Baldwin, A N (1982) Computer aided estimating for civil engineering contractors. PhD thesis, Loughborough University, UK.
Abstract
At the start of the research the impact of computers upon the world of estimating for civil engineering works had been minimal and barely touched the six thousand middle sized companies within the construction industry, The challenge of the research was to: - determine the requirements of a computer aided estimating system for civil engineering estimators: - to design a system to meet those requirements; - to produce and field test the system: - to explore the use of estimator’s data within other functions within the contractor’s organization, A study and critical appraisal of previous research and the six types of existing estimating systems was made to determine why computers have failed to make an impact upon this area of the construction industry, The estimating and tendering process was examined by interviewing eight estimators from three different civil engineering companies a minimum of four times over a period of one year. Eleven existing methods of task analysis were examined, were found satisfactory for the analysis of the estimator’s tasks for the purpose of the research, A hybrid method of analysis was developed which was used to analyse the estimator’s tasks for the purpose of producing a Specification for a computer aided estimating system, The system was produced by an iterative method of design, development, testing and re-design until an acceptable solution was reached, The system was tested by: - installing a minicomputer within the estimating department of a civil engineering contractor’s organization and inviting six estimators to test and comment on the system; - demonstrating the system to individuals and groups of practising estimators from forty construction companies where comments on all aspects were noted, As a result of the research a computer aided estimating system that was acceptable to civil engineering estimators was produced, To date eight such systems have been installed within contractor’s offices and this fact gives some indication of the success in meeting this main objective. The other outcome of this work is: the determination of the implementation and user support requirements for the introduction of computer aided estimating systems into contractor’s organizations; the production of user support facilities for the system including a comprehensive user manual and training programmes for the system, In addition the work has created a platform for the construction of a completed linked suite of construction management programmes unavailable before because of the paucity of existing computer aided estimating systems.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | civil engineering; estimating; tendering; civil engineer; contractor; estimator; interview; prototype testing |
| Index terms: | platform, tendering process, task analysis, implementation, construction industry, testing, engineering contractor, interview, specification, prototype, programme, civil engineer, construction company, estimator, appraisal, estimating, field test |
| Subjects: | firms, contractual condition, digital design, factor and component analysis, tendering, industry analysis, project controls, scope management, data collection methods, profession, organization, professional practice, contractual arrangements, financial and cost management, modelling and simulation |
| Topics: | Procurement, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Contract Administration, Time Control, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here