Reference costs and their applicability in environmental engineering consulting services related to transportation infrastructure

Abstract

Transportation infrastructure projects and works in Brazil eventually are subject of irregularities and higher prices in budgets. Their mitigation, by means of development of the Cost Engineering, subsidizes the fair remuneration price, quality, and economical services of engineering. Based on the development of the Cost Engineering and in normative aspects, this study discourses about the development of reference costs related to environmental engineering consulting services concerning the transportation infrastructure. Thus, it is presented the technical, legal, potentialities aspects, as well as hindrances to their conception. Considering among the methodological premises necessary to the establishment of the costs of consulting engineering services, it can be highlighted the scope delimitation of the activities, cost estimates regarding the necessary raw materials of professionals, materials and equipments; reference database of the raw materials; and the unit reference cost of the service. On the other hand, there are critical factors to their establishment, such as environmental constraints associated with the local characteristcs as well as the type and size of the undertaking; particularities of requirements attached to environmental organizations; also legal framework. Not far away, it is possible to understand as essential and feasible – when the particularities intrinsic to the environmental theme are observed- the development and establishment of reference costs of environmental engineering consulting services, which seek for the standardization of their budgetary control frameworks providing confidence to the budget engineer professional.