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Dawood, N N and Bates, W (2000) A decision support system specification for out-turn cost and cost escalation in the heavy engineering industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 7(04), 330–46.

  • Type: Journal Article
  • Keywords: decision support; knowledge; out-turn cost
  • ISBN/ISSN: 0969-9988
  • URL: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/ecam/2000/00000007/00000004/art00164
  • Abstract:
    The heavy civil engineering industry (railways, sewage treatment, chemical and pharmaceutical facilities, oil and gas facilities, etc.) is one of the major contributors to the British economy and generally involves a high level of investment. Clients in this industry are demanding accurate cost estimate, proper analysis of out-turn cost and cost escalation and a high quality risk analysis throughout the construction processes. Current practice in the industry has suggested that there is a lack of structured methodologies and systematic cost escalation approach to achieve an appropriate cost analysis at the outset of projects and throughout the construction processes. In this context the prime objective of this research work is to develop a structured cost escalation methodology for improving estimating management and control in the heavy engineering industry construction processes. The methodology is composed of a forecasting model to predict cost indices of major items in industry and a risk knowledge base model for identifying and quantifying causes of cost escalations. This paper, as part of the research, reviews and discusses a knowledge-based model for applying a cost escalation factor. The cost escalation factor is made up of market variation, a risk element and a component for bias. A knowledge elicitation strategy was employed to obtain the required knowledge for the model. The strategy included questionnaires, interviews and workshops and deliverables came in the form of influences and their effect on project cost escalation. From these deliverables, the concepts of a decision support model and system specification for applying cost escalation to base estimates is proposed.

Dhanasekar, M (2000) Identification of optimal size resources for a repetitive housing construction. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 7(04), 347–61.

Fellows, R and Liu, A M M (2000) Human dimensions in modelling prices of building projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 7(04), 362–72.

Howes, R (2000) Improving the performance of Earned Value Analysis as a construction project management tool. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 7(04), 399–411.

Ling, F Y-Y, Ofori, G and Low, S P (2000) Importance of design consultants’ soft skills in design-build projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 7(04), 389–98.

Marsh, L and Flanagan, R (2000) Measuring the costs and benefits of information technology in construction. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 7(04), 423–35.

Underwood, J, Alshawi, M A, Aouad, G F, Child, T and Faraj, I Z (2000) Enhancing building product libraries to enable the dynamic definition of design element specifications. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 7(04), 373–88.

Ye, S and Tiong, R K L (2000) Government support and risk-return trade-off in China's BOT power projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 7(04), 412–22.