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Civil and underground construction projects aren’t just big—they’re complicated. From the first excavation to the last invoice, a lot can go sideways. When the costs don’t line up or the project hits financial turbulence, it’s time to bring in a professional who can dig into the numbers and make sense of the chaos.
At Discovery Experts, we specialize in cost analysis and accounting for high-stakes civil and underground construction. Whether you're dealing with a legal dispute or just need a second look at the books, our team offers the clarity, accuracy, and experience that these complex projects demand.
Let’s face it—projects of this scale often hit bumps in the road. Budgets shift, timelines stretch, and before you know it, you’re staring at a stack of change orders and a whole lot of finger-pointing. That’s where cost analysis becomes a lifeline.
Why do things go wrong? Maybe trenching took longer due to rock conditions. Maybe the directional drilling team submitted costs that don’t match the scope. Or maybe the billing doesn’t quite add up. These are the kinds of questions we help answer.
Our role is to cut through the noise. We look at real work progress, compare it to billing and schedules, and find out exactly where the money went—and whether it should have. When disputes arise, having a seasoned, impartial expert on your side can make all the difference.
When construction costs spiral out of control and parties start pointing fingers, facts matter more than ever. That’s where Discovery Experts steps in—not just as analysts, but as credible, court-tested expert witnesses who can stand behind their findings. In civil, heavy, and underground construction disputes, expert testimony is often the deciding factor in mediation, arbitration, or court decisions.
Our experts have testified in cases involving everything from excavation billing errors to multi-million-dollar directional drilling disputes. We help legal teams understand the technical side of cost issues—how the work was performed, what was agreed to in the contract, and whether the invoiced amounts align with industry standards and project records.
But it’s not just about testifying. We support attorneys from day one—reviewing documents, identifying inconsistencies, building damage models, and drafting declarations. Every opinion we offer is backed by solid data, industry benchmarks, and a methodical, transparent review process.
And we know how to communicate in a legal setting. Whether we’re submitting written reports or explaining our findings under cross-examination, our team translates complex accounting and construction concepts into language that judges, juries, and arbitrators can understand.
When disputes involve infrastructure like pipelines, storm drains, or telecom conduit networks, our dual experience in construction and finance becomes essential. With Discovery Experts, you’re not just hiring a witness—you’re gaining a strategic partner in building a compelling case.
In underground construction, where much of the work is literally out of sight, financial transparency is essential. With millions often tied up in trenching, directional drilling, pipe jacking, or manhole installation, even small errors in tracking costs can have massive repercussions.
Accurate construction accounting isn’t just about recording what was spent—it’s about tying every dollar back to contract terms, project progress, and the physical realities of the job site. At Discovery Experts, we go beyond surface-level audits to conduct deep forensic reviews that validate cost legitimacy and expose discrepancies.
We ensure compliance with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation), and other relevant accounting frameworks. But we also ground our evaluations in real-world construction experience. We’ve walked job sites, reviewed contractor billing firsthand, and understand how equipment like crane trucks or hydro augers are supposed to be used—and billed.
Our process involves:
We also use tools like earned value management and variance analysis to determine how closely performance is aligned with cost projections. If there’s a red flag—say, an unexplained surge in costs for jack & bore operations or unclear allocations for directional drilling rentals—we find it, explain it, and, if needed, present it in a legally admissible format.
Accurate accounting is your best defense against disputes—and your strongest asset in resolving them. When you need financial clarity on a project that’s gone underground in more ways than one, we’re here to help.
It’s not just our credentials—it’s our perspective. Our team blends field experience with financial rigor. We’ve been on the job sites, we understand the equipment, and we speak the language of law, engineering, and accounting.
Clients trust us because we offer both the big picture and the fine print. We know when a billing issue is a genuine mistake—and when it’s something more serious. Our job is to bring clarity to complicated, high-dollar disputes and support our clients with facts that stick.
It’s no secret—construction costs are rising, and so are disputes. With more fiber optic projects, more directional drilling, and more aggressive timelines, conflicts over cost are becoming the norm.
Take a recent case involving a fiber installation under a state highway. The drilling team hit unforeseen rock and had to reroute. That alone caused a six-figure cost increase. We were brought in to determine whether those charges were legitimate—and we uncovered that the contractor had skipped pre-drilling scans, shifting the blame.
These are the moments where accurate cost analysis saves the day—or at least the bottom line.
We’ve worked with legal teams, general contractors, municipalities, and insurers on everything from pipeline disputes to utility misbilling. Our forensic approach has helped recover lost funds, defend claims, and resolve disputes before they go to trial.
From small local trenching issues to massive public works audits, we bring the same level of detail and dedication to every project.
If your project is off-track—or your legal case hinges on what really happened with the budget—Discovery Experts can help. We bring clarity to confusion, support to your legal team, and integrity to your financials.
Have questions? Let’s talk.
Discovery Experts, led by founder Brian H. Aanestad, is your premier source for expert witness services in construction and transportation. With over 39 years of experience, we bring unparalleled expertise to every challenge, ensuring excellence is always the standard.
