Preliminary Construction Cost Estimation for Short Tunnels in Fair to Good Rock Mass Conditions

Cost estimation is one of the most critical tasks in prefeasibility studies and planning of tunnel construction projects. This paper presented a cost estimation model for excavation and support of short tunnels using uni-variate (UVR) and multi-variate regression (MVR) techniques. Hence، a database consisting of two explanatory variables including RMR and tunnel depth along with tunnel support and excavation costs was compiled from 12 tunnel sections in the North-West of Iran. The statistical significance and validity of the obtained models was checked by using some statistical tests، which proved that this model provides the possibility of a fast and adequate cost estimation of the excavation as well as support cost of tunnels at the phase of pre-feasibility study in tunnel projects.