Benchmarking the life cycle cost management of building project

Abstract

This paper firstly analysis the barriers of LCCM and finds that the important barriers are history data collection and application in the view of technique, thus the ideas of benchmark management can be used in LCCM effectively. Then it gives the cost benchmark set of LCCM. We use three methods to construct the cost benchmark set of LCCM: selecting a benchmark project, combining a virtual benchmark project from several projects, using Artificial Neural Network method. Finally the steps are given to control the life cycle cost of building project using the cost benchmark set of LCCM.

Analysis of buildings operation and maintenance costs

“…It is considered thattwo major obstaclesprevent a broader use of the life cycle cost method. These are the lack of reliable data on historical costs and building operating characteristics, and the absence of effective methods for controlling the cost analysis [17]. The collection and processing of data is extremely difficult because buildings are dissimilar, and are located in different areas, built at different times, and operated by a variety of owners and their agents.…”

“…The collection and processing of data is extremely difficult because buildings are dissimilar, and are located in different areas, built at different times, and operated by a variety of owners and their agents. Cost data are therefore difficult to collect and analyze, and there is no institutional mechanism or astandard method for collecting and recording of data [11,[17][18]. Maintenance costscover the costoflabor and material, as well as other related costs that are incurred to keep the building or its parts in the state in which it can perform its required functions.…”