Do cost engineers need to learn BIM? Recently, the BIM Building Training Network has received numerous inquiries from students interested in BIM training. One group that stands out is cost estimators. Many cost professionals believe their job is limited to project cost calculations and that tasks like modeling and analysis are unrelated to them, so they avoid learning BIM. However, this is a misconception. Here at the BIM Building Training Network, we would like to share our perspective.
Although BIM (Building Information Modeling) originated abroad, it has quickly taken root and flourished in China, transforming the construction industry within just a few years. Specifically, in the engineering cost consulting sector, BIM technology represents a disruptive revolution that will fundamentally change industry practices and trigger a major reshuffle.
According to the Center for Integrated Facilities Engineering (CIFE) at Stanford University, a study of 32 projects revealed the following benefits of using BIM technology:
(1) Eliminates 40% of off-budget changes;
(2) Reduces cost estimation time by 80%;
(3) Lowers contract prices by 10% through early conflict detection and resolution;
(4) Shortens project duration by 7%, enabling faster return on investment.
It’s clear that when a few consulting firms or individuals master BIM technology, they become industry leaders. Once the majority adopt BIM, those who don’t will quickly be left behind — including cost professionals.
For this reason, the BIM Building Training Network strongly advises all cost personnel who want to stay competitive that learning BIM is essential.
First, anyone involved in a project—whether designer, builder, consultant, or owner—receives the same BIM model data. This marks the end of a long-standing issue in cost consulting: discrepancies in quantity takeoff. Traditionally, quantity measurements from blueprints vary depending on the cost engineer’s interpretation and expertise, but theoretically, there should be one definitive figure.
Second, extracting quantities from a BIM model is quick and straightforward. This eliminates the tedious and error-prone manual calculations that have burdened cost engineers for years, freeing them to focus on higher-value work and improving career opportunities.
Finally, with BIM implementation, construction units can no longer hide the actual work volume. To maintain profits, they must identify new value points elsewhere.
In conclusion, the BIM Building Training Network wants to remind cost engineers who remain hesitant that waiting until BIM becomes mainstream will only lead to their obsolescence.
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