| |
Attention DCD Subscribers
New Enhanced Online Functionality With All DCD Subscriptions
 Design
Cost Data™ magazine and D4COST™ Software are well known in the building industry
as tools to reliably predict the price of future construction using the cost of
actual buildings as a benchmark. As publishers of DCD we have gathered, analyzed
and archived thousands of buildings since 1958; and in the early 1990s we
developed D4COST, the first square foot cost modeling software for the industry
based on our massive database. Our subscribers and software users access this
data daily to answer, “how much is this going to cost?” when posed by their
clients.
It has been over five years since we placed hundreds of projects from DCD’s
project database on DCD.COM for our subscribers to use as a benchmark for their
new projects. Stored in a quick and easy-to-use database, the NHBCdb™ (National
Historical Building Cost Database), subscribers were able to browse by building
category and quickly model new projects using a selected project and changing
the bid date and location resulting in a new cost model.
Over the past couple of years we have conducted surveys and found while our
subscribers liked what DCD.COM did, they wanted the ability to manipulate the
project data and customize the projects more to their parameters – they wanted
the features of D4COST software on the web.
For the past year we have been rewriting DCD.COM to incorporate enhancements
requested by our subscribers and add new functionality that up until now only
D4COST users have enjoyed.
All DCD subscribers have access to the
database that is now known as the DCD Archives.
The DCD Archives is still an easy-to-use tool to reliably predict the cost of
future projects, but now it is intuitive to give our subscribers the flexibility
they need to customize any of the projects in its database to suit their needs.
We have included over 1,200 projects – as featured in DCD magazine – covering a
range of buildings from high schools, hospitals, offices, churches, and more. To
locate just the right model, subscribers can now search on building type,
foundation, wall or roof type, or type of construction: new or renovation. The
number of regional modifiers has been increased to over 500 and the DCD Archives
now includes cost escalators through 2014.
Subscribers can change the square footage of projects and add, modify, or delete
building divisions – one of the most requested features. Plus a project can now
be saved and accessed as many times as needed, along with print capabilities for
the new cost model and/or the case study as it appeared in DCD. (The
subscriber’s subscription level will determine the functionality of the
website.) Subscribers who have already signed up and are using the DCD Archives
tell us they are very happy with the new enhancements and functionality.
You can access the DCD Archives by looking at your mailing label on the front
cover of this magazine for your subscriber number (DCXXXX) and logging on at
DCD.COM. It is easy and fast to do. Go ahead, visit DCD.COM and get started
using the most advanced cost modeling system on the Internet – all based on
actual data – not hypothetical or national averages. If you have trouble
locating your subscriber number or would like a walk through – please call us at
800-533-5680. We will be happy to help.
|
