The preliminary (probable ... conceptual) estimate is the key consideration on most projects for it is here where the design team determines design limitations, overall budget, and in many cases whether or not a project is feasible to draw.

DCD assists architects, contractors, specifiers, cost estimators, builders and building owners, in this critical estimating process.

The premise of DCD is simple. It is based on the axiom that one of the most reliable and adequate units of measure for conceptual estimating lies in the historical cost data of actual completed construction.

Each issue of DCD, therefore, contributes to a growing and living historical cost database providing a variety of real cost case studies in eleven different building types.

Presented as cost data case studies the database contains photography, floor plans, site plans, architectural statements, manufacturer information, and most importantly, cost data broken down in the 16 Division CSI MasterFormat. Site cost and building costs are separated for ease of cost modeling. Also provided is the floor area, bid or negotiation date, construction period, and geographical location.

The cost data figures reflect actual construction costs furnished by the project's architect, general contractor, or construction management team usually directly from the project's final Schedule of Values. DCD costs are never theoretical or handbook hypothetical.

Integrated with every issue are DCD's cost escalators and regional modifiers used to project past costs and make them relevant to future costs in a different time and place. There is no other system like this!