From a BOQ to an integrated WBS
Upload your bill of quantities and every priced line gets a code that says what it is, who delivers it and where it sits. The lines are then packaged into work packages you can control. Rules do most of the tagging, PI Agent handles the rest, and you check only the lines that need a person.
What you end up with
The Pi System pyramid. Seven levels under the project, plus two grouping elements that ride along on every line. Select a level to go to the step that sets it.
Levels 1 to 3 are one character each, so service 5, sub-project 1, work package 1 reads 511.
How you get there
The BOQ total is the big cube. Nothing is added or lost: every figure at the end adds back to it.
- What is built. Each line gets a control activity, such as bored piles, with one primary measure (metres, say) or % complete. Its value includes all its lines, so its rate is weighted. Step 3
- Who delivers it. Each line gets a contractable discipline: the phase, then the trade or package. Step 4
- Where it sits. Each line gets a zone and element. A line that covers several locations is split first. Step 5
- How it is packaged. The project team writes the services, sub-projects and work packages, and the lines are placed into them. Step 7
Lines with the same control activity, discipline and location form one small cube. The register in step 6 lists every one of them.
The journey
Eight steps. Each one produces something the next one uses. The status updates as you work.
Every coding step works the same way
Steps 2 to 5 and 7 each start with a list you set up, often straight from the worked example. Then:
- Rules tag first. They read your own columns, such as CESMM4 codes, subcontract packages and zones, so most lines are placed in seconds.
- PI Agent takes the rest. Only the lines the rules could not place with confidence are sent.
- You check only what needs checking. Confident answers with no quick-check warning are accepted automatically. The rest wait in Needs checking. A spot check of 5, 10 or 100% is there if you want one.
How PI Agent helps
- What it reads
- Each line's description and unit, plus the columns that hint at the step's answer, your code list and any notes you give it. It never sees quantities, rates or amounts.
- What it gives back
- One code from your list for each line, with a confidence and a short reason when it is not sure. A code that is not on your list is dropped, never invented.
- When it is not sure
- The line goes to Needs checking. Lines you have edited are never overwritten. In steps 2 and 4, lines that differ only in their numbers are read once and coded together.
- Where it runs
- On this app's server. Your browser talks only to this app.
What your BOQ needs
Minimum
An Excel sheet (ideally formatted as a table) or a CSV with one header row. Only two columns are required:
- Description
- Amount (or quantity and rate)
Recommended
These make control activities measurable:
- Item number
- Unit and quantity
- Rate
Helpful, if you have them
The rules read these straight away. Without them, PI Agent or you tag by hand:
- Scope hierarchy, e.g. class and CESMM4 code
- Subcontract package or procurement route
- Zone and element
Upload the bill of quantities
Any layout works as long as there is one header row. Choose the sheet and header row, then confirm which column is which.
File
An Excel or CSV file with one header row.
or 514 illustrative lines. Not a client cost plan.
Columns
Matched from the header row. Each column feeds one field. Optional columns help the rules place lines.
Check
Counted from the rows themselves. A stated contract value is compared with the total, never used in its place.
Preview
Every column of your file, with the field it feeds. Unmapped columns are greyed.
Scope classification
Give every BOQ line a scope code, such as a CESMM4 class and item.
What is this?
Scope classification is the Cl grouping element of the Pi System: data on every line, not a level of the WBS. You set up the scope items your BOQ lines sit in (the sample uses CESMM4: classes at level 1, codes at level 2), tag every line with one, then verify it. Control activities are built from them in the next step.
Phase (2 P&G, 3 design, 5 construction, 9 provisional) on each scope item helps the discipline step later.
1 · Create scope
The scope codes your BOQ lines are tagged with.
Build the list
Levels
Edit
Excel
2 · Tag scope
Give every BOQ line one scope item. Tag with rules or PI Agent, then fix any line in the table.
3 · Review scope
Check the tags one level at a time. Lines that need a person come first; confident tags with no quick-check warning are accepted automatically.
Control activities
Group the scope items into the work you measure and control, such as bored piles in metres.
What is this?
A control activity is work measured and controlled by one primary measure. It can cover many scope items, such as all bored piles. Draft the list from the scope items your BOQ uses, then keep, rename, switch off or add. Every line is then tagged with one control activity and verified: each line's scope item from Scope classification decides it.
Switched-off control activities leave their lines to be placed by hand in Tag control activities.
1 · Create control activities
Group the scope items your BOQ uses into control activities.
Build the list
Rules group the scope items your BOQ uses, with no AI. PI Agent groups them by the work you measure.
Edit
Excel
2 · Tag control activities
Give every BOQ line one control activity. Each line's scope item from step 2 decides it; tag with rules or PI Agent, then fix any line in the table.
3 · Review control activities
Check the tags one level at a time. Lines that need a person come first; confident tags with no quick-check warning are accepted automatically.
Contractable disciplines
Give every BOQ line the discipline or package that delivers it.
What is this?
Level 1 is the phase of work (design, manufacture and supply, construction, commissioning). Level 2 is the discipline or package that delivers it. Check the sample, adapt it to your BOQ, then tag every line.
1 · Create disciplines
Set up the phase of work at level 1 and the discipline or package that delivers it at level 2. Rules match a line's subcontract package (EW for SC-EW) or procurement route (PS, or "direct") to a level 2 code; the phase comes from its scope item.
Build the list
Levels
Edit
Excel
2 · Tag disciplines
Give every BOQ line one discipline. Tag with rules or PI Agent, then fix any line in the table.
3 · Review disciplines
Check the tags one level at a time. Lines that need a person come first; confident tags with no quick-check warning are accepted automatically.
Geography
Give every BOQ line the location it is built in.
What is this?
Break the job into locations: zones at level 1, elements or assets at level 2, if you want them. Then place every line in one location, splitting the lines that cover several.
1 · Create locations
Set up the zones at level 1 and the elements or assets at level 2. Rules match a line's Zone value (Z01, ALL) to a level 1 code and its Element value (LIN, BR-01) to a level 2 code; use ALL for project-wide items.
Build the list
Levels
Edit
Excel
2 · Tag locations
Place every BOQ line in one location, splitting the lines that span several. Tag with rules or PI Agent, then fix any line in the table.
Can every BOQ line be placed in exactly one location?
For example, is "bored piles, 900 mm, concreted length" priced once per bridge, or once for the whole job? If any line spans several locations, answer No.
Split the lines that span several locations
Split a line into one line per location. Quantities and amounts are shared out, and every code already set (scope item, control activity, discipline) is carried onto the new lines.
A · Split here, line by line
Best for a handful of lines. Use Split on a line in the table below, pick the locations and enter each quantity.
B · Split in Excel and import back
- Download the register. It holds every line with its codes so far.
- For each line that spans locations, copy the row once per location. Keep the Row ID, set the zone and element codes, and share out the quantity and amount.
- Import the file. The lines are rebuilt with all their codes in place.
3 · Review locations
Check the tags one level at a time. Lines that need a person come first; confident tags with no quick-check warning are accepted automatically.
The fully coded register
Every line now carries a control activity, a discipline and a location.
What is this?
Each distinct combination of control activity, discipline and location is one small cube. Check the cubes, then decide how they are packaged into the WBS in WBS composition.
Excel
Every line with its codes, for checking or splitting lines in Excel.
WBS composition
Package the work the way the project team reports on it: the fourth dimension.
What is this?
The WBS is decided by the project team. First write the outline: services, sub-projects and work packages. Then place the BOQ lines into the work packages: let PI Agent place them, or find, tick and apply by hand. Then verify the result.
1 · Outline the WBS
Package the work by what you coded: choose how the job splits, and the outline builds itself with every line placed.
Project and code format
Excel
Send the outline to someone to fill in Excel, then import it back.
Outline check
2 · Place lines
Put every BOQ line in one work package: let PI Agent place them, or find, tick and apply by hand.
3 · Review
Check the placements one level at a time. Lines that need a person come first; confident placements with no quick-check warning are accepted automatically.
Integrated WBS
Your integrated WBS: every BOQ line in the Pi System pyramid.
What is this?
The Pi System pyramid: services, sub-projects and work packages (step 7), contractable disciplines (step 4), control activities (step 3), then the BOQ lines as specific scope items. Location and scope classification ride along as grouping data.
Excel
The iWBS, the register and the code lists in one workbook.
WBS
Back to WBS composition, to change the outline or where lines sit.
Value by level 2
Bar length is value. The largest is drawn in ink.
iWBS table
Select a row to collapse or expand it.
Settings
Your profile, notifications and how the workspace looks.