Guidelines for Construction Cost Estimating for Dam Engineers and Owners

White Paper provides support for responsible cost estimating for new dams and dam rehabilitation projects. It has been written for engineers and owners engaged in the planning, design and construction of dam-related engineering projects anticipated to cost up to $100 million. This represents the collaborative effort of representatives from federal agencies, public utilities, private engineering companies and construction contractors. Stages of project design and associated estimates, the development of a work breakdown structure, direct and indirect project costs, overhead, contingency, profit, and other owner costs are addressed as they relate to responsible cost estimating. Examples of work breakdown and structures for various sized projects are presented.

USSD Committee on Construction and Rehabilitation: Daniel L. Johnson, Chair; Samuel M. Planck, Vice Chair; Horst Aschenbroich; Randall P. Bass; Thomas A. Brown; Woodrow W. Crouch; Timothy P. Dolen; Frederick Ehat; William R. Fiedler; Kenneth D. Hansen; Sara J. Heinlien; Daniel J. Hertel; Paul Krumm; Michael J. Miller; James Ray Obermeyer; David B. Paul; Warren J. Paul; Dietmar Scheel; Paul G. Schweiger; Del A. Shannon; John D. Smart; Steven D. Summy; Daniel L. Wade. White Paper Sub-Committee: David B. Paul, Chairman; Kenneth D. Hansen; Daniel J. Hertel; Daniel L. Johnson; Michael J. Miller; Warren J. Paul; Samuel M. Planck; Del A. Shannon.