An architect by background, JE Dunn Construction Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) Manager Sogol Salary-Hines, Ph.D., has long understood how important planning, programming, and design are to any build process. She wrote her dissertation on preconstruction elements that impact the primary risk factors in construction projects: budget and time. Now, years after beginning her research, Salary-Hines has become the first JE Dunn employee to be published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the “Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture.”
Salary-Hines started her JE Dunn career as an estimator, where she worked with Lens, a proprietary technology that provides cost history and real-time design options to help create high-level project cost estimates.
“The idea came to my mind that project data is available and can be used for analytic results. There was an opportunity to use these data that we receive from projects to develop research on how we can manage budgets and time, which are two critical risk-associated factors during the preconstruction phase,” Salary-Hines said.
She wanted to inform project stakeholders using data-driven research to empower them to use proper resources for their construction project. Salary-Hines used her research to evaluate more than 65 elements that could potentially add risk to a build and tracked their data during the preconstruction phase. In concluding the findings on the budget and time impacts of critical preconstruction elements, not only were value-driven insights found, but Salary-Hines also validated the long-held belief that leveraging technology significantly improves the estimating process.
Having this data-backed research enables the project team to better prepare clients for factors that could impact their project’s timeline and budget. It also empowers clients to more effectively manage potential variances by partnering with a high-quality general contractor and design team that are aligned and capable of leveraging advanced technology throughout the planning, programming, and estimating processes.
Many JE Dunn leaders supported Salary-Hines in her journey from ideation to publication in two major industry journals.
“From the day Sogol started with JE Dunn in our Preconstruction group, she has always questioned why we do things a certain way or how we can improve,” said National Preconstruction & Estimating Director Jason Hickam. “Her research is insightful to our entire industry, providing direction on how best to approach our preconstruction efforts to mitigate risk and add client value.”
Looking ahead, Salary-Hines hopes her findings will showcase JE Dunn’s ongoing efforts and investment in technology and inspire other general contractors to recognize the critical importance of leveraging advanced technology during the preconstruction phase to set projects up for success.
“The findings deliver a transformational solution with reliable outcomes. For example, data proves that using the design model during the preconstruction phase for cost estimating significantly shortens preconstruction timelines,” she said.
National VDC Director Trent Nichols also championed Salary-Hines throughout her research and publication process.
“I’m really proud of what Sogol has been able to accomplish and happy that she achieved a very high goal she set for herself,” Nichols said. “She has a bright future ahead, and I’m excited that I can be a small part of her journey.”
Upon learning that she would be published after years of research, writing, and reviews, Salary-Hines expressed her excitement with joy and pride.
“It’s a rewarding experience to have been with JE Dunn for an extended period and to feel a true sense of belonging,” she said. “At the same time, it’s incredibly fulfilling to have our company name recognized in scientific journals and to contribute to the advancement of our construction industry.”
Read Salary-Hines’ research published in the Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture below.
