Measurement 4

Reflective Journal
Measurement is the most important skill to a qualified quantity surveyor, yet it is not that easy to learn. There are others knowledge that we need to incur to learn the correct method of  measurement, e.g. Construction technology.In this module,we have specified in learning measure bored pile, renovation and demolition works, and also various external works such as drainage, sump, manhole. We also learnt to write the correct description in accordance to design changes.

 I have gained a lot of experiences that were useful in my future in this 14 weeks. Although, I have meet a lots of problems and hardships that I need to break through in order to gain all these experiences. For example, we have a group assignments which needed an actual construction drawing to do the relevant measurement. To have these drawing, we need to call up construction company to ask for their permission. The most difficult we have meet in this project is the measurement part and prepare tender document as this is the first time that we have to measurement the requested elements from the actual drawing which might have missed a lot of significant information and prepared relevant documents. I have learnt how to prepare a tender document, even though I was not doing well in this assignment. After doing this assignment, I think that experience is the most important things that a qualified QS should have. This is a difficult module to me, yet also significant to my future career.

Besides that, I have learnt elemental cost analysis in a short term workshop. In this workshop, few of students were grouped together to complete the ECA form in a few days. Yet, I have learnt that a teamwork always is important in a group, just like we need to work with different people in the future. We held a lot of discussion to complete it together. Although it was a short workshop, it helped us to get more closer and we had a lot of fun together.

During ECA presentation section

   

Professional Practices

Reflective Journal
As a professional party, we need to have a basic idea and knowledge on professional and contractual responsibilities of a quantity surveyor from design stage to final account stage.Thought this module, we can clearly define needs and responsibilities of a quantity surveyor. It also focus to impart useful skills on the students in order to enhance their theory of quantity surveying and to prepare them for professional practice after graduating from University.

The role of quantity surveyor not only measure and estimate the cost of a building,yet it includes others responsibilities like construction contract and prepare tender document which also important to a project to go succeed. These module have covered the topic such as tendering, form of contract, principle of fee calculation, variation, valuation, extension of time and more. All these necessary theoretical base and practical skills will be used in practical to enable us to think analytically within a multi-disciplinary field.

We have given an individual assignment to recommend client on procurement, tendering and contractual relationship for a project with certain specific conditions. This assignment gained the base ideas in writing a proposal on recommending methods to a clients which maybe everyday a  quantity surveyor need to be done. This is also another tough module that we need to go through as it related to many theories, facts and contracts which required a lot of understanding and memorizing. Yet, I think is also one of the important module which we need to learn as a quantity surveyor.

Estimating

Reflective Journal 
As quantity surveyor, we also responsible for preparing and pricing tender packages to obtain construction contracts to our companies to keep them in business and keep them profitable. Estimating is a module which provides an understanding of the construction on the principle of estimating and components price such as material, plant, wastage, profit and labour. Estimating gave us the essential skills necessary to work after graduated to meet the growing demand for skilled construction estimators.

In this 14 weeks, we have learnt to identify, explain and distinguish the various terminology related to estimating, measurement and unit rates including the objectives and various components of estimating, measurement and unit rates at different stages of construction procurement. We also have been taught a systematic approach to estimate the unit rates by considering and evaluating other factors influencing the cost of the construction components and elements.

Our lecturer also gave our a group assignment which want us to tender a project and compete with others groups. This project aims to have us to find our own rates by applying the theories that have taught in class. We used a few weeks on doing the research on the rate of the construction materials, labours and plants. We also need to do our own adjustments to the price rate used in tender document such as wastage, profit and overheads to ensure the companies have a certain of profits. The price that we have priced in tender document was decided by weighting many others factors which might influence the final result of the tender awards. Afterwards, we also need to do a presentation which need to analysis and justify the errors have been made in the assignment for continuous improvement. This is a precious experience for us to pursue this career in the future.    

We also have a group presentation for a chosen topic to present and teach our classmate. This is a good way to shorten the distance between classmate to have a better relationship. It also can increase the understanding of theories that were taught. This is because we need to have a clear understanding before having a presentation. Thus, there were many research had been done to ensure the informations were correct.

Structures

Reflective Journal
Structures is a module that provides a basic understanding of the basic concept of structures taken in construction technology. This can help us in the communication with engineers and understanding the structural design of the building in order to increase cost effective of a project.  However, the structure of building also needs achieve a certain level of aesthetic, safety and fulfil the purposes of the building when changing the structure of the building to reduce cost.

A individual assignment also was given which needs to calculate the shear force and bending moment of a beams to identify the size and materials should be used for that beams. This assignment can help us to apply the theories and calculation in the actual drawing in the future. We also can identify the problems encountered in the building through the structure principles. This module provides us the ability to interpret the application of total integration of structural functions and actions with the overall design objectives.    

Exercises that we have done in class

Software Application for Quantity Surveying

Reflective Journal
In construction industry, the demand of using the software application for quantity surveying are getting higher and higher. It starts slowly replace the manual measurement but it does not take over the quantity surveyor's job as the software can further reduce the human mistake in measurement and reduce the burden of a quantity surveyor. Thus, we should have the basic knowledge on preparation of quantities taking off, preparation of rate build up and preparation of bill of quantities by using QS software in order to meet the demand of the construction industry.

Our lecturer have given us two assignments, one is an group assignment to compare and contrast the function and limitation of different software and also the manual measurement, CAD measurement and BIM measurement. It is a good assignment as we can understand and know different types of software programs available in the construction market. Therefore, we can know the feature, function and limitation of those QS software. We also can identify the differences between the manual measurement, CAD measurement and BIM measurement in different stages.

Another is a individual assignment which required us to prepare our own build-up rate and bill of quantities with the compete price for the measurement 4 group project. In order to develop technical knowledge and practical computer skills, this is a suitable assignment to train these skills in the preparation of bill of quantities and estimating for future. So, we can adapt quickly in a constantly changing technological environment. This is a fun module that I have learnt a lots from ours lecturer and these knowledges will help us in our future career.

One of the practice that I have done in build soft class. 

building services 2

Reflective Journal

Building Services 2

　　As a professional who is going to enter the construction field, we should study the basic services that provided in differenpurposeded building. We should have a clear understanding on the building services in order to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the occupants. This module introduced us the services such as fire protection system, vertical transportation system, mechanical air-conditioning and electricity generation and supply system. We also need to learn the basic requirement in Uniform Building By- Law (UBBL), planning, coordination and installation of these services.
　　
　　I have learned the lifelong learning skill through the given assignment and alsthe test.t. Lifelong ability is vital to maximize our potential to satisfy the requirement of our career. In the assignment, we need to organize a site visit and create a case study on the building services of the subject building. We need to observe those service ourselves and understand the principle and theories that taught in lecture class. In the other hand, we need to learn independent and fully utilise the information in order to do the test. We always should maintain a positive attitude to learning both for personal and professional development for gaining more knowledge. Thus, we can have better opportunities and improve our quality of life also.
　　
　　I also have learned the ability of thinking problem solving skills as well in assignment and test. It is good that we have good problem solving skills as we all may encounter problems on daily life. We can get trained to analyze and interpret the question in the assignment and test. We also trained to thinking critically and creatively to solve the problems. In this assignment, we shared our problems of the project with each other and solved the problems. Talking to others about problems is not only therapeutic but can help you see things from a different point of view, opening up more potential solutions.
　　
　　Interpersonal skill also one of the skills that I have learned in this module. Interpersonal skills are the life skills we use every day to communicate and interact with other people, both individually and in groups. Every emplor wawant to hire a person who have a ‘strong’ interpersonal skill as a good communication leads to a good teamwork. In the assignment, our group members he e do many discussion and research in order to get it done. It is very important that we have a good communication to work as a team and understand each other well.
　　
　　This module is a fun and interesting module as we can explore and understand the building service in many ways.
　　

management science

 REFLECTIVE JOURNAL

Management Science covered  a few topic which were related to the concept and principle of management such as decision making, managerial competencies and more. These theories are very important as we can formulate our own management potential once we get started in a job.Managerial is the common problems which will happen in every company. Management science is a module which can help us to develop and apply those model and concepts to illuminate management issues and overcome those managerial problems. 

In this module, we have done a group assignment which is a video presentation. We have learned many from the progress of making this video. A video presentation is a good way to train us to apply the theories and concepts in a correct situation and also teach us to express the concepts in verbally. Thanks to cooperation of group members, we decided the concept of the video and job scopes in an efficient way. We have performed a well teamwork to complete the video.   

We also have a midterm test to ensure all students have mastered the theories and concepts of management and can express them in a writing. A given test can identify what we have learned in our lecture. We can determine our strengths and weaknesses through the test and put more focus in weak subject.In the lecture class, we have done a lot of easy games and exercise to help us understand those concepts in a fun way. 

Now, we have mastered the cognitive skill of critical thinking, analysis and synthesis, including the ability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in term of evidence, to detect false logic or reasoning and more. These also helped in making a correct decision in any situation to solve the problem.    

measurement 3

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL 

MEASUREMENT 3

Measurement is a subject which is vital to us who are going to pursue the Quantity Surveyors(QS) career. As a qualified QS, we should have the knowledge of doing the costing, economic buildability, procurement and contractual relations of the construction process. Yet, this module is teaching us to measure and calculate the building structure precisely. This module covered the measurement for door, windows, roof trusses, roof finishes, roof drainage, structural steel works and metal works. It also trains us in writing of the specification, form of specification and their uses for various trade which are very important to do the tendering.  

We have done a 5 person group assignment which was measured a interior of the building such as door and window only. We required to prepare taking-off and bill of quantities including quarry list and dimension papers. This assignment illuminate a project which we may have in the future, and we can practice more on the preparation of measurement and bill of quantities. We also can gain the ability of discipline specific knowledge by putting the theories into practice. 

Quantity Surveyor is a job which required to be highly numerate, commercially aware, professionally trained and great communicators. We can learn the ability of communication skill in the group assignment. This is because we always need to work with other construction professionals as a team in the construction. Thus, communication skill can help us to understand each others. We required to have discussion and cooperation in this assignment in order to get it done. 

In this module, we have total two test, one is a small test on the week 7 and one more is the final exam. The final exam is designed to assess the ability of the students like us to distinguish and illustrate differences in writing up descriptions in accordance to design changes of for doors, windows, roof trusses, roof finishes, roof drainage, structural steel works and metal works. We should be able to produce measurement for doors, windows, roof trusses, roof finishes, roof drainage, structural steel works and metal works in accordance to Standard Method of Measurement (SMM2). Through the final exam, we can practice our skill before assign to any job and master the thinking and problems solving skill.  

I have learned to undertake the wide variety of task involved in a construction project. I also learned to use the specification such as prime cost sum and provisional sum in our bill of quantity. 

construction technology 3

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL 

Construction technology 3

This is a module specific for students who are going to pursue a career in construction. This course introduced and train students in the basic skill in necessary in construction. It covered the topic such as dewatering, retaining wall, drainage and common IBS( industrialized building system). Besides that, there are also few more topics like curtain walls for multi-storey commercial building, facade system, prestressing involving pretension and post-tension method and also steel space frame. This course explored the technical issues associated with building, and build up an understanding of construction design and detail.  

Through this module, I have gained the cognitive ability of thinking and problem solving skill. There was a question and answer section in our lecture class which is a good activity to generate our brain to think about the question. this activity not only help us to develop the cognitive skill, but also help us to master the topics that were taught.

We also have a small test on the topics that we have learned in the first two weeks of this semester. A test can help us to gain discipline specific knowledge skill as we need to increase our understanding toward the theories, then only can apply them correctly. In the end of this module, there is a final exam which is designed to assess the ability of students to select and explain the suitable construction process for various type of building based on requirement of client, use of material, time, safety and manpower. From this test, we can identify our strength and weaknesses instantly. 

Besides that, we also have a group assignment about one of the topic in this module and my group members and I chose the steel space frame topic. This is because the space frame structure is consider as one of the advanced technology that we should have more understanding in this topic. In this assignment, we would do our own research and produce a report which including the methods, components, type and more used for the construction of large building.    

Lastly, I have learned that as a professional who purses a career in construction. We should have the basic necessary for convenient in the future time. We also should always have the long- life learning and the discipline specific knowledge abilities to adapt to the changes of the construction technology in future.