--- title: "Project, characteristics, stages of estimate" subject: "Estimating and Costing" chapter: 5 key: "semester_7/estimating_and_costing:project-characteristics-stages" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/project-characteristics-stages site: BCT Engineering --- # Project, characteristics, stages of estimate Estimating and Costing · Chapter 5: Project Estimate - Asked in: 2081 Baisakh, 8 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/project-characteristics-stages - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/chapter-5 ## Question What is project? Explain its characteristics. Describe the stages of estimating a project. ## Short answer A project is a temporary, unique undertaking with a definite objective, limited resources, risk and a life cycle. Estimating stages are identification/preliminary estimate, survey, planning/design, taking out quantities, rate analysis, detailed estimate with contingency and VAT, report/approval, and tendering/revision. ## Answer #### Project A **project** is a one-time, temporary undertaking carried out by a team with limited resources to create a unique product, service or facility (for example a road, bridge, building or water supply scheme). #### Characteristics of a project 1. **Definite objective:** it is done to achieve a clear goal. 2. **Unique:** each project differs in location, design and conditions. 3. **Temporary:** it has a start date and an end date. 4. **Limited resources:** budget, labour, materials, equipment and time are fixed. 5. **Complexity:** several disciplines and organisations (owner, designer, contractor, consultant) work together. 6. **Risk and uncertainty:** weather, geology, price change and delay affect it. 7. **Life cycle:** it passes through conception, planning, execution and closing. #### Stages of estimating a project | Stage | Work done | |---|---| | 1. Identification and preliminary estimate | Idea, need, rough cost from cost per unit (per km, per m², per family) to check feasibility | | 2. Survey and investigation | Topographic, geological, hydrological, traffic and soil surveys | | 3. Planning and design | Layout, structural and service design, drawings, specifications | | 4. Taking out quantities | Measurement of each item from drawings, abstracting them in a BOQ | | 5. Rate analysis | Rates from norms and District Rates, with lead and lift, transport, overhead and profit | | 6. Detailed estimate | Quantity × rate for each item; abstract of cost with contingency, supervision and VAT | | 7. Estimate report and approval | Report with drawings, specifications, rate analysis; technical and financial approval | | 8. Tendering and revision | Bid document is prepared; revised or supplementary estimates are made if the scope changes | ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which is a characteristic of a project? A. It is temporary, with a start and an end date B. It is repeated every year without end C. It has unlimited resources D. It is free from risk Answer: A. A project is a one-time, temporary undertaking. (Key point: Project characteristic) 2. Why is every project called unique? A. Because it has no budget B. Each differs in location, design and conditions C. Because it never ends D. Because it uses no resources Answer: B. Even similar projects differ in site and design. (Key point: Uniqueness) 3. What is done in the first stage of estimating? A. A detailed estimate with exact rate analysis B. Tender evaluation C. A preliminary estimate from cost per unit (per km, per m2) to check feasibility D. Completion report Answer: C. Identification gives a rough cost to decide whether to proceed. (Key point: First stage) 4. Which order is correct? A. Rate analysis, survey, design, quantities B. Report, survey, quantities, design C. Tendering, design, survey, quantities D. Survey, design, quantities, rate analysis, detailed estimate, report and approval Answer: D. Each stage depends on the earlier one. 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