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01.1 · Core Concepts

Estimating Terminology

This page is the dictionary for every other page in this guide. Skim it once, then come back when something else doesn't make sense.

Cost Pipeline Terms

Term	Meaning
Direct Cost	A cost tied directly to a deliverable (e.g. "Excavation 100 m³"). Always has a quantity × rate.
Overhead	An indirect cost of running the job (e.g. "Site supervision", "Scaffold hire"). Distributed to direct costs via apportionment.
Resource	A reusable rate record (labour, material, plant, subcontract). The price-per-unit source for items.
Breakdown	A sub-line belonging to a direct cost item or an overhead — allows "cost inside a cost".
Built-Up Resource	A resource whose rate is derived from component resources (e.g. a "Formwork package" built from timber + labour + fasteners).
Markup	Percentage or absolute amount added per resource type to convert direct cost into the sub-total.
Margin	Project-level amount added on top of (direct + markup) for risk, corporate overhead, and profit.
Sell Rate	The client-facing unit price: direct rate plus distributed markup and margin.
Apportionment	The redistribution of a hidden cost into visible cost items. Hidden items participate in totals but don't appear in reports.
Allocation	The share of overhead / markup / margin computed for an individual item.
Pool	The dollar amount available to distribute (e.g. the "markup pool" is the total markup across all items).

Project Structure Terms

Term	Meaning
Project	The root container: one job, one tender, one phase.
Client	Optional reference linked to a project (name, ABN, contacts).
Section	Optional grouping of items within a project.
Folder	A visual container used both for projects (project folders) and resources (resource folders).
Linked Project	A project that references another project's data (rolled up into one parent).
Template	A saved pattern of items (and optionally embedded resources) for reuse.
Scenario	A named what-if configuration of markup pools / allocations.

Calculation Terms

Term	Meaning
Formula	An expression entered into the Quantity, Rate, Total or custom-column cell.
Parametric / Project Parametric	A named variable (`#labour_rate`, `#inflation`) referenced from any formula in the project.
Scoped Parametric	A define that only exists within a specific breakdown (per-item, per-overhead).
Line Reference	`L10`, `#lq10`, `#lt10`, `#lr10` — references to another line's total, quantity, total, rate.
Custom Column	User-defined column on a grid for extra data; can be aggregated with `SUMCC`, `AVGCC`, etc.
Code Set	A hierarchical category tree (e.g. AS2124, WBS) used to tag items for reporting.

Status Terms

Term	Meaning
Draft	Item created but not yet finalised.
Review	Ready for peer/manager review.
Approved	Signed off; may still change if unlocked.
Complete	Final state — treated as frozen for reporting.
Omitted	Excluded from all totals but kept for history.
Hidden & Included	Hidden from display, still contributes via apportionment.

Carbon Terms

Term	Meaning
GHG Protocol	The greenhouse gas accounting standard TX1 follows.
Scope 1	Direct emissions from sources you own (fuel on-site, company vehicles).
Scope 2	Indirect emissions from purchased energy (electricity, heat).
Scope 3	All other indirect emissions (supplied materials, sub-contracted works, business travel).
Emission Factor	kgCO₂e per unit of a material or activity.
Data Quality	1–5 rating reflecting confidence in an emission figure.
Verified	Emission has been reviewed and signed off by a user.