Hello folks 👋🏻
This week we are covering the Data Management competency.
I would highly advise you to go through the candidate guide and the QS pathway guide to understand the basic requirements.
DISCLAIMER: The following is not an exhaustive set of notes, but it's an attempt to help those who, like me at the beginning, did not know where to start! Please feel free to let me know if I have said anything incorrect or outdated!
So what is Level 1 Data Management all about?
The RICS note that to demonstrate competence at Level 1, you need to demonstrate your ability to:
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the sources of information and data, and the systems applicable to your area of practice, including the methodologies and techniques most appropriate to collect, collate and store data.
The use of published sources of data, particularly BCIS
The Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) is a provider of cost data to the UK built environment, for construction instruction and life cycle costing.
QS’s use data from the BCIS to support estimates and undertake benchmarks. Your job will require you to understand how to manipulate and update the data to make it helpful information for your project. Here’s a link to my Design Economics blog post where I discuss sources of info further!
How data is collected, analysed and stored within your employer’s organisation
This will vary from firm to firm but you should be able to understand how your organisation stores information - information here means cost information!
It may be that your firm has an in-house database, do you know how it’s managed?
The process might involve cost information being received as part of a tender return, and that tender return information may be split and categorised in accordance with the NRM (or whichever measurement method). The data may then be entered into a centralised repository (glorified spreadsheet in most instances, unfortunately).
How project information is stored within your employer’s organisation
You need to be careful here because project information may (contractually) be under certain restrictions. Confidential information that relates to public sector assets e.g. prisons may be required to be stored in a secure drive with limited access. Obviously, this applies to private sector clients too!
How electronic database systems work
Electronic database systems may be websites or portals that contain cost or project information.
Clients may use these systems to store large amounts of data which are accessible by internal or external parties. Think of it as a massive Sharepoint portal. In some instances, it might be linked directly to the client or it might be stored on a network owned by a third party whose job is to ensure it's accessible by those who need it, and most importantly to ensure that information is secure.
The use of computerised central project databases or Building Information Modelling, the benefits, challenges and dangers
There is so much information out there on BIM, I am not going to try and replicate it. Here are two articles which I think summarise what you need to know:
How technical libraries are set up and used
I’ll be honest, this is a very vague bullet point. I think it relates to how your organisation maintains an internal library for technical information i.e. construction technology, contract administration textbooks and risk management.
If you guys know what this refers to, please drop a comment below.
Legislation applicable to data management and data access
Here’s a link explaining the importance of the Data Protection Act:
What’s the difference between the DPA and GDPR? Here’s a link:
That’s it for this post folks, if you have any queries please give me a shout!