The document discusses how construction cost engineering is currently done using spreadsheets and rules of thumb, and how utilizing RSMeans data and ArcGIS Cost Map software can provide more accurate, localized, and up-to-date cost estimates. It provides an overview of how RSMeans collects cost data and examples of how Opelika Utilities has used Cost Map for material takeoffs, annual budgeting, project estimates, and board presentations to improve productivity and decision making. The presentation concludes with contact information for those interested in learning more about RSMeans data and ArcGIS Cost Map.

1. Construction Cost Engineering with ArcGIS
Opelika Utilities, AL

2. Discussion Topics
• Show of Hands (42 in attendance)
– Construction Cost Engineering Today 50% Answered
– Focus Area: Take-off 4 Answered
– Focus Area: CIP/Capital Planning 80% Answered
• Construction Cost Data
• Cost Map Demo
• Opelika Utilities Use Cases

3. How do Water Utilities Estimate Now?
• Spreadsheets
• “Rules of Thumb”
• Historical Data
• RSMeans data Books

4. RSMeans Benefits
• Consistently Accurate
• Trusted for 75+ Years
• Updated quarterly
• Localized to over 900 3-digit zip
codes in US and Canada
• “Gets estimates 80% of the way
done”
• Better estimates, faster

5. RSMeans data Annual Investment
More than 22,000 hours are invested in cost research each
year by a large team of Cost Engineers.
Actively monitored data points fueling our database:
55,000+ 35 638 970+
Materials Trades Equipment
Types Locations

6. How the Database is Built
Construction costs are comprised of material, labor and/or
equipment prices and can be referenced at the unit, assembly or
square foot level of detail.

7. What does the data look like?

8. Traditional Estimating
• Even with RSMeans data
Online or other Estimating
Software:
– Requires line by line lookup and
data entry
– Requires quantity takeoff to get
units
• Extra steps = Longer time

9. Cost Map Multiplies Productivity
• “This cost seems a little
low…”
• “We have our own data”
• “This looks good for new
installs, but what about
repair or replacement?”

10. Scenarios
• “This cost seems a little
low…”
• “We have our own data”
• “This looks good for new
installs, but what about
repair or replacement?”

11. Opelika using Cost Map in action
DEMO

12. Opelika Utilities: Use Cases
1. Material Takeoffs – immediate ROI (2 weeks / 5 seconds)
2. Annual Budget Process – July through October
3. Use for all main replacement projects – 400’ 2” line – will it
be OpEx instead of CapEx?
4. Board presentations
5. NYC to negotiate bond rating / interest rates – all about
good data

13. Contact Info
Booth 8
• Alan Lee: alee@owwb.com
• Kevin Stewart: kstewart@gisinc.com
• Allan Bacon: a.bacon@Gordian.com