AU2017100946A4 - Method for determining the costs and progress tracking status of a construction project during a variation in scope of works - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A method that allows users to identify the variance in quantities and costs in an event of a variation in the scope of works on a construction project (if any). Moreover, this method can also determine the percentage of works completed per sections of the project in correspondence with the proposed time frames of which the works commence and conclude. The described method can be implemented from small-scale to major construction projects that involve the erection of a building, renovations or heritage refurbishments. o(u1 #- w r%jI va rigw a 0 Es do ?o ?c ?~I g. g.OO O O H a0 o 00 00M 0 a 04 nH p 0 0 tOO 0 (D (D - c+0O ran z CO z w HO -3 (D 3 (A) W-4a~Ca C0 coo

Description

2017100946 10 Μ 2017 AUSTRALIA Patent Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT NAME OF APPLICANT: PETER A KIEGALDIE ACTUAL INVENTOR: Applicant

INVENTION TITLE: METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE COSTS AND PROGRESS TRACKING STATUS OF A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DURING A VARIATION IN

SCOPE OF WORKS

Postal Address Mr PETER KIEGALDIE 253 Morris Road Hoppers Crossing 3029 Melbourne, Australia.

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 2017100946 10 Μ 2017

Description

METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE COST AND PROGRESS TRACKING STATUS OF A PROJECT DURING A VARIATION IN SCOPE OF

WORKS

Field of the Invention [0001] The invention described relates to the construction industry using a computer aided device to support this method/software.

[0002] It should be noted that this invention is not solely limited to the construction industry although it is best suited for a heritage refurbishment field within the construction industry.

[0003] Furthermore, this invention is supported and related to the Software Field within the construction industry.

Background [0004] The Australian construction industry lacks a simple tool that allows to quantify the changes a variation to the scope of works can have on the cost and progress of a construction project during the works.

[0005] Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of the effects a change in scope of works in relation to quantities and costs, impacts the decisions made on increasing or decreasing resources such as labour and finances. 2 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 [0006] The lack of resources and tools to analyse the effects of a variation and progress of the percentage completion can be resolved and addressed by this invention as it monitors the percentage of completion for each individual repair when altering the scope of works.

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to give management in construction a tool to analyse the change in costs and the amount of works that will increase or decrease, assisting the management in forecasting whether the project needs more resources, time or finances to finish by the contracted completion date.

[0008] In other cases, this method will allow users to identify if the current status of the work is behind or in front in relation to contracted time frame of the project.

Summary of Invention [0009] The objective of this invention is to provide management of a construction project with a tool to determine the variations effects on a construction project during the works. Variations during a construction projects can lead to uncertainties and misunderstandings and have an effect on identifying if resources such as cost and time need to be altered.

[0010] The construction industry today does not have a method of determining a true and live percentage of the works complete in a construction project, giving a percentage of specific repair types and its zones.

[0011] A method to determine the original and revised repairs has been developed by analysing and evaluating each individual repair including its measurement and rate whilst deleting the non-relevant repairs regarding the revised scope of works. 3 2017100946 10M2017 [0012] The advantage of this invention is to determine the live progress tracking of a construction project when a variation does occur in the scope of works thus allowing for a better understanding on the projects current status.

Brief Description of Drawings [0013] Fig. 1 is a snapshot of an example of a reference to the original repairs to a fagade on a mock up architectural drawing. The drawing shows the original scope of works for the project (VI) ; [0014] Fig. 2 is a snapshot of an example of a reference to the revised repairs to a fagade on a mock up architectural drawing. The drawing shows the new repairs added to the scope of works for the project (V2); [0015] Fig. 3 is a snapshot of an example of a reference to the final view of marked up repairs in a mock up architectural drawings that combines layers of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 (V3); [0016] Table 1 shows the layout of the Architectural Drawings in sections; [0017] Table 2 displays the sub-contractor, repair code, description of the repair, unit of measure and rate of repair; [0018] Table 3 illustrations the percentage of completion referencing the section, repair category, total original quantities, total revised quantities and a running total of repair completion; [0019] Table 4 is a summary of the sections completion in percentage versus the weeks of the contracted time frame in a horizontal graph; [0020] Table 5 identifies the difference in quantities from the original scope of works to the revised scope of works; 4 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 [0021] Table 6 identifies the difference in costs from the original scope of works to the revised scope of works; [0022] Table 7 shows the original and revised repair entries that create the backbone to this method of determining the difference in quantities, costs and progress tracking during a variation .

[0023] Fig. 4 is a snapshot of the final view the user will observation when in the process of inputting percentage of completion for each individual repair. This is a split screen of Fig. 3 and Table 7.

Detailed Description of the Invention [0024] for the purpose of understanding the method/software, the detailed description described and equation all relate to the figures in the drawings section.

Zones or Plans (Fig. 1, 2 & 3) [0025] The plans component are used as a reference to the repair on the architectural drawings. Each individual repair is labelled with an ID number on both the original (VI) (Fig. 1) and revised (V2) (Fig. 2) scope of work drawings and then combined to intertwine both drawings into layers in the one PDF document for ease of access for a user (V3) (Fig. 3).

[0026] This section will allow the user to easily identify the ID's of the repairs located in the zones or plans (Fig. 1, 2 and 3) of the works which will be implemented into the repair entry area shown in Table 7. All architectural drawings will then be put into one area and hyperlinked as shown in Table 1. 5 2017100946 10 Μ 2017

Legend (Table 2) [0027] This component includes the symbol of repair (used on the architectural drawings (Column A, Table 2), sub-contractor carrying out the works (Column B, Table 2), code of the repair (Column C, Table 2), description of the repair (Column D, Table 2) , measurement (Column E, Table 2) and rate (Column F, Table 2) .

[0028] This section will be the master information to the repair entry that will be entered into Table 7.

Tracking Percentage (Table 3) [0029] This component of the method determines the section (Column A, Table 3), drawing reference (Column B, Table 3), repair code (Column C, Table 3), description (Column D, Table 3) , weight percentage of the repair (Column E, Table 3), total original quantities (Column F, Table 3), total revised quantities (Column G, Table 3), weighted revised quantities (Column H, Table 3), completed revised quantities (Column I, Table 3), weighted completed revised quantities (Column J, Table 3), completed actual site measure (Column K, Table 3), percentage of repair category completion (Column L, Table 3) and zone completion (Column M, Table 3).

[0030] This area is designed to be a summary to determine the total repairs and the current completion of the repairs in repair categories, zones and sections.

[0031] Column E of Table 3 "Difficulty (100%)" takes into consideration the weight of the repair and how much resources a repair category needs, calculated by the equation in Equation 1 (Column F Table 2). 6 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 [0032] This equation is taken by dividing the individual repair rate for a particular repair category by the maximum repair rate across all repairs (Column F Table 2). After the weight of the repair, Column H and J Table 3 can then be calculated using Equation 2 and 3).

[0033] Column H of Table 3 is known to be the weighted revised quantities which will multiply the cell from Column E Table 3 (Table 3) and Column G (Table 3) for that specific repair category which is shown in equation 2.

[0034] Column J of Table 3 is known to be the weighted completed revised quantities which will multiply the cell from Column E Table 3 (Table 3) and Column I (Table 3) for that specific repair category which is shown by Equation 3.

Equation 1

Equation 2

Equation 3

Table 2 = F2 / MAX (F3: F5(

Table 3 = G3*E3

Table 3 = I3*E3 [0035] The total original quantities (Column F, Table 3) are gathered by collecting data through Table 7 (Column J). The total original quantities gathers all the entries in Table 7 that has the letter "O" in Column D of Table 7.

[0036] If the repair entry in Table 7 does not include a '0' in Column D, that entry will not be included into the total original quantity for that specific repair category in that zone summary. The formula used gathers all the repair ID's in Column F of Table 7 that equal the repair ID defined in Column C Table 3.

[0037] For example, Equation 2 (embedded in cell F3 Table 3) collects all the repair entries equal to "M01" (cell C3 Table 3) 7 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 in Column F of Table 7 with the letter "0" in Column D of Table 7 and returns with the quantity in Column J of Table 7.

[0038] The formula used to gather information for is show in equation 4. =SUMPRODUCT(—(ZONE-1!$D$3: ZONE-1!$D$14="0"), Equation 4 --(ZONE-1!$F$3:S-1!$F$14=C3), ZONE-1!$L$3:$L$14) [0039] Total revised quantities (Column G, Table 3) are gathered in a similar way to original quantities although it will only collect entries without the letter 'V' in Column E of Table 7. The letter "V" is formulated to remove any amended or deleted repairs from the scope of works.

[0040] If the repair entry includes the letter 'V' in Column E (Table 7) within that entry, it will exclude that quantity from the total revised quantity for that specific repair in that zone .

[0041] For example, Equation 3 (embedded in cell G3 Table 3) collects all the repair entries equal to "M01" (cell C3 Table 3) in Column F of Table 7 without the letter "V" in Column E of Table 7 and returns with the quantity in Column J of Table 7.

[0042] The formula used is defined in Equation 5. =SUMPRODUCT(—(ZONE-1!$E$3: ZONE-1!$E$14<>"V"), Equation 5 — (ZONE-1!$F$3: ZONE-1!$F$14=C3), ZONE-1!$L$3:$L$14) [0043] Completed revised quantities (Column I Table 3) are derived from quantities in Column J in Table 7 and multiplied by 8 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 the percentage of completion for that repair entry in Column M in Table 7.

[0044] This formula works the same way as the total revised quantities formula although the repair is multiplied by the percentage of completion.

[0045] For example, Equation 6 (embedded in cell 13 Table 3) collects all the repair entries equal to "M01" (cell C3 Table 3) in Column F of Table 7 without the letter "V" in Column E of Table 7 and multiplies the percentage of completion in Column M of Table 7 by the quantity in Column J of Table 7.

[0046] The formula used it defined in Equation 6. =SUMPRODUCT(ZONE-1!$L$3: ZONE-1!$L$14, Equation 6 ZONE-1!$0$3: ZONE-1!$0$14*(ZONE-1!$F$ 3:$F$14=C3)*(ZONE-1!$E$3: ZONE-1!$E$14<>"V")) [0047] Completed actual site quantities (Column K Table 3) are summed through the zones by collecting repair entries that do not include the letter 'V' in Column E Table 7 in that repair entry.

[0048] Completed actual site quantities (Column K Table 3) also take into account the percentage of the individual repair entry by multiplying the individual site measure (Column K Table 7) by the individual percentage of work completed (Column M Table 7) of that repair similar to total completed revised quantities (Column G Table 37).

[0049] For example, Equation 7 (embedded in cell K3 Table 3) collects all the repair entries equal to "M01" (cell C3 Table 3) in Column F of Table 7 without the letter "V" in Column E of Table 7 and multiplies the percentage of completion in Column M of Table 7 by the quantity in Column K of Table 7.

[0050] The formula used it defined in Equation 7. 9 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 =SUMPRODUCT(ZONE-1!$Μ$3: ZONE-1! Equation 7 $M$14, ZONE-1!$0$3: ZONE-1!$0 $14* (ZONE-1!$F$3:$F$14=C3)* (ZONE-1!$E$3: ZONE-1!$E$14<>"V")) [0051] The completion of works (Column L Table 3) is the percentage of works complete for that specific repair category for a section. This is determined by dividing the completed revised quantities in Column I (Table 3) by the total revised quantity in Column G Table 3. The formula used is shown in Equation 8. =IFERROR($13/$G3,0) Equation 8 [0052] Section totals (Column M in Table 3) is a percentage of the completed revised works by taking into consideration the quantities using the weighing ratios for the repairs in Column E of Table 3.

[0053] For example, the section total percentage of completion for "ZONE-1" in Table 3 is defined by dividing all the cells in Column J Table 3 "Weighted Completed Revised Quantities" by all the cells in Column H Table 3 "Weighted Revised Quantities" for that zone.

[0054] The formula is show in equation 9. =SUM(J3:J6)/SUM(H3:H6) Equation 9

Progress Tracking (Table 4) 10 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 [0055] This component is in the form of a graph that identifies the zones across the vertical axis and time across the horizontal axis. Each zone's start and end date is entered into the graph. Within the dates provided for each zone, a section total completion percentage is collected from Column M in Table 3.

[0056] Once all the percentages are uploaded into the graph a percentage of completion for the whole project will be produced in Row 11 Table 4.

Scope Difference (Quantities) (Table 5) [0057] This component defines the difference in the quantities between the original scope of works and the revised scope of works in repair categories per each plan or section. The quantities are derived from Column F and G in Table 3.

Scope Difference (Cost) (Table 6) [0058] This component determines the difference in the original scope of works cost and the revised scope of works costs per section .

[0059] The original cost of each section is summed and gather similar to the method of which original quantities are gathered although instead of collecting the quantities, this totals the financial value in Column 0 of Table 7 of that repair entry that state the letter Ό' in Column D Table 7.

[0060] For example, Equation 8 (embedded in cell K3 Table 6) collects all the repair entries with the letter "0" in Column D of Table 7 and returns with the total cost in Column O of Table 7 . 11 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 [0061] The formula used to gather information for is show in equation 10. =SUMPRODUCT(--('ZONE-1'!$D$3:$D$14="0"), Equation 10 'ZONE-1'!$Q$3:$Q$14) [0062] The revised cost is determined by gathering all the repair entries that do not include entries with the letter 'V' in Column E Table 7. After the original and revised sum for a sections is determined a difference will then be produced to identify if there is an increase or decrease in the cost of that section. Furthermore, the original cost, revised cost and differences for each zone will be individually summed to show a total summary for the whole project.

[0063] For example, Equation 11 (embedded in cell N3 Table 6) collects all the repair entries without the letter "V" in Column E of Table 7 and returns with the total cost in Column 0 of Table 7. The formula used it defined in Equation 11. =SUMPRODUCT(--('ZONE-1’!$E$3:$E$14<>"V"), Equation 11 'ZONE-1'!$Q$3:$Q$14)

Zone - Repair Entry Input (Table 7) [0064] This component of the method is where the repair entries are entered. This component includes the source of the repair (Column A and B Table 7), repair ID (Column C Table 7), two Columns for the letters '0' (Column D Table 7) and 'V' (Column E Table 7) to be inputted, repair code (Column F Table 7), date inspected (Column G Table 7), description of the repair (Column H Table 7), quantities of repairs for the single repair entry 12 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 (Column I Table 7), measurement (Column J Table 7), site measure (Column K Table 7), unit of measure(Column L Table 7), percentage complete (Column M Table 7), repair rate (Column N Table 7), total amount ($) (Column O Table 7), before photos (Column P Table 7), progress photos (Column Q Table 7) and after photos (Column R Table 7).

[0065] Depending on the size of the project, an unlimited amount of sections or zones can be added into the method. Column D Table 7 allows users to define all the original scope of works entries by typing the letter "0" in the repair entry within Column D Table 7.

[0066] Similar, Column E Table 7 allows users to define the revised scope of works by eliminating any entries with the letter "V" typed into Column E Table 7 from the summary in Columns G to K in Table 3.

[0067] This component is the backbone of the whole method as this is where all the repairs are defined and given information and measurements. Column H, L and N in Table 7 all use a lookup formula to determine the default information for the repair entered into Column F Table 7 using information from Table 2.

[0068] The formulas used to gather the information from Table 2 that will be used within Table 7 is shown in the following three equations. The equation below determines the description in Table 2 and Table 7.

[0069] Equation 12 is embedded in cell H3 Table 7. =LOOKUP(F3,Table 2!$C$2:$C$5,Table 2!$D$2:$D$5) Equation 12 [0070] The equation below determines the unit of measure in Table 2 and Table 7. Equation 13 is embedded in cell L3 Table 7. LOOKUP(F3,Table 2!$C$2:$C$5,Table 2!$E$2:$E$5) Equation 13 13 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 [0071] The equation below determines the rate in Table 2 and Table 7. Equation 14 is embedded in cell N3 Table 7. =LOOKUP(F3,Table 2!$C$2:$C$5,Table 2!$F$2:$F$5) Equation 14

Process of components interaction [0072] Initially, the method needs to set up appropriately in accordance to the construction project that will be adopting this system. All the architectural drawings used within the construction project will be identified, listed and linked to the pdf document as shown in Table 1.

[0073] Once this has been completed, using the architectural drawings, a symbol (Column A Table 2), repair code (Column C Table 2) and description (Column D Table 2) must be collected and inputted into Table 2. As addition, the sub-contractor (Column B Table 2) can be inputted for the user's reference although it is not essential.

[0074] Once all the information about the repairs have been collected from the architectural drawings and inputted into Table 2, the rate ($) of the repair must be entered into Column F Table 2 using the contracts sum for each of the individual repair categories in Table 2.

[0075] Moreover, after the current plans have been inputted into Table 1 and the repair's information has been entered into Table 2, this is when the user inputs the start and finish dates of when the sections will need to be completed by which is shown in Table 4. The architectural marked up plans/zones component (Fig. 1, 2 and 3) play a major role in the method as it incorporates the labelling of the repair ID's.

[0076] Initially, when the original plans (Fig. 1) are produced and issued, using a pdf mark-up software to split the drawing 14 2017100946 10M2017 into evenly distributed section using alphabetical order (as shown in Fig. 1, 2 and 3), whilst numbering and labelling all the individual repairs on the plans. The original plan (Fig. 1) will be saved onto the first layer of the pdf document.

[0077] Once the original repair ID's are systematically numbered on both the plans and in Column C Table 7, this is when the repair code can be entered into Column F of Table 7. All the original plan repairs must have the letter "O" in Column D of Table 7. Then depending on how many arrows are pointing from that ID number, this is inputted into Column I of Table 7.

[0078] Once all the original repairs are entered into Table 7, Column H (Description), Column L (Unit of Measure) and Column N (Rate $) will be automatically gathered from the data inputted into Table 2. After all the original ID repairs have been inputted into Table 7, each repair measurement must be derived from an estimating software and inputted into Column J of Table 7 .

[0079] During this process, actual site measures (Column K of Table 7) can be inputted into each repair entry although it is not essential to do so as this is not critical to the method although will give an estimate on the actual work on site completed versus the contracted work on site through the plans.

[0080] Once the measurements are typed into the ID in Column J of Table 7 (gathered from the plans on an estimating software) and the site measurements in Column K of Table 7 (physical measure on site), the user is to keep track of each individual ID in regards to their point of view in percentage of completion and should be typed into Column M of Table 7. As this starts to populate, the tracking percentage component (Table 3) then starts to determine the total measurement for each categorised repair for each zone of the project (Column F to K in Table 3). 15 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 [0081] Furthermore, as the total original quantities (Column F Table 3) and completed revised quantities (Column I Table 3) start to increase, a percentage of works completed for each zone is then populated in Column L of Table 3.

[0082] Once this occurs, this will get fed into the progress tracking component (Table 4) in which will determine if the works completed in each zone is running behind or in front of the contract time frame of the project.

[0083] Once a variation occurs (if one does occur), new revised drawings (Fig. 2) will be issued and these plans will have to be labelled again using a pdf mark-up software to split the drawing into evenly distributed section using alphabetical order (as shown in Fig. 1, 2 and 3), whilst numbering and labelling all the totally new repairs that have been added to the revised scope of works as shown in Fig. 2.

[0084] Once all the new repairs have been marked up on the new revised drawings (Fig. 2), this will be saved as a second layer in a pdf document. As the user now have two or more plans for the construction project they can now be merged and combined to make one pdf document as shown in Fig. 3. Once the new ID's have been labelled, they can now be inputted into Table 7.

[0085] In accordance to the revised plans, if the repair with an original ID (Fig. 1) has grown or shrunk in size, the original reference will still be kept although "V" must be entered into the original repair entry (Row 5 Table 7) and the new repair entry must be listed under the original ID in a new Row as shown in Row 6 of Table 7.

[0086] All the new repairs must be entered within the same referenced zone although the new ID number will be inputted into Column C Table 7 beginning with a V. Using the combined drawings (Fig. 3) it is the user's responsibility to then type in "V" within Column E Table 7 if any of the original repairs have been deleted or amended from the scope of works. 2017100946 10 Μ 2017 16 [0087] Once all the new revised ID's have been inputted into Column C Table 7, the user is to determine the repair code for Column F Table 7, and gather the measurement (Column J Table 7) and (Column K Table 7). After this has been done, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5 and Table 6 will be updated to ensure all data/results are live and relevant.

[0088] When all these steps have been taken, the user can then take photos of the repairs (before, progress and after) images of the repair to keep as QA (Quality Assurance) documents which will be linked into Columns P, Q and R Table 7. Whilst these photos are being taken, it is the user's duty to then physically see each repair and determine a percentage of competition for each repair on a reoccurring basis and must be entered into Column M of Table 7.

[0089] Finally, to keep on track with the software, the user can use a tablet to access the application or software to see Fig. 4 which is a split screen of the combined plans with layers which can be switched on or off and Table 7 which will allow the user to type the percentage of completion into Column M of Table 7.

[0090] This method will also incorporate a feature during the tracking of percentage completion for each repair during the split screen mode (Fig. 4) that allows users to highlight the circled ID on the plans green, red or yellow.

[0091] the colour coding system has been decided to be green (repair is 100% complete), yellow (repair is in progress 1-99%) and red (deleted from the scope).

Claims (5)

1. Claims

   1. A method to determine the live and accurate progress tracking of a construction project for each repair category, section or the whole project in the event of a variation (if any) .
2. 2. A method of determining the change in overall costs for each repair category, section or the whole project in the event of a variation (if any).
3. 3. A method of determining the change in overall quantities for each repair category, section or the whole project in the event of a variation (if any).
4. 4. A method for analysing the change in cost, quantity and live percentage of completion of a construction project during a variation (if any).
5. 5. A software that is designed to aid in the progression of the construction project in terms of projects repairs, costs and quantities associated.