Introduction to the DRB Database
The Dispute Resolution Board Foundation gathered information on DRBs until 2006. Since 2001 use of DRBs has grown so fast and so widely that reliable data has become impossible to collect. Furthermore, data on DBs outside North America has always been limited due to confidentiality requirements.
Summary Charts
This one-sheet summary of DRBs shows the cumulative year-by-year use of the DRB process since 1982, by total projects with DRBs, contract value of all projects with DRBs, and number of disputes settled on completed projects. Data after 2001 is estimated based on the average growth rate over the last five years of fairly reliable data (1997 through 2001).
Use of DRBs after 2001 is projected at 85% of the average growth rate. This is believed to be conservative in light of the continuing and expanding use of DRBs by state highway departments and by recent decisions to make DRBs available for use on all highway projects in California and Florida, as well as highway maintenance projects in Florida.
Contract value of projects with DRBs is projected at 80% of the average growth rate. This is projected at a lower rate due to the trend of using DRBs on smaller projects.
Number of disputes settled is projected at 65% of the average growth rate. This is projected at a lower rate due to the growing use of DRBs for dispute prevention as well as the growing use of DRB advisory opinions, both of which reduce the number of disputes that actually go to DRB hearings.
Database
The Database is provided in Excel format. It includes data collected through mid-2006. Data is fairly complete and accurate through 2001, but there are certainly mistakes. Many projects with DRBs are missing, especially after 2001.
Sorted Databases
The following sorts of the Database are available in Excel format:
