Development of affordable and user-friendly cost modelling tool for Malaysia construction project

Abstract

The focus of this research is to develop cost modelling tool which can help the designer to estimate affordable green home. This is in line with the aspiration of this country to become a developed and sustainable community. Therefore, this research aims to develop cost modelling tool for the construction project which is affordable and user-friendly. In order to achieve the aim and the objectives of this research, the theoretical framework was developed as a basis for establishing the cost modelling framework. It was started by identifying the green criteria which can be possibly implementing during planning, design and construction. Then it followed by determining the most appropriate cost model which can help the designers to predict the green home project at the design stages. The process continued with the development of the cost modelling tool by utilising Microsoft Excel (MS Excel) software to make it interactive and handy. This tool is expected to compliment with the shortfall of BIM (Revit software as for example) as it still lacking a real-time base cost modelling tool which can merge between green design and cost. Functional Testing was conducted once the cost model completed then it was calibrated to adapt with the environment of its use. User Acceptance Test (UAT) has been conducted to ensure that the tool is easy to use and operate. The result from UAT shows that the tool is user-friendly, handiness and economical to evaluate construction project especially green home. It also allows the designers to estimate and conduct comparative cost studies on the economics of the project during the design stage without going through the conventional process.