CostApp: a cost estimation tool developed using C# and WPF for the chemical engineering field.

Abstract

The accelerated pace in which technology has been developing is affecting different fields of knowledge at different levels. The Data Revolution, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is creating an environment of deep and fast technological growth, from which the chemical engineering field has greatly benefited, mostly regarding process control and optimization. In order to follow the current digital climate, this research aims to develop a solution that can assist process design engineers and engineering students in the first step to budgeting a new or a section of an industrial chemical process: the cost estimation of equipment. Using cost estimation models found in literature as an estimation engine, the solution was built using C#, XAML and SQLite to create classes that are capable of applying the literature techniques to build a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and, lastly, to enable information storage for the results provided by the tool. The initial performance of CostApp exhibits a coherent behavior concerning the application of the estimation models, and the visual aids and functionalities of the software work as intended. Moreover, the budget provided by the solution is consistent when compared with results taken from other popular solutions from the cost estimating field, such as CAPCOST and the Aspen Capital Cost Estimator. In summary, CostApp is presented a viable option for cost estimation and, as an open-source solution, it can also grow and expand to better adapt to the market or to academic purposes.