Construction Unit: PICC Investment Holding Co., Ltd;
Construction Unit: Northwest Company of China Construction Eighth Engineering Division;
Location: No. 12 Gaoxin 3rd Road, High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Xi’an City
Building Area: 86,317.4 m² (61,958.5 m² above ground);
BIM Application
During the construction phase, the Luban BIM platform is utilized. This platform includes several modules: LubanBE (BIM Browser), LubanPDS (Basic Data Analysis System), LubanMC (Management Cockpit), LubanBIMWorks (Multi-Professional Integrated Application Platform), Luban Construction, and iBan for mobile devices. Among these, LubanMC serves as the core platform for cost control. Below is an overview of how BIM technology is implemented during construction, using Luban Civil Engineering as an example.
1) Project Setup: Begin by entering the project overview information and selecting the “Shaanxi 2004 Quota Library” for bidding purposes. Then, set the number of floors, floor heights, and material details for each building component.
2) Model Creation: The modeling process follows a sequence: first above ground, then underground; main structure first, followed by secondary structures. Standard floors are copied directly. Components such as columns, beams, walls, and slabs are drawn and converted from CAD files. While beam conversion may require manual adjustments due to CAD issues, other elements are fully converted. Rules can be set to directly generate ring beams, lintels, and structural columns. The converted components can be reviewed in a 3D visualization.
3) Drawing Review: A 3D model-based drawing review is conducted, which visually highlights errors, omissions, clashes, and deficiencies that are difficult to detect in traditional 2D drawings. In this project, BIM review identified 266 drawing errors, including 95 in civil engineering. Resolving these issues early significantly improved project efficiency. For instance, traditional 2D drawings failed to fully express water well slopes, causing boundary uncertainties only discovered during construction. Early detection through BIM review ensured smooth project execution.
4) Quantity Takeoff: After completing graphic conversion and establishing the 3D model, accurate quantity lists or quotas for each component are generated. The total project quantities are then calculated. These lists can be organized by floor or component, allowing detailed quantity takeoffs. Comparing BIM-generated lists with contract documents enables identification and analysis of discrepancies.
5) Upload to LubanMC Platform: LubanMC facilitates centralized management, viewing, statistics, and analysis of multiple projects for the group company. It also supports multi-stage calculation comparisons within a single project, leveraging cloud computing. Once the 3D model is complete, the engineering file is exported in PDS format and uploaded to the MC platform, where data is stored automatically in the cloud.
6) Schedule Integration: After uploading the model, the project schedule is imported into LubanMC. Components are filtered and linked to the schedule to establish a 4D model, integrating time with the 3D model. For example, columns, beams, and walls of the second floor are associated with the planned schedule. During construction, actual progress is inputted to compare planned versus real-time status, enabling timely monitoring and adjustments.
7) Cost Data Integration: With the model linked to the schedule for 4D management, inputting the comprehensive unit price for each component generates the 5D model. This supports the preparation of a realistic funding plan and effective fund management. The 5D model enables monitoring of engineering costs by comparing actual costs (ACWP) to budgeted costs (BCWS). Budgeted costs are calculated by multiplying scheduled quantities by contract unit prices, while actual costs are based on realized quantities and material inventories. Budget data can be submitted for owner funding at the start of the month, and actual costs are used for progress payment settlement at the end.
For example, in July, the planned cost was 11,036,674.09 yuan, while the actual cost was 10,965,625.43 yuan, resulting in a difference of -71,048.66 yuan. Investigation revealed discrepancies between planned and actual sub-item quantities due to construction progress differences.
8) Multi-Calculation Comparison: This method focuses on comparing and controlling quantities to manage costs effectively. Actual engineering quantities are recorded daily and compared weekly against budgeted amounts. This allows tight control over materials usage, bringing substantial economic benefits to the project.
9) Change Management: BIM models are used to handle change management by comparing changed quantities, analyzing resources, and performing cost accounting.
The use of BIM in this project has significantly enhanced efficiency by enabling early detection of engineering changes through model-based drawing reviews. Multi-calculation comparisons and consumption analyses help control cost errors within 3%. Moreover, BIM-enabled clash detection, scheme simulation, and optimization contribute to substantial project cost savings.
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