Today, BIM Architecture Training Network explores the advantages of using BIM models over traditional drawings for cost estimation. In the editor’s view, the following points highlight its benefits:
1. The BIM-based automated quantity calculation method frees cost engineers from repetitive and tedious tasks. This saves valuable time and energy, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities such as inquiries and risk assessments. As a result, they can prepare more accurate budgets.
2. Automated calculation with BIM is more precise than traditional methods. Quantity calculation is fundamental for preparing engineering budgets, but the process is complex and prone to human error, which can affect accuracy. BIM’s automated quantity calculation eliminates human error, providing more objective and reliable data.
3. BIM-based quantity calculation is significantly faster, enabling timely feedback on design costs to designers and facilitating cost control early in the design phase. Traditional calculation methods are often time-consuming and delay cost impact feedback. For example, on the Hillwood project, cost engineers using BIM measurement methods saved 92% of the time, while maintaining errors within 1%.
4. BIM better handles design changes. With traditional cost accounting, any design modification requires manual review by cost engineers to assess cost impact—a slow and unreliable process. BIM integrates cost calculation software with spatial data, automatically detecting changes, visually presenting the results, and providing designers with clear feedback on how design adjustments affect costs.
From these points, it is clear that using BIM models instead of drawings for cost calculation offers distinct advantages. The application of BIM not only improves cost accounting accuracy but also helps owners manage and reduce unforeseeable expenses compared to traditional construction models.
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