Abstract
Significant improvements are achievable in the accuracy of cost estimates if cost models adequately incorporate issues of flexibility and uncertainty. This study evaluates the relational efficiencies of the fuzzy composition operators – the max-min and max-product, in establishing the final cost of water infrastructure projects. Cost and project data was collected on 1600 water infrastructure projects completed in the UK between 2000 and 2011. Neural network is first used to develop relative weightings of relevant cost predictors. These were then standardized into fuzzy sets to establish a consistent effect of each variable on the overall target cost. The strength and degree of relationship of the normalized cost predictor weightings and the fuzzified project attributes were combined using the max-min and max-product composition operators to obtain project cost predictions. The predictions from the two composition operators are compared with the actual cost figures. Results show comparable performance in the efficiency of the composition operators. Based on statistical correlations, the max-product composition operator achieved on average a deviation of 1.71% while the max-min composition had an average deviation of 1.86%. Improvements in the relational efficiency of neuro-fuzzy hybrid cost models could assist in developing a robust framework for realistic cost targets on construction projects.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | 2014 Construction Research Congress |
| Publication status | Published - 19 May 2014 |
| Event | 2014 Construction Research Congress - Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia, United States Duration: 19 May 2014 → 21 May 2014 |
Conference
| Conference | 2014 Construction Research Congress |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Georgia |
| Period | 19/05/14 → 21/05/14 |