Estimator™ 2.0: What’s coming?
Shirley Daugherty, AASHTO Trns•port Task Force Chair
Jay Brock and River Ross, Info Tech, Inc.

Today, twenty-two Departments of Transportation license Estimator 1.8a.  Eleven DOTs require their (more than 600) design consultants to prepare and submit their estimates by using Estimator. In addition, the software is in use by many local entities and consultants for non-DOT projects.

When Estimator 2.0 is released, it will be a more robust estimation system that interfaces well with the rest of the Trns•port suite.  Estimator 2.0 is scheduled for beta release in May 2002 with a product release planned for August 2002.

Estimator Rewrite
When the work plan was being developed to move Estimator from a 16-bit application to 32-bit application, the decision was made to make a number of needed and requested changes to the software.  Estimator 2.0 is the result of a complete redesign and rewrite of the software based on user requests and suggestions.

The first difference the users will see is the appearance.  A new graphical user interface gives the application a modern look and feel while creating a more seamless integration with Windows^®.  This includes use of long filenames, more familiar and current controls, simple dialog boxes, pop-up menus and drag-and-drop functionality.

The technology behind version 2.0 will be completely updated using the most current development tools to improve maintainability and extensibility. It will feature a new and visually improved HTML-based print engine. XML files will provide an open industry-standard data format. A web server-based catalog sharing function has been added. With this new feature, all users will be able to work from a consistent set of items. This will eliminate confusion and make it easier to keep all items up-to-date.

Estimator 2.0 will also have improved compatibility with the other Trns•port modules. The new version will ensure that estimates have valid Trns•port field values and structure so they are easily transferred to other modules. Users will also be able to turn off this option and work in a "free" mode.

Several other compatibility issues have been addressed. Pricing mechanisms in the new version will be more compatible with CES, including the cost sheet data model. Estimates will be able to be locked and sent with limited functionality to restrict editing to pricing structure only. The new version will also allow for design alternates, a function not previously available in this Trns•port module. In addition, a verify command will allow users to see a list of potential issues or errors with a given estimate.

A More Advanced Bid-Based Analysis
Previous versions of Estimator used the BAMS/DSS^® PEMETH model analysis for determining bid-based prices. Estimator 2.0 uses a new analysis method called HREG, which is based upon solid statistical expertise. HREG provides a more comprehensive bid history, and can also provide multiple bid histories to take into account specific bidding scenarios. The intent is to give better price information for the many items that are evaluated this way. Of course, more accurate prices lead to better estimates, and therefore better management of the funding used to build and maintain transportation infrastructure.

Trns•port PES Data Fidelity
When you export a PES Proposal or Project to Estimator, you want several things. First, though not often considered, is that you want prices back for the exact items in the project or proposal, and nothing else, otherwise the estimate is not for the same work. Second, you do not want to lose other data about the project/proposal. This is the reasoning behind the new “check-out/check-in” feature in Estimator 2.0.

The new data transfer interfaces ensure the data fidelity for you by locking down PES data during price refinements, and then releasing that data for editing when the refined prices come back. Your project information stays safe, and is not overwritten or corrupted when the new estimate pricing comes back. In Estimator, you can change prices, and price components such as Cost Sheet data, but when it comes back to PES, your other data is still there but now has better prices.

Trns•port CES Data Compatibility
If you are a user of Trns•port CES, you will find great benefits from Estimator 2.0. The manner in which both systems view transportation estimation data is now more compatible and more complete than it ever has been. One benefit of this increased compatibility is that design and estimating consultants can transfer data on prices, and their component cost data, with confidence that the reasoning behind the estimate will come through. And of course, users will also get the same “check-out/check-in” feature with respect to job data as in PES. All of this combined allows CES and Estimator 2.0 to be used together in the configuration that the agency chooses. Stovepipe solutions can be happily discarded.