As the building design matures and construction details are accurately modeled, BIM software can swiftly take out data like floor areas, material volumes and bills of quantities. This data can be directly linked with any cost estimating software to quickly produce very detailed cost estimates that factor in the planned construction process and consider the labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractor costs for all building elements.
With BIM the cost estimator can envisage the target costs together with multiple design options following a target cost driven design. An estimator would create, maintain, and develop a cost plan while receiving models from several sources from the design team and subs and then visually converse the impact on the estimate to the Owner, designers and all project stakeholders during the pre-construction phase.
BIM -> Visualization -> Coordination -> 4D Construction -> Quantity Takeoff -> Estimating, finally a solution that is: Streamlined, Fast, Accurate, and Easy-to-Use.
With BIM an estimator can prepare conceptual estimates and evaluate the cost of suggested alternatives and organize preliminary estimates based on quantities of key building elements to ensure cost feasibility and appraise proposed design changes. A conceptual model can put in an advanced level of detail to your work which can also present accurate scheduling before time.
Amalgamation with the design models and cost estimation provide positive cost feedback to the project team and inform decisions throughout all design stages from inception through construction. This diminishes errors & lapses, save time and can help curtail excessive budget overruns due to project modifications.
The fifth dimension features of a dynamically integrated 5D model can produce more accurate estimating. It ties cost to the model. The Estimator can now illustrate the Owner the exact building elements that contribute the most to the budget. Now the Owner will easily understand what occurs to the cost and schedule if a new design is put into operation.