Ontology-Based Cost Management in Public Infrastructure Projects: A Case Study on Transferability and Applicability

Abstract: Cost management in infrastructure projects is complex due to evolving cost information, multiple estimation methods, national regulations, and construction site constraints. Ontology-based approaches combined with Building Information Modeling (BIM) can improve cost consistency and decision-making; however, their transferability across domains and countries remains insufficiently explored. This paper investigates the transferability and applicability of an existing ontology-based cost management approach in the context of German railway infrastructure projects. A case study demonstrates how cost ontologies can be reused under the national regulatory framework. The results indicate that ontology-based cost structures support cost development and semantic consistency in standardized infrastructure projects.