QS-CMPM

Manpower/Labor

One of the five elements of construction organizations, referring to the workforce involved in the project.

Materials

One of the five elements of construction organizations, referring to the physical resources used in construction.

Machines, Tools, and Equipment

One of the five elements of construction organizations, referring to the tools and machinery used in construction.

Methodology/Procedures

One of the five elements of construction organizations, referring to the processes and methods used in construction.

Money/Finances

One of the five elements of construction organizations, referring to the financial resources for the project.

Cost Constraint

One of the three constraints in construction projects, relating to budget limitations.

Time Constraint

One of the three constraints in construction projects, relating to project deadlines.

Quality Constraint

One of the three constraints in construction projects, relating to the standards of the finished project.

Owner/Client

One of the three stakeholders in a construction project, the entity funding or commissioning the project.

Designer/Planner

One of the three stakeholders in a construction project, responsible for creating the project plans.

Builder/Constructor/General Contractor

One of the three stakeholders in a construction project, responsible for executing the construction work.

Traditional (Design-Bid-Build)

A project delivery system where design and construction are handled separately.

Design-Build

A project delivery system where a single entity handles both design and construction.

Construction Manager (CM Agency)

A project delivery system where a construction manager acts as an advisor to the owner.

Construction Manager (CM at-risk)

A project delivery system where the construction manager takes on financial risk for project delivery.

Project Manager

A role overseeing the entire project, coordinating between stakeholders.

Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT)

A project delivery system where a private entity builds, operates, and later transfers the project to the owner.

PERT (Project Evaluation and Review Technique)

A scheduling technique used to manage uncertainty in project activities (probabilistic model).

CPM (Critical Path Method)

A scheduling technique used for well-defined activities (deterministic model).

Network Diagram

A diagram showing the sequence of activities using arrows and nodes.

Activity on Arrow

A network diagram convention where arrows represent activities.

Activity on Nodes

A network diagram convention where nodes represent activities.

Early Start (ES)

The earliest time an activity can start without delaying the project.

Early Finish (EF)

The earliest time an activity can finish without delaying the project.

Late Start (LS)

The latest time an activity can start without delaying the project.

Late Finish (LF)

The latest time an activity can finish without delaying the project.

Crashing

A technique to shorten project duration by adding resources, incurring additional costs.

Gantt Chart

A scheduling tool that displays project tasks along a timeline.

S-Curve

A graphical representation of project progress over time.

Time Scaled Network Diagram

A network diagram with activities plotted against a time scale.

Line-of-Balance

A scheduling method for repetitive tasks, also known as linear scheduling.

PD1594

A Philippine law prescribing policies for government infrastructure contracts.

RA9184

A Philippine law modernizing government procurement processes.

Allowable Government Estimate (AGE)

A benchmark cost used in evaluating bids under PD1594.

Approved Agency Estimate (AAE)

The government's estimated cost for a project.

Competitive Bidding

A procurement method open to all qualified bidders.

Negotiated Bidding

A procurement method where the entity directly negotiates with a contractor.

Lump-sum Agreement

A contract where the contractor is paid a fixed amount for the entire project.

Unit-price Agreement

A contract where payment is based on measured quantities of work.

Cost-plus-fee Agreement

A contract where the contractor is reimbursed for costs plus a fee.

Quantity Surveying

The process of material take-off, quantifying, analysis, and estimating the cost of all elements of a project.

Order-of-Magnitude Estimates

Preliminary cost estimates based on cost-capacity curves or ratios, with an accuracy range of +30% to -50%.

Rough Weight Check

A quick cost estimation method based on the weight of equipment, categorized into precision/computerized, mechanical/electrical, and functional groups.

Cost Capacity Factor

A method to estimate costs using the formula C1/C2=(Q1/Q2)^x, where x is the cost capacity factor (typically around 0.6).

Comparative Cost of Structures

Estimates based on general characteristics like use, construction type, quality, locality, and time of construction. Applicable to bridges, schools, hospitals, etc.

Feasibility Estimates

Budget estimates based on flowsheets, layouts, and preliminary equipment descriptions, with an accuracy range of +30% to -15%.

Plant Cost Ratio

A method using equipment cost proportions to estimate total plant cost, also known as the Lang factor.

Floor Area Method

A cost estimation method where floor area is the dominant attribute, commonly used for hospitals, stores, and residences.

Appropriation Estimates

Definitive estimates requiring detailed engineering data, with an accuracy range of +15% to -5%.

Parametric Estimation

A method using a database of key project parameters or panels priced from past projects, multiplied by the number of units.

Bay Method

A cost estimation method for projects with repetitive units, where costs are calculated per bay type and multiplied by the number of bays.

Indirect Cost

Costs not directly tied to project size, including overhead, supervision, administrative costs, profit, contingency, bonds, and insurance.

Overhead Costs

Costs divided into home office (general company operations) and job overhead (specific to a project).

Bid Bond

A guarantee that the contractor will enter into the contract if awarded the bid, forfeited if the contractor defaults.

Performance Bond

A guarantee that the contractor will complete the work as per contract documents, protecting the owner against default.

Direct Cost

Costs directly proportional to project size, including materials, labor, and equipment.

Concrete Components

Typically composed of cement, sand, gravel, and water, sometimes with additives. Common ratios include 1:2:4 or 1:3:6.

Labor and Equipment Unit Cost

Calculated as the total labor and equipment cost per unit of time divided by productivity.

Labor Hours

Defined as one worker working for one hour, calculated as Lh = Lt x Ht.

Productivity Rate

The number of labor hours per unit of work or the quantity of work performed by a crew in a standard day.

Equipment Ownership Cost

Includes fixed costs (depreciation, interest, insurance) and operating costs (fuel, repairs, maintenance).

Depreciation Methods

Includes Straight Line, Sinking Fund, Matheson Formula, and Sum of Years-Digits methods.

Operating Cost

Costs like fuel, oil changes, tire repairs, and lubrication incurred during equipment operation.

Earthworks and Operations

Involves equipment productivity formulas, soil volume changes, and compaction techniques.

Swell (%)

The increase in soil volume after excavation.

Shrinkage (%)

The reduction in soil volume after compaction.

Load Factor

The ratio of loose unit volume weight to bank unit volume weight, used in earthmoving calculations.

Excavator Production

Calculated as C×S×V×B×EC×S×V×B×E, where CC is cycles/hour, SS is swing factor, VV is bucket volume, BB is fill factor, and EE is efficiency.

Compaction Equipment

Includes tamping foot rollers, vibratory compactors, and smooth steel drum rollers, each suited for specific soil types.

Rolling Resistance

The force opposing movement due to tire flexing and surface penetration.

Grade Resistance

The component of vehicle weight acting parallel to a slope, positive uphill and negative downhill.

Effective Grade

Combines actual grade and rolling resistance to determine total resistance experienced by equipment.

Rimpull

The pull available at the driving wheels of a wheeled vehicle, indicating its power to move loads.

Drawbar Pull

The power available at the hitch of a crawler tractor under standard conditions.

Dozer Production

Calculated as volume per cycle multiplied by cycles per hour, factoring in blade load and cycle time.

Scraper Production

Estimated based on heaped volume, payload, and cycle time, adjusted for job efficiency and operating conditions.

Construction Industry

One of the largest U.S. industries, accounting for 10% of GNP and employing 10 million workers. Includes design, construction, and building materials manufacturing.

General Contractor

Company executing major construction projects under contract with owners. Handles wide range of construction activities.

Prime Contractor

General contractor providing complete construction services directly to owner.

Specialty Contractor

Focuses on specific trades (electrical, plumbing, etc.). Typically works as subcontractor.

Subcontractor

Contractor hired by prime contractor to perform specialized work.

Building Construction ("Vertical")

Construction of structures, divided into residential/non-residential and public/private categories.

Heavy Construction ("Horizontal")

Infrastructure projects: highways, airports, bridges, dams, etc.

Project Development Phase

Pre-bidding stage involving feasibility studies, design, and regulatory approvals.

Design/Build (Turnkey)

Single firm handles both design and construction, improving coordination.

Construction Management Contract

Professional CM oversees design and construction under separate contracts.

Building Codes

Regulations ensuring structural/fire safety in buildings (e.g., International Building Code).

Zoning Regulations

Laws governing land use (e.g., R-4 zoning = 4 residential units/acre).

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Document assessing large projects' environmental effects (required for highways, etc.).

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforcing workplace safety standards.

Construction Productivity

Output per labor hour; declined 1965-1980 but improved in later decades.

Quality Management (QM)

Ensures projects meet design specs, including QA and QC processes.

Quality Control (QC)

Contractor-led process monitoring to maintain construction standards.

Construction Company Failure Causes

Poor management, inadequate capital, inaccurate estimating (90% of failures).

Construction Trends

Increasing tech adoption, international competition, and skilled labor demand.

Earthmoving

The process of moving soil or rock from one location to another and processing it to meet construction requirements. Activities include excavating, loading, hauling, placing, compacting, grading, and finishing.

Equipment Selection

The choice of equipment for a construction project, influenced by factors such as performance capability, profitability, future use, availability, and maintenance.

Production of Earthmoving Equipment

Calculated as: Production = Volume per cycle × Cycles per hour. Volume per cycle is adjusted by a fill factor, and cycles per hour include efficiency factors.

Cost per unit

Calculated as: Cost per unit = Equipment cost per hour / Equipment production per hour.

Job Efficiency Factors

Factors based on job conditions (topography, weather, specifications) and management conditions (worker skill, equipment maintenance, supervision). See Table 1 for values.