The largest portion of costs in prefabricated construction comes from the design and production stages of components. Companies rely on BIM (Building Information Modeling) during the cost planning phase to estimate and control expenses, enabling effective comparison and selection of early design options. However, for prefabricated buildings, cost calculations cannot simply be based on drawings alone—the PC (precast concrete) structure requires further detailed design. The modular design feature of BIM aligns closely with the modular design principles used in prefabricated building blocks. Implementing BIM in the early design and production phases of prefabricated buildings offers several advantages:
1. Fast Drawing Speed. Thanks to BIM software’s powerful family functions, the model creation process closely mirrors the modular production of prefabricated buildings. By establishing a graphic library, designers can quickly generate both 2D and 3D building drawings, especially for detailed design of PC components. This approach is more intuitive than traditional two-dimensional drawings, reducing time lost due to errors and rework, thereby offering significant time savings over conventional methods.
2. Effective Cost Control During Design and Production. The design and production phases have the greatest impact on overall costs in prefabricated construction, influencing approximately 70% to 80% of expenses, according to the Analytic Hierarchy Process. A well-planned functional layout and design significantly affect assembly costs. Complex structures and properly segmented processes directly influence construction expenses. Through comprehensive planning—including preliminary design, construction drawings, process design, and final decoration—the construction model becomes clearer and more complete. Real data simulations allow for optimization analysis and corrective recommendations, achieving cost savings and improved investment efficiency.
3. Strong Investment Estimation Capabilities. BIM’s modular design, simulation, and cloud computing features are well suited for this stage. Optimizing prefabricated building designs using BIM reduces manufacturing challenges and enhances production efficiency by minimizing part types, lowering mold costs, and decreasing the number of parts. BIM also facilitates project feasibility evaluation, engineering plan comparison and selection, investment estimation, budgeting, and analysis of technical, economic, and feasibility indicators.
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