Experimental derivation of a methodology for the reduction of the costs of public construction in developing countries

EFFORTS CENTERED EITHER ON ROAD AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION OR ON THE BUILDING OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO DEVELOP A SET OF GUIDELINES FOR IDENTIFYING AND IMPLEMENTING OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE CONSTRUCTION COSTS BASED ON ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. THE CURRENT STATE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY WAS ASSESSED AND ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WERE SOUGHT TO CUT COST, INCLUDING THE USE OF DOMESTIC MATERIALS OVER IMPORTED ONES. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE COSTS BY MORE INTENSIVE USE OF INDIGENOUS MATERIALS ARE LIMITED. ON THE OTHER HAND, SIGNIFICANT COST REDUCTION OPPORTUNITIES ARISE IN THE AREA OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY IN THE EVALUATION OF THE MIX OF LABOR AND CAPITAL ENTAILED IN A PARTICULAR TECHNOLOGY. METHODOLOGICAL GUIDELINES RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: 1) WORK WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE; 2) CONCENTRATE ON WHATEVER IS RELEVANT TO THE PROJECT AND ITS GOALS; 3) USE EXISTING TECHNOLOGY AND TRY TO IMPROVE IT; 4) AID SIMILAR PROJECTS; 5) REMAIN FLEXIBLE.