DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPUTERIZED BILL OF QUANTITY SYSTEM FOR QUANTITY SURVEYORS.

 
ABSTRACT
Quantity surveyors due to the essential services they render private and virtually to everyone as well as the indispensable position they occupy in this age of travel boon and shelter they cannot be left out in this world of computerization. More so, when one talks of the huge capital that is involved in the establishment and running of quantity surveying as well as the dynamic nature of it’s business, one will readily welcome machines such as computer to assist man. This project work is aimed at designing and implementing a bill of quantity system for quantity surveyors. In Nigeria especially, the method used by most surveyors firm is manual, even though the nature and growth of the business has continued to demand for a better method. This manual method is lade with problems that are inherent such slow or sluggish nature, loss of paper and inaccuracy in the Okolo, Okolo & Co. surveying industry. Further more, this project is aimed at designing software that will take care of above mentioned lapses and reduce also the number of employees handling the job there by reducing cost. It will also provide a better and eligible analysis of Bill of quantity material; as well ensure free flow of an information form the location (company) to the site.
 
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The ultimate goal of any establishment is effectiveness. This is achieved only when there is a proper co-ordination of activates between the various units that comprise the system. The co-ordination is even more important in a surveying system where the desired end is to examine the general condition of the land before building and construction. Ineffectiveness of a surveying firm (system) could diminish in its abilities to relief in human pains and trouble or worse still produce irreversible consequence. Any measures there for that can improve the need response surveyors management and its general efficiency is most welcomed, and a computer based system could be of the almost help. However, a computer base bill of quantity system for quantity surveyors which is the topic of this researcher will enable the site engineers, operative surveyors to determine the accurate land and materials for the required operative surveyors to determine the accurate land and materials for the required operation, therefore, saving some precious time in the site. 
1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The regular flood of clients to the surveying industry at the end of every day to lodge complaints and the subsequent inefficiency of the system is a regular source of embarrassment to all concerned in the surveying industry. Moreover, the management (Quantity surveyor site engineers, site clerks and operatives, etc) have been equally unable to monitor the land and material for the required operation also to provide a better and eligible analysis of bill of quantity system of the land on both daily and monthly bases. This too has become a considerable frustration to all concerned as well as negated the primary aims of the establishment. As a result of the above problems, clients become doubtful about the quality of the job they receive, the surveying industry thereby loses money and materials, hence it progress is returned.
1.3    PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of bill report is to consider the changing environment of surveying industry and to report to the profession. On the practical steps which might be taken to ensure that it is able to deal with the increasingly sophisticated demands which are likely to occur in the changing environment.
1.4    AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim and objectives of this project on the available billing system are: -
1.   To find out if the already existing is efficient, adequate and sufficient.
2.   Highlight the inefficiency in the available method through which computer application can reduce and eliminate inefficiency.
1.5   SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The report takes into consideration the developments which have taken place in the last twenty years.
In 1961, the royal institution of chartered surveyors set up a working up quantities in the constitution industry, this study is narrowed to the following areas: - 
a.    A program that will effectively handle client bills.
b.   A program that handles name, account, phone numbers and price list.
c.    Record of the companies clients
d.   Record of clients can be retrieved and update if necessary.