Computers and Quantity Surveyors

This book is directed primarily towards providing students and practitioners with a basic grounding in the use of computers by quantity surveyors. It is divided into two parts, the first part (Chapters l to 8) dealing with general concepts of information technology, and the latter part (Chapters 9 to 13) dealing with specific quantity surveying issues. Covers a wide range of topics: computer hardware; operational and management implications of computer systems; legal issues; general purpose software such as word processors, spreadsheet systems and micro-computer based data manipulation packages; public information software; development of in-house software; artificial intelligence and expert systems; the use of computers in cost planning, production of bills of quantity, post contract work and project management and computer aided design. The book is extensively referenced. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Quantity Surveyor and the Computer — a Short History....Pages 3-16 Computer Hardware....Pages 17-41 The Selection and Management of an Office Computer System....Pages 42-64 Computers and the Law....Pages 65-79 General Purpose Software....Pages 80-92 Public Information Systems for Quantity Surveyors....Pages 93-100 The Development of In-house Systems....Pages 101-114 Expert Systems — the Future?....Pages 115-132 Front Matter....Pages 133-133 Computers in Cost Planning....Pages 135-143 Computers and Bills of Quantity....Pages 144-171 Computers for Post Contract Work....Pages 172-182 Quantity Surveyors and Computer Aided Design....Pages 183-194 Computers, Quantity Surveyors and Project Management....Pages 195-202 Back Matter....Pages 203-210 This book gives information on different building materials, atomic structure and bonding, crystallography, defects in crystals and plastic deformation, phase diagrams, thermally activated reactions and diffusion, fracture, fatigue and creep and hardness and tensile testing. This book aims to provide students with a basic grounding in the use of computers for quantitive surveying. It is divided into two parts, the first part deals with general concepts of information technology, and the latter part deals with specific quantity surveying issues.