The cost forecasting phase of a project involves gathering historical data and, based on past evaluations, summarizing and statistically analyzing cost estimates and judgments. By leveraging cost forecasting, contractors can accurately predict trends in various expenses throughout the project’s implementation. This approach effectively reduces the subjectivity and uncertainty often present in cost management.
Application of BIM technology in cost forecasting:
1. Powerful automated calculation capabilities: Traditional methods using CAD drawings and modeling often require substantial manpower, material resources, and time. Cost engineers must spend significant effort developing line attributes. While CAD supports partial automation, it only offers semi-automated 3D computations, which merely assist in cost prediction.
By planning components and processes on the BIM platform and assigning attributes, tasks previously performed manually by cost engineers are now automated by computers. BIM’s 3D modeling enables fully automated calculations, freeing cost engineers from tedious computations. This automation greatly enhances the efficiency of calculating engineering quantities.
Different components require distinct calculation rules, and the process can be complex. Traditional manual calculations often result in errors due to frequent referencing of drawings and specifications. BIM integrates these calculation rules into software and performs quantity calculations based on the actual 3D model, producing more objective and accurate engineering quantity data.
The BIM automated calculation method offers higher accuracy:
(1) Project engineering calculations are complex, and manual quantity calculations by cost engineers are prone to errors. BIM’s automated quantity calculation significantly reduces human errors and boosts calculation accuracy.
(2) Complex engineering components require standardized calculations, which can introduce errors. BIM technology applies algorithms that calculate quantities based on the actual model. When modifications occur, settlement results are updated accordingly, ensuring that engineering quantity data remains objective and reliable.
3. Easy access to data from similar projects: Cost assessments and estimates generate valuable engineering cost data that can serve as a reference for future projects. The BIM database stores all project engineering data, allowing for quick retrieval when needed for similar construction projects. This facilitates data analysis and comparison, enhancing the accuracy and responsiveness of cost forecasting across projects.
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