The impact of building information modelling on construction cost estimation

Construction, and of course, estimation processes are vulnerable to the limitations of spatiality in design and fragmented processes in entity-based CAD and manual design procedures. Whilst this challenge often leads to some tragic consequences, building information modelling (BIM) provides platforms for innovative and integrated design processes, and automated measurement. This development triggers the need for exceptional skills for intensive collaboration, project simulation, electronic data management, manipulation and handling of automated quantity measurement, simultaneous access to BIM design server and object-oriented design procedures wherein robust, clear and comprehensive information are underlain into project components. This study explores the impact of BIM on construction cost estimation. Samples of auto-measured BIM models are compared with existing standards and estimation procedures. Misconceptions about automated capacities of BIM and cost estimation are discussed. Recommendations are focused on further areas of research on the expectations of estimators on BIM models.