Quantity Takeoffs and Detailed Buildings Cost Estimation Using Geographic Information Systems

This paper presents a Geographic Information System (GIS) based cost estimation methodology, which may be helpful in increasing the productivity of quantity estimator by reducing the manual work in quantity takeoffs. Proposed methodology also eliminates missing or duplication of various items of work by visualizing each components corresponding to the items in three dimension (3D). Several scripts developed within ArcView, a desktop GIS based mapping system, have been used to extract the necessary dimensions from the design drawings (prepared in GIS environment) and to perform various calculations of quantity takeoffs. Accurate Bill of Quantities (BOQ) may be generated on the basis of dimensions of various data themes. Methodology has been designed to store construction resource data (materials, workers, and equipments) in tabular form within the GIS environment. Separate tables have been used for each project to generate BOQ, Bill of Materials (BOM), and labor requirements. Quantity Takeoffs and Detailed Buildings Cost Estimation Using Geographic Information Systems