eISSN: 2600-7920

INTI JOURNAL – BUILT ENVIRONMENT INTI JOURNAL

Vol.2, 2018 (7)

The Application of Measurement Software by Quantity Surveying Firms in

Klang Valley
Nik Fatma Arisya Nik Yahya*, Appadoo Heshna

1, 2
INTI International University, Faculty of Engineering and Quantity Surveying

Correspondence author: *fatmaarisya.yahya@newinti.edu.my,

i13004088@student.newinti.edu.my

ABSTRACT. The success of the construction industry is increasingly predicated on technology

driven investments in information technology (IT) and this is expected to be even more so in the
future. It is advantageous for quantity surveyors to be efficient in producing bills of quantities from
measurement. Measurement software has been designed to help quantity surveyors to upgrade
their way of working, making it faster and more systematic. This paper sought to identify the extent
of software use at present as well as strategies to mitigate the barriers to the use of measurement
software. The data for this study were collected from selected quantity surveying firms registered
in Klang Valley, Malaysia through qualitative approach. The study found that large and medium
firms are more likely to use measurement software as compared to small firms. The major
problems identified are high cost and, required learning and training to use the software. The major
benefits identified are high accuracy, speed up measurement works, and high traceability.

KEYWORDS: measurement software, quantity surveying firms, information technology,

quantity surveyor

1. INTRODUCTION
The government of Malaysia has acknowledged the fact that technology helps in improving the
performance in the construction industry, thus encouraging firms to implement the latter [1]
Despite the fact that the implementation of technology is increasing, it is not an easy task. The
construction industry has adopted technology late as compared to other industries [2]. This is due
to the usage of technology being at an early stage and not popular among quantity surveying firms.
Even though there are many benefits of usage of specialized software, there are issues on the
technology usage among the firms [3]

Quantity surveying firms tend to use traditional methods of measurement although being aware
of the benefits of adopting measurement software, while claiming to be at ease with traditional
methods [4]. The software most commonly used is Microsoft Office [5].

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Vol.2, 2018 (7)

Based on the studies mentioned before, it can be stated that small-medium quantity surveying
firms are not very familiar with measurement software while large quantity surveying firms are
more accustomed to the software as well as its implementation. In addition, some of them are
already practicing specialized software in order to keep up with the government agenda [6]

The cost of software, lack of knowledge, training, and readiness as the barriers to using
measurement software [7]. Furthermore, so as to remain associated with the market demands,
expertise is needed in handling the software. Nonetheless, the invention of measurement software
has created much more than weaknesses and creates opportunities which are why the government
is encouraging the practice of such software [8]

2. METHODOLGY

Project Title

Problem
Statement

Application of
Measurement Software

Research Methodology
- Survey Method

Data Collection
- Interview

Data Analysis

Interpretation of Data
- Findings and Discussion

Conclusion and
Recommendation

Figure 1: Research framework

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Figure 1 shows the research framework for the study. The selection of research strategy is in
accordance with the aim and objectives of the study. This research will be using qualitative case
study research as the main methodology. This choice is based on the comparison of application of
measurement software in different types of quantity surveying firms, which are small-sized,
medium-sized and large firms. For this study, the subject under investigation is the application of
measurement software in quantity surveying firms in Klang Valley. There will be a collection of
data through in-depth interviews, and reviewed journals retrieved as secondary data. Interviews
remain the most important source of case study information and could be in numerous forms: open-
ended, focused, or structured. In an open-ended interview, the researcher could ask for the
informant's opinion on events or facts. This could serve to validate previously gathered data

3. FINDINGS
The participants of this study comprised of three (3) respondents, each having a quantity
surveying background. They all represented their respective firms during the interviews in
answering the questions based on their experience and own perspectives. The firms were chosen
on purpose based on the need of a large sized, a medium sized and a small sized firm for the
research. Registered under the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM), all firms were
located in Klang Valley.

From the interviews, it was found that large and medium-size companies are the ones using
measurement software while small firms are most likely to be using manual methods. This choice
differs based on many factors, one being the size of the firm. Table 1 below represents the types
of measurement software being used by the respondents with the filled boxes representing the
software being used.

Table 1: Types of Measurement Software used in QS Firms

Large Medium Small

Sized Firm Sized Firm Sized Firm
Autodesk Quantity Take-off/Auto CAD

RIPAC Estimating System

Build soft
Everest
Atles

Master bill

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QS Pro
Win QS
CATO Software
Cost X
Bina Link
Glodon

The benefits of measurement software are vast. In fact, even though small firms do not
make use of the software, they do agree with their remunerations. All firms, irrespective of
their size, have rated the benefits with the same degree of importance.

The benefits are improving quality of services, high accuracy in works, shorten the time of
providing services, reduce the cost of providing services, give professionals competitive
advantage, enhance the productivity of QS, improve communication and quality of work,
provide better customer satisfaction, reduce the number of staff (cost saving in staff), reduce
human error, easy to edit works and high traceability, user friendly, access to multiple users to
make changes from different computers
There is a common consensus among quantity surveyors from the large, medium and small
consultancy firms that the barriers to the implementation of measurement software in their
respective firms exist. Each of the barriers below in Table 2 has been rated based on the
perspective of the respondents and the ranking given by the respondents on a scale 1 to 5.

Table 2: Barriers to Implementation of Measurement Software

Large Sized Medium Small Sized

Firm Sized Firm Firm
Lack of experience and expertise in IT applications 1 2 2
Lack of technical support from senior management 1 3 2
Lack of technical support for the QS profession 1 3 2
High initial and installation cost of software 2 1 1
High initial and installation cost of hardware 2 1 1
Rate of virus attacks leading to loss of data 2 4 4
Training problems 3 2 1
Lack of suitable software for the QS profession 3 4 5
High running and maintenance cost 3 2 1

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Lack of flexibility 3 5 3

4. SUMMARY
From the analysis that has been made, there are four main measurement software such as
Autodesk Quantity Take-off/AutoCAD, Atles, CostX, Glodon amongst others mostly used.
Each of software has its own capabilities and operated distinctively.

The findings from the survey showed that only small firms do not make use of
measurement software. In fact, small firms would rather use Microsoft Excel to aid them to
save data after manual measurement. Even though they agreed that methods other than
specialized software lead to human error and time-consuming, they are familiar with
conventional methods of measurement. The outcome of the study is in accordance with the
literature review discussed earlier, which proves that measurement software in small firms is
still low.

Based on the findings and data analysis made, small firms have many reasons to why they
do not implement measurement software in their firms, amongst which are the cost, reluctance
to adapt to new technology and lack of motivation and awareness to apply the software. From
the study, it can be determined that the high cost is the main reason for small companies not to
use measurement software.

Besides, practical strategies have been analyzed whereby firms, as well as government and
professional bodies, can help in overcoming the barriers and raising awareness on the
implementation of measurement software. The study showed that respondents agreed that
training of staff amongst others would encourage the use of measurement software. Therefore,
there are a few further actions that could increase the level of measurement software used in
the construction industry.

REFERENCES
[1] Jaafar, M., Ramayah, T., Abdul-Aziz, A.R. and Saad, B., 2007. Technology readiness among
managers of Malaysian construction firms. Engineering, Construction and Architectural
Management, 14(2), pp.180-191.
[2] Olatunji, O., 2011. Virtual reality and estimating practice: A software selection model for
estimating. practice, 11, p.13.
[3] Hasnul, A. (2015). A Study On The Level Of Usage Of Ict Specialized Software In Preparation
Bill Of Quantities In Small-Medium Quantity Surveying Firms. Undergraduate. Deakin University.
[4] Oladapo, A.A., 2006. The impact of ICT on professional practice in the Nigerian construction
industry. EJISDC: The Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries, (24),
p.2.

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