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APEX

Advanced Pipeline Estimating and eXecution Planning Software

APEX is the premier software specifically designed for the pipeline industry that provides fully integrated cost and schedule estimating functions.

Developed over nearly two decades, APEX – Advanced Pipeline Estimating and eXecution Planning is the preferred choice for project professionals that value its singular focus. Constantly evolving with input from experienced pipeline construction professionals, senior project controls personnel, project management engineers and risk analysis experts working on major pipeline projects, APEX delivers the Foundation for Success.

Start using APEX today to significantly improve efficiency, data integrity, and accuracy.

APEX, because efficiency matters.

Pipeline projects are unique, often complex, and even the most talented teams and diligent engineers are subject to the kind of calculation errors and data integrity issues that can put your project objectives at risk.

Duplicated work, multiple versions of the same data, human input error, inconsistent application of formulas, estimates stored in different files and folders, access and editing problems and overwritten data are all common occurrences in pipeline estimating and scheduling.

Eliminate these problems and potentially catastrophic errors to create estimates you can trust.

With APEX, all data are stored in a SQL Server database and the same time-tested, robust algorithms are applied. That means repeatable, reliable, accurate and transparent estimates.

Now, instead of duplicating your time and effort across multiple solutions, you can use one top performing tool to deliver comprehensive, accurate and reliable pipeline estimates throughout the project life cycle.

Now that’s efficiency!

APEX, because data integrity matters.

Project estimates and schedules often experience data integrity issues that can unnecessarily compromise the project.

Eliminate multiple workbooks with unknown security precautions and proactively manage your project data to protect against these pitfalls. It’s what your project deserves.

Accessible data:

  • No more lost, hidden or inaccessible files.
  • Your project is free from the “Bob is gone for the weekend” trap so many projects fall into.
  • Instead, the entire team and various stakeholders can access the project data from one place.

Reliable data:

  • Provides the peace of mind data integrity and security one single source of data provides.
  • Produce repeatable calculations and data that come from a consistent application of proven logic, no matter what team member is working on the estimate.

Protected data:

  • Benefit from world class SQL Server security standards, encryption, and backups.
  • Your data is safeguarded against unauthorized access, system outages and other modern-day threats.

Auditable data:

  • Understand the evolution of your estimates knowing who is doing what, when and where.
  • Reduce the reliance on individual experience, facilitate knowledge transfer and better cope with senior staff retirement.
  • Easily review team progress and estimate development every step of the way.

Now that’s data integrity!

APEX, because accuracy matters.

Reduce or eliminate the risks, mistakes, wasted resources, project delays and unexpected consequences of guesswork.

Create feasibility studies based on robust data models and make data driven decisions that improve project outcomes.

APEX facilitates analysis through both the Deterministic Process – ‘What If’ and the Stochastic Process or Monte Carlo Simulation. With only a few mouse clicks APEX will provide detailed results on the consequences of each choice.

Even more impressive is the ability to understand the cost and schedule prior to construction using integrated estimate and analysis tools.

Simply change one or more input variables, run the analysis and review cost and schedule impact.

  • Easily modify the estimate to obtain updated cost, schedule or resource information.
  • Perform key variable sensitivity studies to understand cost and schedule impacts.
  • Develop realistic expectations for project cost, schedule and risk factors.
  • Prepare accurate estimates, best and worst-case scenarios, detailed cost datasets, project baselines and configurable report packages.

Arrive at your estimate with total confidence and without compromise using powerful data analysis functions for every possible situation.

Now that’s accuracy!

Let’s Consider
APEX. The potential to change everything.

APEX – Advanced Pipeline Estimating and eXecution Planning software uses a proprietary, robust and predictable methodology to quickly produce more precise, less costly pipeline construction cost and schedule estimates for planners, project owners and engineers alike.

Creating, Analyzing, Communicating, Delivering – The APEX Building Blocks – The Foundation for Success!

Expedite estimates and increase accuracy with preloaded templates and fields.

APEX helps automate the estimating and scheduling process using example cases with pre-populated fields and templates drawn from years of experience.

  • Senior engineers can now spend more time developing the estimate instead of developing calculations and algorithms from scratch.
  • Reusing already optimized project templates and post completion analysis data to compare estimated vs. actual performance iteratively improves your estimating library.
  • Junior team members add more value as the systemized approach of APEX helps guide and assist with the training process.

APEX saves time, increases accuracy, provides data insights and allows junior team members to add value sooner rather than later.

Support the entire project team with a tool that works the way the project does.

APEX allows each individual easy access to the data they need for their specific application.

  • System engineers have the flexibility to create the project using the application interface or through Excel import for maximum flexibility.
  • Data is organized, consolidated and coded to support all team members. All cost items are assigned a cost element and currency and optionally WBS and COA codes that can be mapped to cost management and financial systems.
  • Save time replicating and reproducing work for each software. APEX easily integrates with your systems through modern software architecture and customized output.

APEX helps you understand construction trends and their impacts on cost and schedule.

Assess project risk and execution feasibility against business objectives.

APEX facilitates comprehensive data analysis through deterministic ‘What If’ calculations and probabilistic Monte Carlo simulation to provide critical insights.

  • APEX includes tools to quickly create screening estimates using corporate benchmarks to assess the key elements of cost and schedule.
  • The estimating model is the basis to accurately understand execution risk and related cost and schedule impacts by simulating best and worst-case scenarios, variability of production rates, unexpected work stoppages, potential cost escalation, resource fluctuations and any risk register items.

APEX generates critical information to understand the project’s feasibility, risk profile and an accurate expectation of project estimate and schedule.

Analyze estimate using detailed modeling options to provide a clear path forward.

Assign operation specific production profiles and identify and solve for clashes along ROW, before the project starts.

  • Operation production rate profiles are used to model the expected construction execution challenges on the Right of Way (ROW) using time and/or location-based production factors.
  • Material quantity calculators to determine cut-fill, ditch and select backfill volumes assist in estimate preparation.
  • Model ‘Move Arounds’ such as river crossings and other impassable locations on the pipeline route including potential equipment moves.
  • Analyze different base camp locations to minimize travel time and maximize work hours on the ROW.
  • Model the hauling and stringing of pipe along the ROW to optimize stockpile sites and determine the number of trucks required.

Calculate estimate present value and compare the costs of different execution plans.

Utilize industry accepted approach to probe estimate and analyze construction execution.

APEX provides robust details on project progress and its impact on business objectives. Data and analysis are available in both Micro and Macro views.

  • Comprehensive fully trackable system data auditing can be used to review original baseline, develop check estimates, conduct due diligence and resolve stakeholder disputes.
  • Quickly calculate the cost and schedule impacts of project delays and quantify the consequences of spread work stoppages during construction.
  • Understand execution progress using cost and schedule variance analysis. Know what’s been done, where it’s been done, performance to date and the trends.
  • Review cash flow (estimate, spread and/or operation), and view total or cumulative costs by cost element.

APEX allows you to easily compare progress against the baseline estimate.

Communicate easily and effectively so everyone has the information they need.

Generate detailed reports on project progress using powerful analytics and reporting features.

  • Understand and communicate project progress and the impact of unforeseen changes to cost and schedule.
  • Answer critical questions about the project confidently with answers supported by data.
  • Maintain your project budget and cash flow during construction execution.
  • Easily produce dashboard graphics. A picture is worth a thousand words.
  • Understand progress details and make better decisions.
  • Conduct thorough project analysis after completion to compare baseline to actual performance. Create benchmarks to iteratively improve estimates and schedules going forward.

APEX allows you to effectively communicate critical aspects of your project to all stakeholders.

“APEX was used to develop two detailed budget estimates that formed the cost/schedule basis for our pipeline project. We chose the software because of its strong reputation for excellence and in part because system and estimating support was available. Definitely satisfied with the results.”

“APEX has evolved over many years into one of the most capable pipeline estimating products available. Detailed crew sheet and schedule development including equipment, labour, subcontracts and miscellaneous costs by crew allow for advanced data analysis throughout the project lifecycle. Pipestone Projects has worked with Bob and his team on multiple projects through the development of the software and highly recommend this pipeline estimating system.”

“APEX was used to update key spreads on a nearly 1000 km pipeline project. The product has been developed specifically for pipeline construction execution modelling of cost and schedule. The professional support provided, the resource loading, scheduling and other analysis capabilities along with consistency of output were key factors in choosing the software.”

Let’s Summarize

APEX is industry premier high-performance advanced pipeline estimating and execution planning software.
Experience showed that struggles with data integrity and multiple, overlapping and incomprehensible Excel workbooks was commonplace for many owner, engineering and construction companies involved with pipeline planning and construction.
The result was data integrity and accuracy issues, missed opportunities for both schedule optimization and iterative improvement of budgets and estimates, inefficient processes, unnecessarily expensive rework and reactive project management.

APEX increases precision and the performance and responsivity of professionals working on pipeline projects.

APEX – Advanced Pipeline Estimating and eXecution Planning software has been shown to:

  • Reduce workload and time spent creating estimates and schedules by up to half the time and effort for double the usable data.
  • Enhance team efficiency by allowing users to iteratively add to the body of knowledge utilizing fully integrated estimating library.
  • Increase confidence and accuracy in project estimates, schedules, resource utilization and period cash flow.
  • Eliminate or dramatically reduce data loss or corruption through migration from one solution to the next.

Experience truly high-performance pipeline project estimating and execution planning software.

Is it time to switch to APEX?