Author: cgb.acm
Mother Nature’s “Surprise Package” – When the Ground Isn’t Quite What We Expected, and the Budget Blow Up
Ah, the thrill of the unexpected! In the world of infrastructure development, however, “unexpected” often translates to “budget-busting surprises”, courtesy of our dear friend, Mother Nature. [more…]
“The Optimism Bias”: Why We Always Think Our Project is Special (and Immune to Cost Overruns)!
We’ve all been there. You start a DIY project brimming with confidence that you’ll finish under budget and ahead of schedule without any additional cost. Then, reality sets [more…]
Change Orders: The Spice of Life (and the Bane of Budget Estimates)
We all love a delicious pizza piled high with our favourite toppings. But let’s be honest: Sometimes, you go a little overboard, ending up with [more…]
The “Infrastructure Price is Right”: Guess the Cost Overrun!
Calling all infrastructure enthusiasts and budget-curious minds! Are you ready to play a game that highlights the sometimes surprising realities of cost estimation in our industry? This [more…]
The Notorious, and often Frustrating, Game of Infrastructure Bingo! ️
Let’s face it: infrastructure projects and budget overruns often go hand-in-hand. But before you reach for the panic button, test your cost-estimation detective skills with a fun [more…]
“Scope Creep”: When Your Project Balloons Out of Control
Remember when you started a simple home renovation, only to end up with a koi pond and a disco ball in the bathroom? Well, imagine [more…]
From Excel Guru to Fortune Teller: The Unexpected Skills Required of a Cost Estimator
Alright, infrastructure enthusiasts, gather for a confession that might surprise you: a cost estimator isn’t just a spreadsheet wizard who can summon budget breakdowns with [more…]
Budgeting for the Apocalypse (or Just the Next Traffic Jam): Why Infrastructure Needs a Rainy Day Fund
Let’s be honest, folks. Life is full of surprises. And in infrastructure development, those surprises can sometimes significantly impact the budget. That’s why, as a [more…]
Sleepless in Seattle (and Every Other City With Ageing Infrastructure): The Never-Ending Battle Against Budgetary Backlog
Ah, infrastructure. It is the backbone of our cities, the arteries of our commerce, and the occasional source of restless nights. For a cost estimator [more…]
From Shiny New Bridge to Rusting Relic: The High Cost of Ignoring Infrastructure Maintenance (and Why We Should All Be Friends with Civil Engineers)
Let’s face it, folks. Infrastructure sometimes gets a raw deal. We celebrate the grand opening of a sparkling new bridge, but who wants to think [more…]
