2 major methods of taking off quantities

• Traditional method taking off : manually measure calcualte and count building elements from design drawings  
• ICt tools : quantity are taken off and measure by a tool and the computer will then make a calculatioin and store the quantity . 

ICT tool

1. THe quantity are taken off by tracing over the elements on the printouts drawings via the programmed digitizers . THe computer will then make a calculation , example the length of a pipe from its start point to tis end point and store the quantity . 
2. In order words , digitizers replace the scale rulers and computers perform the calculations . 
3. During measurements a graphica l representation of the items measured is generated on the screen  , a copy of which can be printed to accompany the measurements obtained . 
4. The results and quantities generated can then be printed out directly or exported and printed in Microsoft Excel format or other format . 
5. Examples of digitized measurement software are CATOPro , Digizo ( as shown in figure 1 ) , Digipen , Manifest , Open House , QS Elite , Q-Scripts , Techsonix , Wessex Take off And etc .