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Arditi, D and Suh, K (1991) Estimating system selection expert. Construction Management and Economics, 9(04), 369-81.

  • Type: Journal Article
  • Keywords: cost estimating; knowledge-based expert system; quantity take-off; software selection
  • ISBN/ISSN: 0144-6193
  • URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/01446199100000029
  • Abstract:

    Computerized quantity take-off and cost-estimating systems have proliferated in the last 4-5 years. Companies that decide to computerize estimating are faced with the problem of making the right selection. Selecting a package first involves the identification of a potential user’s needs. Then, a review is made of the packages available and their capabilities and, finally, the selection of a package by matching the potential user’s needs with estimating system capabilities. ESSEX, whose conceptual framework is presented in this paper, is a knowledge-based expert system that facilitates the decision to be made by a potential user of estimating software as to what package to acquire. ESSEX users an expert system shell to manipulate three main files: ’User Mod’, the interface with the potential user that also develops the user’s decision criteria; ’SysMod’, the interface with the developers that records commercially available systems’ characteristics; and ’MatchMod’, that matches user and system characteristics to reach the most appropriate selections. An objective evaluation of ESSEX and suggestions for further research are made.