Measure Work Group (MWG)

Members

Chaired by Mr Seah Kwee Yong (SISV)

Standards Developed

1. Singapore Standard CP 97 Part 1: 2002
   CODE OF PRACTICE FOR
   Construction Electronic Measurement Standard (CEMS) –
   Part 1: Standards Method of Measurement (SMM) for building works
2. Singapore Standard CP 97 Part 2: 2003
   CODE OF PRACTICE FOR
   Construction Electronic Measurement Standard (CEMS) –
   Part 2: Standards Method of Measurement (SMM) for mechanical and electrical works

Activities

• Exploring the development of e-Phraseology
• Hands-on training on CP 97-1 and CAD measurement by SISV

More Information on MWG’s Works

Measure Work Group has focused on the development of measurement related standards. The first to be introduced is SS CP97 CEMS.

Construction Electronic Measurement Standards (CEMS)

CEMS will target the basis for enabling seamless migration of data from architectural and engineering design, based on the object oriented CAD technology and the to-be-developed National Productivity and Quality Specification (NPQS). By establishing common protocols and terms, which are critical for the development of proprietary and commercial software capable of interfacing and synthesising both upstream design information and downstream contracting & procurement activities.

CEMS will fit well with Singapore’s CORENET overview (see figures 1 & 2). SISV’s Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works (currently SMM2) would thus be nationalised through CEMS into a Singapore Standard (SS) Code of Practice (CP) to facilitate development of compliant software to automate upstream resources quantification activities to enable seamless downstream online procurement of construction products and materials. CEMS is thus a very important concern of SISV. Developing the CEMS is indeed an exploratory work.

Figure 1:

Figure 2:

Nurture Automatic Quantity Take-off

Once CEMS is established, the next step is to nurture IT vendors to develop Automatic Quantity Take-off System (AQTS) able to meet the standards.

One of the areas SISV explored is between the Future AQTS and the progressive implementation of CEMS from now on. We found that a common pool of e-CEMS phraseology correspond with CEMS Part 1 to be resided in the CORENET e-information would be a feasible project.

See Chart

This is like the e-NPQS phraseology standardised to help the industry, which is currently under development. Once this common pool is established, the AQTS machine need not be restricted to appointing only one software vendor to develop. So long as the AQTS machine could accommodate the common phraseology, it would work inter-operably. Earlier we envisaged only one Vendor AQTS to be appointed in the planning.

In a relational Database architecture, Vendor AQTS will develop the measuring capability to tie up with SIA CAD CP83 compliant. The common phraseology is the field content. Vendor AQTS ultimate requirement is to ensure that all measuring capability between every item phrases in the common phraseology is integrated with the CAD scalable objects. Standardised phrases in National web synchronise communication in Bill of Quantities to facilitate e-tendering and downstream e-procurement.

Bulk Purchase for Transitional Software

SISV will source for the bulk supply for latest version CAD Measurement software, so that member consultants’ firms or contractors’ firms could enjoy the benefit through SISV at a bulk concession rate. Negotiation is currently going on and we are finding out the number of interested purchasers, either in terms of yearly licence or temporally short-term seeds basis which is possible. This will benefit smaller Surveyors’ firms, which are unable to enjoy better bargaining power. If common SISV bulk measurement software can be considered, the e-CEMS phraseology could certainly be put into immediate use.

CEMS Part 2 SMM for M&E Works

Part 2 faces a harder platform of concerns. With the shift towards design & build and performance base contract, practically no complete bills of quantities (based on SMM2) can be achieved for tender documents prepared at M&E consultancy services’ level. Only M&E contractors and specialist sub-contractors when procuring the next downstream level of equipment or resources purchase would quantify. To facilitate this downstream AQTS, CEMS would need to serve as communication standards for the next downstream level, which currently has no common standards. For CEMS M&E Works to be successfully adopted, the M&E sub-contractors and manufacturers in the local industry must be willing to buy in too. Sub-contractors were thus co-opted in the development.

2-day CEMS cum CAD Measurement Training

SISV facilitates the switch from conventional SMM2 to CEMS with training sessions covering:

• Rules in CEMS; How it could be used for 2D and 3D;
• Illustrate related CP/ Standards/ NPQS with more details;
• Brief introduction on CAD;
• Differences in each Trade Section over SMM2;
• Use on conventional QS software during the Transition;
• CAD Measurement Tools.

The principles and format of CEMS are illustrated in the 2 diagrams shown. A CEMS guide is also under preparation.

Time Table for CEMS and Other Information

For schedule of CEMS development, please refer to the Time Table:.