GROUP 1 - BIM use in Estimating
Executive Summary
First, this paper aimed to understand how the current BIM application facilitated quantity
surveyors to leverage the valuable input from the designer’s three-dimensional model to promptly
improve the accuracy of the cost estimation result and the status of the BIM 5D adaption in the
construction cost consulting industry. Second, it discussed the applicable industry standard of the
BIM 5D modeling and explained how BIM 5D cost estimation could enhance the reliability of the
quantity take-off workflow in the pre-construction planning stage. Third, the relevant literature
review summarized the benefits of implementing the BIM 5D in the cost estimating practice and
the central dilemma of the BIM 5D adaption in the cost consulting industry. Fourth, two case
studies demonstrated the workflow and processes in estimating using BIM in different design
phases. The relative benefits and challenges were evaluated as well. Fifth, the paper discussed
significant limitations which prevent the BIM 5D adoption process, including the lack of BIM
mandate, incompatibility, high setup cost, BIM 5D designer's knowledge, and legal factor. Sixth,
the paper focuses on the BIM 5D future trend in Canada, considering BIM mandate establishment,
market demand, BIM education, and stakeholder collaboration.
ii | P a g e
, GROUP 1 - BIM use in Estimating
Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ ii
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1
2 Objective ................................................................................................................................. 1
3 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 2
4 Literature Review.................................................................................................................... 2
4.1 History of BIM Development .......................................................................................... 2
4.2 BIM 5D for Quantity Surveying Practice ........................................................................ 4
4.3 BIM Industry Format - IFC.............................................................................................. 5
5 Case Study 1 - Workflows Incurred by the Adoption of BIM Software by a Construction
Company ......................................................................................................................................... 5
5.1 BIM integration with Cost Estimating ............................................................................. 6
5.2 Technological Challenges of Implementing BIM-based Cost Estimating ....................... 6
5.3 Organizational Challenges of Implementing BIM-based Cost Estimating ...................... 7
5.3.1 Existing Methodology at the Company and Proposed Improvements...................... 7
6 Case Study 2 – Investigation of Leveraging BIM Information Exchange Standards for
Conducting LOD-Based Cost Estimating....................................................................................... 9
6.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 9
6.2 Level of Cost Estimating ................................................................................................ 10
6.3 BIM Cost Estimating Workflows................................................................................... 10
6.4 Facilitating the Process Using Industry Standards......................................................... 12
6.4.1 Standards Applicable to BIM.................................................................................. 13
6.4.2 Standards Applicable to Cost Databases................................................................. 13
6.5 Final remarks .................................................................................................................. 14
7 Limitations ............................................................................................................................ 14
7.1 Lack of BIM Mandate .................................................................................................... 14
7.2 Incompatibility ............................................................................................................... 14
7.2.1 Environment ............................................................................................................ 15
7.2.2 Incomplete Cost Information .................................................................................. 15
7.3 High Setup Cost ............................................................................................................. 15
7.4 BIM 5D Designer's Knowledge ..................................................................................... 15
7.5 Legal Factor.................................................................................................................... 15
iii | P a g e
, GROUP 1 - BIM use in Estimating
7.6 Other limitations............................................................................................................. 16
8 Future Trend.......................................................................................................................... 16
8.1 BIM Mandate Establishment.......................................................................................... 16
8.2 Market Demand .............................................................................................................. 16
8.3 BIM Education ............................................................................................................... 16
8.3.1 BIM Certification .................................................................................................... 17
8.3.2 BIM 5D Showcase Competition ............................................................................. 17
8.3.3 Continuous Learning ............................................................................................... 17
8.3.4 BIM Online Learning .............................................................................................. 17
8.4 Stakeholders Collaboration ............................................................................................ 17
9 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................... 17
10 References............................................................................................................................. 19
List of Figures
Figure 1. Realization process of building lifecycle management ................................................... 3
Figure 2. Current cost estimating workflow at the construction company ..................................... 8
Figure 3. Proposed cost estimating process .................................................................................... 9
Figure 4. New framework ............................................................................................................. 12
Figure 5. Framework..................................................................................................................... 13
Figure 6. Causes of Incompatibility (Xu, 2019) ........................................................................... 14
List of Table
Table 1. Levels of estimating and difficulty ................................................................................ 10
iv | P a g e
Executive Summary
First, this paper aimed to understand how the current BIM application facilitated quantity
surveyors to leverage the valuable input from the designer’s three-dimensional model to promptly
improve the accuracy of the cost estimation result and the status of the BIM 5D adaption in the
construction cost consulting industry. Second, it discussed the applicable industry standard of the
BIM 5D modeling and explained how BIM 5D cost estimation could enhance the reliability of the
quantity take-off workflow in the pre-construction planning stage. Third, the relevant literature
review summarized the benefits of implementing the BIM 5D in the cost estimating practice and
the central dilemma of the BIM 5D adaption in the cost consulting industry. Fourth, two case
studies demonstrated the workflow and processes in estimating using BIM in different design
phases. The relative benefits and challenges were evaluated as well. Fifth, the paper discussed
significant limitations which prevent the BIM 5D adoption process, including the lack of BIM
mandate, incompatibility, high setup cost, BIM 5D designer's knowledge, and legal factor. Sixth,
the paper focuses on the BIM 5D future trend in Canada, considering BIM mandate establishment,
market demand, BIM education, and stakeholder collaboration.
ii | P a g e
, GROUP 1 - BIM use in Estimating
Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ ii
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1
2 Objective ................................................................................................................................. 1
3 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 2
4 Literature Review.................................................................................................................... 2
4.1 History of BIM Development .......................................................................................... 2
4.2 BIM 5D for Quantity Surveying Practice ........................................................................ 4
4.3 BIM Industry Format - IFC.............................................................................................. 5
5 Case Study 1 - Workflows Incurred by the Adoption of BIM Software by a Construction
Company ......................................................................................................................................... 5
5.1 BIM integration with Cost Estimating ............................................................................. 6
5.2 Technological Challenges of Implementing BIM-based Cost Estimating ....................... 6
5.3 Organizational Challenges of Implementing BIM-based Cost Estimating ...................... 7
5.3.1 Existing Methodology at the Company and Proposed Improvements...................... 7
6 Case Study 2 – Investigation of Leveraging BIM Information Exchange Standards for
Conducting LOD-Based Cost Estimating....................................................................................... 9
6.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 9
6.2 Level of Cost Estimating ................................................................................................ 10
6.3 BIM Cost Estimating Workflows................................................................................... 10
6.4 Facilitating the Process Using Industry Standards......................................................... 12
6.4.1 Standards Applicable to BIM.................................................................................. 13
6.4.2 Standards Applicable to Cost Databases................................................................. 13
6.5 Final remarks .................................................................................................................. 14
7 Limitations ............................................................................................................................ 14
7.1 Lack of BIM Mandate .................................................................................................... 14
7.2 Incompatibility ............................................................................................................... 14
7.2.1 Environment ............................................................................................................ 15
7.2.2 Incomplete Cost Information .................................................................................. 15
7.3 High Setup Cost ............................................................................................................. 15
7.4 BIM 5D Designer's Knowledge ..................................................................................... 15
7.5 Legal Factor.................................................................................................................... 15
iii | P a g e
, GROUP 1 - BIM use in Estimating
7.6 Other limitations............................................................................................................. 16
8 Future Trend.......................................................................................................................... 16
8.1 BIM Mandate Establishment.......................................................................................... 16
8.2 Market Demand .............................................................................................................. 16
8.3 BIM Education ............................................................................................................... 16
8.3.1 BIM Certification .................................................................................................... 17
8.3.2 BIM 5D Showcase Competition ............................................................................. 17
8.3.3 Continuous Learning ............................................................................................... 17
8.3.4 BIM Online Learning .............................................................................................. 17
8.4 Stakeholders Collaboration ............................................................................................ 17
9 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................... 17
10 References............................................................................................................................. 19
List of Figures
Figure 1. Realization process of building lifecycle management ................................................... 3
Figure 2. Current cost estimating workflow at the construction company ..................................... 8
Figure 3. Proposed cost estimating process .................................................................................... 9
Figure 4. New framework ............................................................................................................. 12
Figure 5. Framework..................................................................................................................... 13
Figure 6. Causes of Incompatibility (Xu, 2019) ........................................................................... 14
List of Table
Table 1. Levels of estimating and difficulty ................................................................................ 10
iv | P a g e
