About me

Name : Gan Xiao Ying
Student ID : 0322998
Course : Bachelor of Quantity Surveying
School : School of Architecture, Building and Design
University : Taylor's University Lakeside Campus

Estimating

 I learnt how to estimate the construction cost in this subject. Before this semester, I always thought that the rate in BQ is just only material cost plus profits only. I didn’t know that we need to add in Material Cost, Labour Cost, Plant and Machinery, Profits, Overhead, Wastage and certain amount of shrinkage. It is an interesting subject because after the lecture class only we know what elements require what kind of labour, is it skilled labour or unskilled labour. One bag of cement is how many kg? What elements require bolts and nuts or small tools? One truck can carry how many materials and cost how much per day? Reality things that are suddenly become so close with us. In our estimating seminar group, it is so fun to teach our friends or being taught by them because you can ask them question and see how they answer you in an interesting way. You can remember what you have learn and explore the question together with your friends. Throughout this kind of experience, we will have deeper impression in your mind. In our estimating group, we have eight people. I am the one who do works below lowest floor finishes. After I finish my assignments, only I know my part is so huge if I compare with them. But luckily, I got finish on time. When we call the suppliers to get their quotation, they always decline our request and we need to find another one. After a week, finally we can gather all the quotation from different suppliers.

Structures

In this semester, we got one subject named structures and I know it definitely will have some relate to physics. I am not a science stream students but I am from Business and private school. I love physics in my junior high school subjects. Some of our lecture notes I have learnt before when I am fifteen. I almost remember all but some I forgot. When I am learning structures, I really need a dictionary because what I learnt in the past is all in Chinese. But when I know the specific word Chinese meaning then I will know what is the chapter related to. I likes the Law’s of Newton the most since I am fourteen. After so many years, I am so happy that I can learn it again in University. In my mid-term exam, I forgot to use the full circulation angles in my calculation so I get a lower mark than my expectations. I will do it better in my finals. The in-class assignment is really interesting because it is so challenging because it is a test but you can discuss with friends but you scare they cannot finish but you want to confirm what you did is correct. However, it is a wonderful memory for me because my classmates are very funny when they are finding solutions. Thank you, sir, for teaching us Site Surveying and Structures.

Software

I like this subject so much because I like to use computers. When I am learning in the class, I always think about will we be lazy and forget how to measure if we keep on using the QS software but my answers is no because if you are expert in using QS software then you already remember all the descriptions and how to measure the elements inside the drawings. Cost-X is quite interesting, because after you key in the data and measure the drawing using the computer you can build up a 3D models of your building. When I finish my first building I was very exciting and post on social media. I am so happy that we have the software because if you can click your mouse fast, you can finish your work in shorter time. For the people who write slow, this software can help them to solve this problem. At first, I thought Buildsoft is something looks like Cost-X or Glodon software. After the first day of lecture only I know it is about BQ and Price list. At first I think Buildsoft is really easy compare to Cost-X, but after a few weeks then only I know actually Buildsoft is more complicated if you don’t understand how it works. You need to memorise a lot of button to do the right things. When I do assignments, that was my first time to gather all the things I have learnt in Sem 4. At first I am quite scare I will do wrong, so I always ask my leader am I doing the right things. But after that, I can do it by myself confidently because I do a lot already. When it comes to the final exam. I was very excited because after I graduated from high school then I didn’t have computer test anymore. I decided to do Cost-X first but I forgot to see the time. After one hour only I knew, I only left 30 minutes to do Buildsoft. Luckily, I remembered all the things I had done in my assignments. So I quickly type it out and finish my final exam. After that, we can go to Computer lab 8 to print out our Final answer. I run three times to the computer lab because I cannot print the BQ summary. At the end, I give up. I just pass up the paper. Thank you Miss for teaching us in this semester and the previous semester. 

PP1

Professional Practice 1, I am so happy to see my management science lecturer again in this semester. I really enjoy while we are learning management science and it continues in PP1. Unfortunately, this time our class is 8am. It is a disaster when we have 8am class because it is too early until you cannot really give fully attention to concentrate on what’s going on in class. But still can focus on certain days if the topic is very interesting. This subject is helping us to know more about different situation that we will need to face in our future work career. Everything inside here is like a rehearsal for us to get ready to be a Professional QS. Later we go out to work, when our client requires us to advise and we don’t know how to answer will give bad impression to them. But we cannot simply advise also, need to advise correct information and useful suggestion that’s why we learn PP1. We will learn how to explore problems in our tutorial class and differentiate the difference among the knowledges we had learnt. We use scenario to identify the information we want to carry out to present to our lecturer and friends. I like to listen to what Mr.Wong say because I can think while I am listening. However, not everyone speaks you will listen, you might have heard but you didn’t listen to the speaker. Thank you, Sir, for teaching and guide us in Management Science and PP1. I will always remember what you say.

Measurement IV

In this semester, we learn how to measure the external elements such as sewer drainage, pipe culvert, road and pavements, water reticulation etc. At first I thought all this items will be measured by Nos. However, our lecturer teaches us the proper way to measure what we have learned in this semester.  I have a measurement assignment group started in semester I. We finish our measurement assignment from Sem I to IV successfully in this two years. So proud to work with my teammates.  This is our first time to prepare a complete tender document in our assignment. We learn how to prepare tender documents step by step and separate our job follow the job scope given by our lecturer. I am the one who do Frame, Sanitary Fittings and External Work Within Lot Boundary, PC and PS, Instructions to tenders, Form of tenders and Conditions of tendering. Our leader Ngah Yea Zhe playing a great leader’s role, he makes sure we finish our work on time and assign us to fold the drawing correctly. We compile the tender documents together, in this process we still found out some problems from what we have done. Some of us need to redo or reprint our assignments. For the ECA week, I am so grateful that I can take part in this assignment. We really learn a lot throughout the whole process of the ECA. We need to take turns to measure the drawing because it is tender documents. After one day, we already full of experience of how to open the tender drawings fast and gently. Because we cannot open it slowly, it will waste a lot of times. I think my group is the hardest one because we are doing the 16 storey building with 3 basements. At first I thought the 20 storey group is harder than us but when I check their drawings, their building is almost same from certain floor to certain floor. So, total up they only got 3 typical drawings if I am not mistaken. After we read through all our drawings, we found out that we have 11 typical drawings and every floor had at least two curve glazing door or window. I was so shock, why the group beside us only got one floor? By the way, we will accept this challenge because we have been chosen to do this. On the second day, we decided to measure the GFA and PPT at the same time. So we divide into three groups, seven people measured the GFA, four people do the PPT and two people read the BQ. I am in the PPT group, we use PPT to draw the area of the useful, circulation ancillary and internal division area. One people 3 drawings, 1 drawings we use three hours. 9.30am to 6.30pm, this is my first time totally focus on task just hope that I can finish faster. But our group members are very hardworking and high efficiency. On Wednesday and Thursday, we break into small groups like four people a group. Two people measure and two people record the dimensions for the four areas. We always standby beside the tables to wait for our turn to measure the drawing. Finally we finish it in Thursday. All of us are so happy and so proud of ourselves. Thanks to all of them. Thanks to our lecturer for helping us within the ECA weeks and the whole semester 4.