Approximate cost estimating model of eco-type trade for river facility construction using case-based reasoning and genetic algorithms

Cost estimation in the construction industry is a critical process for the successful execution of construction. In particular, the total cost for a construction project is determined at the planning stage, and its estimation is very important because the decision making of the construction project owner regarding the project size, budget, and construction time depends on the total cost estimation. However, research concerned with the cost estimation for river facility construction has focused on research applicable in the early design stages rather than at the planning stage, which is the initial stage of a construction project. In addition, mainstream research has concentrated on the development of models centered on the estimation techniques being used currently in actual design engineering fields. For this reason, this study has developed an approximate construction cost estimating model for the eco-type river facility construction trade by applying Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) and Genetic Algorithms (GAs), which can be used at the planning stage. In order to develop the model, historical data was collected and analyzed; in order to overcome the limitations of the data collection, virtual data were also created and used. The model was developed in such a manner that it can estimate the construction cost with only eight and eleven attributes for the two eco-type trades used in the model, which can be applied at the planning stage. The results of the verification of the proposed model indicate that the model is satisfactory when applied in the approximate cost estimation of eco-type trade for river facility construction at the planning stage. It is expected that the proposed model will be applied easily and conveniently to the estimation of the approximate construction cost of eco-type trade for river facility construction at the planning stage.