Modern Quantity surveyors are more reliable on technology for accuracy and efficiency. Which caused the Qs education to evolve as newer Qs specialize in software and BIM systems to handle complex and unique projects.
As Quantity surveyors must stay up to date with other professions, the ability to interpret, take off, estimate, and prepare BOQ based on digital versions of the drawings is essential.
We have compiled a detailed list of popular application and boq estimation software that can be quickly learned and integrated into the workstream of and Quantity surveyor. Some of these product trials are free, but the most popular and essential software features of the products must be purchased separately. Few items could be found in packages.
What software do quantity surveyors use?
- AutoCAD
- MS Excel
- MS Project
- CostX
- Bluebeam Revu
Following review has been done based on the required skill level to start using them and the importance to our profession. If the skill level indicates advanced, you must have experience in MS excel and AutoCAD to start using the product.
AutoCAD
Must be PurchasedSkills required : – BeginnerUse : – Less useful
AutoCAD is the most entry-level CAD software and the most popular CAD application from the list below. It was created based on a computer application in 1977. Initially, it was designed for keyboard input only, so up to this day, you could still input data and commands using keystrokes.
This application is capable of drafting, annotating, and designing in 2D geometry and 3D models with varying surfaces. It is popular among architects, services engineers, and structural engineers.
This software is used for reviewing a drawing, writing up the scope, converting a physical drawing into a digital copy, and Takeoff dimensions in BOQ development. which are very useful for Qs. But it’s best to have an idea to navigate the software as most architects and engineers prefer to use the dwg format to share drawings.
You should note that a subscription to this package is expensive and it is a plus if your organization provides you with a business version. Students are capable of trying out the software with the help of their universities. Plus, other than the measuring tools, most other tools are useless as we do not engage in the designing process.
MS Excel
Must be purchasedSkills required : – BeginnerUse : – Very useful
MS excel is the most common tool used by a quantity surveyor. It is also an essential tool for any professional regardless of their expertise or line of work. It is included in the MS office suite and the latest version is desktop version of Office is Office 2021, released on October 5, 2021.
Quantity surveyors use excel from creating BOQ, for estimations, macros, Rate breakdowns, etc. Its most useful functions are formulas, pivot tables, and Macros. There are dozens of formulas and pivot table function that are used to comb through large data tables. Macros can be used to automate menial and repetitive tasks to save time. It’s easier to learn excel due to the large no of online resources and YouTube tutorials. Even though this is very useful, we still have to manually enter the quantities measured through a CAD software such as AutoCAD. This is just superior to manual data processing.
You could access MS excel through a desktop version or through the free online MS 365 version. Desktop version is more convenient rather than the online version (you need to be online for it to save).
To get a better idea about the usefulness of MS excel in Quantity surveying check out this article.
MS Project
Must be purchasedSkills required : – BeginnerExtremely useful
MS project is another essential piece of software for a quantity surveyor. It was developed by Microsoft back in 1984. Modern firms expect intern Qs’s to be well versed in it and expect to create simple project plans during an internship. This software focuses on project management along with the cost, duration, and resources allocated. Plus, it’s easier to maintain a baseline or changes to the initial project conditions.
It automatically generates a Gantt chart in par with the information on a calendar-based interface, which helps to visualize the project. This chart helps to identify when the project start, schedule work, determine task duration, what previous tasks must be completed for a new task to initiate, etc. You could also define the working hours, holidays, the percentage of contribution of resources in a task, cost per resource per contribution, etc.
Students can sign up for a free version with the aid of their universities, but professionals need to purchase a product key.
CostX
Must be purchasedSkills required : – AdvancedExtremely useful
CostX was initially developed and released in 2004 and was primarily targeted at bridging the gap of data flow between software for quantity surveyors, contractors, sub-contractors and businesses. It’s an all-in-one software solution to streamline the taking off and estimation process.
It is the most Quantity surveyor-oriented software out there. Previously mentioned software automated just a part of the process. But CostX is a all-in-one software solution for quantity surveyors. It has the necessary functions of AutoCAD combined with excel sheets to provide a direct link within the software. This saves the data entry from one software to another and to get a better idea about the entire project. It can be used to measure, to cost , to estimate within the same space.
CostX guides the user through its process. The processes of reviewing work, comparing drawings, and costing will be guided by providing helpful alerts as a to-do list and your Cost plan will be linked to your measurements. Which means a change to one aspect will be automatically altered in the other.
Bluebeam Revu
Must be purchasedSkills required : – AdvancedExtremely useful
Bluebeam Revu is an all-in-one software solution similar to CostX. But it displays better functions such as the ability to collaborate using an interface similar to Microsoft teams. This is a software intended for collaboration under budget to increase project efficiency. It’s the most optimum software to deal with PDF format drawings. Its interactive interface allows Markup, Estimating Take-off, Document comparison and overlay, punch and back check, redlining, hyperlinking plan sets, conversion to PDF (from AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, SketchUp Pro and MS Office), etc.
There are customizable tools intended for architects, engineers and quantity surveyors, but its primary objective is to cater for Qs’s. It Provides a tool chest for markups (dotted lines, text) similar to adding a comment in a document and an entire team can participate via online (similar to annotations).
All markups are listed in a markup list which is extremely similar to a excel sheet. you could separate different types of markups from filter based on dimensions, colors etc. It also allows multiple screens to show the markups (annotations) and listed sheet separately.
You can get a student version for free, because business version is expensive to train with . They also provide free versions for academic staff of architecture, engineering or Quantity surveying courses
If a Job opening specifies experience on a certain software, you could get a trial version for 14 days and follow YouTube tutorials. Also, most of these software’s are intended for designing purposes and only a few are targeted at Quantity surveyors.