Cost Estimating: Fundamentals

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Engineers, architects and contractors are often asked to prepare cost estimates when working on a new project. This 1-hour interactive online course takes you through the process discussing where, in the various stages in project development, cost estimates are made. Through illustrations, you will consider different methods of cost estimating, the level of project detail required for each, and when the use of each method is indicated. You will understand the uncertainties associated with a bid due to level of detail available and the economics of inflation. You will learn to recognize these uncertainties and include contingencies and adjustments for inflation.

For those who are new to cost estimating, this course is an introduction. You may find yourself going over sections more than once. For the experienced Estimator, you will find this course a guide and a reference as the only way for any Estimator to improve is to practice what they have learned. Move on through this course and into the field of cost estimating.

ATTN: This educational offering is recognized by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry as satisfying 1 hour of credit toward the required continuing education.

Objectives SME Course Applies to

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course you will be able to:

Understand where in a project cost estimates are used
Recognize the different types of cost estimates
Identify when it is best to use each type of cost estimate
Discuss the common pitfalls involved in cost estimating
Recognize the need for contingency
Explain how to adjust for inflation

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT: John D'Onofrio, P.E.

Mr. D’Onofrio is a professional engineer in private practice with over 35 years experience in the practice of civil engineering. He graduated from Newark College of Engineering, a school of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He is a member of Chi Epsilon - National Civil Engineering Honor Society and Tau Beta Pi - National Engineering Honor Society. Mr. D’Onofrio earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 1972 from Newark College of Engineering.

Mr. D’Onofrio has pursued continuing education at:

• New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Rutgers University
• Harvard University, and
• University of North Florida

Mr. D'Onofrio is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of New York, the State of New Jersey, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In 1977, after holding posts in government and private industry, he founded the firm of D’Onofrio Engineers, P.C. and remains its president in active practice to this day. D’Onofrio Engineers provides consulting Civil Engineering services for building design, site plans, roads and intersections, traffic control systems, sewer and water systems, accident reconstruction and forensic engineering investigations.

Mr. D’Onofrio is a member of:

• The American Society of Civil Engineers
• The Society of Fire Protection Engineers
• The Society of Automotive Engineers
• The American Society of Safety Engineers
• The National Society of Professional Engineers

Mr. D’Onofrio is a Board Certified Diplomat in Forensic Engineering by the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (DNAFE), accredited by the Council of Engineering Specialty Boards and a Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners and its American Board of Forensic Engineering & Technology.

Mr. D'Onofrio has taught at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and the Community College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey. He has been a guest lecturer before the New Jersey Municipal Engineer's Foundation and the New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors.

Mr. D’Onofrio is the author of the following published papers:

• “Sensitivity and Spread Sheets in Conservation of Linear Momentum”; Accident Reconstruction Journal, January 1993.

• “Forensic Engineering Investigation of Low Speed Collisions”; Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers, January 2003.

• “Forensic Engineering Analysis of the Critical Speed Formula in Accident Reconstruction”; Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers, December 2005.

• “Forensic Engineering Evaluation of Premises Maintenance”, Forensic Examiner, Magazine of the American College of Forensic Examiners, Fall 2007.

Mr. D’Onofrio has been recognized as a professional engineering expert in Federal Court as well as the Supreme Court of the State of New York, the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey and the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

State Licenses

Alabama

AL - Engineer (General - ,)

AL - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Arkansas

AR - Engineer (General - ,)

Delaware

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Florida

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Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771

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Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771

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Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771

FL - Contractor, Electrical (Business Practice - 0008131)

Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771

FL - Contractor, Electrical Specialty (Business Practice - 0008131)

Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771

FL - Contractor, Palm Beach County (General - 0609167)

Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771

FL - Contractor, Pinellas County (General - 0609167)

Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771

FL - Contractor, Registered (General - 0609167)

Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771

FL - Contractor, Volusia County Irrigation (General)

FL - Examiner (General - 0609167)

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FL - Fire Protection System Contractor (Class V) (Business Practice - FP17747)

FL - Inspector (General - 0609167)

Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771

Georgia

GA - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

GA - Contractor, Residential and General (General)

GA - Engineer (General - ,)

GA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Iowa

IA - Engineer (General - ,)

Idaho

ID - Engineer (General - ,)

Illinois

IL - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

IL - Engineer, Professional (General - ,)

IL - Engineer, Structural (General - ,)

IL - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Indiana

IN - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

IN - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Kansas

KS - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

KS - Engineer (General - ,)

KS - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Kentucky

KY - Engineer (General - ,)

Louisiana

LA - Contractor, Residential (General)

LA - Engineer (General - ,)

LA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Massachusetts

MA - Electrician (General)

Maryland

MD - Engineer (General - ,)

MD - Land Surveyor (General)

MD - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Maine

ME - Engineer (General - ,)

Michigan

MI - Engineer (General - ,)

MI - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Minnesota

MN - Engineer (General - ,)

Missouri

MO - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

MO - Engineer (General - ,)

MO - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Mississippi

MS - Engineer (General - ,)

Montana

MT - Engineer (General - ,)

North Carolina

NC - Engineer (General - ,)

North Dakota

ND - Engineer (General - ,)

Nebraska

NE - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

NE - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

New Hampshire

NH - Engineer (General - ,)

New Jersey

NJ - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

NJ - Engineer (General - 24GP000006300)

New Mexico

NM - Engineer (General - ,)

NM - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Nevada

NV - Engineer (General - ,)

New York

NY - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

NY - Land Surveyor (General)

NY - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Ohio

OH - Engineer (General - ,)

OH - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Oklahoma

OK - Engineer (General - ,)

Oregon

OR - Engineer (General - ,)

OR - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Pennsylvania

PA - Code Official,Certified (UCC) (General)

PA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Puerto Rico

PR - Engineer (General - ,)

South Carolina

SC - Engineer (General - ,)

South Dakota

SD - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

SD - Engineer (General - ,)

SD - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Tennessee

TN - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

TN - Engineer (General - ,)

TN - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Texas

TX - Engineer (General - ,)

Utah

UT - Electrician (Professional Education - 20035)

UT - Engineer (General - ,)

UT - Plumber (Professional Education - 20035)

Virginia

VA - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

VA - Engineer (General - ,)

VA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Vermont

VT - Engineer (General - ,)

Washington

WA - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

WA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

Wisconsin

WI - Architect (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

WI - Engineer (General - ,)

West Virginia

WV - Engineer (General - ,)

WV - Landscape Architect (General (max 6 hrs online) - Approved LA CES-2026)

Wyoming

WY - Engineer (General - ,)

Professional Organizations

American Academy of Environmental Engineers - AAEES - Member (General - ,)

American Institute of Architects - AIA - Architects (General - RV854-2026)

Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315

American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES) - ASLA - Member (General - Approved LA CES-2026)

American Society of Professional Estimators - ASPE - Certified Professional Estimator (CPE)/Associate Estimator Professional (AEP) (General)

Association of State Floodplain Managers - ASFPM - Certified Floodplain Manager (Core)

BOMI International - RPA, FMA and/or SMA (General)

Building Operator Certification - BOC - Certification (General)

Canada - Alberta Architect (General - RV854-2026)

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Canada - Alberta Engineer (General - ,)

Canada - British Columbia - Residential Builder (General)

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Canada - Northwest Territories and Nunavut Engineer (General - ,)

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Canada - Nova Scotia Architect (General - RV854-2026)

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Canada - Nova Scotia Engineer (General - ,)

Canada - Ontario Architect (General - RV854-2026)

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Canada - Prince Edward Island Architect (General - RV854-2026)

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Canada - Quebec Architect (General - RV854-2026)

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Canada - Saskatchewan Architect (General - RV854-2026)

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Canada - Yukon Engineer (General - ,)

Design-Build Institute of America - DBIA - Design-Build Professional (General)

International Maintenance Institute - IMI - Certifications (CMT, CMP, CMM, CWWMT) (General)

International Society of Automation - ISA - Certifications (General)

National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies - NICET (General - ,)

Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists - OACETT - Certified Member (Management/Leadership Training)