Introduction to Estimating and Measurement (10140.2)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Introduction to Estimating and Measurement
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Arts And Design
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Design And The Built Environment Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit aims to provide an introduction to the role of quantity surveying and estimation in the construction industry. Students will acquire knowledge of and understand basic concepts of accepted drawing conventions and formats including architectural and engineering drawings and how building specifications are prepared and structured. Students will become aware of the purpose of measurement and estimating in the construction industry and be able to demonstrate how to measure simple architectural and engineering structures using industry accepted methodology.
Student will be introduced to the sources of information for estimating and measuring construction projects.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Measure simple building elements using industry standard measurement techniques;
2. Demonstrate how common construction rates are built-up including the constituents of material, labour, plant, overheads and profit; and
3. Define building elements as stated in the AIQS ACM manual.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Skills development

AIB and AIQS Requirements for Graduates
The AIB (Australian Institute of Building) and AIQS (Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors) have requirements and
expectations for graduates from an accredited course. These have been shown below to assist the student as to the importance
placed on generic skills by the accrediting bodies. These can also be found on their respective websites www.aib.org.au and
www.aiqs.com.au. Further information regarding the building and quantity surveying professions is also available on these websites
and represent a valuable source of information.

AIB Benchmark Standards for Graduates
The AIB encourages course and curriculum design to develop graduate attributes in contexts including the following, as referred to in
the AIB Standards of Accreditation, Academic Standards Booklet.

Creative, Reflective and Critical Thinking
Lifelong Learning
Knowledge Skills
Use of Technology
Communication
Teamwork
Social Responsibility
Environmental Responsibility
Professional Responsibility

AIQS Requirements for Graduates
The academic content for this unit forms part of the attainment of the AIQS skills and attributes for a Quantity Surveyor graduate as
referred to in the AIQS Competency Standards for Quantity Surveyors and Cost Engineers.

Quantification/Measurement
Communication Skills
Personal and Interpersonal Skills
Business and Management Skills
Professional Practice
Computer and Information Technology
Construction Technology
Construction Law and Regulation



Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

8519 Estimating and Measurement 1

Assumed knowledge

It is recommended that students have Year 12 Mathematics and English.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 On-campus Mr Robert Azzopardi
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 On-campus Mr Robert Azzopardi
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Textbook:
The Method of Measurement Committee 2016, Australian standard method of measurement of building works, 6th edn, AIQS & MBA. Please visit the AIQS website to purchase the text:

https://www.aiqs.com.au/imis/AIQS_Website/News/ASMM6.aspx)

Recommended reading:
Staines, A 2009, The Australian house building manual, 5th edn.
Marsden, P 1998, Basic building measurement, UNSW Press.
Australian Institute of Building. Guide to estimating practice for building work, 6 edn.
Joe Sierra Series 1998, The A to Z guide to estimating.
Picken, D 1999, Building measurement: worked examples, Deakin Press,

January, M FAIQS 2003, Measuring - the skill of the Quantity Surveyor.

Best, R, Smith, P, Doherty, J 2014, Detailed building measurement, Vols 1 & 2.

The Method of Measurement Committee 2004, Australian standard method of measurement of building works technical questions and answers, 5th edn.

The Australian Institute of Building resources
http://www.aib.org.au/resources/resources.shtml (http://www.aib.org.au/resources/resources.shtml)
The Australian Institute of Building (AIB) is pleased to make available a range of reference publications (http://www.aib.org.au/books/index.htm) for purchase
(http://www.aib.org.au/books/index.htm). In addition, the Institute publishes a range of magazines and newsletters (http://www.aib.org.au/resources/AIBConstructMonthly.
htm) that provide an update on commercial, technical and regulatory factors that influence the building profession, including the Construct
(http://www.aib.org.au/construct/index.htm)magazine and Construct Monthly (http://www.aib.org.au/resources/AIB-ConstructMonthly.htm) newsletter

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Artificial intelligence

Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for StudentsLinks to an external site. Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

For all students attendance and participation in lectures and tutorials are highly recommended to enhance learning and skills developed outlined in section 2b above. This means that students who do not attend classes regularly will be at a disadvantage in terms of information, learning, skills development, informal feedback and examination preparation. It is the student's responsibility to obtain and study material missed during absences.

Required IT skills

You are assumed to have adequate skills in the use of word processing and spreadsheet programs, internet browsers and search engines.
You are also assumed to be familiar with Canvas.
If you feel you do not have adequate skills, please discuss the matter with the unit convener or the lecturer.

In-unit costs

Not applicable

Work placement, internships or practicums

Not applicable

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