Using building information modelling (BIM) in construction budget: Benefits and barriers

Abstract

This article shows ways in which BIM data can be used to create construction budgets item by item. It describes conditions which need to be met in order to use the BIM 5D model in its full value - i.e. this article deals primarily with documents used for creation of a BIM model, with their graphic and non-graphic specifications. The article shows a process based on keeping a close correspondence between construction budget items and BIM model elements. To make it clearer, let us state that there exists a classification system, which matches each model element with an identifier, making it possible to link such element to a budget item or several items. In principle, the most important part is matching a construction element with an identifier, which can be “read” by pricing software. That makes the software able to transform construction elements into budget units. The case study shows an analysis of current situation using information models of two administrative buildings (currently under construction) and links these models to construction budgets. The transferred data made up for more than sixty per cent of construction budget, which means that four fifths of total budget could be predicted from automated calculations.