When designers create BIM models, they often overlook the specific requirements of cost management and do not include only the information necessary for cost control. Instead, they focus solely on the design perspective and the owner’s demands. However, this does not mean that the BIM design lacks value for cost management teams; in fact, it can still be highly useful.
Cost professionals typically implement cost management using BIM models in two ways:
First, by adding specialized cost management data to the BIM model provided by the designer;
Second, by extracting existing project information from the BIM model or linking it to existing cost management data.
The first approach tightly integrates design and cost information. This allows design changes to automatically update costs, and vice versa—cost adjustments can trigger updates in the design model. However, the downside is that BIM models grow increasingly large, potentially exceeding hardware capabilities. This method also demands close collaboration among design, construction, and cost management teams, making it challenging to implement.
The second approach is more loosely coupled and easier to implement in software. Its main drawback is the lack of direct linkage between design and cost data. As a result, design changes do not automatically affect costs, and cost changes do not update the design, requiring repetitive manual operations.
Integration between BIM and cost management software can be achieved through the following methods:
1. API (Application Programming Interface): BIM software provides APIs that allow third-party software to access BIM model information. This facilitates integration with cost management tools and supports bidirectional data exchange between the BIM and cost systems.
2. ODBC (Open Database Connectivity): ODBC is a database access technology enabling exported data to be used by various applications. The limitation is that changes in the database and BIM model are not synchronized automatically and require manual updates.
3. IFC Standard Data Format: The IFC format offers a universal data standard, which promotes broad compatibility. However, it generally operates with lower efficiency compared to proprietary formats.
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