| Financial analysis: |  |
| Environmental impact analysis: | --- |
| Waste management/P2: | |
| Environmental cost listing/database: | --- |
| Cost estimation: | --- |
| Alternative product/process comparison: | --- |
| Financial analysis: | |
| Environmental impact analysis: | --- |
| Waste management/P2: | |
| Environmental cost listing/database: | --- |
| Cost estimation: | --- |
| Alternative product/process comparison: | --- |
| Cost control | --- |
| Resource control | |
| Estimating control | |
| Schedule control | --- |
| Scope control | |
| Risk control | --- |
The description given below mainly describes Level II (the highest level). However, all three levels contain similar features and differ in aspects such as the maximum number of worksheets and WBS levels possible. ABACUS allows only one WBS level, Level I allows five, and Level II allows 16. Abacus users are restricted to 50 worksheets with 99 items per worksheet, whereas Level II allows unlimited worksheets with a maximum of 999 line items per worksheet. G2 has several features for expediting and simplifying work and facilitating analysis. Features of G2 include the following:
The WBS levels and the worksheets can be utilized for entering environmental cost information. At lower levels, the limits on the WBS levels and activities can restrict incorporation of these costs, because users will want to first use the existing space to enter conventional cost information.
| Raw material acquisition | --- |
| Manufacturing stage | |
| Use/reuse/maintenance | --- |
| Recycle/waste management | --- |
The system is not designed to consider more than one life-cycle stage, which would typically be the manufacturing stage of the life-cycle. However users maybe able to include life-cycle information in various ways.
Different WBS tree levels can be assigned to specific life-cycle stages. Up to 16 levels can be defined in Level II. The information can be entered by creating specific worksheets that detail activities in different stages. The coding capability can be used to assign information from worksheets to be placed in different user-defined reports. Life-cycle cost information can also be detailed in one or more of the seven resource types.
| Conventional | |
| Potentially hidden | --- |
| Contingent | --- |
| External | --- |
G2 is designed to consider only usual company costs. Also, most of the cost information from the commercial databases provides information on usual costs. The database provided with G2 is organized in groups. With the relevant environmental cost information, users can create a distinct area in the database that details these costs. Users could include information on environmental costs using various methods.
The cost categories option allows users to specify types of costs used. The system contains five default cost categories that users can utilize or change. Seven types of resources would fit into these categories. Environmental cost information can be directly plugged into the estimate. Tag-type resources allow users to directly plug numbers into the estimate. Users can for instance, plug in ballpark estimates for various environmental costs for sensitivity analyses. The annotation capability (at the worksheet and line level) would help in specifying the source of the estimate. Second, if costs cannot be detailed through activities and conventional cost categories,additional categories can be created, such as potentially hidden or external costs. For example, an activity such as parts washing can have external costs due to solvent emissions or hidden costs due to OSHA compliance requirements. These could be entered as separate line items, or using the new categories, the hidden and external costs associated with parts washing can be entered at the estimate level. Users can also create separate worksheetsthat deal with project areas traditionally left out of analysis details. For example, they can create a separate worksheet called regulatory costs, where different costs arising from various environmental compliance requirements(e.g., manifesting, labeling) are detailed. Finally, environmental cost information can also be detailed in resources. A useful feature is thatresource rates can be based on any units. Allowance-type resources allow application of markups or discounts to estimates. This capability can be used for sensitivity analyses using estimates of what environmental costs, such as contingent costs may add to total project costs (or other elements). G2 has nine separate cost items that can detail equipment resources, including costs associated with fuel, oil and grease, and operating costs. This is a useful feature in detailing costs of purchase and use for different equipment.
G2 contains estimate worksheets, each of which represents a portion of the work to be performed. An estimate can contain an unlimited number of worksheets, each with up to 999 line items. A worksheet consists of three components. The first of these is a header that gives the definition of the worksheet as a whole. Detail line items contain information that includes resource descriptions, quantity, and unit price. Users can define the line items they want displayed. Details can be viewed at any point so that users can tell how the cost totals on the line items were calculated. Finally, there are the worksheet totals. Thus, users define various worksheets that describe their projects, and these contain product and cost information as required by users. There are separate areas for entering resource information.
G2 offers resource databases including the Army Corps of Engineers Unit Price Book, Richardson Engineering Services, NAVFAC and R.S. Means. They also offer partial databases for different materials and processes including carpentry, electrical, and site work. Unit cost information is retrieved from the database using resource groups and codes. Within G2 estimator, estimates may also be retrieved from other projects and databases. Users can also add new codes to the database and edit existing ones. The system facilitates using multiple estimating methods and the level of detail of the estimate can vary from conceptual to detailed. The methods that can be used for estimating include unit price, lump sum, unit man-hour, production, percentage allowance, crews, and assemblies.
| Net present value (NPV) | --- |
| Payback period | --- |
| Internal rate of return (IRR) | --- |
| Benefits cost ratio | --- |
| Other | --- |
The system does not generate any financial indicators. However, it may bepossible to run certain programs that do have financial functions from withinG2.
Other DOS programs, including Primavera, Lotus 123, and WordPerfect, can be run from within the G2 estimator. Information can also by exported to almost any software package that has import capabilities. G2 allows seamless integration with Primavera and Welcom Software Technology products. G2 allows for the input of take-off data electronically via a digitizer (digitizing hardware costs can be obtained from G2). Since the product is available indifferent levels, users can purchase a system that meets their requirements. G2can utilize the Army Corps of Engineers Unit Price Book that includes some cost information related to hazardous and toxic, and radioactive waste.
Several features in G2 make it flexible. G2 can contain an unlimited number of projects and databases. Users can create customized databases by copying contents of groups in other databases. They can incorporate database updates simply by using a master option that updates all duplicate cost items. The latest version has a feature for spreadsheet editing whereby worksheets can be converted to a spreadsheet through a hotkey. Many features assist users with estimate automation, for example, by using production rates, duration, quantity or cost factors, and user-defined formulas. Users can also control several items in the system including data entry methods, displays, and monetary symbols. The inquiry option can give quick totals for the entire estimate, individual cost items, etc. G2 also allows standardization to suit internal company requirements, including user-defined report formats, database structures, and estimate templates. G2 allows the use of unlimited work code fields, which facilitates sorting of data and exception reporting. Users may also do line-item overwrites for work codes. G2 also features user-defined help topics and descriptions. One of the sample projects included in the demonstration disk is a landfill project.
G2 organizes product evaluation seminars and also provides support services for users. Maintenance is provided free of cost for the first year for the G2estimator and for 30 days for the G2 ABACUS. This includes 24-hour (7 days a week) support, user hotline, on-line modem support, and all updates and enhancements. Users have an option to renew the maintenance agreement and the price depends upon the number of users. They also offer an unlimited site license program for $50,000 for an organization (and affiliates) for unlimited access for a period of 2 years (not less than 1.5).
Although it may be used with a mouse, the system does not have the Windows structure. The new Windows package is scheduled for release on September 7,1995. G2 allows different levels of WBS structures depending on the level of the software purchased, but the WBS tree is not displayed. The demonstration disk provided contains demonstrations of cost estimations in projects indifferent fields including environment and remediation. It provides a good overview of the features and capabilities of G2. However, it cannot be manipulated by users to run their own sample projects. The system is offered indifferent levels, but not in different modules.
The system has not been designed for life-cycle costing or for including all cost categories. Although some resource types, such as equipment, allow users to detail some hidden costs such as fuel costs and operating costs, other potentially hidden environmental costs are not included. The system has not been designed to support less-conventional areas in environmental cost estimating. Users would need to independently develop estimating methodologies and cost data to include environmental costs into their projects.
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