Janowitz says the plug-in goes beyond narrow project cost calculations, such as man-hours, and expands the economic justifications.

On the Tucson job, AutoCASE predicted the project would have a positive effect on traffic calming, says Janowitz. That was a quantifiable benefit to the municipality that he hadn't foreseen. "It enhances our ability to inform our clients to make critical choices," says Janowitz.

Williams says that approach helps to accomplish the mission he had in mind five years ago, when he started the company. "Our goal is to help the design and construction industry make an economically informed case for itself and win more cash and to design and build better projects with better overall sustainable returns," he says.

The plug-in is free until Jan. 31, after which the cost will be $50 per seat, per month. The eventual price will be $250 a month for late adopters.

Williams adds that his cancer was discovered early enough that he was treated successfully.