Software cost estimation

The paper gives an overview of the state of the art of software cost estimation (SCE). The main questions to be answered in the paper are: (1) What are the reasons for overruns of budgets and planned durations? (2) What are the prerequisites for estimating? (3) How can software development effort be estimated? (4) What can software project management expect from SCE models, how accurate are estimations which are made using these kind of models, and what are the pros and cons of cost estimation models

Exploration and mining evaluation system and price prediction of uranium resources

Purpose. The paper introduces the development of the Uranium Resources Technical and Economic Evaluation Expert System (URTEEES) from the viewpoint of requirement analysis, system design, functional structure and application etc. Methods. The system is based on C/B/S mixed mode and applies ASP.NET technology with .Net Framework being selected as the development platform as well as the uranium resources database providing data support at the bottom layer. The paper also proves the efficiency of the system in the context of certain case studies. Findings. Since the system can performs the functions of scenario analysis, sensitivity analysis, shareholder’s returns analysis, horizontal comparison of different projects, it can improve the ability of project senior decision-makers for rapid response to the rivals and meet the demand of pricing negotiations. Moreover, the system demonstrates its efficiency in the context of case studies as the system incorporates a number of advanced methods, e.g. the Quantum Particle Swarm Optimization (QPSO) Back Propagation (BP) QPSO-BP model which can improve the generalization ability of BP network to predict the uranium price. Originality. Technical and economic evaluation model can be set up by users independently according to the current stage of a project (mainly, these are exploration stage, development stage and production stage) as well as according to the selected mining method (e.g. underground mining, surface mining, or in-situ leaching mining). Then, the technical and economic evaluation parameters can be generated. By means of inputting the value of each parameter in a simple and convenient way, the evaluation results can be calculated directly and shown in the form of diagrams; moreover, feasibility evaluation report can be generated automatically, making the process of technical and economic evaluation accurate and efficient. Practical implications. URTEEES performs the functions of decision-making analysis, metal resources database management, data management, comprehensive query etc. The system is a good basis for further development of other expert systems.Мета. Розробка експертно-аналітичної системи техніко-економічного оцінювання запасів урану з точки зору аналізу вимог, системи проектування, функціональної структури і напрямів застосування. Методика. Проектна система повинна включати два основні блоки. Перший – існуючі дані щодо оцінки ресурсів урану для отримання відповідних параметрів, які можуть бути використані для створення моделей оцінки й забезпечення основи для їх порівняння при оцінці нового проекту. Другий – допоміжна інформація, така як закони і правила, культурна інформація, яка насправді є накопиченням даних проекту і досвіду. Пропонована система заснована на використанні комбінованого режиму C/B/S; при цьому система використовує технологію ASP.NET с Nеt Framework, обрану в якості платформи розробки, а також базу даних по запасах урану, що забезпечує інформаційну підтримку на нижньому рівні. Результати. Розроблена нова система URTEEES виконує функції імовірнісного аналізу, аналізу чутливості, аналізу прибутковості для акціонерів, а також горизонтальне порівняння різних проектів, отже, може поліпшити результативність прийняття рішень керівниками проекту для швидкого реагування на дії конкурентів, крім того, дана система відповідає вимогам процесу ціноутворення. Реалізація проектної системи показує високу ефективність, оскільки включає в себе безліч методів з поліпшеними характеристиками, наприклад, модель QPSO-BP, яка удосконалила узагальнюючі можливості нейронної мережі ВР з метою оптимізації та ефективного прогнозування ціни на уран. Наукова новизна. В системі розроблена модель техніко-економічного оцінювання в залежності від стадійності реалізації проекту (в основному, це стадія геологорозвідувальних робіт, стадія розробки родовища і стадія промислового видобутку), а також способу ведення гірничих робіт (наприклад, підземні гірничі роботи, відкриті гірничі роботи або ж роботи, пов’язані з підземним вилуговуванням), а результати оцінювання можна безпосередньо підрахувати і представити наочно у вигляді діаграм. Крім того, представляється можливим автоматично сформувати техніко-економічне обґрунтування, що дозволяє зробити процес техніко-економічного оцінювання точним і ефективним. Практична значимість. Система URTEEES дозволяє виконувати функції аналізу процесу прийняття рішень, управління базою даних запасів металів, управління даними, універсальної пошукової системи в гірничодобувній промисловості.Цель. Разработка экспертно-аналитической системы технико-экономического оценивания запасов урана с точки зрения анализа требований, системы проектирования, функциональной структуры и применения. Методика. Проектная система должна включать два основных блока. Первый – существующие данные об оценке ресурсов урана для получения соответствующих параметров, которые могут быть использованы для создания моделей оценки и обеспечения основы для их сравнения при оценке нового проекта. Второй – вспомогательная информация, такая как законы и правила, культурная информация, которая на самом деле является накоплением данных проекта и опыта. Предлагаемая система основана на использовании комбинированного режима C/B/S; при этом система использует технологию ASP.NET с Net Framework, выбранную в качестве платформы разработки, а также базу данных по запасам урана, что обеспечивает информационную поддержку на нижнем уровне. Результаты. Разработанная система выполняет функции вероятностного анализа, анализа чувствительности, анализа доходности для акционеров, а также горизонтальное сравнение различных проектов, следовательно, может улучшить результативность принятия решений руководителями проекта для быстрого реагирования на действия конкурентов; кроме того, данная система соответствует требованиям процесса ценообразования. Реализация проектной системы показывает высокую эффективность, поскольку включает в себя множество методов с улучшенными характеристиками, например, модель QPSO-BP, которая усовершенствовала обобщающие возможности нейронной сети BP с целью оптимизации и эффективного прогнозирования цены на уран. Научная новизна. В системе разработана модель технико-экономического оценивания в зависимости от стадийности реализации проекта (в основном, это стадия геологоразведочных работ, стадия разработки месторождения и стадия промышленной добычи), а также способа ведения горных работ (например, подземные горные работы, открытые горные работы или же работы, связанные с подземным выщелачиванием), а результаты оценивания можно непосредственно подсчитать и представить наглядно в виде диаграмм. Кроме того, представляется возможным автоматически сформировать технико-экономическое обоснование, что позволяет сделать процесс технико-экономического оценивания точным и эффективным. Практическая значимость. Система URTEEES позволяет выполнять функции анализа процесса принятия решений, управления базой данных запасов металлов, управления данными, универсальной поисковой системы в горнодобывающей промышленности.This research project is made possible through the financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51374242, No.51404305 and No.51504286)

Costs, Benefits and Value Distribution – Ingredients for Successful Cross-Organizational ES Business Cases

This paper introduces my PhD research project on developing guidelines for creating successful business cases for Enterprise System implementations in network settings. Three important aspects that were found to be important in such business cases are: the costs, benefits and the value distribution within a network. Each of the three aspects is addressed in this paper and the relationships between them are pointed out. A research model is presented showing how all three aspects contribute to the main goal of defining successful business case guidelines

Non market valuation in New Zealand: 1974 through 2005

Non-market valuation (NMV) is recognized as an essential tool in policy decision making worldwide. In this paper, we investigate the history of NMV, specifically in relation to New Zealand (NZ), by compiling and analyzing all available published studies. Results show a significant increase in the number of studies, specifically those requested by government agencies, following the passage of the NZ Resource Management Act of 1991. Studies were found to be concentrated in three major areas: outdoor recreation, environmental conservation/management, and travel time savings. These three areas covered eight environmental commodities, the value of which totaled NZ$72 billion, or 50% of NZ GDP, with the highest valued commodity being biodiversity services. While our analysis yielded many positive results, we did discover, however, a severe lack of studies in many areas including pest control, water resources and outdoor recreation

Annotated bibliography of software engineering laboratory literature

An annotated bibliography is presented of technical papers, documents, and memorandums produced by or related to the Software Engineering Laboratory. The bibliography was updated and reorganized substantially since the original version (SEL-82-006, November 1982). All materials were grouped into eight general subject areas for easy reference: (1) The Software Engineering Laboratory; (2) The Software Engineering Laboratory: Software Development Documents; (3) Software Tools; (4) Software Models; (5) Software Measurement; (6) Technology Evaluations; (7) Ada Technology; and (8) Data Collection. Subject and author indexes further classify these documents by specific topic and individual author

Application of expert systems in project management decision aiding

The feasibility of developing an expert systems-based project management decision aid to enhance the performance of NASA project managers was assessed. The research effort included extensive literature reviews in the areas of project management, project management decision aiding, expert systems technology, and human-computer interface engineering. Literature reviews were augmented by focused interviews with NASA managers. Time estimation for project scheduling was identified as the target activity for decision augmentation, and a design was developed for an Integrated NASA System for Intelligent Time Estimation (INSITE). The proposed INSITE design was judged feasible with a low level of risk. A partial proof-of-concept experiment was performed and was successful. Specific conclusions drawn from the research and analyses are included. The INSITE concept is potentially applicable in any management sphere, commercial or government, where time estimation is required for project scheduling. As project scheduling is a nearly universal management activity, the range of possibilities is considerable. The INSITE concept also holds potential for enhancing other management tasks, especially in areas such as cost estimation, where estimation-by-analogy is already a proven method

A framework for integrating syntax, semantics and pragmatics for computer-aided professional practice: With application of costing in construction industry

Producing a bill of quantity is a knowledge-based, dynamic and collaborative process, and evolves with variances and current evidence. However, within the context of information system practice in BIM, knowledge of cost estimation has not been represented, nor has it been integrated into the processes based on BIM. This paper intends to establish an innovative means of taking data from the BIM linked to a project, and using it to create the necessary items for a bill of quantity that will enable cost estimation to be undertaken for the project. Our framework is founded upon the belief that three components are necessary to gain a full awareness of the domain which is being computerised; the information type which is to be assessed for compatibility (syntax), the definition for the pricing domain (semantics), and the precise implementation environment for the standards being taken into account (pragmatics). In order to achieve this, a prototype is created that allows a cost item for the bill of quantity to be spontaneously generated, by means of the semantic web ontology and a forward chain algorithm. Within this paper, ‘cost items’ signify the elements included in a bill of quantity, including details of their description, quantity and price. As a means of authenticating the process being developed, the authors of this work effectively implemented it in the production of cost items. In addition, the items created were contrasted with those produced by specialists. For this reason, this innovative framework introduces the possibility of a new means of applying semantic web ontology and forward chain algorithm to construction professional practice resulting in automatic cost estimation. These key outcomes demonstrate that, decoupling the professional practice into three key components of syntax, semantics and pragmatics can provide tangible benefits to domain use

Product design-Process selection-Process planning Integration based on Modelling and Simulation

As a solution for traditional design process having many drawbacks in the manufacturing process, the integration of Product design-Process selection-Process planning is carried out in the early design phase. The technological, economic, and logistic parameters are taken into account simultaneously as well as manufacturing constraints being integrated into the product design. As a consequence, the most feasible alternative with regard to the product’s detailed design is extracted satisfying the product’s functional requirements. Subsequently, a couple of conceptual process plans are proposed relied on manufacturing processes being preliminarily selected in the conceptual design phase. Virtual manufacturing is employed under CAM software to simulate fabrication process of the potential process plans. Ultimately, the most suitable process plan for fabricating the part is recommended based upon a multi-criteria analysis as a resolution for decision making

Annotated bibliography of software engineering laboratory literature

An annotated bibliography of technical papers, documents, and memorandums produced by or related to the Software Engineering Laboratory is given. More than 100 publications are summarized. These publications cover many areas of software engineering and range from research reports to software documentation. This document has been updated and reorganized substantially since the original version (SEL-82-006, November 1982). All materials have been grouped into eight general subject areas for easy reference: the Software Engineering Laboratory; the Software Engineering Laboratory-software development documents; software tools; software models; software measurement; technology evaluations; Ada technology; and data collection. Subject and author indexes further classify these documents by specific topic and individual author