Editor’s Note: Opinions vary on whether BIM technology can be effectively applied to engineering cost management. Some argue that BIM is still immature and difficult to implement, while others believe its benefits outweigh the challenges. This article focuses on the latter perspective, analyzing the advantages of BIM technology throughout the entire cost management process.
1.1 Benefits of BIM in the Investment Decision-Making Stage
Implementing BIM technology during the investment decision-making phase supports decision-makers in selecting the best solutions. BIM facilitates virtual walkthroughs, construction simulations, and quantity forecasting, helping investors make informed and scientific decisions about BIM application. The accuracy of BIM data enhances cost control throughout the project lifecycle. Additionally, BIM’s capability to integrate diverse data allows for comprehensive project cost estimation, providing reliable support for cost plan selection.
1.2 Benefits of BIM During the Bidding Stage
From the owner’s perspective, engineering and technical teams can use BIM to develop an overall model that preliminarily evaluates the rationality of project fund allocation. BIM’s one-click quantity calculation helps owners gain an initial understanding of the budget, improving budget control. From the bidder’s perspective, creating a BIM model offers a comprehensive understanding of the proposed project, serving as a reliable foundation for preparing bidding documents.
1.3 Benefits of BIM in the Design Phase
The design phase serves as a crucial link connecting bidding and construction management. BIM technology enables virtual construction during this phase, allowing teams to anticipate potential construction challenges and prepare contingency plans to mitigate risks.
Thanks to BIM’s visualization capabilities, design teams can clearly communicate their designs to owners, strengthening collaboration and reducing coordination issues. This improved communication streamlines project management and minimizes conflicts later in the process.
Moreover, BIM integrates engineering data and model attributes, enabling precise analysis of project duration, cost, and quantities during design, which supports effective cost management throughout the project.
BIM also promotes transparency and openness during the design phase, facilitating timely communication among design parties. This reduces design errors—such as early spatial planning shown in Figure 1—and minimizes subsequent risks and management costs.
1.4 Benefits of BIM in the Construction Phase
BIM application during construction can be analyzed across five key areas: progress control, quality control, cost control, safety control, and work efficiency.
(1) Progress Control
BIM integrates 3D models with construction schedules, real-time progress updates, personnel data, and risk sensors to create a comprehensive construction management platform (see Figure 1). Project managers can monitor progress, view synchronized model details (including structure and materials), schedule personnel, ensure quality, and receive risk alerts. This facilitates smooth project management, timely completion, and effective cost control.
(2) Quality Control
Quality control is particularly challenging during construction due to the large number of personnel with varying expertise and the fast-changing site conditions. Traditional communication methods often fail to meet quality supervision needs.
BIM-based quality control includes real-time quality warning systems, allowing all project stakeholders to participate actively in supervision. Compared with conventional methods, BIM enhances the timely transmission of quality information and helps prevent accidents early.
(3) Cost Control
Cost control is a critical aspect of engineering management, directly impacting the financial interests of all parties. BIM allows cost managers to stay updated on site conditions, refresh cost data, and access the latest information on resource utilization (e.g., material usage, project delays). This timely insight enables construction teams to devise effective cost management strategies, minimize capital stagnation, reduce waste, and achieve precise cost control.
Additionally, BIM supports pre-construction activities such as simulation and clash detection, which help reduce material waste caused by errors during construction.
(4) Safety Control
Combining BIM with IoT technologies enables real-time safety monitoring through instant feedback of on-site safety information to the BIM platform, allowing rapid hazard resolution. BIM simulations help prevent accidents, and immersive technologies like VR and MR can provide effective safety training to construction workers.
(5) Management Efficiency
BIM significantly transforms traditional project management by promoting paperless workflows and transparent data sharing, which enhances communication among stakeholders. Its robust data integration capabilities also greatly improve data management efficiency.
1.5 Benefits of BIM in the Completion Stage
During project completion, BIM data accumulated throughout construction supports asset handover and project closeout. Cost managers can quickly and accurately assess task compliance and generate detailed project reports using BIM data gathered from earlier stages.
This transparent and accurate BIM data—including quantities, prices, timelines, and related information—helps all parties avoid disputes caused by unclear project information during acceptance. BIM technology ensures smooth completion processes, especially in controlling costs and enhancing overall project management.
1.6 Benefits of BIM in the Operation and Maintenance Stage
The operation and maintenance phase provides a critical test of BIM implementation and maturity. This stage attracts significant scholarly attention because effective BIM operation is highly valued by property owners as it clearly demonstrates return on investment.
Key benefits at this stage include space planning and management (especially for critical equipment like fire protection and lighting), asset maintenance, infrastructure operation, energy management, and more.
—Excerpt from “Analysis of the Impact of BIM Technology on Engineering Cost Management” by Ye Long
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