)
Gross Floor Area (GFA) (note: GFA = FECA + UCA) Usable
Floor Area (UFA)

ELEMENTAL COST BREAKDOWN

No Code Element
Building Works
01 DE Demolition & Alteration
02 SB Substructure
03 CL Columns
04 UF Upper Floors
05 SC Stairs
06 RF Roof
07 EW External Walls
08 WW Windows
09 ED External Doors
10 NW Internal Walls
11 NS Internal Screens
12 ND Internal Doors
13 WF Wall Finishes
14 FF Floor Finishes
15 CF Ceiling Finishes
16 FT Fitments
17 SE Special Equipment
18 HY Hydraulics
19 ME Mechanical Services
20 FP Fire Services
21 ES Electrical Services
22 CM Communication Services
23 TS Transportation Services
24 BW BWIC
25 PR Preliminaries
26 MA Margin
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External Works
27 XP Site Preparation
28 XR Roads, Footpaths & Paved Areas
29 XN Boundary Walls, Fencing and Gates
30 XB Outbuildings & Covered Ways
31 XL Landscaping & Improvements
32 XK External Stormwater Drainage
33 XD External Sewer Drainage
34 XW External Water Supply
35 XG External Gas
36 XF External Fire Protection
37 XE External Electric Light and Power
38 XC External Communications
39 XS External Special Services
40 XX External Alterations & Renovations
41 YY Special Provisions
42 PR Preliminaries
43 MA Margin

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Note: All assumptions over and above to be documented on the front sheet
under the notes section.

Useful References

Browne, P.W. (1988) An Analytical approach to Construction Estimating. University

of New South Wales Press.

Rawlinsons (Annual), Rawlinsons Australian Construction Handbook, Rawlhouse

Publishing,Perth, WA.

Sierra, J. (2007) The A TO Z Guide to Builders’ Estimating. Canberra: Australian

Institute of Quantity Surveyors (This book contains a concise and quick look-in
labour manual for estimating builders’ work.)

Building Economist (quarterly publication), Journal of the Australian Institute of

Quantity Surveyors, Canberra.

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