What would a geological study cost on

average?

https://www.quora.com/What-would-a-geological-study-cost-on-average

1 Answer

Stan Paxton, A lifetime of study and research about rock and fluid properties at all scales.

Updated Jan 27 2016 · Author has 318 answers and 451.8k answer views

For a geological study in which the final product is an interpretive report or paper for a
journal...

1) $ cost of data purchase + equipment/supplies (for field and office) + a computer (if
needed) +

2) Number of hours required to collect new data in laboratory (times your hourly rate in
$) +

3) Number of hours to complete field work (times your hourly rate) + per diem food and
lodging +

4) Number of hours required to analyze data (times your hourly rate).

In general, the length of time to analyze data (in hours, including analysis of the data
sets with statistics) is equal to the length of time required to collect the data in first
place. Therefore, if 160 hours of field work and 160 hours of lab time is required for
collecting data, then 320 hours would be required to analyze and summarize the data
and complete maps, tables, and other products +

5) Hours required for completion of written documentation, tables, figures, and

revisions to the draft interpretive report + hours required for revisions to the draft based
on peer reviews of the manuscript (start to finish).

As a rule of thumb, the time to complete the documentation takes as long as is required
for collecting data + time for data analysis. Using the above number of hours as a
guide, 640 hours (times your hourly rate) would be required for completion of written
documentation.

6) + 15% contingency!
All the above estimates (in terms of hours) are assuming 8-hour days and 40-hour
weeks.

Once you calculate out these times (in days, weeks, and months), degree students have a
better perspective on why completion of a thesis requires solid commitment! Time is
money and money is time!

How good does your science answer need to be?!

609 Views · View 3 Upvoters · Answer requested by Joelle Atallah