The Case-based Reasoning Model of Cost Estimation at the Preliminary Stage of a Construction Project

The paper presents calculation of a unit price of construction elements or works with the use of the case-based reasoning (CBR) method. The primary source of knowledge in the CBR method is a collection of cases encountered in previous problems and retained in memory. The solution to a completely new problem is generated by finding the most suitable cases and adjusting them to the new case. A method of a unit price calculation will be shown which uses the prices found in the accessible set of previously occurring cases, i.e. it uses the prices listed in estimations presented in offer bids. The CBR systems consist of data bases in which the cases are stored along with their solutions. So the paper presents a concept of a knowledge base supporting the process of cost estimation at the preliminary stage of a construction project.