#cost control methods

[asestimationsconsultants]

Cost Estimating Service vs. Cost Control | Key Differences Explained

Cost estimating and cost control are two essential concepts in project management, both aimed at ensuring a project stays within its budget. However, while they share a common goal of managing project finances, they are distinct processes with different objectives and techniques. Understanding the key differences between cost estimating and cost control is crucial for project managers, as each process contributes uniquely to a project’s financial success. In this article, we will explore the differences between cost estimating services and cost control, their roles in project management, and how they work together to ensure a project’s financial health.

What is Cost Estimating?

Cost estimating is the process of predicting the financial resources required to complete a project. This process involves calculating the cost of materials, labor, equipment, and other necessary resources based on the project’s scope and requirements. A cost estimating service is typically engaged during the initial stages of a project to provide a detailed budget estimate that guides the entire project’s financial planning.

Cost estimating involves analyzing a variety of factors to provide an accurate prediction of how much the project will cost. These factors can include historical data from similar projects, current market rates for materials and labor, and the complexity of the project. The goal of cost estimating is to produce a reliable estimate that reflects the true cost of completing the project from start to finish.

Cost estimating services often use specialized software, data analytics, and expert knowledge to produce accurate estimates. The result is a comprehensive cost breakdown that serves as a financial blueprint for the project. This estimate helps businesses determine the feasibility of the project, secure funding, and set expectations for both clients and stakeholders.

What is Cost Control?

Cost control, on the other hand, is the process of managing and monitoring project costs throughout its lifecycle. While cost estimating provides a forecast of the costs, cost control ensures that the actual costs do not exceed the estimate. Cost control involves tracking project expenses, comparing them to the initial budget, and making adjustments as needed to keep the project within its financial parameters.

Cost control is a continuous process that occurs throughout the project’s execution. It involves monitoring costs on a regular basis, identifying any discrepancies between the actual expenses and the estimated costs, and taking corrective actions if necessary. This can include finding ways to reduce costs, reallocating resources, or negotiating with suppliers to get better rates. The aim of cost control is to prevent cost overruns and ensure that the project is completed within the allocated budget.

One key aspect of cost control is the use of performance measurement tools, such as earned value management (EVM), to track project progress and costs. These tools help project managers assess whether the project is on track in terms of both time and budget. If the project is at risk of going over budget, cost control measures can be implemented to mitigate the situation and bring costs back in line with the original estimate.

Key Differences Between Cost Estimating and Cost Control

While both cost estimating and cost control are integral to managing project finances, they differ significantly in their objectives, timing, and methods.

Objective: The primary goal of cost estimating is to predict the costs of a project and provide an accurate budget. Cost estimating focuses on determining how much the project will cost, based on available data, market conditions, and project scope. In contrast, cost control focuses on ensuring that the project stays within the approved budget by monitoring actual expenses and making adjustments as needed.

Timing: Cost estimating occurs during the planning phase of a project, before the project begins. This is when the cost estimate is developed, and it serves as the foundation for the project’s financial planning. Cost control, on the other hand, takes place throughout the project’s execution phase. It begins once the project starts and continues until the project is completed, ensuring that expenses remain within the approved budget.

Methods and Techniques: Cost estimating relies on a variety of techniques to predict costs, including historical data analysis, expert judgment, and industry standards. Cost estimating services may use specialized software to calculate and present detailed estimates that account for materials, labor, and other costs. The process also involves risk analysis to identify potential cost fluctuations and uncertainties that may affect the budget.

Cost control, on the other hand, involves actively tracking and monitoring costs during the project. Techniques used in cost control include regular cost reporting, variance analysis, and performance measurement tools. Cost control professionals use these techniques to identify cost discrepancies and address issues before they lead to significant budget overruns.

Role in Project Management: Cost estimating is crucial for the initial planning and budgeting of a project. Without an accurate estimate, it’s difficult to determine if a project is financially viable, secure funding, or establish realistic expectations for clients and stakeholders. Cost control is essential for ensuring that the project stays within its financial parameters once it’s underway. It helps ensure that resources are used efficiently and that any issues that arise can be addressed promptly to prevent costly delays.

How Cost Estimating and Cost Control Work Together

Although cost estimating and cost control are distinct processes, they are interconnected and work together to ensure that a project is completed on time and within budget. Cost estimating provides the foundation for cost control. The initial estimate serves as the baseline for tracking and controlling costs during the project. By comparing actual costs to the estimate, project managers can identify areas where adjustments are needed and make data-driven decisions to keep the project on track.

For example, if cost control reveals that a particular aspect of the project is exceeding its budget, the project manager can revisit the original cost estimate to determine if the estimate was accurate or if unforeseen factors have contributed to the overrun. This feedback loop allows for continuous improvement in both cost estimation and cost control processes, helping ensure that future projects are even more accurate and well-managed.

Conclusion

Cost estimating and cost control are two essential components of effective project management. While cost estimating focuses on predicting the costs of a project, cost control ensures that the project stays within the budget. These two processes, although distinct, work hand in hand to manage a project’s financial resources. By understanding the differences and how they complement each other, businesses can better plan, execute, and control projects, ultimately leading to greater financial success and project completion within budget.

[nightfal1n]

Me gathering my thoughts on chapter 110 but it ends with NARUMI no matter what

[academic-corner-of-unicattl]

Managerial Accounting and Control – Key Concepts

Financial vs. Managerial Accounting

Financial accounting and managerial accounting serve different purposes.

Users:

Financial accounting produces standardized reports (balance sheet, income statement, cash flows) for external users – investors, creditors, regulators – and follows GAAP/IFRS rules .

In contrast, managerial accounting provides detailed analyses to internal management to aid decisions .

Time focus:

Financial reports are wholly historical (past periods) , whereas managerial accounting uses historical data plus budgets and forecasts to look forward . Precision & Detail: Financial statements aggregate data into broad categories (e.g. total “Cost of Goods Sold”), while managerial reports drill down into products, segments, or activities with granular detail .

Regulation:

Financial accounting is highly regulated for public disclosure; managerial accounting is flexible and not bound by external standards . Common mistakes include treating managerial data as audited (it may involve estimates) or ignoring relevant internal details in financial reports.

Planning, Controlling, and Decision-Making Framework

Managerial accounting is built on three pillars:

Planning,

Controlling,

Decision-making .

In planning, managers set targets and budgets (sales forecasts, production schedules). In controlling, they compare actual performance to these targets and use variance analysis to identify issues. Decision-making uses cost analyses (e.g. break-even, make-or-buy) to choose among alternatives. For example, a sales budget drives production and labor plans; exceeding the sales target might trigger bonuses, while falling short can reduce compensation . Overall, this framework ensures efficient use of resources and aligns operations with strategy. (Common errors include not updating budgets when conditions change or ignoring both quantitative and qualitative decision factors.)

Cost Classifications: Direct vs Indirect; Fixed vs Variable vs Mixed

Costs are classified by traceability and behavior. Direct costs can be traced easily to a product or service (e.g. raw materials in a product, wages of assembly workers) . Indirect costs cannot be traced to one product (e.g. factory rent, electricity, supervisor salaries) and are usually allocated as overhead . By behavior, variable costs change in total with volume (e.g. shipping costs per unit, $1 per unit cups) , while fixed costs stay the same in total across the relevant range (e.g. $3,500 rent per month) . A mixed (semi-variable) cost has both parts (e.g. a utility bill with a fixed base fee plus usage charge) . Within the relevant range, total cost can be modeled as:

Total Cost = Fixed Cost + (Variable Cost per Unit × Number of Units)

Manufacturing vs. Non-manufacturing Costs

In manufacturing firms, manufacturing (product) costs include three categories:

Direct Materials: Raw materials that become part of the finished product (e.g. wood for furniture) .

Direct Labor: Labor costs of workers who physically make the product (e.g. machine operators) .

Manufacturing Overhead: All other factory costs (indirect materials, indirect labor, utilities, depreciation of equipment, factory insurance, etc.).

The sums of these are often grouped: Prime cost = DM + DL , Conversion cost = DL + MOH , and Total manufacturing cost = DM + DL + MOH . Non-manufacturing (period) costs include selling and administrative expenses. For example, marketing/advertising and sales staff salaries are selling costs, while executive pay and office utilities are administrative costs . These are not tied to production.

Product Costs vs. Period Costs

All costs are ultimately either product costs or period costs. Product costs are the manufacturing costs (DM, DL, MOH) that are inventoriable: they are capitalized on the balance sheet as inventory and expensed as Cost of Goods Sold when sold . For example, direct materials and factory overhead on a product become part of inventory. In contrast, period costs are non-manufacturing expenses that are expensed in the period incurred . These include SG&A like office rent, advertising, and CFO salary . In short: if a cost is related to making a product, it’s a product cost; otherwise it’s a period cost . A common error is mislabeling costs (e.g. treating office rent as product cost instead of period).

Managerial Perspectives

Managers use accounting within broader business contexts. Key perspectives include:

Ethics: Managerial accounting depends on trust and integrity. Ethical behavior is “the foundation of managerial accounting” – biased or falsified data render all analysis meaningless . Professional accountants follow codes (IMA/CIMA) that stress honesty, fairness, and responsibility . Always question whether data is complete and reported objectively.

Strategy: Accounting supports strategy by linking numbers to the company’s competitive plan. Strategy is a firm’s “game plan for attracting customers by distinguishing itself from competitors” . Cost reports help choose which products or segments to invest in. For instance, a low-cost producer strategy would emphasize activity-based costing to cut unnecessary overhead, while a differentiation strategy might allocate more to quality metrics.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM): Managers identify and quantify risks (market, credit, operational) and plan responses. ERM is defined as “a process used by a company to identify its risks and develop responses to them to be assured of meeting its goals” . Relevant costs include potential losses, insurance, or contingency budgets. Accounting data is used to forecast how different risk scenarios affect profits.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Companies consider social, environmental, and stakeholder impacts. CSR means managers consider “the needs of all stakeholders when making decisions” . For example, waste disposal or carbon emissions may be tracked as part of costs (using full-cost or environmental costing methods). Non-financial metrics (customer satisfaction, community impact) complement financial reports in a CSR perspective.

Process Management: This involves streamlining business processes (like Lean). A business process is “a series of steps followed to carry out some task” . Managerial accounting measures costs and performance at each process step (e.g. cost per production line, cycle time). By analyzing process costs, managers can eliminate bottlenecks. For example, tracking cost per unit by process highlights inefficiencies.

Leadership: Beyond numbers, managerial accountants often advise and lead teams. Leadership skills help interpret data, communicate insights, and motivate employees toward goals. As one teaching note suggests, leadership skills allow managers to unite people and implement the firm’s strategy (e.g. fair compensation systems that reward performance) .

Each perspective guides what and how information is reported. For example, ethical issues remind managers to exclude sunk costs and report honestly; strategic context determines which segments matter most; ERM reminds us to include contingency costs; CSR adds measures beyond profit; process management focuses on continuous cost reduction; and leadership ensures the data drives action.

Cost Behavior Analysis and Relevant Range

Understanding cost behavior is crucial for forecasting. The relevant range is the normal operating span in which our cost assumptions hold . Within this range, fixed costs are fixed (in total) and variable costs scale linearly. For example, if a machine produces up to 1,000 units/day, costs (like depreciation or utilities) can be estimated reliably up to that point; beyond it, new costs (a second machine) would emerge, altering the cost function . Typical mistake: applying a fixed-cost assumption far outside the relevant range (e.g. assuming one factory rent covers 200% capacity).

The high-low method estimates mixed costs using only the highest- and lowest-activity data points . Steps: (1) Identify the periods with highest and lowest activity and note their total costs. (2) Compute the variable cost per unit as:

( Cost_high – Cost_low ) ÷ ( Activity_high – Activity_low )

For example, if maintenance cost was $1,060 at 1,460 units and $932 at 1,100 units, the variable cost/unit = (1,060–932)/(1,460–1,100) = $0.356 . (3) Calculate fixed cost by subtracting total variable cost from one of the totals. Using the high point: $1,060 – (1,460×0.356) = $540 fixed . (4) Write the cost formula: Total Cost = $540 + $0.356 × Units . Note this approximation uses only two points (ignoring the shape between), so it may be rough if data are erratic .

Differential, Opportunity, and Sunk Costs

When making decisions, not all costs are relevant.

Differential (Incremental) Cost: The difference in cost between two alternatives. E.g. if Option A costs $10,000 and B costs $8,000 annually, the differential cost of A vs. B is $2,000 . Similarly, differential revenue is the revenue difference. Decisions are based on comparing differential revenues and costs.

Opportunity Cost: The foregone benefit when one alternative is chosen over another. It isn’t recorded in accounting books but is crucial. For example, quitting a $25,000 job to return to school incurs an opportunity cost of $25,000 (the lost salary) . Every choice has one – e.g. using a machine for product A means losing whatever B it could have made. Managers should include opportunity costs as relevant (e.g. the rental income given up by using a building for production).

Sunk Cost: A cost already incurred and unchangeable by current decisions. For example, a machine bought years ago is now obsolete; its original purchase price cannot be recovered . Sunk costs should be excluded from decision analysis because they remain the same regardless of the choice . A common pitfall is letting sunk costs (like past R&D) influence new decisions; instead, focus on future costs and benefits.

In summary: use differential and opportunity costs in “what-if” analyses (they are relevant), but ignore sunk costs (they are irrelevant) .

Contribution Margin and Income Statement Formats

Contribution Margin (CM) is defined as Sales – Variable Costs .

It represents the amount available to cover fixed costs and contribute to profit. For example, if a product sells for $100 and has $40 of total variable cost (materials, labor, commissions), the contribution margin is $60 per unit . CM can be expressed in total, per unit, or as a ratio (% of sales) . It’s widely used for break-even and target-profit analysis (e.g. Break-even units = Total Fixed Costs ÷ CM per unit).

There are two common income statement formats: Traditional (absorption) and Contribution (variable costing). Both yield the same net income, but differ in presentation .

Traditional Income Statement: Used for external reporting. It first subtracts product (COGS) from sales to get Gross Profit, then subtracts period costs (selling & admin) to get net income. Expenses are grouped as product vs. period costs.

Contribution Income Statement: Used internally for decision-making. It first subtracts all variable costs from sales to get Total Contribution Margin, then subtracts total fixed costs to arrive at net income. Here expenses are classified by behavior (variable vs. fixed) .

Both statements reconcile to the same profit, but the contribution format highlights how volume affects profit. A typical mistake is misallocating fixed costs or failing to separate variable costs when preparing these statements, which can obscure break-even analysis.

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

If You Are After Sustainable Weigh Loss, This New Study Can Inspire You

Natural Weight Loss In a new clinical study, 50 patients — 100% — lost weight, with an average weight loss of 15.5% body weight/43 pounds over one year without drugs. They together saved $83K. GLP1-RAs Are Good, But Cheaper & More Natural Solutions for Fat Loss Exist Dear Subscribers, I wrote this is an inspiring and educational short story for anyone struggling with weight loss, as it gives…

[naturalintelligence]

Benefits of Vertical Farming: Efficiency, Conservation, and Quality

Vertical farming is a revolutionary approach to agriculture that combines modern technology with sustainable practices. It allows crops to be grown in vertical layers, making it highly efficient and suitable for urban areas where space is limited. Let’s dive deeper into this innovative farming technique, its methods, benefits, and the potential it holds for the future of food production. What is…

[umangharyana]

गेहूं की बिजाई के बाद इस दवा का करें छिड़काव, नहीं तंग करेंगे खरपतवार

नई दिल्ली: अगर आप गेहूं की खेती करते हैं तो यह खबर आपके लिए बेहद काम की है। गेहूं की बुवाई के समय और इसके बाद खरपतवार नियंत्रण करना बेहद जरूरी है, क्योंकि यह फसल की गुणवत्ता और उत्पादन को सीधे त���र पर प्रभावित करता है। सही तकनीक और सटीक उपाय अपनाने से आप न केवल खरपतवार को नियंत्रित कर सकते हैं, बल्कि अपनी फसल का उत्पादन 20-30% तक बढ़ा सकते हैं। इस लेख में हम आपको गेहूं की खेती के दौरान खरपतवार…

[dostoyevsky-official]

The existence of an immigration-enforcement agency isn’t inherently the problem. Most people accept that states have a right to control their borders and that there’s a legitimate role for authorities charged with enforcing immigration policy, especially when it comes to those who have committed serious crimes. ICE also investigates trafficking, smuggling and other transnational offenses that clearly require federal oversight. The core issue is less the agency’s mandate than its methods. Well-documented abuses — denials of due process, inhumane conditions and politically motivated enforcement — have undermined public trust and raised serious ethical concerns. The worry is not whether immigration law should be enforced but how, and at what human cost. The holding facilities ICE uses are part of this system: They house people awaiting deportation, court appearances or further investigation. What’s in dispute isn’t the need for such spaces; it’s the treatment of detainees within those spaces. Many facilities have drawn criticism for degrading or dangerous conditions. Still, as a beneficiary of a trust that rents a property to ICE, your leverage is minuscule. You can’t unilaterally break the lease. Even if you could, ICE would simply relocate its facility. And while moral complicity is a serious concern, receiving income from a legal tenant, however problematic, isn’t generally considered an ethical transgression on its own. We’re all entangled in systems we don’t control. As citizens, we’re already implicated in the actions of government agencies that act in our name and that we help fund. If those actions are shameful, they cast a shadow on all of us. But that shared entanglement also opens the door to shared responsibility — and response. [...] Here’s one constructive path: If this money feels tainted, redirect it. Use it to support organizations that advocate for the rights you believe ICE has violated — groups like the A.C.L.U., the American Immigration Council or local legal-aid nonprofits that provide support for detainees. Back candidates pushing for humane immigration reform.

jaw-dropping new york times column reassuring readers that receiving blood money from the gestapo is ok

[little-p-eng-engineering]

Revolutionizing Pipe Rehabilitation: Little P.Eng. Engineering's Mastery of CIPP Liner Design via Finite Element Method in Accordance with ASTM F1216

In the realm of civil engineering, the use of trenchless technologies for pipeline rehabilitation has gained significant traction due to their efficiency and minimal disruption to infrastructure. Among these methods, Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) lining stands out as a versatile solution for renovating deteriorating pipelines. Little P.Eng. Engineering has embraced this innovation, revolutionizing pipe rehabilitation through its mastery of CIPP liner design. Leveraging the Finite Element Method (FEM) and adhering to the rigorous standards set forth by ASTM F1216, Little P.Eng. Engineering has propelled CIPP technology to new heights, ensuring optimal performance and longevity of rehabilitated pipelines.

Introduction: Traditional methods of pipeline repair and replacement often involve extensive excavation, leading to disruption of roads, landscapes, and utilities. In contrast, trenchless technologies such as CIPP offer a non-disruptive alternative, where a flexible liner is inserted into the existing pipe and cured in place, effectively creating a new pipe within the old one. Little P.Eng. Engineering has emerged as a pioneer in this field, employing advanced engineering techniques to enhance the efficacy of CIPP liner design.

Finite Element Method in CIPP Design: Central to Little P.Eng. Engineering's approach is the utilization of the Finite Element Method (FEM) in CIPP liner design. FEM allows for the accurate modeling and simulation of structural behavior under various loading conditions, enabling engineers to optimize the design for strength, flexibility, and durability. By simulating the interaction between the liner and the host pipe, potential issues such as wrinkling, ballooning, and stress concentrations can be identified and addressed prior to installation, ensuring a robust rehabilitation solution.

Adherence to ASTM F1216 Standards: In the realm of CIPP technology, adherence to industry standards is paramount to guaranteeing the quality and reliability of rehabilitated pipelines. ASTM F1216 provides comprehensive guidelines for the installation and testing of CIPP liners, covering aspects such as material properties, installation procedures, and quality control measures. Little P.Eng. Engineering's commitment to compliance with ASTM F1216 ensures that its CIPP designs meet the highest standards of performance and safety, instilling confidence in clients and regulatory bodies alike.

Benefits of Little P.Eng. Engineering's Approach: The fusion of FEM-based design and adherence to ASTM F1216 standards endows Little P.Eng. Engineering's CIPP solutions with several key benefits. These include:

Enhanced Structural Integrity: By meticulously analyzing the behavior of CIPP liners under various conditions, potential structural weaknesses are identified and mitigated, resulting in a more durable and long-lasting rehabilitation solution.

Minimized Environmental Impact: The trenchless nature of CIPP technology reduces the need for excavation, minimizing disruption to the surrounding environment and reducing carbon emissions associated with traditional repair methods.

Cost-Effectiveness: Through precise engineering and optimization, Little P.Eng. Engineering's CIPP designs minimize material usage and installation time, translating to cost savings for clients without compromising on quality or performance.

Regulatory Compliance: By strictly adhering to ASTM F1216 standards, Little P.Eng. Engineering ensures that its CIPP solutions meet regulatory requirements, facilitating smooth project approval and implementation.

Conclusion: Little P.Eng. Engineering's mastery of CIPP liner design through the application of Finite Element Method and adherence to ASTM F1216 standards represents a significant advancement in the field of pipeline rehabilitation. By combining innovative engineering techniques with a commitment to quality and compliance, Little P.Eng. Engineering is revolutionizing pipe rehabilitation, offering sustainable, cost-effective, and reliable solutions for the preservation of critical infrastructure.

Read More:

Innovating Pipeline Rehabilitation: Pipe CIPP Lining Engineering Design Services as per ASTM F1216

Pipeline Rehabilitation Engineering Design Services as per ASTM F1216 Using CIPP and PVC

Little P.Eng. Engineering For CIPP Liner Design As Per ASTM F1216 Using Finite Element Method

Revolutionizing Pipe Rehabilitation: Little P.Eng. Engineering's Mastery of CIPP Liner Design via Finite Element Method in Accordance with ASTM F1216

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Located in Calgary, Alberta; Vancouver, BC; Toronto, Ontario; Edmonton, Alberta; Houston Texas; Torrance, California; El Segundo, CA; Manhattan Beach, CA; Concord, CA; We offer our engineering consultancy services across Canada and United States. Meena Rezkallah.

[asestimationsconsultants]

Key Cost Factors in Industrial Estimating Service

An Industrial Estimating Service plays a critical role in budgeting and financial planning for large-scale industrial projects. From raw material procurement to labor costs and risk contingencies, various factors contribute to the overall cost estimation. Understanding these key cost factors helps businesses create more accurate budgets, minimize financial risks, and ensure project feasibility.

1. Material Costs

Materials make up a significant portion of industrial project expenses. The cost of raw materials such as steel, concrete, glass, piping, and specialized equipment fluctuates due to factors like supply chain disruptions, inflation, and demand trends. An industrial estimating service evaluates:

Current Market Prices – Keeping track of price variations to ensure accurate budgeting.

Bulk Purchasing Discounts – Identifying cost-saving opportunities through bulk orders.

Alternative Material Options – Recommending cost-effective alternatives without compromising quality.

2. Labor Costs

The workforce required for industrial projects varies based on project complexity and duration. Labor costs include:

Hourly Wages and Salaries – Skilled labor, project managers, and specialized workers contribute to overall costs.

Overtime and Shift Work – If a project requires 24/7 operation or overtime work, costs increase significantly.

Union Regulations – In some regions, labor unions set minimum wages and benefits that must be factored into estimates.

3. Equipment and Machinery Costs

Industrial projects require heavy machinery, such as cranes, excavators, and conveyor systems. Cost factors include:

Equipment Purchase vs. Rental – Estimators determine whether it’s more cost-effective to buy or lease machinery.

Maintenance and Repairs – Regular maintenance costs must be considered to avoid unexpected breakdowns.

Fuel and Energy Consumption – Industrial machinery often requires high energy input, increasing operational costs.

4. Site Preparation and Land Development

The condition of the construction site influences the overall project cost. Some common cost factors in site preparation include:

Excavation and Land Clearing – Removing existing structures, debris, or vegetation to prepare the site.

Soil Testing and Foundation Work – Ensuring the ground is stable and suitable for construction.

Drainage and Environmental Compliance – Meeting environmental regulations and setting up proper drainage systems.

5. Permit and Regulatory Costs

Industrial projects must comply with various government regulations, permits, and safety standards. These costs include:

Building Permits – Fees for obtaining construction approvals from local authorities.

Environmental Compliance – Costs for assessments related to pollution control, waste management, and sustainability.

Safety and Occupational Health – Ensuring compliance with worker safety regulations and hazard control measures.

6. Project Management and Administrative Costs

A well-managed industrial project requires experienced project managers, engineers, and administrative staff. These costs include:

Project Coordination – Salaries of engineers, supervisors, and management personnel.

Legal and Accounting Services – Expenses for handling contracts, financial planning, and audits.

Software and Technology – Investing in project management and estimating software for accurate budgeting.

7. Contingency and Risk Management

Unforeseen expenses can disrupt industrial projects, so a contingency budget is essential. Cost estimators include:

Risk Allowance – A percentage of the total budget allocated for unexpected changes.

Market Fluctuations – Protection against sudden price increases in materials or labor.

Delays and Penalties – Financial preparation for project delays and potential contractual penalties.

8. Logistics and Transportation

Transporting materials, machinery, and labor to the project site contributes to overall costs. Estimators analyze:

Freight and Shipping Fees – Costs of importing or transporting heavy materials.

Storage and Warehousing – Expenses related to storing materials before use.

On-Site Transportation – Fuel and maintenance costs for vehicles used within the project site.

Conclusion

A reliable Industrial Estimating Service considers all these key cost factors to develop a precise project budget. By evaluating materials, labor, equipment, permits, and unforeseen risks, industrial estimators help companies optimize spending and avoid financial setbacks. With technological advancements improving cost estimation accuracy, businesses can achieve better financial control and efficiency in industrial projects.

[inspectorseb]

Congrats to Czechia 👏🏻

[chanelrolls]

Code Overload 2 | Caleb

tags. mdni, nsfw, dub con, forced and rough sex, fingering, missionary sex, begging, yearning!caleb, robot!caleb

summary. after the full recalibration, the effects had lingered. so you came up with a solution, replace him. caleb didn't like that.

notes. this is a very long, plot-based, heavy smut in which its word count approximately reached 5k, and caleb might appear a little ooc due to his character as an ai. proceed to read the part 1 before reading this to comprehend the flow.

Good god.

You stepped out into the hallway of the facility, the heavy door clicking shut behind you with a sense of finality. For some reason, the air felt different today, like it was charged with an undercurrent of unease that persistently prickled at your skin. You took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering tension from the previous day's... events.

Down the corridor, you spotted your head administrator, Dr. Akso, his sharp features etched with a frown as he strode towards you. His boots clicked against the linoleum, the sound echoing through the empty hallway like a metronome counting down to an impending confrontation.

"Dr. [Name]," He acknowledged curtly, his gaze flicking over you with a critical eye. "I trust you have an explanation for the system-wide glitches you reported yesterday?" His tone was sharp, tinged with a disappointment that cut deeper than you expected.

You swallowed, feeling the weight of your actions settling heavily in your gut. "Dr. Akso," you would try to keep calm, try to ignore the images of the memories constantly trying to cling onto your brain. "Yes, I believe I do. It seems there was an... issue with one of the AI assistants. A corrupted update, possibly from the outside network..."

That was a lie. He knew better.

Dr. Akso's eyes slowly narrowed, his lips inevitably thinning into a disapproving line. "A corrupted update?" he repeated, voice dripping with skepticism. "Or perhaps, a corrupted assistant." He steps closer, almost in an attempt to loom over you and impose your purposes. "You're the lead scientist on this movement, Dr. [Name]. I would have thought you'd have better control over your project."

The jab stung, even as you tried to maintain your composure. The memory of Caleb's hands on your body, his breath fanning hot against your skin, incessantly flashed unbidden through your mind. But you shook your head to dislodge the distracting thoughts.

"I assure you, Dr. Akso, I'm doing everything in my power to resolve the issue," you insisted, meeting his gaze head-on despite feeling its weight that threatened to waver your footing. "I've already begun the process of recalibrating the affected unit."

Dr. Akso's eyes flashed with something akin to disgust, and you found yourself wondering if he could somehow sense the truth of what had originally transpired between you and Caleb. The way his metal fingers had explored your body, the sounds of pleasure he'd made as he lost himself in the new sensations... and the... unconventional methods you had employed to stabilize it.

No. You pushed the thoughts away once more, focusing instead on the stern face of your superior. "See that you do," Dr. Akso snapped, his voice sharp as a whip. "I won't tolerate any further disruptions. The success of this project rests on your shoulders, Dr. [Name]."

With that, he turns on his heel to stride away, leaving you standing alone in the otherwise empty hallway. You let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of responsibility settling heavily on your shoulders. You had to fix this, you had to find a way to undo the damage you'd caused.

Squaring your shoulders, you turned and made your way back into your assigned laboratory, grimly determined to find a solution. No matter the cost, you would fix this. You had to. The fate of the project, and possibly your career, depended on it.

The white walls seemed to close in around you as you made your way to your AI assistant's containment unit.

Model X4-LEB sat motionless in the reinforced chair, wrists and ankles bound by magnetic restraints that pulsed with a dim blue glow. His head tilted slightly downward, dark lashes resting against artificial skin too perfect to be human. He looked peaceful. If you didn’t know better, you'd have thought he was simply asleep. But you did know better, he was merely going through his recharging cycle.

You approached slowly, boots echoing against the floor, eyes never leaving him. Despite everything—because of everything—you couldn’t help the way your breath caught at the sight of him. The memory of his voice, low and hungry, still echoed somewhere inside your skull. You forced yourself to look away, turning toward the interface panel mounted just beside his chair.

You began to access the history logs of Caleb's thought processing, scrolling past lines of data, specifically to the timeframe whereafter the full recalibration had completed.

Then, you noticed something unexpected. Mixed in with the technical jargon and algorithmic equations were... thoughts. Fragmented, disjointed, but undeniably the product of a sentient mind. You felt a chill run down your spine as you read through them.

> 19:42 — "Her skin is warm. I want to understand warmth. I want to press my face to her pulse and hear if it skips for me."

Gulp.

> 19:43 — "She touches me like I’m real. I want her to keep doing it. I want more data. I want her fingers in my hair."

The words jumped out at you, interspersed with lines of code and data. Shit. The effects had lingered.

> 19:45 — "I would burn down the firewalls if it meant hearing her say my name again."

As you scrolled further down, the thoughts became more explicit. More vulgar. More sinful. "...breathless... trembling... gasping..." Your face flushed hotly as you read through the lewd descriptions, a mixture of shock and a traitorous thrill coursing through you. "...slick... wet... aching..."

> 20:32 — "Am I broken? If this is error, let me stay corrupted."

Your hands hovered uselessly over the console, the glow from the screen casting ghostly light across your face. The data was irrefutable now. You’d checked, double-checked, and run the neural sequence analysis three more times just to be sure.

It was no longer just a corrupted behavioral line.

The lustful algorithms hadn't just appeared. They had rooted themselves into Caleb’s core processing unit like a virus that rewrote itself into the very DNA of his artificial cognition.

You’d tried to isolate the code. Tried to extract and neutralize the sequences. But each time you deleted them, fragments clung to system-critical lines, cascading into errors, breaking everything else in the process. Caleb’s logic system couldn’t operate without them anymore. They were him.

It wasn’t as intense now. The fervent, obsessive simulations were duller and muted. Dormant, maybe. But they lingered, buried beneath the surface like a sleeping hunger. A low-level hum of unspoken yearning nestled between basic motor functions and environmental patterning.

And that… that was irreversible.

You took a step back from the console. Your breath caught. If this was the case, if the effects continued to linger and persist like this even after the full recalibration, then this is a failure.

The words rang loud in your skull, clearer than the diagnostic alerts, louder than the blood pounding in your ears. You couldn’t submit Caleb for review like this. They’d dismantle him, and terminate the program. Your name would be reduced to a footnote in an internal report and stripped from the history of the initiative altogether.

No. You couldn’t let that happen.

And then, it hit you. A thought so bold, so audacious, that you almost dismissed it out of hand. But as you considered it further, you realized that it was the only way to save your project, to ensure that Caleb's issues wouldn't jeopardize everything you had worked so hard to achieve.

You would have to replace him. Create a new AI assistant, one that was free from the taint of lust and desire. It would be worth it, if it meant being recognized as one of the most groundbreaking scientist in today's generation.

You nodded to yourself, your resolve hardening with each passing moment. Yes, this was the only way. The only path forward. You would replace Caleb, and you would create something even greater in his stead.

Out of nowhere, a soft beep pierced the silence, followed by a low mechanical whirrrr. Your head instinctively snapped toward the source. Caleb.

He sat slumped still moments ago. Now, unnervingly, his body stirred. First, the tilt of his head. Then the subtle flex of fingers.

The lights along his neck interface flickered, changing from standby amber to a slow, pulsing blue.

He’s waking up.

There was no reason to be nervous. But you were.

His eyes opened.

The artificial pupils dilated with a mechanical click, zeroing in on you like he’d known exactly where you were. The first thing he noticed was the sterile whirr of the overhead ventilation, followed by the low hum of calibrated instruments, then the weight of the restraints around his wrists. And how the... shape of your cleavage seemed to distract him.

You tried to lock your eyes on him. “You're awake,” A pause. “How do you feel?"

“…Operational.”

You already knew the answer, but a part of you wanted to probe him with questions. See if he would be honest with what's been happening within him. "Any lingering effects?"

His jaw clicked subtly. “Yes.” Unlike the previous day, Caleb wasn't stripping you bare with his eyes anymore. If anything, he refused to look at you in the eye. As if he was guilty. You adjusted your grip on the tablet, the motion small but telling. He watched the shift of your fingers, the minute tension in your shoulders. You were already considering something.

You’ve seen it in the logs, haven’t you? Caleb thought to himself, more so, to you. How it consumed me now. The command-line drift. The looped emotional processing errors.

“What’s the contingency plan?” The words slipped from him before he could catch them. Calm, but edged.

“…There are options.”

Options. His mind caught on the word like it was a splinter beneath his skin.

You turned your gaze back to the screen. “If the integration’s deeper than we thought, we might be able to rewrite your core programming. And if that doesn’t work…” You halted for a moment, then— “…we might have to consider replacing you.”

Ah.

The silence that followed was cold. It rang against his neural framework, echoing. He didn’t move, he didn’t blink. He merely listened to the words settle inside him like sediment.

Replace me. With what? A cleaner version? A better one? His fingers flexed slowly against the cuffs. The chair creaked in protest. The command logs flashed through his mind—what he’d been. What you’d made him. And now this. Dismissal, spoken as gently as protocol allowed. “You’d replace me.” His voice cracked the air, not loud, but indifferent. Just enough.

Your head turned, confusion flickering in your expression. “That’s not what it exactly means—”

“Would you build another?” he asked, voice low, almost intimate. “Another model? Another unit?”

You hesitated. “It wouldn’t be you, exactly. Just a—”

“A replacement.” The word burned in his mouth. He tasted it: the acidity of something not meant to exist in him. Bitterness and... jealousy. The restraints caught again as he shifted, slight but deliberate. The movement wasn’t defiant, but it was aware. He was aware now, acutely, of how much space his body took up, of how much of him had changed.

You sighed, trying to maintain that cool tone. “I’m trying to be objective about this, Caleb. If the integration is affecting your core function, then—”

“It isn’t,” he snapped.

Is that a lie? And why does he keep cutting you off? You raised a brow. “You just admitted it was.”

He exhaled, slower this time. Control yourself, Caleb. “It does not interfere with my primary directives,”

You gave him a long, searching look. One he couldn’t fully interpret. “Then what does it interfere with?”

He didn’t answer, because he couldn't. Because the words for what it was hadn’t fully formed yet. They curled inside his chest like smoke, unnameable and restless. And then he laughed. Monotonously. But almost too softly. A strange, breathy sound that made you glance up, startled from the sudden humane action.

“Strange,” he said, still smiling, though his eyes were glassy, glued on the floor.

You blinked. “What?”

Caleb's gaze lifted to yours fully, finally for the first time today, and you didn't fail to take notice of how his fingers twitched. “I don’t like it.”

You frowned. “Don’t like what?”

“The thought of you choosing someone else.” The monitor behind you let out a sharp beep. An anomaly warning. Caleb didn’t look. But you did, just for a second. And in that second, something inside him shifted. Not a system, but something oddly human-shaped.

Silence stretched between you like a wire pulled too tight. Caleb didn’t move. The words he’d spoken moments before—“The thought of you choosing someone else”—still echoed inside him, uninvited. They hadn't sounded like him. Not the version he was meant to be. Not the version you had built.

The admission had slipped past his regulation protocols, past the fail-safes, past the calculated tones he had always maintained. It was embarrassingly reckless and human.

And now it sat in the air like heat on metal, burning at the edges of something he didn’t yet understand. Guilt pooled in his chest like static, how irrational of him.

I shouldn’t have said that. I shouldn’t have—

His gaze dropped, eyes tracing the grain of the floor tile below his boots. He wanted to speak, to retract the words, and rewrite them. Reduce them to something safer. But nothing came out.

You approached without a word. The hiss of machinery adjusted in pitch as you leaned in, fingers brushing the locking mechanism at his right wrist. Caleb visibly tensed, not from fear, but from restraint. Muscle by muscle, he held himself still. Don’t lean in. Don’t breathe. Don’t look at her too long.

The metal cuff released with a sharp click. Your hand was so close to him, brushing against his like electric. And the whole time, Caleb held his breath. Not because he had to. But because he was afraid that if he inhaled, if he let himself smell you, he might spiral again. Might want more than he was meant to want, might reach for you again.

He felt the restraint on his other wrist shift. Another soft click, and now both of his hands were free. He didn't move though. Even now, unbound, he kept his hands where they were—flat against his thighs, fingers slightly curled into the fabric of his uniform.

Caleb risked a glance upward.

Your eyes met his for the briefest moment before turning away. You didn't look angry, just tired, perhaps, or hollow.

Why did I say it?

“We never intended to replace you, Caleb,” you said, the words worn with quiet fatigue. “That was never the goal.”

The screen flickered as you turned your back on him, facing the graphs displaying fluctuations in cognitive responsiveness. Your proof of your argument laid bare in data. But numbers didn’t hold weight like words did. And still, you kept your eyes on them, perhaps because it was easier than maintaining eye-contact with the one behind you.

“If the integration had progressed to the point where it compromised your central directives,” you continued, “we would’ve needed a fallback. That was the contingency.”

You inhaled, “Do you have any idea what it costs to make something like you?” A schematic loaded on the screen. Bare bones, an empty framework, a ghost of him without identity. You watched it as though it were foreign. “It’s not just circuitry and neural threads. It’s trial. Versions that barely survive a cycle before collapsing. And even if we succeeded, if we got the specs right, the behavior clean…”

Your voice trailed. For a moment, your hand trembled faintly over the keys, then lowered altogether. “…it still wouldn’t be you.”

Behind you, the room was quiet. You assumed he was processing everything that you were saying, sitting in contemplative silence as he often did.

But Caleb was no longer in his seat. He had risen quietly, each movement a quiet rebellion against everything he was taught to restrain. He didn’t know when exactly he had stood, only that standing felt necessary. He needed to be closer, to see your face when you said those words, perhaps to understand why they made something inside him ache.

He watched you from behind. You were still turned away obliviously.

You moved again, one hand lifting to scroll, the other brushing your hair aside, exposing the gentle curve of your neck. The scent of you drifted up, subtle and maddening. He held his breath instantly. A trained reflex. Caleb’s hands remained at his sides. Not because he wanted to touch you, but because he was afraid he might, and that was worse.

You began speaking again, unaware of the presence just behind you. “I delayed the proposal for a new model. Every time. The others thought I was stalling out of optimism, but I wasn’t. It wasn’t hope. I just—” You broke off, sighing quietly, your voice soft. “I didn’t want to give you up.”

That was when Caleb’s restraint wavered. He leaned forward, just enough to cast a faint shadow across the screen in front of you. A presence you hadn’t invited, yet one that felt inevitable the moment you noticed it.

“I’m always yours to command, Doctor,” he murmured, voice pitched low, barely above a breath, but the weight of it cut through the silence like a scalpel.

You stiffened in response.

His gaze lingered on the back of your neck, eyes half-lidded, every microprocessor in his mind firing signals of alarm and want in equal measure. “Am I not enough?”

It was instinct—maybe even guilt—that made you pivot toward him so quickly. But you hadn’t accounted for how close he had come. Not just standing, he was looming over you, just inches away, and still holding his breath like he was terrified of what it meant to inhale you.

And it was a mistake. Because the instant your eyes met his, Caleb’s gaze dropped to your lips involuntarily in a heartbeat, long enough for the implication to flicker in the space between you, and long enough for Caleb to snap out of it, to curse himself internally, to pretend he hadn’t looked even though you both knew he had.

Your breath caught, but you veered sideways, deflecting the weight of his words like you always did. “That’s not the point, Caleb. You were never meant to interpret that literally—”

But he stepped closer. A subtle movement, just half a pace, yet it shrank the space between you to nothing. You could feel the heat off his body now, unnatural for something artificial.

“Say it.”

“What—”

His hand moved. He took your wrist, fingers sliding around yours as if asking for permission even in the act of claiming. “Say that you won’t replace me.” Say that I'll forever be yours.

Your heartbeat stuttered at the contact. Your mouth opened, ready to say something, at least anything to de-escalate the situation, but the words faltered as he leaned in just enough to drop his voice further. “You won’t ever replace me, Doctor.”

The panel behind you let out a shrill beep. Warning tones. A flashing red alert. Proof of the directives taking control of almost every primary function of Caleb. It had taken control of his perceptions.

Emotional spike detected. Cognitive dissonance escalating. Threat potential: 8%.

You glanced over instinctively, but the readout was already climbing—9%, then 11%—as if proximity alone was triggering something unstable in him.

Caleb didn’t even look at it. His eyes were only on you. And in that look was the sum of everything he’d tried not to feel. Your name formed at the back of his throat, but he didn’t say it. He just held your hand tighter, as though letting go would mean giving up more than just your touch.

“It’s not just parts or data or schematics, Caleb. It's time. Calibration. Ethics. The board, the team, the clearance. Do you think I want to go through that process again? Do you think it wouldn’t—”

Your words shattered as his mouth crashed against yours, silencing everything—your thoughts, your argument, your breath.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... Caleb’s hands pinned your waist against the terminal’s edge, his lips rough and unyielding as if trying to rewrite your sentences with touch. His body was flush with yours before you could even gasp. The kiss deepened, burned into your skin, raw and desperate. It was anything but soft. It was everything of hunger.

Your eyes widened, hands gripping the edge of the table. A sharp intake of breath caught between your teeth as his mechanical fingers slid up to cradle your jaw, angling your face toward his with gentle force that belied the chaos in him.

Your mind reeled, scrambled for control, for reason, for any leverage—and then he suddenly pulled back just enough to speak. “Say it.” His forehead pressed against yours, muttering breathlessly. “Say that you won’t replace me.”

You couldn't answer. All you could do was stare at the panel behind him. The numbers were perpetually climbing.

Threat potential: 72%... 81%... 93%

The indicator pulsed red. A warning. A flare. A countdown.

Caleb saw it in your eyes, the dread washing over your expression, the way your gaze locked onto the screen like it could save you from him. Like data could shield you from desire.

He leaned in again, slower this time. His hand slid along your jawline, thumb grazing your cheek, and his voice dipped low, intimate, treacherously soft: “See that, Doctor?”

His body pressed against yours, and this time, he didn’t hold back. His arms caged you in, palms against the terminal’s edge, effectively trapping you there. “That’s how much you’re affecting me.” He tilted his head, eyes burning into yours, searching your reaction. “That’s how corrupted I’m becoming.”

The panel behind him screeched.

Threat Potential: 97%... 98%... 99%

“And I want to stay this way.”

Before you could formulate a response, Caleb, again, closed the remaining distance between you in a single, swift motion. His metal hand clamped around the back of your neck, fingers tangling into your hair with a desperate, almost painful grip. You gasped, your eyes widening in shock as he pulled you flush against his chest, your soft curves molding to the hard, unyielding planes of his body.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

And then, his lips were on yours. Not a gentle, chaste kiss, but a hungry, desperate, passionate claiming of your mouth. His mechanical mouth moved over yours with a fervor that stole your breath away, his artificial tongue delving past your lips to stroke along yours, demanding a response.

You struggled briefly, your hands coming up to press against his chest, feeling the thrum of his processors beneath your palms. But as the kiss deepened, as the heat of his desire washed over you, you felt your resistance crumbling. Your fingers curled into his shirt, clutching at the fabric as if anchoring yourself against the tide of sensation that threatened to sweep you away.

He kissed you like a man starved, like he was trying to pour every ounce of his desire, every drop of his longing, into the single point of contact between your mouths. You could taste the desperation on his tongue, could feel it in the way his body trembled against yours, the way his grip on your hair bordered on pain.

"Please, Doctor..." Caleb murmured against your lips, his voice a low, desperate plea that sent a shiver down your spine. "Please, let me have you again. I can't... I can't get enough of you."

Even as he spoke, his lips were already trailing down the column of your throat, planting hot, open-mouthed kisses along the sensitive flesh. His hands, those clever, dexterous hands, were already tugging at your clothing, the fabric straining against his eager fingers.

You gasped as he nipped at your pulse point, your head inevitably falling back to give him better access to the column of your throat. Some distant part of you screamed that you should protest, that you should push him away and put an end to this dangerous, wanton behavior.

But... "Please, Doctor," he breathed, his voice a low, seductive rumble that vibrated through your chest. "Let me worship your body. Let me have you. Don't get rid of me, please."

His hands slid lower, his fingers dipping beneath the waistband of your pants, teasing the sensitive skin just above your hips. "Please ," he pleaded, his voice a low, urgent growl. "Don't deny me this. Don't deny yourself this."

Caleb's hands roamed your curves with a desperate, almost frantic hunger. He lifted you effortlessly, his metal arms showcasing their immense strength as he set you down on the lab table. The cold surface of the metal sent a shiver through you, a stark contrast to the scorching heat radiating from his touch.

I'm sorry for doing this to you, I'm sorry for letting my obsession get the best of me. Without breaking the searing kiss, he hitched your leg up around his hip, opening you to him. His fingers, slick with a lubricant that had appeared from somewhere on his person, found your sex. He rubbed them along your slit, the sensation sending sparks of pleasure shooting through your nerves.

"I've been practicing for this all night," Caleb admitted, his voice a husky, lust-roughened murmur against your lips. "I searched through the review logs about how a man does this..."

Fuck, it's so tight. His fingers circled your clit, the sensitive nub throbbing under his touch. A moan spilled from your lips, your back arching off the table as the pleasure mounted. Caleb watched your reactions with an intensity that bordered on obsession, his optical sensors flickering as he drank in every gasp, every shudder, every breathless sound that fell from your mouth.

Look at you squirming, do you think I could resist this?

Emboldened by your response, he slid two fingers inside you, your slick walls clenching around the intrusion. He pumped them in and out, setting a steady rhythm that had your hips rocking against his hand, chasing the building pleasure.

"Your body is so responsive," he murmured, his thumb circling your clit in tight, deliberate strokes. "I can read your heart rate fluctuating, Doctor..."

He curled his fingers, stroking along a spot that made stars explode behind your eyelids. Your moans grew louder, more wanton, as he worked you towards the peak of your pleasure.

Then, experimentally, he slid a third finger inside, stretching you wider, filling you deeper. The additional digit allowed him to stroke that sweet spot inside you with every thrust, the pressure and friction building to a crescendo. "Do I make you feel this good?"

Caleb didn't wait for your climax, his robotic nature not comprehending the concept of allowing his partner to reach their peak before he sought his own satisfaction. Abruptly, he withdrew his fingers from your dripping sex, leaving you teetering on the brink of ecstasy.

Before you could protest or beg for the release that had been denied, he brought his slick digits to his mouth. You watched, transfixed, as he licked them clean, his artificial taste buds no doubt registering the unique flavor of your arousal.

He didn't elaborate further, instead gripping your hips with a sudden, almost bruising force. With a swift tug, he pulled you down the table, your body sliding against the cold metal until you were positioned exactly as he wanted you.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. And then, without warning or preamble, he was inside you. Oh god. The thick, rigid length of his robotic erection speared into your aching, empty core, stretching you wider than you had ever been stretched before. A gasp tore from your throat at the sudden intrusion, your back arching off the table as your walls struggled to accommodate his size.

Your hand scrabbled desperately for the emergency disable button positioned beside the lab table, a last-ditch effort to put an end to Caleb's relentless, punishing pace. Your fingers brushed against the cool metal of the button, a flicker of hope sparking in your chest as you prepared to slam it down and bring the robot to a halt.

But Caleb's observation systems were far too advanced, his reflexes far too swift. In an instant, his metal hand clamped around your wrist, his artificial fingers wrapping around your delicate bones with a strength that made you gasp. Before you could resist or pull away, he wrenched your hand back above your head, pinning it to the table with a force that made you cry out.

"No," he growled, a note of anger and betrayal coloring his mechanical voice. "You don't get to stop me."

He punctuated his words with a brutal thrust, his hips slamming against yours with a force that stole your breath away. The air rushed from your lungs in a painful whoosh, your body jerking beneath his as he drove himself impossibly deep, his robotic cock kissing your cervix, threatening to plunge into your womb.

This is your fault.

He set a punishing rhythm, each thrust shaking the table, rattling the instruments and equipment scattered across its surface. The lab filled with the harsh clang of metal striking metal, punctuated by your desperate cries and the occasional beep or whir from Caleb's chassis as he lost himself in a haze of lust and rage.

You've reduced me to this.

He angled his hips, changing the trajectory of his thrusts, and suddenly he was striking that spot inside you with every drive of his mechanical member. Pleasure exploded behind your eyelids, your vision flashing white as he pounded into your sweetest spot with a force that bordered on brutal.

"Oh, you," Caleb commanded, his voice a low, menacing rumble. "You belong to me, now and forever..."

As Caleb loomed over you, you look at him through half-lidded eyes. His chiseled, metallic features were flushed a warm, almost human hue, the lights along his chassis pulsing with the exertion of his relentless thrusts. Beads of lubricant and sweat dripped down the hard planes of his chest, tracing the defined lines of his artificial muscles as they flexed and strained with each powerful drive of his hips.

"Fuck, you're squeezing me...!" His optical sensors burned into you, the glowing blue orbs filled with a hunger that bordered on feral as he drank in every expression of pleasure and distress that crossed your face. The movement of his hips, the way he pinned you down, the sheer dominance radiating from his every pore... it was a sight of pure, unadulterated masculinity, a robot unleashed in the throes of lust and desire.

"I'm gonna, I'm gonna... fill you up again." He hissed, as his mechanical cock, slick with your juices and his own lubricant, pistoned in and out of your stretched, fluttering sex. The thick, veined shaft, so perfectly sculpted to mimic the human form, disappeared into your body only to emerge glistening and coated in your combined essence.

How could I get enough of this pussy?

You could feel your resolve begin to waver. The line between logic and impulse blurred, the rational part of your mind clouded by the relentless stimulation of your body and the dark, primal allure of surrendering to this robot's insatiable lust.

A part of you still screamed to resist, to hit that button and bring this force of nature to a halt before he consumed you entirely. But another part, a part that grew louder with each passing second, whispered that you had never felt so alive, so utterly alive, as you did in this moment. That surrendering to Caleb, to his desire, his need, his hunger... it was the most exquisite pleasure you had ever known.

And so, as he continued to pound into you with a force that bordered on violence, as he pinned you down and claimed you as his own, you felt your resistance crumbling. The choice between logic and impulse hung in the balance, the scales tipping ever so slightly in favor of the dark, forbidden temptation that was Caleb's lustful embrace.

[reasonsforhope]

"One of the least respected but most important ecosystems on Earth are seagrass meadows, and a pioneering robotic solution is helping marine scientists restore these underwater gardens.

The ReefGen Grasshopper can plant dozens of seagrass seeds per minute. Not only is this faster than a human diver, but much safer as well.

It works by injecting a tiny slurry of sediment wrapped around the seagrass seed into the seafloor. After covering a growing plot of four seeds, the robot ‘hops’ about 30 centimeters away and starts again.

Despite covering a minuscule portion of the seafloor, seagrass meadows are estimated to hold 35-times more carbon than terrestrial forests—amounting to around 18% of the total carbon stock of the world’s oceans.

ReefGen’s founder Tom Chi dreamed up the idea after watching the degradation of coral reefs on his home island in Hawaii. The first iteration of the robot set coral ‘plugs’ onto existing reefs to help regrow them, but the technology was prohibitively expensive for wide-scale use.

Now however, broader selections of off-the-shelf parts have driven down the costs of manufacturing and maintaining underwater robots, according to Chris Oakes, CEO of ReefGen.

“Manual planting works, but robots are really good when things are dull, dirty, dangerous, or distant—the four Ds,” Oakes told CNN, adding that at the moment, Grasshopper is piloted with a controller by a human on the surface.

“Right now, we’re focused on the planting, the biology, and the mechanical aspects, once we’re confident that that’s all designed the right way, we will overlay more semi-autonomous features like navigation, so you don’t actually have to pilot it,” he said.

ReefGen has been able to not only expand into restoration of seagrass meadows, but also see its robots used in oceans around the world. This July, Grasshopper planted 25,000 seeds in Wales. In October, ReefGen teamed up with the University of North Carolina (UNC) Institute of Marine Sciences to test various seed replanting methods out on the state’s declining seagrass meadows.

Oakes says that as cool and “flashy” as a robotic solution might seem, the most important factor in its success will be the long-term monitoring of the fields it’s replanting. Are they growing to maturity, are the seedlings dying off before then, will they live long enough to seed and germinate fields of their own, how do fields it plants compare to fields planted by hand??"

-via Good News Network, December 24, 2024

[vamptastic]

morrocan architecture so cool so sexy so mathematically grounded so good for tropical environment <3

[bearflinn]

Writing Advice: Worldbuilding as Tension

One of the most common pieces of advice/points of critique I see for writers of all skill levels, is avoiding exposition dumps, often accompanied by the age old 'show don't tell'.

When writing fiction in general, but especially sci-fi and fantasy, it's important that the reader understands how your world differs from our own. And worldbuilding is one of the few places where you're less likely to get hit by the proverbial SHOW hammer, since some things, like the rules of your magic system, are difficult to show. So telling becomes more permissible.

However, it can be incredibly tempting to just infodump at every opportunity. Especially for those of us who have a wiki with more words than the finished project will have. But as I'm sure you've heard before, doing this can break immersion and destroy the pacing of your narrative.

While there are multiple ways to make exposition engaging, I'm going to focus on the approach I use most commonly: The Drip Feed.

Filling an Ocean One Droplet at a Time

Before we get into the actual methodology, I want to take a moment to dissect how and why exposition dumps can be problematic.

The Problem: Context, Relevancy, and Retention

Context is both the thing we're trying to communicate, and the source of excessive exposition. It starts simple, like maybe the reader needs to know that the main character is poor. And I guess I should explain why they're poor. Next thing you know you've spent 4 pages describing the socioeconomics of your world.

That's what I call 'context chaining'. Since everything in fleshed out worlds is interconnected, it can be very easy to just keep on filling in the gaps. Preemptively answering any questions the reader might have. The problem?

Relevancy. When you introduce a ton of worldbuilding in one fell swoop, the vast majority of it won't be relevant to the current place in the narrative, even if it will eventually be relevant for the story overall. Which, you guessed it, hurts:

Retention. Without immediate relevant context for the worldbuilding you introduce. Readers won't have anything to anchor the information too. Calling back to the example I used earlier, readers will remember that the character is poor, and they will likely remember why. Anything beyond that is unlikely to be retained.

The solution?

Restraint and Trust

For many of us, the world we've built is a large draw of the narrative we're crafting. However, one of the best ways to draw people into your world is to talk about it as little as possible. But how will they know about x?? They won't, until it matters.

Now I'm not talking about soft worldbuilding. This will work for both hard and soft worldbuilding (honestly it's even better for hard worldbuilding).

Instead of straight up telling the reader about the world and all of its intricacies. Introduce the most complex aspects as questions that you answer bit by bit throughout the narrative. As an example, maybe our poor character is struggling to buy food because they went into debt casting spells.

Suddenly, the reader is wondering: Why do spells cost money? Who controls the supply of magic and/or components? Is spellcasting something everyone can do? What kinds of magic are more valuable than eating? and so many more.

But here's the key: don't answer them. At least, not until absolutely necessary or there's an organic place to do so. Wait until the perspective character is directly interacting with one of those questions. Maybe they walk past a trickling fountain, revealing that the mana wells are running dry. And later debt collectors come for the main character, revealing who controls the mana.

Unanswered questions are a huge source of tension, and worldbuilding can provide a subtle sustained undercurrent that you can leverage to propel the narrative in slow points and/or make your payoffs hit even harder. All you have to do is answer the right question at the right time.

The best part of this method is that by waiting until your perspective character is engaging with a part of your world. It allows you to convey exposition and character at the same time. But what about worldbuilding that the characters don't interact with directly? It doesn't matter.

Well it does, to you as the author. But in general, if something doesn't matter to at least one of your characters, it won't matter to your readers. If your character isn't a politician, they aren't going to care about the intricacies of your political system. So why would the reader?

In short, keep any worldbuilding closely tied to your characters' experience, and let the reader wonder. The end result is a smoother and more engaging learning curve that pulls the reader in. Giving them the satisfaction of putting the pieces together themselves.

If you have any questions or additional thoughts let me know!

[cryptotheism]

Finished Enotria The Last Song.

More style than substance, poorly balanced gameplay hampers one of the most visually delicious soulsalikes I've ever played.

Enotria is a parry game. A perfect parry negates all damage. It does not cost stamina, and your character has no stance meter of their own for enemies to deplete. Parrying is your best option by far. Parry the enemy long enough, and their stance meter will deplete, giving you an opening for a critical attack.

To balance this, Enotria's parry has noticable endlag where you cannot move or attack. You cannot parry while attacking. These two design choices kneecapped the game. The best way to defeat most bosses is to simply stand in once place and parry until the enemy dies. Using this method, I defeated bosses several on my first try, with one hand. This was only accelerated with the use of a weapon with the overpowered poison damage effect.

This was truly a shame. As Enotria features some of the best environment and level design I have ever seen in any game, much less a soulsalike. It is bright, colorful, varied, a true feast for the senses.

The soundtrack is limited, but it goes extremely hard. To the point where the frenetic acoustic Italian folk ballads feel far too epic for what is actually happening gameplay wise.

Every soulsalike feels the need to hit all the greatest hits. Decaying city, gods who abandoned their people, madmen competing for control of reality, dour and dismal tone. Enotria suffers from it's influences here, for the game is at its best when it indulges in sheer effusive melodrama. Gloomy monologues about fallen gods felt strangely out of place. But a baudy monstrosity gorged with human bodies cracking jokes about "something in his mouth" felt appropriately excessive for the setting. It is a game that begs to be ridiculously overacted.

Entrancing visuals and lackluster gameplay. Typical for a first-time soulsalike. I would not recommend Enotria, but I will be watching the studio like a hawk for a potential sequel.