According to Jean-Pierre Houdin, a French architect who has helped develop a computerized model of the ancient construction technique, reconstructing the pyramid today would still require 1,500 to 2,000 employees and cost around $5 billion. The estimate does not include money for security or insurance. It also doesn't account for inflation or other technological advances that might make the project cheaper or more efficient. In fact, Houdin says his team was surprised by how much work remains to be done after only studying the technology available in Egypt at the time the pyramids were built. In addition to modeling the construction process, the team had to consider ways in which modern building techniques could improve on this ancient approach. For example, Houdin notes that while the Egyptians used wood for most of their construction, they also worked with concrete during important projects such as bridges and tunnels. Using wood instead has many advantages including being much less expensive and allowing for larger structures to be built quickly. Overall, the challenge of restoring the pyramids is evident from just looking at them. Even with modern technology, the job is far too large and costly for any one company or individual to accomplish. However, as the world's largest preservation organization, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities has committed itself to preserving the site now under its care.