CES Rewrite Update

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CES Rewrite Update

• Charles EngelkeInfo Tech, Inc.

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Overview

• Project Goals
• Project Status
• CES Concepts
• Implementation Issues

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Project Goals

• Cover current CES estimation scope
• Drop non-essential non-estimation functions
• Use updated client/server architecture
• Good-bye, OS/2
• Re-engineer parametric estimation based on
  experience to date
• Be as easy to use as Estimator for equivalent
  functionality

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CES Scope

• Construction project cost estimation
• Early estimates
• Only gross characteristics known
• Parametric estimation
• Detailed estimates
• Work is itemized with quantities
• Bid-based and cost-based estimation
• Mixed estimates
• Portions itemized, remainder parametric

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Client/Server Architecture

• Currently two-tier, OS/2 only
• Will be three-tier, Windows centric
• (Almost) any relational database server
• Windows client (32 bit)
• Windows application server (performs heavy batch
  processing and reporting)
• Local processing for speed
• Check data out of database, work on it in memory,
  then check it back in

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Parametric Estimation

• Based on gross project characteristics
• Old approach driven purely by statistical
  analysis
• New approach mix historical statistics with
  engineering judgment
• Analyze typical project types
• Determine core cost drivers
• Estimate quantities with formulas and statistics
• Use statistical analysis to estimate prices

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Project Status

• JAD Meetings
• 2 analysis, 2 design, completed Q1 1998
• TRT Meetings
• For entire client/server project, not just CES
• Every other month
• Key Deliverables to date
• Working prototype software
• System Requirements document
• Draft designs

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Next Milestones

• TRT Training and Review Session
• Near-beta level software
• Q1 1999
• Involves beta sites and TRT
• Beta Test in Ohio
• Q2 1999
• Production Release
• Q3 1999

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CES Concepts

• User Interface
• Formulas
• Standard References
• Cost Groups
• Parametric Analyses

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User Interface

• Not just parent-child windows, but logically
  grouped interface objects
• Tabbed Folders
• Have all relevant data to an operation in one
  window, with tabs to manage it
• Example Job window with Formulas, Items,
  Attachments, Cost Groups and Programs tabs
• Explorer Tree View
• Like file explorer to manage hierarchies

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Sample CES Window
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Formulas

• Many formerly numeric fields can now hold
  formulas, with functions
• Open-ended formula lists exist for Jobs, Cost
  Groups, and Items
• Can reference any data (including formulas)
  higher up in the Job
• Put default constants at top of list, then
  derived steps below
• Use results of formulas in quantity, price, and
  other numeric fields

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Standard References

• Where will you get equipment costs, production
  rates, crew configurations and other fundamental
  cost data?
• Load from R.S. Means
• Specific import functions to support their data
  formats
• Other sources may also be supported
• Can still manage the data yourself if desired

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Cost Groups

• The new core of parametric estimation
• Represent the cost of a major portion of the
  project
• Can be driven by historical analysis or by
  engineering judgment
• Even better, combine the two
• Example calculate bituminous paving quantities
  from cross section characteristics, then use
  historical pricing

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Predefined Cost Groups

• Bituminous Paving
• Portland Cement Concrete Paving
• Removals
• Earthwork
• Aggregate
• Drainage
• Miscellaneous Concrete
• Traffic Control
• Structures
• Miscellaneous

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New DSS Analyses

• Intended to support parametric estimation
• Replace analysis models in old CES
• Pricing Analysis
• What is the price of a common unit of a cost
  group (e.g., asphalt for paving)?
• Cost Group Analysis
• What are the cost drivers for a class of
  historical Jobs? What quantities can be expected
  per lane-mile?

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Implementation Issues

• Preparing for CES
• Infrastructure
• Data
• Migration Issues
• From old CES
• From Trnsport Estimator
• From manual spreadsheets

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Preparing for CES

• Implement other client/server modules
• Map items to cost groups (use Item Classification
  if possible)
• Automated support coming
• Clean up historical data
• work types
• item classifications
• project characteristics

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Migration Issues

• From old CES
• State specific assistance
• Fundamental cost data will be migrated
• Job estimates will not migrate
• From Trnsport Estimator
• Raw data can be exported, then imported
• From manual spreadsheets
• Restructure formulas into linear steps
• Manually enter into new CES

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Summary

• CES Rewrite is progressing well
• New system will be significantly easier to use
  than old CES on par with Estimator
• New system should meet all Trnsport-related
  state estimation requirements
• Start preparing now, because by this time next
  year, you could be using it!

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CES Rewrite Update

• Charles EngelkeInfo Tech, Inc.