Project Estimating in Architecture Engineering

Project Acquisition and Estimating

• When new projects are acquired, the primary focus of a project manager is to determine the project's feasibility and profitability.
• During the design phase of a construction project, the working budget is generally referred to as the "design budget".

Role of the Estimator

• The role of the estimator when new projects are acquired is to provide a preliminary cost estimate to determine the project's viability.

Cost-Control System

• Upon design completion, the field cost-control system involves monitoring and controlling costs to ensure the project is within budget.

Learning Objectives

• The learning objectives for lectures on project estimating include understanding the estimation process, types of estimates, and estimating techniques.

Company Structure

• As companies become larger and more sophisticated, estimating becomes a specialty area within the company.

Purpose of Contractor's Estimate

• The purpose of the contractor's estimate in the construction process is to provide a detailed breakdown of the costs involved in completing the project.
• The contractor's estimate provides information on labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractor costs.

Preliminary Cost Estimates

• Preliminary cost estimates during the project planning and design phases are necessarily approximate due to the limited information available.
• Preliminary estimates of future construction expenditures are considered approximate because they are based on limited design information and are subject to change.

Cost per Function Estimate

• The 'cost per function' estimate involves allocating costs to specific functions or areas of the project, such as electrical or plumbing systems.
• The main purpose of the 'cost per function estimate' is to analyze construction expenses and identify areas where costs can be optimized.

Index Number Estimate Method

• The index number estimate method involves using historical data and statistical analysis to estimate project costs.
• The purpose of the index number estimate method is to provide a rough estimate of project costs based on historical trends and data.