Evaluating electronic documents and data transfer from construction estimating

Two areas of construction estimating were examined to determine if construction estimators' productivity could be increased. The areas of performing quantity takeoff with electronic construction documents and the transfer of data from estimating to accounting were examined. Performing quantity takeoff with electronic documents was studied by comparing two groups. One group used electronic construction documents, and the control group used paper construction documents. A pilot study was conducted prior to the principal study. The findings of the principal study indicated no significant difference in the amount of time to obtain the dimensions for a quantity takeoff between the electronic and the paper documents. The principal study indicated no significant difference in accuracy between the electronic documents and the paper documents. While the findings demonstrated no significant difference regarding the time required for quantity takeoff, the electronic documents may save reproduction costs and may require less time and effort to distribute than paper construction documents.;The transfer of data from estimating to accounting was studied by conducting interviews. The study focused on the portion of work that was self-performed by a contractor located in Phoenix, Arizona. It was determined that the addition of work breakdown structure codes to an estimate reduced the transfer process from 8 hours to a 10 minute process. These findings demonstrated an increase in estimating productivity gained by incorporating a work breakdown structure for a commercial building contractor.