3D Building Information Modeling Facilitates Accurate Cost Estimation to Avoid Budget Overruns

As the property owners increasingly demand timely and in-budget completion of projects, all the key stakeholders are increasingly adopting 3D BIM Modeling to achieve the same. Whilst the traditional design-bid-build project delivery methods are still significantly used by the AEC industry, the AEC firms employing the same methods increasingly run the risk of cost overruns. Furthermore, the risk factor escalates as the complexity and scale of the build project increases. Since the core team consists of professionals from highly diverse trades, the collaborative BIM workflows, when used within the design-build and integrated project delivery (IPD) frameworks, help avoid drastic cost overruns.

One of the key advantages of BIM modeling over non-BIM 3D modeling and 2D CAD techniques is that the former facilitates rapid and accurate cost estimation during all phases from design through to construction. The ability of 3D BIM models to generate accurate quantity and material takeoffs play a crucial role in enabling better decision-making with respect to project modifications whilst reducing costly budget overruns. Whereas accurate cost estimation is critical during the planning and conceptual stage to seek the owner’s approval, it is equally decisive during the construction stage to keep the entire team in the know of the implications of their design modifications.

The cost estimates derived from conceptual BIM designs ensure feasible decisions are made early on in the design and planning process, which in turn, govern the eventual project cost. As a result, such a valuable cost feedback in the initial stages of the project helps build a strong foundation for the latter stages of the project. Moreover, since the combination of 3D BIM workflow and IPD brings together all the multidisciplinary professionals during the pre-construction phase, such precise cost estimations keeps all the major stakeholders well informed about the financial implications of their decisions. More importantly, this risk and reward-sharing framework facilitates smooth information-sharing and better decision-making so as to keep the project on-track and within budget.

In order to realize the benefits of cost estimation during the design phase, it is critical to integrate the BIM models with an external database which contains costing information relating to quantity takeoffs. Compared to the traditional method of cost estimation, BIM-led cost feedback improves accuracy, offers time savings, and increases the speed of estimation. Whilst setting up BIM-based cost estimating the workflow requires planning, its benefits overshadow the time and effort required to do so.

On the whole, detailed quantity takeoffs resulting from BIM models help key decision makers to consider several what-if scenarios and compare the cost impact of each alternative during all phases of the design and construction. These detailed cost estimates also enable key project stakeholders to assess the deviation in cost from the the planned budget at every stage and make all necessary corrections. Accordingly, BIM-driven cost estimation ensures the entire team can share budget-related inputs, perform cost-benefit analysis of multiple design options collaboratively, and most importantly, curb costly, time-consuming design conflicts and rework.

Green Buildings using BIM

With environmental concerns such as global warming, climate change and energy dependency increasing, promoting sustainability is the need of the hour. Everyone is trying to combat with these environmental concerns by going green and building sector is no exception. Building Information Modeling and Green building are the two new transformations seen by the construction industry that are fundamentally changing the approach towards design and construction. These two rising trends that have remarkable synergies could be merged together and wonders could be designed and constructed.        

The very term ‘Green Building’ means building that is environmentally considerate utilizing less water, efficient energy, generates less waste and conserves natural resources. Coming up with a green building would definitely increase the cost initially but in the long run, it will save money through lower operating costs over the life of the building.

Building Information Modelling is another new revolution in the construction industry that is gaining momentum. The main highlight of building information modelling services is the high-quality design information it provides. It can be used as a vital green design tool as this intelligent model also conveys information relating to thermal data, geographical position surface area and orientation. It helps to analyse various design options with its corresponding impacts on green building performances. Implementation of BIM helps to harness the characteristics and performance of design concepts, thus allowing sustainable alternatives to combat with conventional resources.

The potential of BIM in making green buildings has not yet been fully realised. In the coming years, the adoption of BIM in making green building would be substantially increased.

Building Information Modeling Services (BIM Services)

Building Information Modeling Services (or BIM Services as they are commonly known) are becoming increasingly significant for modern construction projects. It has revolutionized the construction industry with its ability to make a digital representation of a building project. A wide array of elements such as geometry, quantity information, graphical information, spatial relationship and product/ material information are covered by BIM technology.

Along with the architects and design engineers, Building Information Modeling technology is also beneficial for the manufacturing and construction team, project management and cost management. Building Information Modeling enables the builders with the virtual model of the building and its components to avoid or correct any potential problems, before the construction begins.

XS CAD has emerged as a pioneer in creating BIM models using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD. We provide BIM Services such as BIM Drafting, BIM Modeling and BIM Co-ordination in the UK, Canada, US, India, Australia and the Middle East.Through BIM models, XS CAD provides the designers, cost consultants and installers with a blueprint of the actual elements within a construction project. The vital role played by BIM technology has changed the way architectural and construction projects are handled, with more emphasis on construction pre-planning and project management.

At XS CAD, we make use of the entire family of Autodesk software such as Autodesk Architecture, Autodesk MEP and Autodesk Structures to design data for an individual construction project. With our Integrated Project Delivery approach and a team of experts, we are able to provide our clients with high quality, accurate BIM models resulting in time and cost savings.

BIM for Homebuilders

While Building Information Modeling remains just a buzzword for some of them, many of the homebuilders have adopted BIM and have considerably benefitted in terms of cost and time.  Building Information Modeling is an information-rich technology allowing digital representation of a building process simulating the design, planning, construction and operation of a facility. 

Decreasing productivity and tight margins were the major crises faced by the homebuilders.  BIM Modeling Services have changed the way buildings are built ensuring increased productivity, quality and accuracy of the design.  Using BIM, the homebuilders can view the building digitally before it is actually built, thus reducing the inefficiencies and flaws in the pre-construction stage. 

BIM also helps to retrieve accurate bill of quantities and gives estimation whether the desired building with quality, size mentioned could be built in the specified cost and time. Thus, it helps the homebuilders to take more informed decisions by getting prior knowledge of amount of material, cost and time involved for constructing a building. With more emphasis and need of green building in this era of environmental concerns, BIM with its ability to analyze the energy performance of a building facilitates designing of green building.

Though some of the homebuilders are yet to adopt BIM, the benefits of BIM to the homebuilders in constructing better homes are visible. The use of BIM by the homebuilders would be accelerated in the coming years, considering the overall increased productivity and time benefit that it offers.

The Importance of BIM Coordination

BIM Coordination involves coordination between different disciplines for the smooth functioning of the system without any clashes or collision.In the initial stage, a modeler creates a model using Autodesk Revit or AutoCAD.  The model which is the amalgamation of different disciplines needs to be integrated during the construction and installation stage.  At this stage, BIM Coordination plays a vital role for the systematic functioning with clashes serving as no hurdles.

Homebuilders want a proper BIM coordinated model as they have paid for a coordinated building and want to see the benefits of clash detection in a faster schedule. A BIM coordinated model is the model that is a combination of drawings from different disciplines such as Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Structural.  The software used for building information modeling checks for the coordination between different services and then takes care of its installation at the suited locations.

BIM Coordination serves numerous advantages such as detection of clashes at early stage to provide a clash-free final model, cost and time benefits with impeccable accuracy, platform for multi-disciplinary disciplines for discussion resulting in high-quality service etc. For coordinating a model inclusive of all services without any clashes, different software such as Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks and ArchiCAD are used.

The Challenges in Adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM)

BIM (Building Information Modeling) represents a wave of technological changes that have allowed the AEC industry to plan and manage projects much more effectively.  With its ability to create a digital representation of a building with accurate geometry and relevant data, BIM technology has brought about a paradigm shift to the AEC industry.  It serves up a plethora of benefits such as improving interoperability between teams, utilization of a single software tool, scheduling, and allowing more effective co-ordination of construction projects.


While BIM, the new buzzword for the construction industry, is seen as a catalyst to revolutionize the future of the AEC industry, there are several reasons why it is also presenting an unparalleled challenge to the industry.  This is affecting the method and also speed in which it is embraced by the industry.  A few such challenges include:
1)    Challenges in Coordinating with Multi-Disciplinary Teams –Though BIM's ability of sharing a model is one of its biggest advantages over an AutoCAD file, one cannot ignore the permission required for adequate sharing of model information posing as a challenge. As multidisciplinary team would work on the same model, collaboration issues may cause delay in project and other problems.


2)    Challenges related to Ownership and Authority- The accountability, ownership and copyright issues of the model are ambiguous.  Exactly who will be the owner of the model or responsible for the accuracy of the information fed into the model poses a challenge in BIM adoption.

3)    Challenges while Replacing 2D or 3D AutoCAD System with BIM Technology- Adopting Building Information Modeling means redefining the approach and the practice of the company along with the requirements of training and upgraded software, not to mention the cost of the new software to start with. One should ensure compatibility between the internal departments of the company and its outside clients after the adoption of BIM technology.

Technology is always a double-edge sword, Building Information Modeling is no exception.  With the help of a proper methodology and thorough understanding of the potential of BIM, the challenges faced while implementing BIM could be minimized.  BIM has the potential to change the face of the construction industry by minimizing issues like over-budget and declining productivity pervading the AEC industry.  The question whether BIM would be able to reshape the industry has changed to when would BIM reshape the industry? By overcoming the challenges faced in adopting BIM, BIM can do wonders.

Understanding of Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modeling is an innovative and promising development witnessed by the architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC).  With issues like over-budget and declining productivity pervading the AEC industry, Building Information Modeling instills a hope to minimize these issues to a large extent.
BIM in simple terms means creating a virtual 3D building before it is actually built with all the relevant data and proper geometry.  Thus viewing the digital representation of a building helps to avoid or correct any potential problem in the pre-construction stage.  The ‘information’ part in ‘Building Information Modeling’ is of utmost importance.  A BIM model digitally represents the real elements within the construction project along with its geometry, geographic information, spatial relations, quantities and properties of building components. This information can be extracted at any stage of the project.
BIM model is often confused with a 3D model. Not all 3D models are BIM models. Some 3D models created for visualization purpose that lacks intelligence and control for its position and sizes cannot be called as BIM models. BIM is lot more than 3D CAD modeling. It is a hub for rich information allowing access for product information, retrieving specifications for a part and many other details beyond geometric information.
BIM is a powerful tool that can simplify the construction process incredibly. A proper methodology needs to be adopted for proper implementation of BIM. By overcoming the challenges faced in adopting BIM, BIM can do wonders.

BIM 3D Modeling Services

Building Information Modeling Services (or BIM Services as they are commonly known) are becoming increasingly significant for modern construction projects.  It has revolutionized the construction industry with its ability to make a digital representation of a building project.  A wide array of elements such as geometry, quantity information, graphical information, spatial relationship and product/ material information are covered by BIM technology.
Along with the architects and design engineers, Building Information Modeling technology is also beneficial for the manufacturing and construction team, project management and cost management. Building Information Modeling enables the builders with the virtual model of the building and its components to avoid or correct any potential problems, before the construction begins.
XS CAD has emerged as a pioneer in creating BIM models using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD. We provide BIM services such as BIM Drafting, BIM Modeling and BIM Co-ordination in the UK, Canada, US, India, Australia and the Middle East. Through BIM models, XS CAD provides the designers, cost consultants and installers with a blueprint of the actual elements within a construction project. The vital role played by BIM technology has changed the way architectural and construction projects are handled, with more emphasis on construction pre-planning and project management.
At XS CAD, we make use of the entire family of Autodesk software such as Autodesk Architecture, Autodesk MEP and Autodesk Structures to design data for an individual construction project.  With our Integrated Project Delivery approach and a team of experts, we are able to provide our clients with high quality, accurate BIM models resulting in time and cost savings.
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Benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modeling ( BIM ) is becoming increasingly popular in the AEC industry as a new technology and an approach that allows viewing of a virtual model of the building before it is actually built.  BIM brings with it many advantages that facilitates the design, planning, construction and operational phase of the project.

BIM allows for easy coordination and interoperability between different domains that results in effective exchange of information.  It provides a common single integrated database to support different domains associated in the delivery process.  Since sharing of same data is possible, the loss of information in communication process is minimized.  It’s ability to produce an accurate virtual representation of a building model giving a clear idea of how the real building would look like. It reduces the total expenditure by eliminating the waste of construction material.It helps to reduce the errors and omissions resulting in less rework.
A BIM model when made as a graphical illustration helps to identify the potential failures, leaks, evacuation plans etc. It also allows estimating the cost involved. Material quantities are automatically extracted and changed as per the changes made in the model. The use of BIM yields higher productivity and reduces contingencies.The objects created using BIM are defined as building elements such as walls, spaces, columns beams etc. It can be used to demonstrate the entire lifecycle of a building from construction to facility operation. BIM technology also helps to check clashes and collisions as a BIM model is created in 3D space.  For example, it can check for collision between pipes and steel beams, walls or ducts.
BIM technology is really a breakthrough from the traditional 2D CAD drawings. With so many benefits of using BIM technology, BIM is definitely the future of the construction industry.