# Muimi Nzangi

> Making. Buildings.


## Posts

- [My Failure to Build a Profitable Marketplace for BIM Digital Assets](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/my-failure-to-build-a-profitable-marketplace-for-bim-digital-assets/): Naturally, humans tend to focus on the positive side of life. We encourage ourselves when things get hard to continue pushing forward with the hope that perseverance will bear fruit. When that fruit comes, which we call success, we celebrate. We dread failure and seldom want to be associated with it. Although success often follows perseverance that helps us overcome a series of failures, I tend to think that failure is a necessary step on the path to success. Also, sometimes we need to be aware of our lives and the efforts we are pouring into tasks, or whatever we are […]
- [Zahir Narrates: Life at 30](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/zahir-narrates-life-at-30/): It is in the evening, to be exact, at 5:30 pm. Zahir, a talented scholar at the University of Tehran, has just alighted from the Tehran Metro. A hundred yards away from the station is his apartment. He walks, slowly, carefully, as if he is timing and counting the steps to his place. Along the way, he is greeted by scenes of beautifully tended lawns and flower gardens smiling at him. He doesn’t see all of that today. His mind is deeply immersed in thoughts and flashbacks. He remembers the graduation is two weeks away. The Civil Engineering department at the […]
- [Quantity Surveyors (QS) Bill, 2026](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/quantity-surveyors-qs-bill-2026/)
- [BIM Creator and User Community](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/bim-creator-and-user-community/)
- [Dealing with the Housing Problem in Kenya: A Critique of the Government’s Direct Involvement](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/kenya-housing-problem/): Kenya, like many other developing and urbanising nations, has been battling the housing problem for some time now. The government’s intervention through the Affordable Housing Program (AHP), which is part of their Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), was created to attempt to solve the problem of housing. However, I have a contrary opinion about its effectiveness in doing what it was intended to do. For context, Kenya is estimated to have an annual demand of 250,000 housing units. The current production is reported to churn out 50,000 housing units only (supply from both private and public sector involvement). This results in […]
- [My First Peer-Reviewed Academic Research Paper](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/bim-academic-research-paper/): This month has been a special blessing to me. I am glad to announce that for the first time, my academic research work was published in an international peer-reviewed journal. Specifically, my article titled “A Survey on the Current Status of Building Information Modelling (BIM) Adoption in Quantity Surveying Practice in Kenya” was published in the International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation. This is an open-access platform for advancing global knowledge across engineering, science, technology, medicine, management, humanities, social sciences, education, and other areas of specialisation. I have always had a keen interest in advancing the creation and sharing of […]
- [3 Stages of a Construction Project](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/3-construction-project-stages/): Construction projects have a specific start and end time. From the moment the client commissions it, through construction, subsequent occupation, and demolition or deconstruction at the end of its life, a construction project moves through three distinct stages or phases. These stages/phases are named according to when actual work begins on the construction site: pre-construction, construction, and post-construction. In other terms, they are referred to as pre-contract, contract, and post-contract phases of a construction project. The term “contract” as used here refers to the construction contract that is signed between the client (who is the owner of the project) and the […]
- [Building Your Authentic Voice on the Internet through Content Creation](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/content-creation/): Recently, I was invited by the Construction and Real Estate Students Association (CRESA) of the University of Nairobi to talk to them about content creation for construction professionals and students. This student organization brings together students from Construction Management, Real Estate, and Quantity Surveying courses. I used this opportunity to spark a discussion on how construction students and professionals alike can use content creation as a way for them to create authentic voices online that resonate with their professional work. This is to say, content that helps us switch from being passive consumers of content online to active creators and contributors […]
- [Registered Quantity Surveyor in Mombasa, Kenya](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/registered-quantity-surveyor-in-mombasa/): We provide professional quantity surveying consultancy services in Mombasa city and the larger coastal region of Kenya. This region encompasses the former coastal province, spanning the present-day counties of Kwale, Mombasa, Taita Taveta, Kilifi, Lamu, and Tana River. Our services extend not only to this region but also to the entire country of Kenya, serving a diverse range of clients as explained in this post. Hi, good friends, and welcome to our website. I am James Muimi Nzangi, a registered quantity surveyor and construction project manager currently based in Mombasa, Kenya. I have been in the construction industry for the last […]
- [5 Factors Affecting the Cost of Excavations and Earthworks](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/factors-affecting-cost-of-excavations-and-earthworks/): Every construction project happens on a specific physical land called the construction site. Buildings and other civil engineering infrastructure are anchored to the ground by their foundations. For these foundations to be created, the ground is excavated. Depending on their magnitude for the specific project, these excavation works significantly contribute to the construction cost. We have seen many buildings collapsing in the country. Among the reasons cited by the task forces that have investigated these matters were issues related to structural failures. Therefore, foundation works must be correctly anchored into stable ground to prevent these issues. Shortcuts for cost savings must […]
- [Valuation of Dayworks in Construction Contracts](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/valuation-of-dayworks-in-construction-contracts/): Construction projects are executed through a contract signed between the owner of the project (called the client or employer) and the contractor. The construction contract allows for the introduction of new works whose scope may not have been captured in the original contract, through variations. This new work is valued using the contract unit rates in the priced bills of quantities or adjusted contract rates through prorate pricing. The mentioned bills of quantities are an important contract document that forms the basis for efficient cost management by the project quantity surveyor (QS) and for fair compensation of the contractor for the […]
- [How I Overcame Procrastination to Complete a Udemy Course I Started 1 Year Ago](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/overcoming-procrastination-to-complete-my-udemy-course/): When I started teaching online, Udemy was one of those platforms where I wanted to establish an online presence. After building a sizeable audience on YouTube and improving my teaching skills, I decided to record and publish courses on Udemy. I started with a free course teaching step-by-step how to use Autodesk Revit software to create 3D building models. That was followed by two other paid courses on Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD software. Both were step-by-step practice-based courses. My main goal was to share stuff I had been learning along the way in my practice. So, I focused on computer-aided design software and […]
- [The Concept of Supply in Economics](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/the-concept-of-supply-in-economics/): In economics, supply means the amount of a good or a service a producer is willing to sell at each price. It refers to the relationship between a range of prices and the quantities supplied at those prices. The quantity supplied refers to a specific point on the supply curve. Price is what the producer receives for selling one unit of a good or service. In this article, we explore the concept of supply and use a supply curve to describe the quantities a seller is willing to sell at different prices to illustrate the law of supply; by changing only […]
- [The Concept of Demand in Economics](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/the-concept-of-demand-in-economics/): Demand in economics describes a consumer’s desire to purchase goods and services and their willingness to pay a specific price for those goods and services. Adam Smith, considered the father of modern economics, in his famous book “Wealth of Nations” made the following assertions about the actions of economic actors: “Individual actors acting in their self-interests lead to the promotion of the interests of the larger society more effectively than if they had a direct intention to want to promote the welfare of the society.” He meant that without any interference, the economic actors by furthering their self-interests end up promoting […]
- [10 Factors to Consider When Choosing BIM Software](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/choosing-bim-software/): Building Information Modelling (BIM) is increasingly transforming the way we deliver construction projects globally. It emphasises more on project stakeholders coming together collaboratively to share key project data that supports every party’s decision-making. This collaborative work is underpinned by three things: people, processes, and technologies. However, there are other regulating factors such as contractual and legal aspects of construction project management. It is people who deliver projects, following well-set-out procedures and work processes (methodologies and workflows). That does not mean technology is not needed, it means that even without technology we can still deliver projects – but longer, and less efficiently. […]
- [Summary of the Provisions of the Labour Relations Act, 2007 (Kenya)](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/labour-relations-act-kenya/): In this article, I highlight Kenya’s Labour Relations Act provisions that stood out when I read it. This is mainly on labour relations, trade unions and employer federations, industrial action, and dispute resolution. Introduction It is cited as an Act of the Parliament of Kenya for the following purposes: Salient Provisions of the Act S.4 – on employee’s right to freedom of association – to participate in the formation of trade unions, join and leave a union, participate in lawful activities and an appointment as an office bearer of a union. S.5 protects employees or any person seeking employment from discrimination […]
- [5 Main Effects of Delayed Payments in Construction](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/effects-of-delayed-payments-in-the-construction/): Delayed payments have been a significant concern for the construction industry. Both bespoke and standard forms of construction contracts have laid down guidance on the path to be taken when payment is delayed. However, even with those measures in place, the challenge remains. When a project owner fails to pay the main contractor in time, it may trickle down to the sub-contractors, suppliers and possibly the staff of the organisations involved in the project. Therefore, it is important to look at the series of effects that can be triggered by a delay in the payment process. Since construction is both a […]
- [Demystifying Payment Delays in Construction](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/demystifying-payment-delays-in-construction/): Payment delays or slow payment processing is a problem that the construction industry has been facing for a long time now. According to Levelset’s National Construction Payment Report published in 2020, 48% of businesses wait for more than 30 days from the day of invoicing to receive payments. Further, a similar report published in 2019 by Rabbet indicated that slow payments cost the industry a total of $ 60 billion. The 2018 – 2019 PWC Working Capital Survey indicated a 51-day sales outstanding for the US construction industry. These statistics are worrying. They raise a lot of questions regarding what is […]
- [Salient Provisions of the Employment Act, 2007 (Revised 2012) - Kenya](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/employment-act-kenya/): This is an act of the Parliament of Kenya to, among other uses, declare and define the fundamental rights of employees, provide basic employment conditions, and regulate the employment of children. Prohibition of Forced Labour Forced labour is prohibited under section 4 of the act, with section 6 requiring the employer with more than 20 employees to develop and share a policy statement on sexual harassment after consultation with the employees. This aims to ensure that people employed are willing to work (not forced) and have an enabling social environment where they can thrive. Minimum Basic Conditions for Employment Also, the […]
- [What Happens When Payments Delay in Construction?](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/construction-payment-delays/): The slow payment process is a problem that we have to deal with in the construction industry. As a contractor or sub-contractor, you aim to complete a project within budget, and on time and make profits. If payments are delayed, that is going to affect your cash flows and the ultimate success of the project. Therefore, the question of what happens when payments get slow is very relevant. Payment is a contractual issue. It is the norm to have construction contracts signed between the contractor and the employer (also called a client or the project owner). These contain terms that determine […]
- [4 Main Types of EIA](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/4-main-types-of-eia/): EIA is an acronym for Environmental Impact Assessment. This refers to a systematic analysis of projects, policies, plans, and programmes to determine their potential environmental and social impacts, the significance of such effects, and propose measures to mitigate the negative ones. It is the anchor of sustainable development, guided by important principles that we discussed in an earlier post on this blog. An environmental impactis any environmental change, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s activities, products, or services. When we construct buildings, we do so on land, which forms part of an existing environment and ecosystem. […]
- [Salient Provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007, Revised 2010 (Kenya)](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/occupational-safety-and-health-act-kenya/): This is an act of the Parliament of Kenya to provide for the safety, health and welfare of workers and all persons lawfully present in the workplace against risks to safety and health arising out of or in connection with the activities of the person at work. Registration of Workplaces Construction sites, quarries, workshops, offices, etc, fall in the classification of workplaces. They are required to be registered with the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services according to sections 44, 45 and 46 of the Act. The actions of employers and employees are bound by specific provisions of this act […]
- [Public Housing Systems, Policies and Practices: Lessons from China and Chile](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/public-housing-lessons-from-china-and-chile/): This follow-up article builds up on our earlier post on lessons from the success of the Singapore public housing systems. Here, we’ll discuss lessons from China and Chile. China’s Public Housing Programme The Chinese government had been the only provider of public housing until 1998 when it could not match the high demand for housing and the people’s need to customise their dwelling units. Consequently, it opened up the opportunity for the private sector developers to provide housing units. Nevertheless, the demand kept on skyrocketing leading to urban commercial housing prices surge in 2004 that outstripped the growth of urban household […]
- [Singapore: Public Housing Systems, Policies and Practices](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/lessons-from-singapore-public-housing-policies-and-systems/): In the colonial period, Singapore Island was used as a base for distribution, financial, transportation and communication functions, with mainland Malaysia as the production base for agricultural and mineral products. The area developed into a highly congested mixed land use, fuelled by rapid population growth and the inattention of the colonial authorities. After the Malaysian Federation gained independence, Singapore was expelled from this federation in the aftermath of a series of racial riots that left a lot of casualties. As a new country that had not actively sought independence, it was immediately faced with the challenges of overcrowded urban slums, and […]
- [6 Emerging Digital Construction Technologies Impacting Environmental Sustainability](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/6-emerging-digital-construction-technologies/): Digital technologies are electronic tools, devices, systems, and resources which generate, store or process data. The construction industry is increasingly witnessing the application of these technologies in the design, construction, operations and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure projects. By helping construction teams allocate resources more efficiently, automate manual repetitive tasks, increase accuracy, and reduce waste and energy consumption, these technologies are playing a key role in making the industry more sustainable and reducing its negative impacts on the natural environment. Technologies such as 3D printing and additive manufacturing, building information modelling (BIM) and parametric design, use of robotics and drones, virtual […]
- [We are Removing Google Ads for a Better Human Experience](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/we-are-removing-google-ads-for-a-better-human-experience/): We have decided to retire Google ads and stop allowing Google to serve ads on our website. This is a big shift as it represents a strategic move in our efforts to balance between a great human experience (if you like, user experience) and monetisation of our content to support the continued growth of this knowledge platform. Recently, I opened one of the blog posts here and there were ads all over. You can hardly read the content. It seems something that we did for a good cause is no longer serving the interests of our readers. I want people using […]
- [5 Digital ArchiCAD Products That Made Me $1200+](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/5-digital-archicad-products-that-made-me-1200/): In this article, I share details of the 5 digital products that have collectively made me $1200+. In the past, I was like many people who thought it was hard to sell anything online because they lacked experience. Also, I have seen many people get scammed and lose their money by being promised to be taught how to make money online. When I started to create content, my idea was to fill a gap that I had noticed on YouTube. People with a foreign accent created many ArchiCAD and other construction tutorials, and something familiar to the African context was missing. […]
- [ConvertKit’s State of the Creator Economy Report 2024](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/convertkit-2024-state-of-the-creator-economy-report/): The creator economy is about people using tech and creativity to connect with audiences worldwide. The State of the Creator Economy Report is a research publication by ConvertKit. Here, creators share their perspectives on what worked in the previous year for their business, the tools they use, and the products and services they create to help their audiences. In the 2024 report, ConvertKit asked about 1004 creators to share an inside look at their businesses and plans for the year. Also, the respondents shared their easiest and most lucrative income streams in 2023 and how the economy affects their perspectives. Creators […]
- [How I Started Learning Coding as a Complete Beginner](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/learning-coding-as-a-complete-beginner/): Learning to code is one of the most challenging yet fulfilling things I have ever done in my life. As a beginner, I started at an advanced age because I did not have access to computers when I was young. I lived in a remote village that did not have access to electricity, not to mention computers. Writing is a skill I developed in school. It became a way for me to express my ideas, think, and gain clarity with my thoughts. When I was looking for a way to share my ideas online, I discovered blogs and websites. First, I […]
- [7 Tips to Protect Yourself from Hackers Online](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/7-tips-to-protect-yourself-from-hackers/): Actionable tips to protect yourself from hackers online by making it hard for them to infiltrate your devices and steal sensitive data. The web has been a very disruptive technology that has revolutionized how we do things since its inception in 1989. Businesses can run their operations online, including selling products, sending communications, and marketing. This is by the use of web apps, which we discussed their specific uses in the construction industry in another post. Individuals can buy products online and pay without having to leave their houses. The web and the internet enable us to automate a lot of our […]
- [7 Ways to Make Passive Income on YouTube](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/7-ways-to-make-passive-income-on-youtube/): The passive income business model is a largely self-sustainable business that requires upfront investment to generate long-term steady gains without having to always actively work on it.  YouTube is a great place to make money online. This article shares practical ideas to help you make money (passive income) on YouTube while enjoying what you do. Making content for YouTube can be a daunting and challenging task. It would be okay if you could get paid while you create awesome content for your fans. You need to create valuable content to attract people to subscribe to your channel and continually watch your […]
- [The 1666 Great London Fire and the Birth of Quantity Surveying](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/the-great-london-fire-and-birth-of-quantity-surveying/): History points to the Great London fire as what led to the start, and growth of the practice of quantity surveying in the United Kingdom before it spread to the rest of the world. In this article, we discuss how the London fire happened, the reconstruction of London and how the master builder profession was involved. Then we will see how quantity surveying measurements evolved to the point of having an independent quantity surveyor involved in all construction projects. Great Fire of London According to the editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, it was September 2 – 5, 1666, when an accidental fire […]
- [What is Buildability or Constructability?](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/buildability-or-constructability/): Buildability or constructability is the measure of the ease, efficiency and eco-friendliness with which a building can be constructed. It depends on the project team’s experience and planning, design, procurement and field operations knowledge. The ease of construction (constructability) is the degree to which a building’s design facilitates construction field operations. A constructible design should allow for favourable site logistics which improves access for workers, materials, and equipment. Also, the designed site layout should facilitate the intended construction methods, with the adopted construction methods not causing interference with site logistics and the construction schedule. Why Buildability/Constructability is Important in a Construction […]
- [5 Applications of Value Engineering in a Solar Power Plant Project](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/5-applications-of-value-engineering-in-solar-power-plant-project/): Value engineering was discussed in our previous article as an exercise that seeks to reduce the cost of a proposed project without affecting the quality and functionality of the development. A solar power project can immensely benefit from this exercise. Solar power generating plants aim to provide long-term sustainability in power generation and supply. Therefore, improving the power generation output while keeping the lifetime costs of developing and operating the solar power plant low is the ultimate goal. This can be possible by applying value engineering in all phases of the project from conception to operations. A solar power plant employs […]
- [Value Engineering in Construction](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/value-engineering-in-construction/): Value engineering in construction is a systematic, organized approach to providing necessary functions in a project at the lowest cost. It promotes the substitution of materials and methods with less expensive alternatives, without sacrificing the functionality of the project. This is because it is solely focused on the functions of the various components and materials, rather than their physical attributes. Value engineering is the review of new and existing products during the design phase of the project to reduce costs and increase functionality to increase the value of the project. The value of the project can then be defined as the […]
- [The Use of Web Applications in Construction in Kenya](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/web-applications-use-in-construction/): A web application (web app) is a software or a program that runs through a web browser. It is created to allow a user to perform certain functions without having to download and install a standalone application on their device, but only using a standard web browser over a network. How a Web Application Works A web application has three main components. These are as follows: When a user interacts with the user interface to perform a task (such as edit, view or delete data), the following process is initiated: Web Applications in Construction Web applications are used by many businesses […]
- [Advanced Construction Scheduling Techniques](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/advanced-scheduling-techniques/): As projects become more complex, uncertain and dynamic, simple construction scheduling methods may not be enough to cope with the challenges and the risks involved to help the project manager deliver successful outcomes, meet project deadlines and manage production resources efficiently. There is a need for more advanced scheduling techniques to cater for these complexities and project dynamics. Some of the advanced scheduling techniques are discussed below: Critical Chain Project Management Critical Chain Project Management, also known as the critical chain method, is a technique that focuses on managing the uncertainties and dependencies in the project schedule rather than the individual […]
- [6 Strategies for Managing Construction Cash Flow](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/managing-construction-cash-flow-strategies/): Construction cash flow management is crucial for both the contracting and consulting sides of the construction business. Every construction business needs cash to pay for their employee expenses, source construction materials, and support the proper management of their projects. To ensure proper construction cash flow management, the following strategies can be adopted: For a contractor, during the tendering stage, there is a need to do proper due diligence and background checks on the client they are about to get engaged with to learn about their payment history and whether they honour payments on time. This is important as there are clients […]
- [Fundamental Uses of BIM and Benefits to Quantity Surveyors](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/fundamental-uses-of-bim-and-the-quantity-surveyors-role/): Fundamental uses of BIM, or BIM dimensions, refer to the levels of information in a given BIM information model. Consider the following: 1D – one-dimensional information, maybe in the form of text descriptions, specification documents, or contractual correspondences. 2D – two-dimensional; here drawings come into place. The graphical information about the facility is added here – lengths and widths (floor plans), or lengths and heights (elevations) + details. (Note: 1D and 2D are not BIM – what is BIM then?) 3D – involves three-dimensional modelling of geometrical and graphical information. 4D – The three-dimensional geometrical and graphical model is linked to […]
- [The Most Important Skill I Learned from Coding and Quantity Surveying](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/important-problem-solving-skill-coding/): Problem-solving! Yes, you guessed right. It’s one of the most important skills I have picked from these two diverse practices. To put you in the right context for this discussion, it is important to mention that I studied Quantity Surveying at the university and have been practising it since graduation. Also, I started learning coding sometime back because of my interest in information technology and the intersection of that with what we do in the construction industry. In the course of my coding learning journey, I have had access to awesome resources such as The Odin Project, CodingNomads, freeCodeCamp and a […]
- [Passive Income Streams with Digital Products - My Mistakes and Lessons Learned](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/passive-income-with-digital-products/): Passive income streams are a way of making money without having to always be physically and actively involved in the task. You leverage the power of technology to automate the business and rely on the internet’s power of connecting people to make money online (mostly). I got introduced to computers in my high school days but didn’t develop a keen interest in information technology until my first year in university. I was always playing computer games and surfing the internet during my free time. As someone interested in writing, I started a personal blog on wordpress.com. Here, I used to share […]
- [Creating a Custom Title Block in ArchiCAD](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/archicad-title-block/): The Archicad title block is where you will find information such as the project name, project title, details concerning the client and the consulting company, the BIM technician, the scale of the drawing, and other important information such as construction notes that needs to be presented in every drawing that we are going to print. Watch the below video: Looking for templates and custom objects to extend your ArchiCAD’s library of objects? Here’s a must-have collection for integrating into your projects: Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that I will get commissions from any qualifying sales […]
- [3 Types of Subcontractors in Construction](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/types-of-subcontractors-in-construction/): There are three universally recognised types of sub-contractors in the construction industry. These are domestic subcontractors, nominated subcontractors and named subcontractors. However, there exists a thin distinguishing line between the named and the nominated sub-contractor. We will be looking at them in more detail in this article. A developer intending to put up a building signs a contract with a contractor to execute the works on his behalf for payment. This contractor becomes the main contractor. The main contractor may want to outsource this work to a third party who has specific expertise in the construction industry. This third party is […]
- [What is an NCA Site Compliance Certificate?](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/site-compliance-certificate/): An NCA site compliance certificate is a legal document that is issued to a construction site that was inspected and found to be compliant with the National Construction Authority (NCA) regulations. The National Construction Authority is a state organisation that was established by an act of parliament, No. 41 of 2011. Among other roles, the organisation’s main mandate is to regulate, streamline and build capacity in the construction industry for sustainable socio-economic development. Further in performing its duties, the authority keeps a register of all skilled construction workers, construction site supervisors, contractors and project sites all over the country. They do […]
- [Construction Regulatory Bodies in Kenya](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/construction-regulatory-bodies-kenya/): Construction regulatory bodies fall into four different categories. These categories come up as a result of the multidisciplinary and disjointed nature of the construction industry. There are those regulating the professionals and consultants, contractors and sub-contractors, the quality of materials and workmanship, and those regulating aspects of building design, including approval of developments. Regulation is done by the government. Since the construction industry has a huge contribution to the country’s economic growth, the government’s interest is usually in setting rules, laws and regulations to govern the conduct of the industry players. These are maintained by a government body with a specific […]
- [What is a Dimension Paper in Quantity Surveying?](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/dimension-paper-in-quantity-surveying/): A dimension paper is very useful stationery for quantity surveyors. Especially in the traditional practice of manually reading or scaling dimensions from a drawing, a dimension paper is used to record these dimensions in a recognised form. It is a specially ruled paper where dimensions are recorded by the quantity surveyor while performing quantity take-off. The use of computers in quantity surveying has automated most of the bill preparation processes. Therefore, you will find less use of dimension paper in modern quantity surveying practices. However, this does not mean it is entirely decommissioned. They are still being used to supplement the […]
- [Sources of Building Cost Information](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/sources-of-building-cost-information/): Reliable sources of building cost information are essential to any good cost management practice. Quantity surveyors need accurate data for developing reliable cost plans and preliminary cost estimates during the early phases of the design. When you need data, it is a good practice to refer to your in-house databases. Whether it is unit rates for pricing a bill of quantities, or elemental building costs for carrying out a cost analysis, building your cost databases is the most reliable practice of keeping and sourcing for building cost information. However, when you have limited time and need to price a bill of […]
- [5 Easy and Proven Ways to Generate Passive Income for Folks in the Built Environment](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/passive-income-for-built-environment/): Post covid era, discussions on how to generate passive income on the internet have been on the rise. The pandemic seems to have opened our eyes to see the power of the internet as an automation tool for businesses. In the built environment, most of our income comes from serving clients directly and actively working on projects. This means we need to have ongoing projects every time for us to continue earning something to keep our businesses and lives going. But there is a huge risk in this service-based business model. Eric Reinholdt, in his book series “Architect + Entrepreneur”, lays […]
- [5 Most Essential Contract Documents in a Construction Project](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/contract-documents-in-a-construction-project/): Contract documents are an important set of essentials for any construction project. The construction of any building or civil engineering structure involves multivariate teams and a large number of people coming together. To govern their relationships and ensure the smooth execution of the project, a construction contract is drafted and signed. By definition, a construction contract is a legally enforceable agreement between the client (who is the owner of the project) and the contractor to carry out works on a construction project. The contractor undertakes to construct and complete the project for payment by the client, as submitted and agreed upon […]
- [How I Create YouTube Videos and Make Money Without a Camera](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/create-youtube-videos-and-make-money/): It is possible to create YouTube videos without a camera, grow the channel and monetise it. Making money on the internet is something that I have always wanted to do. I have been experimenting with a lot of options for generating a passive income to supplement my day job. YouTube video creation is one of the ways that I have found success. For over 4 years now, I have been educating ArchiCAD users online. My step-by-step tutorials have been viewed more than 800K+ times. Although the channel is small, with just over 9K+ subscribers, I have immensely benefitted from the work. […]
- [Role of NCA in the Construction Industry](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/nca-role/): In this article, we will look at the role played by NCA (National Construction Authority) in the Kenyan construction industry. We will cover its legal establishment, its mandate and the legal instruments that back up its functions. What is NCA? The National Construction Authority (NCA) is a state corporation that was established by an act of the parliament of Kenya, called the NCA At No. 41 of 2011. The corporation’s main role is to oversee the construction industry and coordinate its development. This role is aimed at ensuring an effective and sustainable construction industry in Kenya. Role (Mandate) of NCA The […]
- [My List of Essentials for a Construction Site Visit](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/construction-site-visit-essentials/): In the construction industry, design, documentation and production happen in disjointed environments. The design team mostly works from the office, while the construction team is based on site. To coordinate the work, monitor progress and exercise professional control, it is essential for the design team to occasionally visit the site to keep tabs on the project. For the project quantity surveyor, the construction phase of the project requires them to make occasional site visits. The project requires their participation in inspections, attendance of site meetings or visiting for assessing the level of progress and materials on site to prepare valuations and […]
- [5D BIM Modelling Principles from a QS Perspective](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/5d-bim-modelling-principles/): What is BIM? Construction is a very capital-intensive industry. The key measures of success in the industry are the proper management of costs, time and quality. Quantity surveyors are key professionals in the construction industry as they are in charge of managing costs and time, which are important aspects of a project’s success. Advances in information technology and computing have seen the construction industry transition from traditional paper-based construction documentation, to computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) and computer-aided estimating (CAE). These advances have resulted in the automation of tasks, with architects, engineers and other designers saving time by designing faster. Consequently, […]
- [6 Key Global Principles of the EIA Process](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/key-principles-of-eia/): The natural environment is the foundation of the world economy and our social well-being. Past developments have severely degraded the natural environment and wasted/depleted scarce resources. This has attracted interest globally. Consequently, planning authorities and governments developed approaches to permitting and executing these developments where their possible environmental consequences were to be evaluated and acted upon. This is done through the EIA process. In this article, we discuss the 6 key principles of the EIA process and how they contribute to sustainable development. What is EIA? EIA is an acronym for Environmental Impact Assessment. It is a systematic analysis of projects, […]
- [5 Major Stakeholders in a Construction Project](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/construction-project-stakeholders/): Construction project stakeholders are the various parties that come together to either actively or passively execute a construction project. We are using this term in this article to refer to any person or organization that participates in the success of a construction project. If you are looking into building your own house or a commercial building, it is important to understand that you are not the only interested party in that project. You will have people designing your project (if you are not an architect), a whole team of construction trades building for you, the government will have a say in […]
- [Affiliate Marketing as a Business](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/affiliate-marketing-business/): According to Investopedia, affiliate marketing is an advertising model in which a company engages third-party publishers to generate traffic and leads to the company’s products and services in exchange for a commission fee. The third-party publisher builds a trustworthy and popular online profile that attracts followers and connections. It can be a website, blog, YouTube channel or a social media profile (such as a Facebook Page). By sharing authentic content around a topic of discussion related to the company’s products and services, the publisher drives traffic to their pages and websites. While here, he recommends the company’s products and services through […]
- [ARCHICAD Supported IFC File Types](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/archicad-ifc/): ArchiCAD is a BIM software that enables the creation of intelligent 3D models of facilities and supports the OpenBIM workflows and IFC based project data exchanges. Graphisoft, the makers of ArchiCAD, agree that they have been publicly contributing to the buildingSMART IFC standards initiative and are part of the OpenBIM community. Why ArchiCAD? In the local professional communities that I have interacted with, ArchiCAD is considered software for architects. Primarily because it is architectural design software. However, other project team members such as the MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) engineers, structural engineers, project managers and quantity surveyors can benefit from it. […]
- [What is IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) in Construction?](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/ifc-in-construction/): IFC is the short form for Industry Foundation Classes. It is the main tool for the implementation of OpenBIM workflows; a collaborative approach to the design, construction and operation of budlings based on open standards. Therefore, IFC is an open file format, that is not controlled by any individual BIM software creators. It is a recognised ISO standard, created and maintained by buildingSMART International to facilitate interoperability between different operators. Building Information Modelling, IFC and Interoperability Building information modelling is one of the most innovative digital construction solutions of our age. It describes a collaborative workflow that is aimed at sharing […]
- [What is OpenBIM?](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/what-is-openbim/): OpenBIM is the use of open standards to create a digital model of construction that contains continuously updated sources of information concerning the project. It is a multidisciplinary process to create and manage the information model of a construction project based on open formats, independent of the software vendor that manages such data. These open formats include IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) and BCF (BIM Collaboration Format). Building Information Modelling is about sharing project knowledge in a single dynamic data repository that continually develops during the project’s lifecycle. Interoperability has been a widely acknowledged problem in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry. […]
- [What is WordPress?](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/what-is-wordpress/): You must have come across the term “WordPress” while searching for website building software for non-technical people. It is a free open-source website creation platform that allows users to create a blog or a website without having to understand any programming language. Technical people would define it as a content management system (CMS) written in PHP and using MySQL database. As open-source software, it means that WordPress is publicly available and always free. Users can download it anytime, modify it to suit their needs and also share those modifications with others. A Content Management System (CMS) is a tool that makes […]
- [The Evolution of the World Wide Web](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/world-wide-web-evolution/): The creation of the world wide web is attributed to Sir Berners Lee in 1989. Lee was working as a fellow at the CERN Laboratory (The European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, Switzerland when he first outlined his concept of “a computer platform that could facilitate collaboration among researchers who were based in different parts of the world”. The Hypertext Mark-up Language was born later in 1990. It then became the fundamental building block of the world wide web. Today, people refer to the world wide web as simply the “web”. We are going to maintain this name for simplicity […]

## Pages

- [Blog](https://nzangimuimi.com/blog/): Blog Here you will find in-depth articles and tools to help you get started with your construction journey. From construction technology to IT and building information modelling – specially curated and finely crafted. Scroll Below 5 Digital ArchiCAD Products That Made Me $1200+ In this article, I share details of the 5 digital products that have collectively made… Read More May 20, 2024 ConvertKit’s State of the Creator Economy Report 2024 The creator economy is about people using tech and creativity to connect with audiences worldwide…. Read More May 19, 2024 How I Started Learning Coding as a Complete Beginner Learning […]
- [Contact](https://nzangimuimi.com/contact/): Contact Have questions about my services, products or recommendations? Use the contact details below or fill the form and I will get back to you. Contact Form Use this address Physical Utumishi Cooperative House, off Mamlaka Road. Postal P.O Box 29822 – 00100, GPO Nairobi Mobile Phone: +254 777 457 303 Email: hello@nzangimuimi.com Back to Main Page …or fill this contact form Your name Your email Subject Your message Δ
- [Resources](https://nzangimuimi.com/resources/): Resources Hand-picked digital resources for you. Here you will find links to online courses, services, templates and products that have been helpful to me. They will be helpful to you too. Explore ARCHICAD RESOURCES Archicad Key Features Ebook Learn More Archicad Pro Template + Cost Estimating Pack Learn More Archicad MEP Pro Template Learn More Archicad Essentials Course Enrol Now BIM Objects Virtual Library Learn More Archicad Custom Training Join Us Modern Archicad Door Pack Learn More Archicad Aluminium Window Pack Learn More WEB HOSTING + PAGE BUILDERS LiteSpeed Website Hosting Get Hosting Connect with a Freelance Designer Learn More Elementor […]
- [About](https://nzangimuimi.com/about/): About
- [Hello](https://nzangimuimi.com/)
- [Privacy Policy](https://nzangimuimi.com/privacy-policy/): 1. Who We Are? I am James Muimi Nzangi, doing business as “Muimi Nzangi”. My official personal website address is https://nzangimuimi.com. The official contact email for this website is hello@nzangimuimi.com. Also, I am affiliated with QuantBuild Technologies Ltd and QuantBuild Academy. 2. What Data Do I Collect from You? In the course of my business, I handle and store the personal data of my website users and clients respectively and to the applicable local and international laws. We mostly collect data from comments, opt-in to an email newsletter, and contact forms on the site. Comments When visitors leave comments on this […]

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