The Tri-Service Automated Cost Engineering System (TRACES) is a core platform used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Department of Defense partners to develop and manage construction cost estimates for complex federal projects.
TRACES is a suite of cost-engineering applications designed to support engineers across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The system enables teams to prepare planning and budgetary estimates, conduct Independent Government Estimates (IGEs), analyze project costs during design and construction, and maintain historical cost data for future projects.
Managed by the USACE Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, TRACES provides standardized tools and data that help federal cost engineers produce accurate estimates while maintaining consistent processes across major infrastructure, military construction, and civil works programs.
Key components of TRACES include:
- MII (Micro-Computer Aided Cost Estimating System) – detailed construction cost estimating
- PACES (Parametric Cost Estimating System) – parametric estimates when design data is limited
- Cost Book / Unit Price Database – extensive cost data covering tens of thousands of construction tasks
- Area Cost Factors (ACF) – location-based construction cost adjustments worldwide
- Historical Analysis Generator (HII) – analysis of historical construction cost data
Together, these tools enable cost engineers to develop standardized estimates, evaluate project risk, and support budgeting decisions across military construction, civil works, and environmental remediation projects worldwide.
By integrating cost data, estimating tools, and historical project analytics, TRACES plays an important role in ensuring transparency, accuracy, and efficiency in federal construction planning and execution.
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