ARBE2308

Cost Planning & Estimating

COURSE INTRODUCTION 1
 Introducing ARBE2308
 Lecturer: Cameron Beard
 Course Code: ARBE4308
 Course Title: Cost Planning & Estimating
 Course Value: 10 Units
 Pre Requisites: Successfully completed ARBE2301 (Measurement 1)
 Indicative Workload: 120-140hrs (approx. 10hrs/week on average)
 Course Contact Hours: Face to Face 3 Hrs/week On Campus or equivalent instruction for
Distance learners.

COURSE INTRODUCTION 2
 Syllabus
 Introduction to cost planning and estimating & Preliminary estimating techniques
 Preparing cost plans
 Estimating preliminaries & temporary works
 Estimating trades (selected trades)
 Bidding models and tendering strategies
 Civil engineering (infrastructure) estimating basics
 Estimating with computers
 Preparing for pre qualifications, Tender evaluation process and Post tender protocols

COURSE INTRODUCTION 3
 Course Learning Outcomes
1. Apply preliminary cost estimating techniques to prepare building cost plans.

2. Apply estimating techniques to build unit prices.

3. Price conforming tenders with available information.

4. Develop and apply appropriate cost planning and bidding strategies that are ethically

appropriate.

COURSE INTRODUCTION 4
 Course Materials
 Australian & New Zealand Standard Method of Measurement of Building
Works (You should have this from ARBE3309)
 iTWO Cost X or Buildsoft Cubit – A student is available
 Assessment Documents – These will be made available within the
“Assignment” section of Canvas as required.
 Course Readings
 Relevant pages of the AIQS Cost Management Manual have been included within the
Course Reading that are available from the Canvas link
 Rawlinson's Australian Construction Handbook (2024) – Library has 4 digital copies

COURSE INTRODUCTION 5
 ARBE2308 & Cost Planners/Estimators
 Cost Planners/Estimators are problem solvers – practice to offer your optimal
solution when presenting a problem.
 Cost Planners/Estimators must read all the available information and assess
the risks and therefore the costs.
 READ ALL THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 Estimating is a CORE skill in construction management and creeps into most
aspects of it.
 Employers will be looking for people with good core skills.
 Even if you never want to be a Quantity Surveyor or estimator, the ability to
understand rates and costs will be a great advantage in most roles.

COURSE INTRODUCTION 6
 Introducing ARBE2308
 The content has been broken up into 8 Modules that can be worked through at your own
pace:-
 Module 0: Course Introduction

 Module 1: Ethics & Tendering

 Module 2: Reviewing Scope & Pricing

 Module 3: Detailed Pricing

 Module 4: Contract Adjudication & Post Contract Considerations

 Module 5: Cost Planning & Early Cost Advice

 Module 6: Elemental Estimating

 Module 7: Cost Plan Finalisation & Cost Control

COURSE INTRODUCTION 7
 Introducing ARBE2308
 Weekly Lectorials have been scheduled Mondays from 1-3pm and will be used
to provide a discussion forum for those who wish to come to class.
 Each Module is designed to be worked through at your own pace with the
assessment task being the main drivers of timing.
 It is suggested that you should allocate approx. 10hrs per week to this course,
so please try to stay on top of the content.
 Canvas now has a “General Discussion” for each Module along with some
Assessment specific discission boards

COURSE INTRODUCTION 8
 Course Assignments
 Assessment Task 1 – “On-line Quiz’s”
 Modules 1 to 3 Review Quiz (By 5pm Friday 12th April 2024)
 Modules 4 to 7 Review Quiz (By 5pm Friday 7th June 2024)

 Assessment Task 2 - Tender estimate based on the BOQ and documents

provided (5pm Sunday 14th April 2024)

 Assessment Task 3 - Cost Plan based on provided scope (5pm Friday 7th June 2024)

COURSE INTRODUCTION 9
 Introducing ARBE2308
– Assessment Task 1 – Quizzes
 Assessment Task 1 is a series of Online Quiz’s based around a review of each

Modules (7 No. in total – 15% of final mark)

 You have 60 mins to complete each Module Quiz in a single sitting

 One attempt is allowed

COURSE INTRODUCTION 10
 Introducing ARBE2308
– Assessment Task 2 – Tender Pricing
 Assessment Task 2 is based around the information contained within Modules
1 to 4. The submission requirements including the order of the sections within
the assignment are set out in the Project Scenario and Assessment Tasks
document with the Assessment 2 section of Canvas.

 The requirements are also set out in a document Assignment 2 Requirements

in the Assessment 2 section of Canvas

READ THESE DOCUMENTS – THEY ARE IMPORTANT

COURSE INTRODUCTION 11
 Introducing ARBE2308
– Assessment Task 3 – Cost Plan
 Assessment Task 3 is mainly based around the information contained within Modules
5 to 7 although you will probably also utilise some of the skills learnt in Modules 1 to
4.
 Students will need access to Buildsoft Cubit or RIB CostX in order to complete this
assessment task. It is intended that students will become proficient users of industry
standard software.
 Cubit & Cost X are both Windows based applications. If you have a Mac start looking
at the methods to operate this software on your machine.
 The submission requirements including the order of the sections within the
assignment are set out in the Project Scenario and Assessment Tasks document with
the Assessment 3 section of Canvas.
 The requirements are also set out in a document Assignment 3 Requirements in the
Assessment 3 section of Canvas.

COURSE INTRODUCTION 12
 Canvas
 It is essential that students keep up with Canvas
◦ All course documents are delivered through Canvas

◦ Preferred contact method is via Canvas discussion boards

◦ Important announcements will be on the Canvas “Announcements” page

◦ Assignment information (including partial examples) are presented on Canvas

COURSE INTRODUCTION 13
 Problem Solvers
 Estimating and cost planning involves a high level of problem solving
 Practice problem solving at home and at work
 At university you can hone your problem solving skills on Canvas where
questions can be accompanied by a suggested solution
 For example, “I’m not sure of detail 11 on WD701, I think it means there is a
sleeve through the precast for the downpipe. Is that what you guys see?”
 This will also help at work rather than constantly asking “what’s this?”
 This also means that if you leave the assignments till the last minute you may
not get direct answers if you don’t offer a solution to your question.

COURSE INTRODUCTION 14
 The Practical Context
 Estimators & Quantity Surveyors are problem solvers
 Client’s want to employ the most cost effective way to procure (or acquire)
facilities. They need to achieve value for money:-
◦ This requires you as a cost planner to propose the best way to procure a building

 Contractors want to achieve optimum profit levels in constructing and

delivering facilities to their clients:-
◦ This requires you as an Estimator to price the client’s proposal for provision of a facility

 You should want be socially responsible, accountable and ethical as a

professional practitioner
◦ This requires you as a professional to reflect on your actions

COURSE INTRODUCTION 15
 Employment Prospects?
 In times when the construction industry tightens and projects become more
competitive the emphasis turns to Quantity Surveyors and Estimators.
 Quantity Surveyors need to be aware of emerging construction and material
trends and monitor market conditions.
 Estimators are exposed to all trades and have to converse with all
subcontractors, they need a working knowledge of all fields to enable them to
assess quotes, claims etc.
 Quantity Surveyors & Estimators need a network of contacts, knowing where
to get something or someone is often half the battle to being competitive –
start a note book now!

COURSE INTRODUCTION 16
 House Keeping
A few basic principles apply: (you will hear these throughout the semester)
 The construction industry relies on a supply chain and a complex network, things will go
wrong, mistakes will be made!
 It is not the mistakes made but how you recover from them that determines a good
construction manager.
 Construction managers are by necessity problem solvers.
 Construction managers only need to control three things:
time, cost and quality
 Deadlines are important and you control time
 You are training to be a construction manager so manage your time

COURSE INTRODUCTION 17
 House Keeping (Continued…)
 Everyone is a potential HD student
 You may want a degree with minimum effort but employers will look at your
transcript – a P in Cost Planning & Estimating will not help you
 Employers may not understand what is included in some courses but they
understand “Cost Planning & Estimating” as a fundamental skill.
 Work through all of the content – All of it is relevant to the course and your
future as a Construction Professional.
 Participate in the Discussion Boards, Padlets, etc and ask questions/interact.

COURSE INTRODUCTION 18
 Thank you

COURSE INTRODUCTION 19