CEM FINAL EXAM Question and answers
rated A+ 2025/2026
Phases in a Project Cycle -CORRECTANSWER Need, Programming, Schematic
Design, Detailed Design, Construction Documents, Bid, Construction, Operation &
Maintenance, Decommission
Sectors of the Construction Industry -CORRECTANSWER Industrial, Heavy civil,
Building, Residential
Industrial Construction -CORRECTANSWER 5-10% ex: gasoline
Heavy Construction -CORRECTANSWER 20-25% ex: roads, I-85
Building Construction -CORRECTANSWER 35-40% ex: hospitals, schools
Residential Construction -CORRECTANSWER 30-30% ex: apartment, house, farm
Major Players in Construction -CORRECTANSWER Owners & Developers, Designers,
Builders, Consultants
Construction Management -CORRECTANSWER Money, Materials, Machines and
Manpower
,LEED -CORRECTANSWER Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design.
Principles: Choose a sustainable site, maximize water efficiency, save energy, make
smart material & resource decisions and improve indoor air quality.
Level of Influence vs Cost Curves -CORRECTANSWER Influence of cost is greater at
the beginning of the construction process and decreases over time while cost increases
over time.
What happened in the Hyatt collapse? -CORRECTANSWER Under-designed Box-
Beam did not meet building codes, constructability changes did not account for design
intent and doubled load on an under-designed box-beam, poor
coordination/communication
Types of Estimating -CORRECTANSWER AACE, RS Means, Bid Estimates, Control
Estimates, and Halpin's et al.
AACE estimate -CORRECTANSWER Order of Magnitude: -30% to +50%
Budget: -15% to +30%
Definitive: -5% to 15%
RS Means Estimate -CORRECTANSWER Order of Magnitude: +-20%
Square Foot & Cubic Foot: +-15%
, System: +-10%
Unit Price: +-5%
Bid Estimates -CORRECTANSWER Subcontractor quotations, Quantity takeoffs and
construction procedures
Control Estimates -CORRECTANSWER a non-binding estimate of construction costs
which can be used not only to satisfy the Owner's need for requisitioning funds, but also
as a control over the builder during trade procurement.
Halpin's et al. -CORRECTANSWER conceptual estimate, preliminary estimate,
engineer's estimate and bid estimate; accuracy increases with each step.
Information available vs accuracy of bid -CORRECTANSWER as information increases
accuracy increases
BCI -CORRECTANSWER Building Cost Index: takes into account skilled labor
CCI -CORRECTANSWER Construction Cost Index: takes into account common labor
Programming Phase -CORRECTANSWER Defines the owner's new construction
needs, forms the basis for the owner's expectations, the primary design reference for
the development of the project. Program report is developed.
rated A+ 2025/2026
Phases in a Project Cycle -CORRECTANSWER Need, Programming, Schematic
Design, Detailed Design, Construction Documents, Bid, Construction, Operation &
Maintenance, Decommission
Sectors of the Construction Industry -CORRECTANSWER Industrial, Heavy civil,
Building, Residential
Industrial Construction -CORRECTANSWER 5-10% ex: gasoline
Heavy Construction -CORRECTANSWER 20-25% ex: roads, I-85
Building Construction -CORRECTANSWER 35-40% ex: hospitals, schools
Residential Construction -CORRECTANSWER 30-30% ex: apartment, house, farm
Major Players in Construction -CORRECTANSWER Owners & Developers, Designers,
Builders, Consultants
Construction Management -CORRECTANSWER Money, Materials, Machines and
Manpower
,LEED -CORRECTANSWER Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design.
Principles: Choose a sustainable site, maximize water efficiency, save energy, make
smart material & resource decisions and improve indoor air quality.
Level of Influence vs Cost Curves -CORRECTANSWER Influence of cost is greater at
the beginning of the construction process and decreases over time while cost increases
over time.
What happened in the Hyatt collapse? -CORRECTANSWER Under-designed Box-
Beam did not meet building codes, constructability changes did not account for design
intent and doubled load on an under-designed box-beam, poor
coordination/communication
Types of Estimating -CORRECTANSWER AACE, RS Means, Bid Estimates, Control
Estimates, and Halpin's et al.
AACE estimate -CORRECTANSWER Order of Magnitude: -30% to +50%
Budget: -15% to +30%
Definitive: -5% to 15%
RS Means Estimate -CORRECTANSWER Order of Magnitude: +-20%
Square Foot & Cubic Foot: +-15%
, System: +-10%
Unit Price: +-5%
Bid Estimates -CORRECTANSWER Subcontractor quotations, Quantity takeoffs and
construction procedures
Control Estimates -CORRECTANSWER a non-binding estimate of construction costs
which can be used not only to satisfy the Owner's need for requisitioning funds, but also
as a control over the builder during trade procurement.
Halpin's et al. -CORRECTANSWER conceptual estimate, preliminary estimate,
engineer's estimate and bid estimate; accuracy increases with each step.
Information available vs accuracy of bid -CORRECTANSWER as information increases
accuracy increases
BCI -CORRECTANSWER Building Cost Index: takes into account skilled labor
CCI -CORRECTANSWER Construction Cost Index: takes into account common labor
Programming Phase -CORRECTANSWER Defines the owner's new construction
needs, forms the basis for the owner's expectations, the primary design reference for
the development of the project. Program report is developed.
