Computerized quantity take-off and cost-estimating systems have proliferated in the last 4-5 years. Companies that decide to computerize estimating are faced with the problem of making the right selection. Selecting a package first involves the identification of a potential user's needs. Then, a review is made of the packages available and their capabilities and, finally, the selection of a package by matching the potential user's needs with estimating system capabilities. ESSEX, whose conceptual framework is presented in this paper, is a knowledge-based expert system that facilitates the decision to be made by a potential user of estimating software as to what package to acquire. ESSEX uses an expert system shell to manipulate three main files: ‘UserMod’, the interface with the potential user that also develops the user's decision criteria; ‘SysMod’, the interface with the developers that records commercially available systems' characteristics; and ‘MatchMod’, that matches user and system characteristics to reach the most appropriate selections. An objective evaluation of ESSEX and suggestions for further research are made.
Discussion(0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment.