Cost and Performance Analysis of Tall Structures

Abstract

Reports are given of: (1) A field investigation of the significant characteristics of current designs and construction methods; (2) development of “bench mark” designs for the inclusion of significant variables; (3) controlled variation of the design parameters in the bench mark designs in order to estimate the corresponding quantities of input resources; and (4) derivation of the input resource curves. The input resource curves are unique in the sense that they do not change with monetary inflation. Thus, for any given design within the range specified (up to 30 stories high) one can refer to the relevant input resource curves and obtain the quantities of the basic resources. These are then converted into their equivalent monetary sums using the respective rates. Worked examples illustrate how design concepts can be investigated, first in terms of construction feasibility considering such matters as the proposed construction method, the craneage requirements, cycle time, and cycle program evaluation; and second in terms of potential cost competitiveness and the evaluation of the overall project economics.