Automation of cost control process in construction project building information modeling (BIM)

Abstract

This research is carried out to investigate the critical role of BIM technology in estimating the construction project cost with higher accuracy than the manual method of budget evaluation. A construction project case study is selected, presenting a commercial complex in Al-Anbar, Al-Ramadi, Iraq. A comparative analysis is conducted to compare the accuracy of the REVIT software (BIM technology) with the manual calculation method. The major research findings revealed that using the BIM technology via the REVIT software provided a more effective approach and practicality than manual calculations of steel, concrete, and other architectural components. In addition, the findings confirmed that the accuracy of cost estimation using BIM technology via REVIT software is better than manual calculations. The reason is the elimination of human errors during the calculations process. Thus, accurate results can be obtained from the REVIT software. Also, the research outputs indicated that using the BIM technology can save much time, effort, and cost needed to calculate the cost of the construction project compared to the manual cost estimation of the construction project.