How to Use Reliable Information in Building Information Modeling for Cost Budgeting? This article outlines various methods to connect BIM with cost budgeting solutions.
This white paper explains how to utilize reliable information from building information models for effective cost budgeting. It introduces several approaches for integrating BIM with cost budgeting solutions, presents companies that use Revit® alongside their enterprise software, and highlights the benefits of BIM information for architects, supervisors, cost estimators, construction teams, and clients.
Model-Based Budgeting
Revit and other specialized BIM solutions contain computable building information, allowing computers to interpret models as actual buildings. For instance, a wall in the model “knows” its own properties and its relationship to other building components. As a result, the wall, represented by real materials, is included in wall schedules or quantity calculations. Computable building information supports various building design and construction tasks, such as structural analysis, MEP system modeling, energy consumption analysis, regulatory compliance, and more.
During construction, cost budgeting can also benefit from computable building information. While architects are responsible for designing buildings, budget officers are tasked with evaluating building costs. Typically, architects do not measure materials or provide cost information; these tasks are completed by the cost estimator.
When preparing cost budgets, budget officers usually need to digitize the architect’s drawings, import CAD drawings into cost budgeting software, or manually calculate quantities from these drawings. These steps increase the risk of human error and may amplify mistakes present in the original drawings.
If building information models replace traditional drawings, names, quantities, and dimensions of required materials can be generated directly from the model, ensuring that this information always matches the design. When design changes occur—such as a reduction in window size—these updates are automatically reflected in all related construction documents and schedules. Consequently, the names, quantities, and sizes of materials used by the budget officer will adjust accordingly.
The time budget officers spend on quantity calculation varies by project, but typically, 50–80% of cost budgeting time is devoted to quantity takeoff. This statistic demonstrates the significant advantages of using building information models for cost budgeting. By automating quantity calculations, companies can save time and costs while reducing the risk of errors. In many cases, budget companies believe it is inefficient for skilled budget officers to spend so much effort on basic calculations.
By automating tedious quantity calculations, BIM enables budget officers to focus on more valuable project tasks, such as determining construction assemblies, pricing, and risk assessment—crucial elements for preparing high-quality budgets. For example, during winter construction in northern Minnesota, the budget officer must consider insulation and precipitation measures for concrete foundations. Only professional budgeters can apply such expertise to create accurate cost budgets. This kind of construction knowledge—not just calculation—is the true value budget officers add to the cost budgeting process. Utilizing BIM to calculate costs allows for faster, more accurate budget preparation and updates.
There are several methods for using BIM in cost calculation and for transferring quantities and material definitions from building information models to cost budgeting systems. Integration methods include:
- Application Programming Interface (API): Suitable for budgeting programs from vendors such as U.S. COST or Innovatya (later merged with Sage Timberline Office Estimating). This approach creates a direct connection between the cost budgeting system and Revit. Users can export the building information model from Revit in the cost budgeting program’s data format and send it to the estimator, who then opens the model in the budgeting solution to begin the process.
- Open Database Connectivity (ODBC): Used by solutions like CostX or ITALSOFT, commonly adopted in Australia and Italy. ODBC is a proven and reliable standard for data-centric integrated applications, such as standardized management and cost budgeting with BIM. This method uses an ODBC database to access attribute data from the building model and exports 2D or 3D CAD files for spatial data. Building data is reorganized in the cost budgeting solution by associating attributes and prices in the Cost Geometry software.
- Output to Excel: Although less sophisticated than the methods above, exporting quantity calculations from Revit to Microsoft® Excel® is simple and easy to operate, making it suitable for certain cost budgeting workflows. Many companies calculate material quantities in Revit, export the data to a spreadsheet, and then provide it to cost estimators.
There is no right or wrong method among these options; the appropriate integration strategy depends on the company’s budgeting workflow, cost budgeting solution, and price database.
Workflow from BIM to Cost Budgeting:
- API integration between Revit and Innovatya budgeting solutions
- API integration between Revit and U.S. COST
- Connecting BIM with cost budgeting solutions via ODBC
- Directly exporting data from Revit to spreadsheets for use in cost budgeting
Summary
The first step in cost budgeting is quantity calculation—computable information in the building information model makes quantity takeoff effortless. While BIM solutions cannot automatically generate complete cost budgets, their main advantage over traditional drawing-based systems is the significant reduction in manual calculations. The more accurately material quantities are determined, the more precise the cost budget will be. By minimizing calculation time, budget officers can better utilize their expertise for more valuable budgeting tasks. At the same time, architects can easily review budget quantities using information from their building models, enabling cost budgeting to stay in sync with the design process.
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