[QS Sharing] | Evolution of Taking-off | [工料測量] | 量度的演變

Previously I shared with you my occupation – Quantity Surveying, today I am going to talk about it in details.
早前分享了這門聽起來呆呆的行業給大家，今天再來分享一下有關於這門課的小小知識。
Have you heard about Quantity Surveying? 你有聽過工料測量嗎?

Last time I briefly introduce you the fundamental element in estimating construction cost, which are labour cost, material cost, plant cost and overheads and profit. In calculating material cost, it requires you to calculate the quantity accurate, we call it “Taking-off”. For example, if you asked to estimate the construction cost of a building, the first things should come to your mind, what are the quantities of concrete, formwork, rebar ? These three are the very fundamental structural element of every single buildings. Before you actually do the “Taking-off”, it is essential for you to build up a “Taking-off List” first, we usually list now in the sequence as the construction sequence. For instance, starting from earthwork like excavation, piling works, formwork, concrete, reinforcement, backfilling, compaction, ironmongery, metal works, finishing works, electrical and mechanical works, etc. Here is the taking-off list sample for your reference. (Figure 1)

上回說到估價的基礎大致基於人工，物料價，機械價和利潤。 當中物料價的計算就必須計算到該工程的”數量”了。何謂數量呢 ? 例如你建造一座大廈時，你首要計算最基本的結構三大物料- 混凝土，模板，鐵料，這三大物料是每座大廈最基礎的結構物料。當然還有幾十種什至上百種的物料和項目需要計算。我們計算的習慣會以建造的次序去思考，定列明一個列表列出需要計算的項目，例子如下圖 (圖1)。

- Fig.1 圖1 -

In the older days, we have standard format in doing taking-off like this.

從前我們會根據既定既規範去進行Taking-off如下圖.

- Fig.2 圖2 -

This is the “Dimension Paper” You can see there are four Columns .
這是我們用的運算標準的尺寸紙，你會看到有四欄。

Column 1 第一欄– Timesing and dotting on column 作乘除的倍數

For instance, if you measure a 25th storeys building, and the construction are typical for each floor except ground and roof, we will measure one floor and multiple it by 23

例如，如果你在算25層樓的大廈，假設除了底和頂層外建造方法和物料都是一樣，我們就會寫上23在第一欄，然後只計算一層的數量再乘23。

Column 2 第二欄– Dimension column 尺寸

Record all the dimsneions from drawings and stated in Column 2

所有在圖紙需紀錄的尺寸都放在第二欄

Column 3 第三欄– Squaring column 結果

Figures in Column 1 & 2 will be multiplied and recorded here for transfer to the bill
第三欄很簡單就是紀錄第一和第一行乘起來的結果

Column 4 第四欄– Description column 內容

Brief description of measured item is entered, detailed description should be shown in the BQ.

簡單描述你在運算的項目，詳細描述則留在BQ裡說明。

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Nowadays, majority of the quantity surveyors use excel to do so.

現在大部分工料測量師/造價測量師均用Excel去進行Taking off了

- Fig.3 圖3 -

- This is the manhole taking-off I've been doing recently -
- 這是我近日在量度渠筒的xls -

And now it has been further evolved to Building Information Model (BIM), which is a process involving the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional charactertics of places. Other than it helps the users like clients to visualize the works by providing 3D or even 4D drawing, it makes taking-off so much easier! You can calculate the quantity within 1 min! Of course it takes time for you to invest at the beginning as BIM requires numerous data to support his calculation.

Unfortunately, measurement in BIM got one obstacle is it still cannot incorporate the standard method of measurement, but I believe the problem can be solved soon, it is expected that BIM should be popularize in the near future.

由xls我們現在開始使用建築信息模型(BIM)，透過大量的數據庫並可由電腦應用程序直接解釋的建築或建築工程資訊模型。 BIM最大的特點是透過立體什至是影片的展示，讓業主或者投資者(特別利於不善於看建築圖則的)較容易看到制成品。另外，BIM大大減少了Taking-off的所需時間，基本上你可以隨時透過程式獲得你需要的數量，非常方便! 當然，前題是你需要時間去投資，因為BIM需要到大量的數據去支持他的運算。

雖然目前BIM的發展仍然未能與standard method of measurement融入，導致業界仍未能廣泛應用BIM。但我相信只是在不久的將來便可解決的問題，手動Taking-off被取代的日子指日可待了。

Here is one of my BIM works – 這是我其中一張BIM的制作

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Nowadays, we always heard that Artificial intelligence (AI) is the wave of the future, many people believe that robots will soon perform most of the work done by humans. According to Kai-Fu Lee, founder of venture capital firm Sinovation Ventures and a top voice on tech in China, robots are likely to replace 50% of all jobs in the next decade.

To be honest, I agree with what he said, AI is not simply a robot but a decision engine, it replace people not one on one, but one on many, which is super human. It is expected that work like data entry, banking, accounting can soon be replaced.

Do you think your job will be replaced by AI?? Will you stand out and fight for your occupation?

For mine - quantity surveying, I actually believe taking-off will soon be replaced by high-tech like BIM or even AI, it is not cost efficient for us to take so much time on measuring. However, I believe that we still have our value which cannot be replaced by any robots, let'me share you about this in my next blog! :)

現在最火熱的必定是人工智能 (AI)吧，很多人都說AI早晚會取代現時人類大部的工作。李開復，首屈一指的電腦研究者，現任創新工場的董事长兼執行長。曾在蘋果、SGI、微軟和Google等多家IT公司擔當要職，指出AI有機會取代現時人類50%的工作。

老實說，其實我同意AI將會取代現時人類大部分的工作，尢其以資料輸入，會計，銀行等繁重工作等等。

你們又怎樣想的? 你覺得AI會取代到你的職業嗎?

在工料測量/物料造價方面，我深信Taking-off是早晚被取代，不用說AI了，我想5-8年內BIM就會普及被完全取代Taking-off的工作。但與此同時，我不能認同工料測量這門課會被完全取代，因為我們不單單只做量度的工作,這只是整個QS行業的第一步而已，下一次讓我為我職業來個小平反吧! :)

- Fig.5 圖5 -

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I hope you all enjoy my sharing! Feel free to leave any comments and upvote this post if you like 😊 Follow me @pakyeechan

希望你們喜歡我的分享，歡迎留言交流互動
喜歡我的分享也不妨留個UPVOTE支持一下我和注我 @pakyeechan :)

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Source 資料來源-

Figure 1 (圖1) – A presentation of method of measurement

Figure 2 (圖2) – Book – Taking off Quantities Civil Engineering, E & FN Spon

Figure 3 (圖3) – http://www.architecture.onlinenewsvenue.com/free-takeoff-sheet-concrete-engineers-download-now/

Figure 5 (圖5) – Journal – Will you replaced by a robot? We reveal the 100 occupations judged most and least at risk of automation