"

6.4 Measurement process for masonry using CostX software

Using the provided floor plan and sections (Figures 6.7 and 6.8), measure the 230 mm and 110 mm solid walls, 110 mm brick veneer walls, piers, and DPC. Assume a floor-to-ceiling height of 3,000 mm for all elements. The window height is 1,300 mm, and the door height is 2,100 mm. All dimensions are in millimetres.

Figure 6.7: Wall plan of the masonry measurement drawing (Source: Created by Amirreza Aminalavije)
Figure 6.8: Wall sections of the masonry measurement drawing (Source: Created by Amirreza Aminalavije)

Step 1: Open CostX and create a new building. Name the building as “Masonry Measurement” and select the Default Project as the project. Set the default height to 3 m as shown in Figure 6.9. 

 

Figure 6.9: Screenshot of creating a building using CostX software using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 2: Click on the Drawings tab and then select Add Drawings to import the wall plan into CostX as shown in Figure 6.10. 

 

Figure 6.10: Screenshot of inserting the wall plan using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 3: Calibrate the drawing using the known X and Y dimensions, as shown in Figure 6.11 and Figure 6.12. It is recommended to use the longest dimension for calibration to minimise the accumulation of errors. The X-axis was calibrated using the 8,460 mm dimension marked on the plan, while the Y-axis was calibrated using the 6,000 mm dimension indicated on the drawings, as shown in the image below. To calibrate both axes separately, make sure to untick “Apply factor to Y axis”; otherwise, the X-axis calibration will also be applied to the Y axis. 

 

Figure 6.11: Screenshot of calibrating X axis of the wall plan using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.
Figure 6.12: Screenshot of calibrating Y axis of the wall plan using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 4: Create a dimension group to measure the 230 mm brick walls as illustrated in Figure 6.13. Add a folder named Masonry. Walls are measured in square meters; therefore, set the measurement type to Length and the default display to Wall Area.

Since the default height was set to 3 m when creating the building (Step 1), this height will be automatically applied. If you need to adjust the height, you can do it in the Height field within the dimension group.

 

Figure 6.13: Screenshot of creating a dimension group to measure a 230 mm thick brick wall using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 5: Using the Point method, select the wall lengths corresponding to the 230 mm wall, as illustrated in Figure 6.14.

 

Figure 6.14: Screenshot of measuring 230 mm thick brick walls using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 6: Using the Point method, introduce door and window openings as negative dimensions as illustrated in Figure 6.15.

 

Figure 6.15: Screenshot of door and window deductions from 230 mm thick brick walls using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 7: Adjust the heights of these negative dimensions by right-clicking on the measured deductions on the plan, as the default height (3 m) was originally applied to them. Figure 6.16 shows how this adjustment is made for a door – apply the same process to the windows.

 

Figure 6.16: Screenshot of applying the correct heights for door deduction from 230 mm thick brick walls using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 8: Repeat steps 4-6 to measure the 110 mm brick veneer walls, selecting positive and negative quantities as appropriate, as shown in Figure 6.17.

 

Figure 6.17: Screenshot of measuring 110 mm thick brick veneer walls using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 9: Repeat steps 4-6 to measure the 110 mm solid brick walls, selecting positive and negative quantities as appropriate, as illustrated in Figure 6.18.

 

Figure 6.18: Screenshot of measuring 110 mm thick brick walls using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 10: To view the measured dimension in three-dimensional (3D) view using the 3D function on the drawing tab as shown in Figure 6.19. Please note that the windows are offset 1 m from the floor level in the 3D view. 

 

Figure 6.19: Screenshot of 3D view of measured walls using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 11: Create a dimension group to measure brick piers. Apply the rule outlined in Section 6.2.1 to determine whether the element should be classified as a wall or a pier, and check whether the pier is attached to a similar masonry wall or isolated. As the pier is not connected to a masonry wall, it is considered isolated and should be measured in linear meters. Accordingly, the measurement type and default display should be set to “Count”, and the height should be specified in the dimension group settings.

Step 12: Click on the brick piers to count them as shown in Figure 6.20. The height will be transferred to the workbook when the quantities are transferred in Step 17.

 

Figure 6.20: Screenshot of measuring 110 mm brick piers using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 13: Create a dimension group to measure DPC. DPC is measured in linear meters when the girth is less than 1 metre. Therefore, the measurement type and default display should be set to “Length”.

Step 14: Using the Point method, select the wall lengths as shown in Figure 6.21, since the DPC will be laid along these walls as shown in sections in Figure 6.8.

 

Figure 6.21: Screenshot of measuring DPC using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 15: Create a workbook. In the first level, set the heading as “Masonry” as illustrated in Figure 6.22 

 

Figure 6.22: Screenshot of creating a workbook using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 16: Double-click the number associated with the “Masonry” heading, then include the descriptions and UOM as specified in Table 6.5.

Table 6.5: Masonry descriptions
Item Description UOM
1 Preamble note Tenderers shall refer to the Introduction, General Rules and Recommendations section of the ANZSMM. Note
2 Preamble note Tenderers shall refer to relevant specification sections containing particulars of masonry works. Note

 
3 Preamble note Tenderers shall refer to the measurement and prices clauses of the masonry section in ANZSMM. Note

 
4 Preamble item Allow for samples of masonry materials as specified. Item
5 Preamble item Allow for testing of masonry materials and similar as required. Item

 
6 230 mm Solid Brick Wall 230 mm thick brick wall comprising of 230 × 110 × 76 mm common bricks to AS4455, laid in English bond pattern using (1:1:6) cement lime sand mortar. Square meters
7 110 mm Brick Veneer Wall 110 mm thick common brick wall comprising 230 × 110 × 76 mm common bricks to AS4455, laid in stretcher bond pattern using (1:1:6) cement lime sand mortar, fixed to timber frame stud work. Square meters
8 110 mm Solid Brick Wall 110 mm thick brick wall comprising of 230 × 110 × 76 mm face bricks to AS4455, laid in stretcher bond pattern using (1:1:6) cement lime sand mortar. Square meters
9 390 mm × 390 mm sized Isolated Brick Piers 390 mm × 390 mm sized isolated piers comprising 230 × 110 × 76 mm face bricks to AS4455, laid in stretcher bond pattern using (1:1:6) cement lime sand mortar, pointing to one side with weathered joint. Linear meters
10 DPC 0.2 mm gauge polythene damp proofing course to walls, horizontal, lapped 150 mm joints sealed with pressure sensitive tape, girth is less than 250 mm. Linear meters

Step 17: By double-clicking each quantity cell, transfer the measured quantities by dragging them from the dimension groups, as shown in Figure 6.23.

 

Figure 6.23: Screenshot of transferring the measured quantities to the workbook using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Step 18: Generate the BQ using CostX software by selecting “Report” and then clicking “Print Workbook to Report” as illustrated in Figure 6.24.

 

Figure 6.24: Screenshot of selecting report type and name using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

The final BQ for the masonry work is presented in Figure 6.25.al BQ for the masonry work is presented in Figure 6.25.

 

Figure 6.25: Screenshot of generating the BQ using CostX software used with permission from RIB Software (Source: Created by Authors). Any modifications or re-use beyond the context of the handbook requires permission.

Licence

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Digital approaches to building measurement: Standards, tools and techniques Copyright © 2025 by Deakin University (Argaw Gurmu, Nilupa Udawatta, Gayani Karunasena, and Reza Taban) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book