When designers create BIM models, they often overlook the specific requirements of cost management. They typically include only the information necessary for design and owner needs, rather than tailoring the model to support cost management. However, this does not mean that BIM models designed this way lack value for cost professionals. In fact, they still offer significant utility. There are two main approaches for cost management using BIM models:
First, cost professionals can add specialized cost-related information to the BIM model provided by the designers.
Second, they can extract existing project data from the BIM model or establish connections with external cost management information systems.
The first approach offers a high level of integration between design and cost information. Changes in design automatically update costs, and cost adjustments can be reflected back into the design model. However, this approach has its drawbacks: BIM models tend to grow large and complex, potentially exceeding hardware capabilities. It also demands close collaboration among design, construction, and cost teams, which can complicate implementation.
The second approach is more loosely coupled and easier to implement from a software perspective. Its major downside is the lack of direct linkage between design and cost: design changes do not automatically update costs, and cost updates do not trigger design modifications, often requiring repeated manual efforts.
Integration between BIM and cost management software can be achieved through several methods:
1. API (Application Programming Interface): BIM software provides APIs that allow third-party applications to retrieve data from the BIM model. This facilitates integration with cost software and also supports data transfer back from cost systems to BIM.
2. ODBC (Open Database Connectivity): ODBC enables access to exported data from BIM models for use in various applications. The limitation here is that changes in the database and BIM model are not synchronized automatically, requiring manual updates.
3. IFC Standard Data Format: Using the IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) standard offers broad compatibility across platforms. While this approach ensures universality, it may suffer from lower efficiency compared to proprietary formats.
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